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I am leaning towards doing the LHFHG instead of Beyond, but then doing the beyond for the LA and readers. I was looking at the appendix and you all are right...I don't want to miss out on those great lessons!

Thank you so much for all your input. You'll never know how valueable that is to me.

I do have a question about the differences b/w the kindergarten and first grade options with LHFHG. I can't click on them to find out, only putting them in my cart!

I was going to do Abeka phonics and I can't decide if I want to do Saxon Math or Abeka math. From things I've read I don't think Singapore math would be good for my son. He needs the repetition. He had Abeka math in Kindergarten and really likes Math, so Abeka must not have turned him off. But I'm so green at all of this that it is so hard to decide without having the text books in front of me. I know I'll know quickly once we start if it is a fit, but I hate the thought of spending so much money on something only to toss it out and do something else!

Tiffinieh,

I think you made a GREAT choice! If given the chance, I always go with the lowest program possible because I can always do the higher one, but I can't go back and do the lower. I will also tell you that in ten years of homeschooling I have NEVER enjoyed a program as much as I am HOD! (I'm actually teaching it in our homeschool co-op in the fall)

I wanted to throw one other math program at you. http://www.time4learning.com It is an online program we used this past year. In all the years of homeschooling my children have never tested as well in math as they did this year. We adore this program. I actually blogged about it after our testing in March: http://homeschoolblogger.com/MamaMary/501372/

You can try a two week free trial

Blessings,
Mary

My suggestion would be if he is familiar with Abeka and likes it go with that. Why switch.

As far as the science options are concerned I would go with the K book. I say this only because the LHFHG guide book is written to coincide with this book. The first grade book works and is scheduled but the k book is a better fit.

HTH
Sarah

Hi Tiffanie!

I'm not sure if I've already introduced myself or not, so just skip this if I'm repeating myself! My son will be going into first and he also placed in "Beyond" according to the placement chart. But, I chose to go with LHFHG for many of the reasons the ladies on the board have been giving you: I wanted my four year old to be able to participate, it is easier to "beef up" a program than water one down, and I didn't want to miss the great Bibllical history portion starting from creation!
I am also using different LA and math programs so I will just skip those boxes in the manual. Spelling and grammar and reading will be covered in this other program..so the appropriateness of LHFHG's LA will not be an issue. I will also be doing Singapore Early Bird with my 4 year old and he will be doing the little Rod and Staff workbooks scheduled in LHFHG. Anyway, just wanted to chime in and let you see how someone else is using the program...sometimes that helps! I think LHFHG is the right choice! (JMO!) Welcome to the boards, this really is a special group!

To be honest with you I don't know why ABeka gets such a bad rap. My older three did ABeka math up to the highschool level (then the bad rap is fitting!) and they did fantastic with it. I say if your son likes it stick with it. )

Hi Tiffanie!

I didn't get to welcome you yet. Sooo, welcome! I think the ladies here helped you make a great decision. I can't wait to use LHFHG and then Beyond with my younger kiddos. We're going to be doing LHTH and Bigger this year.

My ds used Saxon Math and phonics in the little Christian school he went to for K and 1st. We brought him home again this past year and continued with those, and a mish-mash of other things... I am sooo excited that the Lord led us to HOD!!! We have much to look forward to this year! Anyway, I can tell you that Saxon is going to add quite a bit of time to your day. My oldest really clicks with math...and actually the 1st 2/3 of the book is all review, so for us it was not only time-consuming but kind of boring. When I say time-consuming I mean that it was taking us at least 45 min if not an hour+! (And I was skipping most of the "meeting" and we were only doing one side of the worksheet.) All of the homeschoolers in my area use Saxon, and I think it does work well for families, but we're trying Singapore this year if for nothing else -the time factor. We've actually started doing some of book 2A because they hit a few things that Saxon 2 doesn't, and my son LOVES the activities and the short lessons. (We actually did 3 days' work 1 day in 1/3 of the time it would have taken to do 1 Saxon lesson. )

I don't want to discourage you, but just thought I'd share as it is something that I have learned this year by trying it. One more thing about math...if your son gets along ok with Abeka, I really think you could try Singapore and be fine. My sis-in-law had a hard time with Abeka because it didn't review much...and my mother-in-law switched to Saxon for them. (They were at the 4th grade level though.) Anyway, from what I've seen, but not having used them, I think Singapore reviews as much as Abeka.

I think you'll have a great time doing LHFHG with your kiddos!
Kathleen

I haven't used Saxon or A Beka math, but here is what Cathy Duffy says in her introduction to the math section of her 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum.

"A Beka's math program is very traditional, does an excellent job developing computation skills, and has more than enough review and practice. Explanation of new concepts is included within student worktexts, so students can work independently most of the time. However, the series is weak in developing conceptual understanding, especially in comparison to programs like Math-U-See and Singapore Math. Curriculum guides offer some teaching assistance, but my experience is that homeschoolers rarely use them. Instead, they are more likely to purchase only the teacher editions that serve as answer keys. Some children are strong enough conceptual thinkers that A Beka still works very well for them."

Since your son is used to A Beka, it might be a great place to start and using Carrie's math explorations with it might help with the concrete/conceptual learning. If you want to read more about various math programs to help you make a decision, you can read more at Cathy Duffy's website: http://www.cathyduffyreviews.com/math/math-index.htm[/b]

I hope that helps and doesn't make your head swim I know sometimes I feel overwhelmed when facing so many choices.

It sounds like you've made a great plan for your dc this coming year! I'm very excited for you to begin homeschooling using HOD. Please share it with us here! I think you could do any number of these options for math. I'm partial to Singapore because the activities Carrie writes in the guides to go with Singapore are easy-to-do and stick well with the dc over time. I can see why you are learning toward what your son's already been using though. I think either choosing to do Abeka math, since your son is familiar with it, or choosing to try Singapore math, would both be good choices.

I second what Kathleen said about the time factor though - and over the years, I've become a firm believer in the thought that "if my son can show me in 10 math problems he understands the concept, why do 20 more and just risk him learning poor habits and getting sloppy with it?" And believe me, I LOVE math and always have, but I just don't see the need for spending hours on it if they've understood the concept. Also, if they didn't understand the concept, it's still better to spend less time that is more focused, then spend long periods of time that are overwhelming.

But, those are just my thoughts about math - which is probably not what you were wanting here anyway! O.k., this rambler needs to head to bed before I launch into more "wayward math talk".

It'll be a great year for you with HOD no matter what math you go with, so just make the best decision you can for right now, and know there's always a "Plan B" in your back pocket if you want to make a math switch.

In Christ,
Julie

You guys rock! Seriously. I feel like I've got several "sisters" that I can go to for heartfelt and Godly advise whenever I need it. As a new homeschooler I know that I 'll be coming to you often!

I think since I'm new to this and I'd really like the expert teachings of Carrie to go along with the math I think I'll give Singapore a try. I've already bought the math manipulatives from saxon so I can always use these for some concrete visual examples if my son needs it.

Now for my next question LOL:

Is Singapore true to it's age, is their a placement test for me to be able to see where he falls?

There are placement tests on the Singapore site: http://www.singaporemath.com/Placement_Test_s/86.htm

I have heard some people say that they start at a 1/2 level below where the test places them. If tested into 3a they start at 2b for example, but I am not sure where I read this, or if it is standard/recommended practice. I'm just starting out with my son, so we started with Early Bird K and will move into 1a soon.