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We just started HOD this year and my LHFHG son is doing great with it. He's a late birthday and we held him back a year so he was almost 7 when he started. We'd started reading instruction ahead of time, though, and completed our phonics course on his birthday, so now he's started the ERs. Because he's older I also chose the grade 1 science and math. The assignments are in the back and for science the hands-on things in the guide occasionally line up so we do them, other times we skip them.

However, my question is for math. Since he's doing the Grade 1 option and the page numbers are in the back he's not had any hands-on things written by Carrie to do alongside the workbook. This has been fine for him this year; he's finding math easy. But I'm wondering if next year we should keep 2 guides handy and actually work on math out of the Bigger guide while he's working on Beyond? We didn't have the Beyond guide this year as an option (I've already had to buy 4 guides this year so an extra, just to follow math, was not an option!) but would it be worth the hassle of having the weight and bulk of 2 guides for him to carry around each day?

Has anyone else done just math out of a second guide? Should I just keep as we have been and follow the schedule in the back without worrying about the content in the box that corresponds with the text/workbook pages?

Another consideration is time: with 5 guides to run next year would it be "okay" to just use the schedule? (Or maybe the real question is, does the activity part add extra time to the day?)

Blessings,

The hands on stuff adds about as much time as you want it to add really. It is beneficial for kids who are more hands on type learners. It really helps cement it in. However I would not choose to have an extra guide just to do the hands on stuff. The biggest idea is to have something they can actually DO to learn the concepts. So you can do that with just about anything.

I say this as a mom who has kids all over the place in math completely not aligned with the guide, and not wanting to have extra things around for the toddler to mess up Plus once you get to 3A its' just textbook and workbook anyway.

But like I said before, the hands on part really helps it stick. And a good portion of the time it is some sort of snack that they use, so that really helps too!

I agree with MomtoJGJE - my kids lessons don't necessarily align with the guide. And I definitely think it is very important to include the hands on activities listed in Beyond and Bigger when you get to those levels. But other than that, 3A is when Singapore does become just a text book without nearly as many hands on activities.

Okay, I'll see when we get there what kind of time I have, I guess. He'll be doing 2A/B in Beyond and I already have the Bigger guide so I'll use it if it works, skip it if it doesn't! He's my first in Singapore as, with switching the others in Grades 4, 6 & 7 we stuck with the books they were already using for math.

Thanks, ladies!
Blessings,

Rice wrote:Okay, I'll see when we get there what kind of time I have, I guess. He'll be doing 2A/B in Beyond and I already have the Bigger guide so I'll use it if it works, skip it if it doesn't! He's my first in Singapore as, with switching the others in Grades 4, 6 & 7 we stuck with the books they were already using for math.

Thanks, ladies!
Blessings,

I'd definitely use the BHFHG hands-on plans for 2A/2B, especially since you own the guide. They do an awesome job of helping dc make the transition to harder mental math later. Our dc are not all mathy, but they have all done the HOD hands-on plans through 2B, and are older 2 dc are doing so well now. The hands-on activities are not scheduled as often in the BHFHG guide, about every other day or so. The teaching time is short, and the activities are easy to do. My last child is my least mathy, and we are doing BHFHG with the hands-on activities now. He is finally having a breakthrough on some skills he's found difficult! Sometimes we do the hands-on activity once, and he has it. Other times we do it more often or as a review when needed. It is nice to have something to fall back on to do when he forgets something. This is the last push for hands-on before it's gone, so I think it's well worth doing. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

Thanks, Julie! Just what I needed to hear to make the effort to have the guide available each day.

Blessings,

I LOVE the hands on learning. My DS really thrived on them. Definitely use them next year since you already have the guide.

Thanks, Rice and raindrops! I am getting a little sad as my youngest grows older, and a little happy too, I guess. Mixed feelings! The thought of hands-on math being done after I finish BHFHG with Emmett, forever, is making me a little sad. Math just gets heavier and heavier, it seems, but then I guess they are more and more independent too! Anyway, sometimes I think, what will I do when I don't have a little one anymore? But then, sometimes I think, what do I mean what will I do when I don't have a little one anymore? It won't be hard to find things to do, I am sure, as I've been storing them up for when I have more time. Anyway, enjoy the hands-on math with the little ones if you can - it is just a short time before it's done. God bless!

In Christ,
Julie