Bigger & LHFHG or to combine in Beyond...

[BunkieB]

I used LHFHG for my DD's K year and really liked it. This year, for 1st grade, I decided to do something different but am still be pulled back to HOD.

Looking at the placement information I think she will fit into Bigger next year (2013-2014 year) but here is the question...

She will be 7 and in 2nd grade. My older son will be 5 and in Kindergarten officially next year (he has been doing K work this year but with a November B-day I want to keep him in K for another year) My youngest son will be 3 in December (so no worries there)

Thoughts... Could I do Beyond next year with both of them at the same time - but using the appropriate phonics/reading/math for each ability or should I do LHFHG for my older son (for his K year) and Bigger for my daughter (2nd grade year)?

I like the idea of them together, but also know at some point I will want to break out my son and daughter (with the 2 year grade gap even though age is only 18 months). I would prefer to not have my son repeat a year back to back with the same guide too. Also since I want to keep him in K again next year (doing a mix of pre-K and K at his own speed this year but he likes it) so I am concerned that if we did Beyond with the 2 of them together it would keep him going at the faster pace.

He did LHFHG with my daughter (off and on when he wanted to) and he really liked it. He was only 3.5 - 4 at the time, so doing it again would not really be a repeat for him.

Hope that all makes sense and thanks for the thoughts. I am really wishing I had stuck with HOD this year doing Beyond with my daughter, but alas... you live and learn

[BunkieB]

Don't mind me, I am just talking it out...

If I do Beyond with my daughter (she will be almost 7.5 and in second grade for the 2013-2014 year) and I do LHFHG for my son (who I really think will be ready he is eager to learn and since turning 5 has really started to focus and want to do his school every day) that means they would be a year apart in guide. I really would like to keep them 2 years apart in grade.

I guess my question is, does that matter? Will it be a problem as they get older if they are a year apart in guide but 2 years apart in grade.

Oh and my daughter (6, almost 7) is currently doing R&S grade 1 phonics/reading and doing well. We switched to it not long ago but the phonics she has learned so far so good. So if I was to do Beyond next year, would I want to do English 2 (R&S) or just do the LA that is included in HOD?

Hummm trying to decide between Beyond and Bigger... tough!

Is that totally crazy though? Doing 2 guides a year apart. My youngest son is 3 years behind so I know combining him at any point won't happen so it really is just these 2 that I hope to get a good start with.

[bethelmommy]

I have to be quick, but wanted to toss this out for thought. If you start LHFHG half speed for awhile, and do Beyond at full speed, the guides will naturally spread themselves a bit apart. Also, starting with Preparing, the guides drop to 4 days a week, but Beyond/Bigger are still 5 days a week. So, if you did those at 4 day weeks with your younger once your oldest hits preparing or even before, that would spread out the a guides bit more as well. I think with all of that, you would easily be able to create a year between guides before things get too parent intensive. HTH.

[Kims]

I am combining mine that are that age. We are doing LHFHG this year and will do Beyond next. I just could not do two guides. My son who did LHFHG two years ago doesn't remember any of it anyway. He is LOVING it.
Mine are so close to each other and don't want to do school without the other one.

[twoxcell]

I have to be quick, but wanted to toss this out for thought. If you start LHFHG half speed for awhile, and do Beyond at full speed, the guides will naturally spread themselves a bit apart. Also, starting with Preparing, the guides drop to 4 days a week, but Beyond/Bigger are still 5 days a week. So, if you did those at 4 day weeks with your younger once your oldest hits preparing or even before, that would spread out the a guides bit more as well. I think with all of that, you would easily be able to create a year between guides before things get too parent intensive. HTH.

I did something like this with my dc. After trying to combine them in Beyond at almost 5 and 7. I separated them into Little Hearts and Beyond. I started having my dd do her guides 4 days a week because of her fall b-day she actually started K a year early. Right now my oldest is half way through Preparing and she is almost finished with Beyond. I'm going to have her start Bigger 4 days a week this spring so she will finish it by the end of next school year. It wasn't that bad running Little Hearts and Beyond at the same time but I wanted to work to get them out of back to back guides.

[psreit]

Just to add to the pps, I think the gentle start in grammar would be good in Beyond if your dd has not had anything like that. I agree with those who said you could have your ds start out slower in LHFHG to spread the guides out a little. Your dd sounds like she can handle full speed in Beyond. You don't want to miss that guide.

[my3sons]

When you look at the placement chart, where do each of them place? I'm especially wondering about writing, as this varies quite a bit from guide to guide - especially from Beyond to Bigger Hearts. Here is an excerpt from one of Carrie's past posts that may be helpful...

As far as choosing between "Beyond.." and "Bigger..." goes, the amount of writing varies quite a bit between Beyond and Bigger. Bigger requires more writing in the areas of a once a week history notebooking assignment, a once a week science experiment sheet and a once a week science notebooking entry, along with once a week copywork of a Bible verse, 1-3 vocabulary cards each week, cursive handwriting practice daily, and daily grammar instruction with written practice. It also provides a choice of spelling or dictation passages. If your little one sounds like that would be fine for her, she belongs in Bigger. If not, then Beyond would be best.

Beyond has much less writing doing copywork daily from the poetry, using a gentle once a week introduction to grammar, and writing daily for very short spelling lessons.

If your dd would be able to do all of the writing in Bigger Hearts well, then she should start with Bigger Hearts. If not, she should start with Beyond. Either way, ds should start with LHFHG, whether that is full-speed or half-speed just depends on what you think would be best. Going half-speed would put some distance between dd and ds naturally over time. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[Gwenny]

Right now I'm doing:
1/2 speed LHFHG, BLHFHG, BHFHG and Preparing. (I don't recommend it!) haha Long story, but it's what has to be done here.

Like Julie said, there is a lot more writing in Bigger than in Beyond. Bigger is way more teacher intensive than Beyond, unless your daughter can be somewhat independent. I don't think at 7 she could be though, or should be. At her age, unless she SOLIDLY places in Bigger (without you thinking, well...she probably could do that) and you are up for the time involved with it, I would go with Beyond. It's a fantastic guide and you can always beef things up. Carrie has said a million times that it is always easier to beef up than to make it simpler.

Don't miss LHFHG with your son. You and he will love the special time together and it really doesn't take that long.

Hope this helps a little.