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My ds8 just started Beyond. The guide includes math lessons for Singapore 1A and 1B, but he is working on 2A. He started it last year but without much guidance I gave it up. I went back to Bob Jones this year but we have had many groans, fussing and almost tears over it. I went back to Singapore last week and he has been doing 1-2 pages a day without a problem.
My question is this....If he does 2A and 2B this year with the appendix plans and then moves on next year when he goes into Bigger, we will be using the appendix again. He'll never get the benefit of the plans in the guide (and I won't get that help in teaching it.) I just realized there is a textbook that goes along with the workbooks, but is that as helpful for me to teach it? I'd rather do Carrie's activities.
Any thoughts on this?
Thanks,
Kristen

The last year of plans Carrie has is actually 2A and B. After that (starting in Preparing) all Carrie has in the guides is similar to what is in the appendix for the earlier guides.
Carrie does recommend the textbook (and lists it) if you aren't using her plans. So, your best course of plan is either to buy the textbook for 2A and B OR buy the Bigger guide and use the activities in it. Personally, I woudl go with the Bigger guide because you will need it later anyways. Then, once you get to 3A, you will buy the textbook and follow Carrie's instructions in the appendix for using both the appendix and textbook.
Singapore also has home instructor guides, but these can end up being more than you need until the higher levels (5 and 6 mostly). Once you get to 5 and 6, having the full worked out answers and additional help can be necessary, but even then many families don't use it much.

Thanks, Stephanie. That's very helpful and sort of a relief. He won't be missing out on the creative stuff in the guides. I'm going to look at getting Bigger for the math or the Singapore textbooks.