Beyond... concerns about levels

MidwestMama · Post by **MidwestMama** » Sun May 25, 2008 1:26 pm

I am leaning toward using Beyond next year. My son is five and would technically be in Kindergarten, but he's reading at a late second grade level, doing math at a first grade level, etc. Just way ahead on the spectrum, which is one of our reasons for considering homeschooling! On the placement chart, he seems to fit Beyond under most segments. I know the emerging readers program (to enhance comprehension) and the 1A/1B math will work very well, and it looks like he'll enjoy most of the activities.

I just wonder if the history resources and the main science book will be over his head? I assume that it's for us to read to the child, right? Do these resources have pictures in them, broken into small chunks, or long pages of text, or just what?? DS loves history and will be very interested in it, but I don't want to lose him if he's just not ready for this. And I know there are different levels one *can* use for the science but I'd rather use the one that's scheduled in the guide. Hope that makes sense...

LHFHG, the next lower one, is not really an option... we actually purchased it and ended up returning/selling it several months back as even enhancing it, it just didn't have enough "meat" for what he needed and wanted. So I am hoping Beyond would be a good fit for us, but just wanted to ask about those pieces.

Thanks!
Cris

my3sons · Post by **my3sons** » Sun May 25, 2008 4:03 pm

Hi Cris! I'll be doing Beyond... next year with my son after we finish the last bit of LHFHG, and he will be about 5 years, 9 mos. old when we start Beyond... I think that from what you've described, your ds would do great with Beyond...! I know he'd love the Emerging Reader's Set, and it sounds like the math is right for him as well.

As far as the history, Carrie has written it so that you read it out loud to your children in nice bite-sized increments. American Pioneers and Patriots has quite a few pictures and the other 2 history texts have some pictures, but I wouldn't worry about that because the readings are quite short. How does your ds do now when you read a few pages of a chapter book out loud to him without pictures? I bet by the time you start it, he'll be able to do just fine with this. The history activities are very hands-on, and I know he'll enjoy them.

As far as the science, God's Wonderful Works is the text, and it is full of beautiful, vividly colored pictures. This text is also used in bite-sized increments, and has great matching hands-on experiments planned with it. He will love it.

My only question is about his writing. Can he do a spelling list of 10 words? Can he copy a sentence yet? Those are the only areas I wondered about. There is not a lot of writing in Beyond..., so I think he'd be fine. You just may have to hold off on the spelling and the copywork of the poem if his writing needs to grow a little. Then, you could start those whenever he's ready. If he is writing pretty well already, than jump in!

We used Beyond... already once with our oldest son, and he was also on the young side of it. I think you'll love Beyond... as much as we did! HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

MidwestMama · Post by **MidwestMama** » Sun May 25, 2008 5:12 pm

Thanks for the info, Julie!! It sounds like there is much to love about this program. All those books sound great, and I think it'll be enjoyable for him broken up into small chunks.

my3sons wrote:My only question is about his writing. Can he do a spelling list of 10 words? Can he copy a sentence yet? Those are the only areas I wondered about. There is not a lot of writing in Beyond..., so I think he'd be fine. You just may have to hold off on the spelling and the copywork of the poem if his writing needs to grow a little. Then, you could start those whenever he's ready. If he is writing pretty well already, than jump in!

He can probably do a 10 word list. He doesn't love to write, I think it just wears him out more quickly at this age, but again, in small doses he can do it and do it really pretty well. We are using Explode the Code books, and on the pages where he has to match the picture and write the word, there are eight words on the page and he can do that just fine. The copywork, I think he'd be ready to start by this fall if we take it slow.

He'll also be about 5 years, 8 months when we start, so that would probably work out perfectly. Thanks so much!!

Cris

Post by **Carrie** » Sun May 25, 2008 6:51 pm

Cris,

It does sound like your son could do "Beyond...", especially if you tried LHFHG and found it too easy. He may need to grow into the readings in "Beyond..." but that is to be expected when starting any new program.

You will also want to keep an eye on the spelling lists or copywork as needed to make it successful for your little one!

Blessings,
Carrie

mom2boys030507 · Post by **mom2boys030507** » Mon May 26, 2008 6:42 pm

Welcome Cris,

I will also be doing Beyond next school year with my 5 year old. We have 4 weeks left in Little Hearts.

Karen

MidwestMama · Post by **MidwestMama** » Tue May 27, 2008 10:25 am

Thanks so much for the feedback!! I feel much more comfortable now.

We still haven't "firmly" decided to hs our DS this fall. We're doing some light curriculum over the summer, and although I'm strongly leaning toward hsing, we need to have some more discussion and decision making about this fall. But... I think I *have* firmly decided that if we DO homeschool.... I'll be using "Beyond..." as our curriculum!!

Thanks again...

Cris

my3sons · Post by **my3sons** » Tue May 27, 2008 10:35 am

MidwestMama wrote:Thanks so much for the feedback!! I feel much more comfortable now.

We still haven't "firmly" decided to hs our DS this fall. We're doing some light curriculum over the summer, and although I'm strongly leaning toward hsing, we need to have some more discussion and decision making about this fall. But... I think I *have* firmly decided that if we DO homeschool.... I'll be using "Beyond..." as our curriculum!!

Thanks again...

Cris

That's great Cris! You'll get a good feel for homeschooling this summer, and I think if you decide to continue with it, that you'd find Beyond... to be a joy to do with your ds. You know I was just thinking, you could even try Beyond... out this summer if you're excited about it - I have such a hard time waiting to start a new idea, but that's probably just me! Beyond... has 2 page daily plans that take about 2 hours a day to do or so. So, you could maybe just do the left side of the plans one day, and the right side of the plans the next day at a slower speed, only spending 1 hour a day on it this summer. That may be a great way to get your feet wet with it and see what you think? Anyway, that's just an idea... I was just thinking that may give you best the trial run of what your year would be like homeschooling in the fall. Whatever you decide to do this summer, keep hanging out here - we like to get to know you!

In Christ ,
Julie

Mommamo · Post by **Mommamo** » Tue May 27, 2008 11:10 am

We're doing LHFHG this year for K, but I just wanted to mention that we went ahead and started and are planning to do school throughout the summer and so far (one full week into things) it's going well. I agree that even if you do it lightly then you probably will get a pretty good feel for what the school year would be like. That would really let you know if you want to continue or not. I know this is a huge decision to make. That's part of the reason we went ahead and started. I figured if for some odd reason it just isn't working for us then we still have the option of sending her to school when the actual "school year" starts. I'm pretty positive, though, that we're in this for the long haul!

my3sons · Post by **my3sons** » Tue May 27, 2008 11:31 am

Ashley,

Congrats on starting LHFHG! I'm so glad you've started early and can then put any questions you have to rest. I'm just finishing LHFHG up next year and then doing Beyond..., and I can't wait to hear from you how it's going! My dh and I were going to take homeschooling one year at a time too... but that was 5 years ago, and now we haven't looked back! Welcome to the boards!!

In Christ ,
Julie