How do you use more than one program?

[Alison in KY]

Just wondering, currently mine are combined and just starting Beyond. I can already see that with my daughters flightly learning and slow progress in reading that it would be beneficial to cover Beyond again, this time without her big brother answering all of the questions. So how do you use more than one program at a time? Is your oldest reading their own history to themselves, do you do two storytimes? Anything that you can think of to help me figure things out would be appreciated.

Alison in KY

[mamaloves4]

Hi,

We are using Beyond and Preparing and we jumped in to HOD last October. I switched to HOD because I was combine teaching my two oldest except for math and reading, and my dd6 at the time was not learning/retaining due to her older sisters tendency towards answering all the questions first or correcting her younger sister if she missed something in the reading. I chose HOD because(one of the many reasons) it looked like I could teach them separately and still have time for all the other aspects of being a mom. As it has turned out, that is true. I am doing Beyond at half speed with my dd7(now) because she hasn't quite yet reached the emerging readers stage and I wanted to give her time to really soak up the learning to read and how phonics works and all, yet she placed really well in Beyond on the placement page for all the other aspects.

Now, on to your question 'how do you use more than one program?' this is what i do and it seems to work for us. We start at 8:30 with the oldest and I doing all the boxes except Storytime and Independent History Study on the right side of the plans. She then does her Math facts, the Storytime box (on her own and if I have the books), and either the Independent History Box and/or Science Exploration Box and sometimes both. While the oldest is doing that I get started with dd7 on Beyond. We do three boxes each day as sets: Poetry, Language Arts and Storytime one day and Reading about History, Rotating Box and Bible/Music
the next day. After those three boxes are done we do a phonics/reading lesson (every day). Then I pull both girls in and we do math at their individual levels (every day). After Math, dd7 writes her Sunday School memory verse for handwriting practice and the oldest and I continue on with Preparing: bible Study, Poetry, Language Arts. We are usually done by noon with the oldest finishing up any Independent work she didn't get done while I was working with DD7 in Beyond. On the days I have done the full pace of Beyond, I only need about 30-40- minutes after lunch. Oh and I do Little Hands twice a week after lunch with my 4 year old.

that is our 'schedule'. I don't have things marked out in time slots, but I go just by order and try not to take more than 20 minutes for each box with the exception of language arts in preparing and math for both girls (30min). Most times it takes less than 20 min. to do a box of plans.

could you consider separating your two children this year? Maybe trying Little Hearts for your youngest? I only ask that because I have seen such an excitement for learning in my dd7 who now has her own program without working in the 'shadow' of her big sister. I am so happy I took the plunge and did it---it might be adding more logistics to my day, but so worth it when I see how excited she is to 'do school'.

I will pray that the Lord leads you in the right path for your family,

Jess

[Alison in KY]

Thank you so much for your plan. Anyone else? I am combining my 3, and for instance, today took from 08:30 ish until 1:30, and my son is still doing his reading. That included lunch, and a few small breaks, but nothing significant. I was basically doing the basics in the morning, then I spent a good hour going over the storytime, poetry, Bible, history, and science which today was reading and a really really quick activity. I feel like I need to do the HOD stuff after we do our math, phonics lessons, handwriting, etc...but today I wound up reading way to much at one time...I became a bit tongue tied. I feel like I have to do the harder stuff in the morning, since we are morning people...which means the math, phonics, spelling first thing...but I don't do all of my kids at once because they each need individual attention at this time. I will admit I wound up doing some review and probably took a bit longer today then it normally does...but I just don't see how you could do more than one program...which means double the reading aloud, correct (or are you having the older kids do their own storytime to themselves?). Oh, they also did a stint on the computer, but while one is doing computer time, there is always someone else doing table work. I would like to plan on two programs next year...but I definitely need some more input on that...oh, and I'd like to bring in DITHOR also...which I'm not doing yet.

Alison in KY

[StillJulie]

Since this is working well for me, let me just give you a quick look at our day today.

I have an 8yo, 7yo, 5yo, 3yo, 1yo, and am 26 weeks along with baby #6.

I got up around 7 and showered. Then I fed breakfast to my early risers (5yo and 3yo). The 8yo and 7yo are able to get their own. At 8, I got the 1yo and fed her breakfast while I ate mine. Then I gave the 3yo her breathing treatment (for RSV).

My 8yo got her stuff out for Bigger. She did the history box on her own, but came to me to orally answer some questions while I was still administering the breathing treatment (takes 20 minutes and I have to hold it otherwise the 3yo tips it over and drinks it instead of inhaling it). After that, she did the music box (Holy, Holy, Holy). She also requested a dictation passage (I'm not requiring that until she finishes the Rod & Staff spelling we're using), so we did that. Then we got paint supplies set up for her to do the artistic box that was in today's plans. She painted while I cleaned up from breakfast. When I finished that, she was still painting, so to make use of that time, I read the storytime box for the day (chapter 2 in Jed Smith autobiography). She was still painting after we both did the narration/details, so then I did the poetry box and we talked about that while she continued to paint. She was STILL painting, so then I started reading the Bible Study box. Some of that required her to do arm motions and jumping jacks, so I repeated her verse and she said it a few times while she finished up the painting. Then we finished the active part of that box. At this point, she's done with most of her work that requires any involvement from me. She moved on to more independent work (Language Arts - spelling, handwriting, and English; as well as math and reading). I think at this point it was probably about 9:30, though I'm not a clock watcher.

