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Hi again all!..
So, just want to say i was all prepared to settle on Beyond for oldest who turns 6 this weekend...he is finishing K now..
i have asked other questions about placement and gotten lost of great input from all of you. i feel like HOD is where we need to start our first year hs'ing and i am excited to give my children more of the Christ centered learning that HOD offers, over what he is getting in ps now....
anyway...not to ramble...lol...he does seem to fit into Beyond for his 1st grade year, but i wonder what would be the benefit of doing Little Hearts with the 1st gr options??...
i wasnt even really aware you could do this...im not quite sure if i understand how it works...but i think with the 1st gr reading (i think he places in the ER set,) and 1st gr math..??
i would like the year of Bible History Little Heart covers, but would the other material be what he has already learned in K this yr??...i dont want him to feel like its stuff he already knows and not be interested...
i think he would enjoy the year of US History in Beyond..but don't want it to be over his head....
should i just dive into Beyond...then scale back to Little Hearts if it doesn't work for him??

i know, im a broken record trying to make these decisions!...
i appreciate any input you ladies have to share!!

i do love this board is here for all of you to share with those of us who are new!...all you ladies are so kind and encouraging, as well as Carrie and Julie who take time to respond to all these questions
thanks again!

momof3kids,

One thing that will really make a difference in whether your child is better suited for LHFHG or Beyond is his ability to listen to stories. How does your son do as far as listening to chapter book style readings with few to no pictures? Has he ever been exposed to this type of listening or would this be a new skill for him? Does he still prefer books that are more picture books with pictures? The reason I ask as in going back over your older posts (to refresh my memory as to where he was at skill-wise), I wasn't able to find a place where we'd discussed this aspect of his skills. I understand he is a strong reader and know that we talked about finishing out phonics prior to doing the Emerging Reader's Set. So, I'm just wanting to know a bit more about his listening level.

Also, I'm wondering whether he is a very active child, always in motion, or whether he is a more seatwork type child? Does he really like hands-on things or is he more oriented toward paper/pencil type activities. Is he a very verbal child or is he fairly quiet? How is his attention span when you are speaking to him or reading to him?

If you get a chance to pop back and share a bit about these areas, we can talk about some possible options.

Blessings,
Carrie

Hi Carrie,
thanks so much for taking some time...again...to look over my questions... i think since i am brand new to this, i am probably over-thinking alot!
i really appreciate your idea for using the Reading Lesson before we do the Emerging Readers ( and have actually already gotten a copy)..so i feel really good about doing this for his reading/phonics going forward
as far as my son's listening ability...he really does love to be read to...we usually read at bedtime, he always asks for another story until i say it's time for bed...
he is pretty active (all boy.. ), loves to be outside..but also likes any kind of "school"...we have workbooks he does for fun, draws, and reads some on his own too...the kids don't watch tv, so he is pretty good about doing other things to do
he has always been a talker, but knows when to listen, and can listen pretty well...doesn't seem to have trouble at school being quiet when needed...
his teacher described him as a "go-getter," i think he is eager to do most of the work, and enjoys learning

we havent read the series of books in Little Hearts, so he may like those as well....but if he fits better into Beyond, i guess we could use those as summer reading..?
im sure it will all work out for the best, but also want what is doable for me as his teacher as well since this is our first year...switching between both guides seems a little confusing, but i have seem others like to do that...
so just curious as to what the benefits are of doing it that way

you are so kind to read all these posts and respond...again, sorry to ask so many questions! ..i just want him placed well so he is interested and challenged so our first year will be a pleasant experience for all..
by the way...my younger son is loving LHTH..we don't get to do it everyday, but we all really enjoy it. i also enjoy it's simple enough for me, on these pretty days we do it on the porch!

Carrie asked some good questions! They made me think of a few more. I am wondering when you read at night if you are reading picture books or chapter books? Also, when you say a go-getter (I have a few of those myself ), do you mean bouncing off the walls moving all the time, or just needs to have some movement, hands-on, active type work every other 15 minutes or so of school? In case time allotments would help...

Little Hearts for His Glory takes about 1 1/2 hours to do. See below...
Approximate Times for boxes in LHFHG...
Left side of plans:
Reading about History: 10 minutes
Rhymes in Motion: 5 minutes
Rotating Bottom left box (Science, Art, Dramatic Play, Thinking Games): 10-15 minutes
Bible Study: 10 minutes (add an additional 5-10 minutes on Devotional days)
Corresponding Music: 5 minutes

Right Side of Plans:
Fine Motor Skills: 5-10 minutes
Phonics: 15 minutes
Storytime: 10 minutes
Math: 10-15 minutes


Beyond Little Hearts takes about 2 1/2 hours to do each day. See below...
Reading About History Box: 10 min.
Poetry and Rhymes: 5-10 min.
Bible Study and Music: 10 min.
Rotating Bottom Left Box (Artistic Expression, History Activity/Timeline, Geography, Science twice weekly): 15-20 min.

Language Arts Box: 15 min. (spelling/grammar)
Reading: 15 min. if doing the Emerging Readers and 20-25 min. if doing DITHR 2/3
Math: 15-20 min.
Storytime: 15-20 min.

We'll check back! Thanks!!!

