Anyone started a guide in the middle?

[scampbell2003]

Okay so I ordered Bigger and Little to start with my kids in the fall. I really am looking forward to starting with HOD What we have been using has not been working for us. I want to finish out 2nd grade with Beyond so I ordered it. Another reason I decided on this is because I need to go through 1B Singapore as well with DD. Originally I was going to continue with what Math we have been using but I need our days to run smoothly and not drag on. I tested DD in Singapore and she placed to start with 1B. In Beyond that is week 15 which is in the middle of the Fantasy genre. So I just went back to Unit 13 and thought we could start there. That way when we start Bigger she will be ready for 2A. As well as we both will be adjusted to HOD. Pros and Cons?

[Tidbits of Learning]

I haven't started a guide that far in before, but my dd11 started the year in Calvert. It did not work out for her so I jumped her into CTC with dd10 who was probably 5 or 6 units in at that time. However, my dd was studying ancients in Calvert and CTC is ancients so I don't think it was that big of a stretch. She also went back and read all the history and science from those units that she missed so she wasn't lost.
I have also had a child test into the b level of Singapore instead of the A level. I didn't try to move them in all subjects to where 2b started. At the time, we were doing Bigger and I just took a sticky and put it where my child was in math and did everything else from the beginning.
I guess my biggest question would be was your child studying American history before switching and are you doing everything in the beyond guide such as science, spelling, and language arts? If you are doing all of it, then I would probably just suggest starting at the beginning for everything but math and put a sticky in the book for where you are in math.
I would also ask where your child places by the HOD chart right now and put your dc at the beginning of that guide and use the math instruction from where they placed for the singapore test.

[arstephia]

If you had to start a guide in the middle, Beyond would be the one I think you could do. I don't think you could easily do that in the upper guides at all. Jumping in the middle of the science wouldn't be a big deal because they don't really build on eachother. Same with poetry and even the Bible. I think I would go back to unit one and read the history stories aloud for bedtime reading or other "fun" reading just so they get all of the great background info. OR you could just start at the beginning and finish the history reading throughout the summer (which is how I would lean.)

[scampbell2003]

She will be 8 in May. I would like to start Bigger by September and have a little break for summer. There are some gaps I think in her reading because she guesses a lot instead of trying to decode. But she is reading independently books like Boxcar Children. She reading at grade 4/5 level. He comprehension is very good. But we haven't done a lot of writing. She has started cursive and done well with it but I think her print needs more practice. Does that help at all? I wanted to finish this year middle of ERS and working on those skills so Bigger is a success. She is capable of the work but I have not been consistent with her schooling because of all the curricula problems we were having and the distractions from the 1yr old and renovations going on here. Anyway I am committed to getting her ready for Bigger in the fall. I will be doing both guides then Little and Bigger. I think if we can get on a schedule with Beyond now moving to Bigger and Little in the fall will go easier. Does that make sense?

[Heidi in AK]

I don't mean to be a party pooper, but I don't think you'd want to start in the middle, since skills progress throughout the guide. Your DC might miss something if you start in the middle.

[meandmycuties]

I wouldn't start in the middle. You could just ignore the math section and have her do one math lesson/day. You don't have to follow the math on the guide. My kids are doing Bigger now, and I have to do that with math and English because they are 10 and doing a level up on math & English compared to the guide.

[scampbell2003]

So should I just start Bigger now?

[Tidbits of Learning]

So should I just start Bigger now?

If your child places in Bigger now, then yes. If your child places in Beyond, then no. http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php I tend to take a pen and circle what fits my child and then count up which guide has more to place them in a guide.

[moedertje]

You had some great advice already on not starting your child in the middle of a guide from some of the ladies.

If your concern is to have your child do the hands on math activities, since your child places in Singapore 1B, (there is no need to be in the same unit with all your other subjects). I would recommend you put a sticky note for just the math subject on the unit that starts Singapore 1B in Beyond, regardless what guide you are in for your other subjects.

My ds is in unit 2 for all of Beyond, except for math, he's in unit 20. When he is done with 1B we will move into 2A, using the hands-on activities from the Bigger guide.
I used to have a struggle with being in different places in the guides for different subjects or doing a guide 4 days a week, but once I started, I'm so relaxed about it now and I love the freedom it has given me.
Succes and I hope your family will be blessed HOD as mine is!

[netpea]

agreeing with pp, we were never in the same unit for math as for everything else. I just kept tabs in the manual we were using for the main part of the day and the manual we were using for math.

[scampbell2003]

I started Beyond and we are doing 2 days in one day. I think she is ready for Bigger now but I didn't want to start it and have a big break because of summer. I thought the writing would be to much but now I am thinking it won't be a problem. I am going to work through Beyond at the pace she is ready for I guess. Does it get harder and days longer as the units go on? If I continue doing two days worth we will be done by summer. Apparently I haven't been giving her much credit because she is loving school and flying through it. Before she fought me so much. I am sure no one recommends doing two days at a time but it is working well for now. She would do three days worth if I let her. If it gets to be where she is not doing well I will have her slow way down. But now I realize why I wanted to start in the middle. Well she is getting lots of review on all things and loving HOD! THanKs!

[my3sons]

I started Beyond and we are doing 2 days in one day. I think she is ready for Bigger now but I didn't want to start it and have a big break because of summer. I thought the writing would be to much but now I am thinking it won't be a problem. I am going to work through Beyond at the pace she is ready for I guess. Does it get harder and days longer as the units go on? If I continue doing two days worth we will be done by summer. Apparently I haven't been giving her much credit because she is loving school and flying through it. Before she fought me so much. I am sure no one recommends doing two days at a time but it is working well for now. She would do three days worth if I let her. If it gets to be where she is not doing well I will have her slow way down. But now I realize why I wanted to start in the middle. Well she is getting lots of review on all things and loving HOD! THanKs!

If this is going well now, hooray! I think this may be a unique situation. I actually read through this several days ago, and then again yesterday, and again now, trying to come some sort of place I would be ready to give advice. I actually have thought every option given in this thread to be good, solid advice, at some point in my thinking. All of what is posted within this thread makes good sense to me. But now, having read your latest update here today, it seems like overall she is very close to being ready for Bigger Hearts, and that her doing Beyond is more of a precursor to ensure readiness. So, with that thought in mind, I think you could move ahead to Unit 13 and start there and be just fine. I would do this in lieu of doubling up and doing 2 days' worth of plans with dd. I think that the doubling up could get cumbersome, for you as a busy mama, or for dd as she moves forward. However, you can certainly just keep going as you are too. I am sorry if I am throwing a wrench in things here, and if I am, just keep on progressing as you are. I just feel like I finally have some clarity on my thoughts on the matter, which doesn't necessarily mean my clarity is your clarity, and your clarity is probably right. Hope something here helped instead of hindered!

In Christ,
Julie

[scampbell2003]

Thanks Julie! I know.... I never planned doing two days with her. We started Monday and were done with the day so quickly she looked at me in unbelief. So I did day two with her as well. This is working well for now but I don't know how long this will last. We will see. This is definitely to make sure she is ready for Bigger. Saying that I praise the Lord because I know things are going to go well when I am homeschooling two children with a toddler running around. LOL! HOD is a answered prayer for me and my family!