I grabbed the Little Hearts manual and got to work with my 7yo. We did the history box (reading from Little Pilgrims and the Bible) and the science box (activity and reading). Then we did the rhymes, Bible study (including activity) and music boxes. That probably took about 30 minutes. After that I did the storytime. Then we did parts that involved more reading/writing for him: handwriting (Rod & Staff - half a page), phonics (two pages from the Reading Lesson), reading (one chapter from a Pathway reader), and math (which included an edible activity). He was totally done with all his work within about an hour.

I did help the 8yo with her English after that since I let her do a lot orally rather than written.

My husband needed an early lunch, so I got started on that. The 8yo had finished her piano practice, handwriting, spelling, and English and was working on math. She did two lessons independently (they're still easy - we switched to Singapore 2A). I checked them and had her do a few minor corrections. I also checked the other work that she'd done indpendently while our lunch finished cooking.

At 11:30 we ate lunch (usually it's 12). I cleaned that up b/c there were a lot of dishes. Usually it's the 8yo's job, but she'll do supper tonight instead since we're eating a lighter meal tonight. While I cleaned up, the 8yo did her extension readings for Bigger as well as her reading (Rod & Staff, until the mystery book for Drawn into the Heart of Reading comes in from the library). She also did her science independently and was all done with that by 1.

At 1, I did Little Hands to Heaven with my 3yo and 5yo (and actually the 7yo and 8yo too, as they love to join in). All four of them fingerpainted the letter B today. It was fun to watch them. They all joined in as I led them in being various animals going into the ark. Even the 1yo was getting in on the action. LOL That only took about 30 minutes to complete all the boxes of Little Hands.

So, by 1:30, everything was done.

I put the two littlest girls down for their naps, got the older three settled into their rooms/spaces for quiet time and did 30 minutes of exercise.

Now I'm relaxing at the computer for a bit. Once I finish this post, I'll take the three oldest to the barn to feed a calf/cow that we need to take care of.

But our schoolwork is DONE for the day! And I've even had time to just sit and relax a bit.

I tutor a homeschool girl from a different family at 4 on Tuesdays, so she'll be here before long. I'm tired, but not exhausted.

If you other specific questions, I'd be happy to try to help answer them.

[Alison in KY]

StillJulie,

my head is still spinning. GAH, that is alot going on. I guess I just don't handle things as well as you do. I can't imagine getting the painting supplies out for one child, they'd all come running and pretty soon we would have a mess everywhere. My oldest isn't that independent yet...woops, gotta go for now.

[StillJulie]

StillJulie,

my head is still spinning. GAH, that is alot going on. I guess I just don't handle things as well as you do. I can't imagine getting the painting supplies out for one child, they'd all come running and pretty soon we would have a mess everywhere. My oldest isn't that independent yet...woops, gotta go for now.

Surprisingly enough, the others didn't ask to paint... probably b/c I let them have free reign with watercolors. If they had asked to paint, I would have let them use watercolors. They aren't too messy. If you have paint with water books, those are nice for little ones too.

Also, I have some special lauri toys (pegs, puzzles), other wood puzzles (melissa and doug), stacker/sorter toys (melissa and doug), etc. that I only let the little ones use during school. Since those items have some novelty to them, they help to keep the little ones entertained while I'm needed more with the bigger kids.

[my3sons]

Have I got a great link for you, Alison!
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2093&p=19532&hilit= ... les#p19532

These posts all have to do with how everyone is scheduling their days homeschooling with HOD - many with more than 1 program! It is a little gold mine.

I am wondering if since you are just starting Beyond, if you could keep ds going with Beyond and start LHFHG with dd? She'd probably really shine! The storytime readings in LHFHG are super short (but really good) - or, you could just do the Beyond Storytime with both of them still. LHFHG took us about 1 1/2 hours to do. You could check out how moms are combining those 2 in the scheduling post.

As far as when you're doing both Beyond and Bigger, you could definitely just do one of the Storytimes. They are both genre based, so that would work well.

So, what are you thinking now? If I knew the 2 programs you wanted to use at the same, I'd help you with ideas for scheduling that if you'd like - and I know others would too!