In Christ,
Julie

Hi Julie!
you and Carrie are like a super tag-team ..thanks for all the info and the breakdown of each level!
I will try to answer everything best i can...for our reading, its usually a short story (Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories, its a little advanced vocab sometimes, but good moral/ Godly character lessons and it keeps him interested)..takes between 10-15 min, Bible stories, or lately he wants me to read from a book he has brought home from school to read..his teacher sends chapter books (Flat Stanley right now...)..so, just in general, last night i think we read for about 20 min..but ran out of time since it was getting late...but he was wanting to read another story...he sat still the whole time...the 4 yr old however lasts about 5 min ...
i think when she says he is a go-getter she is talking about how much he likes school. it actually came up as i was telling her our plans to hs..she was saying she would be concerned about challenging him/and being around other kids...i get the feeling she thinks we are making a mistake..but thats a whole other issue
he is not really one to "bounce off the walls" (thats younger bro!)....
he sometimes writes out math problems or writes a story for fun....likes to have a task..

As far as the time needed for each level..i don't think that is really an issue for him since he is used to being at school all day...as long as i would be able to to the 2 1/2 hrs for Beyond, along with LHTH with my younger...but i think it would be doable since LHTH doesnt take long...

My only real concern for Beyond is i have read others feel the History content is too advanced....and as i have mentioned earlier, I do like the year of Bible History in Little Hearts....but i would be ok either way i think, since i know he will get Bible throughout either

i know i am beating this dead horse!...please forgive me!...hope ths helps
thanks again!
Sarah

I'm going through the same thing. First I thought beyond, but then I saw the history books and thought they looked like too much for my ds6 because we've done no history yet, and we haven't read many longer chapter books together for listening comprehension. I also see that the history books for beyond, according to Christian Liberty Press, are a suggested grade level of 3rd and 4th grades. I know that plenty of people use beyond successfully with 6 year olds, but did those people also use Little Hearts. We haven't, so we haven't done any history. If we end up using Little Hearts, we'll obviously do the first grade options, but also order the beyond guide for math explorations, the emerging reader list, and possibly the spelling and grammar. But then, I wonder if we're doing that extra stuff, if we shouldn't just go with all of Beyond. I understand your confusion. I think which ever way we decide will be fine. I don't think either choice would be a mistake.

Here are links to some of the history books at Christian Liberty Press. You can actually look inside each text for the content. The first two links are the little hearts books and the second two are the beyond books.

http://www.shopchristianliberty.com/his ... -pilgrims/

http://www.shopchristianliberty.com/his ... d-edition/

http://www.shopchristianliberty.com/ame ... d-edition/

http://www.shopchristianliberty.com/sto ... ition-pdf/

I hope this helps.

Hi jahall2000...thanks for the info and the links to those books...
i just glanced at the two for beyond quickly...for first seems alot like the bedtime stories we read now...(a few pages long with maybe a simple drawing on one page..), the other one seems a little longer in length just looking at the first chapter...but i am thinking by the fall...that may a good amount for my son...i think he could probably sit through it now as long as he was interested...

so, i am leaning towards Beyond...?...again...
but, still want to see what Julie or Carrie have to say...they seem to be very careful and thorough with their advice and i really appreciate that!

Thanks so much for answering allllllllll our questions! I think he places best in Beyond Little Hearts. The books you are reading to him, the amount of time he is able to listen to books, his ability to have attention to task, the length of time he is used to doing school - this all seems to point to Beyond. I also like the idea of teaching Beyond and Little Hands at the same time for YOU. Looking down the road, it is more difficult to teach Bigger Hearts and Preparing Hearts at the same time for the mama, than it is to teach Beyond and Preparing. This is a secondary consideration, of course, but when it is a choice between Little Hands and Beyond, or Little Hands and Little Hearts, and Little Hands and Beyond would work just fine - I tend to lean toward Little Hands and Beyond. For those of you heading toward teaching Bigger Hearts and PHFHG - don't stress - I'm not saying this won't work. I'm just saying it's a busier year, teaching-wise. I think you would love Beyond, and you will get to do Little Hearts later with your younger dc. The Bible is strong in all of HOD's curriculum. Your oldest will for sure have a strong Biblical year in history with CTC coming up, and with a portion of PHFHG before that. What are your thoughts now? HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

Hi Julie...
Well i am really glad to hear you recommend Beyond...but i kinda knew you would since we talked at the conference..and Beyond is what i bought for my son!! but i appreciate you addressing all my concerns! i cant tell you how impressed my husband and i were after meeting you, Carrie, and Mike at the conference..i have such a peace that this is exactly what my son needs for our first year, i really feel God has brought us to HOD and will bless this year teaching our children. ohh..and we had "the conversation" with my ds that he will not go back to ps next year and will be at home, and showed him all the material we got...he wants to start now!...thought we would start in July, but he said that was too long to wait..lol...what a blessing!..i had prayed his heart would be softened to receive this change, and not only is he accepting..he is excited with all the books and topics we will get to learn with Beyond! thanks again, and a pleasure to meet you!

momof3kids wrote:...ohh..and we had "the conversation" with my ds that he will not go back to ps next year and will be at home, and showed him all the material we got...he wants to start now!...thought we would start in July, but he said that was too long to wait..lol...what a blessing!..i had prayed his heart would be softened to receive this change, and not only is he accepting..he is excited with all the books and topics we will get to learn with Beyond! thanks again, and a pleasure to meet you!

Thanks so much, momof3kids!!! I was answering this and not reading carefully that it was YOU I was answering! It was a pleasure to meet you as well, and I am just thrilled to read your ds's reaction to his Beyond materials. That IS a blessing! I am celebrating with you today!

In Christ,
Julie