In Christ,
Julie

[Alison in KY]

Hmh, what am I thinking now? I wish I could get a better nights sleep

I guess what I'm thinking is that I'm in the getting my feet wet stage. I've only actually completed 5 days of the program, but I'll admit that even for my 9 yr old (all boy) nothing has been dumbed down in Beyond. The history reading is perfect for all three of them to listen to, and our first biography is short, Helen Keller, but they are all loving it. For my 7 yr old my focus is really on getting her to read better and better. My 5 yr old is along for the ride and not prone to sit still for too long. I really need to beef up the phonics instruction with her, but first I need to get better in the swing of things with Beyond.

It's not that I'm against LHFHG, it's that I have more of a hands on doing little activities with the kids impression of it...and I just don't do that It's hard to explain, but I guess I'm just not as fun as I once was. Probably my most independent child is my youngest and she flitters in and out of school alot right now. As long as she's happy then I'm okay with that. My son has never been independent, but since his reading has improved, I can better hand him things to work on a bit.

Since I'm just now getting started with Beyond, I'm trying not to stress in where I'm "at" in the program. I see others posting about getting in this four year history cycle starting in 5th grade and it starts to eat at me a little bit (thinking I will fail my homeschooling mom test if I don't get in on that cycle). But I just can't see skipping Bigger with my oldest.

So right now I'm thinking I'm going to plug away at Beyond with my 3, not even doing DITHOR, even though my writing phobic 9 yr old is reading well enough to do it. I need to focus my 7 yr old on her reading and basic math facts....she thinks way differently than any of us and I have yet to figure out if a light bulb is on in there , but she's not special needs or anything, at least not that I know of. Then I'll go to Bigger...maybe with all 3, maybe just with my oldest and go through Beyond again with my youngest? Or I thought about doing Bigger with all 3, again, having my 2 youngest mainly listening in to the readings (left side) and still doing our own math and LA's, then possibly when it's time for Preparing, I could cycle my two younger girls (soon to be 8 and 6) back through Beyond and Bigger. OH, I just don't know what I'll do, but at least it's fun trying to figure things out.

Are kids supposed to be reading their own storytime and history readings in Bigger, or does mom still do that?

Any advice

[inHistiming]

Mom does still do the story time reading in Bigger...though some families do it different from what is suggested. We're using Bigger... right now with my 3rd and 5th grader, using the extension pack to bring it up more to my ds level in science and history...though we read them aloud so I and my daughter can benefit. So be encouraged, not all of us are going to complete the cycle. Had I started a year earlier with my dc in HOD ds might have gotten to do that but not at this point. So, as it looks now he will get through Preparing...and then the 1st two in the cycle before getting to High School. I am guessing he will still listen in on readings, as we've always done read alouds as a family....so he will still get some of the info. Both my dd and younger ds will get to complete the 'cycle' though. I don't know if it's that big a deal, but I understand it bothering you....I am also one who likes to follow plans and 'complete' things, check boxes...As for cycling your younger dc back through some of the manuals, I know Carrie doesn't normally recommend that. Hopefully she'll chime in here and give you some ideas about how to handle the combining.

[Carrie]

Alison,

Right now since you're just starting with Beyond, I'd keep going as you are and give yourself a chance to settle in before making any changes. Once you hit your stride, if you feel the need to move your younger daughter to a different program (like LHFHG) you could do it more easily once your older ones are settled into their routine.

One other thing I would suggest is to do the left side of Beyond in one sitting with all kiddos sometime before lunch. I know we found it was good to alternate some of the 3 R's with the rest of the material from the HOD guides to give the kiddos some variety. So, I do leave math and phonics to do with my third little guy after lunch. I don't ever skip it because I know he needs it, and he is fresh right after eating to complete those important subjects.

My oldest son does math first thing, because he's a morning person, but my second son does handwriting first and then reading, as he's not a morning person. So, these are just some schedule things to ponder. Loading up all the math, phonics, handwriting, reading, in the morning can wear both you and your kiddos out, and increases your chances of skipping Beyond's history etc. in the afternoon.

One other thing to consider is how much time you're spending on your language arts and math each day. Those are subjects that can really be time suckers within your school-day and really add-up. It can be shocking to add up how much time is going into those subjects each day. Beyond takes 2 to 2 and 1/2 hours a day (including math, handwriting, reading, spelling, grammar etc.). So, if you are a long way beyond that amount of time, take a good look at your language arts and math. You may wish to consider switching, in the long-run, to some of our recommendations in those areas to help with the language arts and math time-wise.

Blessings,
Carrie

[netpea]

We do LHFHG and Bigger.
We typically start our day with reading. I read the History Readings to both kids and both Storytimes, bible readings, poetry, and science readings, then my son reads to us for DITHOR and then my daughter does her phonics reading. I keep a nice tall beverage by the rocker for this time...

Then we move onto the rest. When my 6yodd is not doing something scheduled, she pulls out one of the extra workbooks I have for her and plugs away at it while her brother (8yo) is working, or she'll play in her room or watch an educational show. My 8yo can't stand for her to be "done" before him, so I always save something of hers until he finishes then I finish with her.