heartofdakota.com

Hello,
I have been reading all the posts and looking at the placement chart and I am leaning towards beyond, but i still think I don't have a big enough picture of it to decide. My dd will be 7(2nd gr) and ds 8(3rd gr) in fall. We have been using Abeka and I am sorry to say that ,really this year so far we have still mostly been focusing on the 3 Rs as my husband has been unemployed for a 1.5 yrs, I had to return to work(I am a nurse and can find work thank God for that) so my wonderful husband has been hs'ing our little ones this year and like I said he has really focused on the 3 Rs and has done some US history, not much, some copywork we are starting now. My 7 yo is emerging reader. My 8 yo is fairly independent and very bright, but does not enjoy writing at all. He writes very neatly and takes his sweet time..so both can copy sentences, but it's not their favorite. In fact the workbook way we are seeing is not their favorite at all, which is why we are switching to a more Charlotte Mason approach, literature approach. We were trying to stick with Abeka because, if we plan on sending the kids to the Christian school where our 11th grader goes that is the curriculum that they use, of course that is a ways away.
Anyhow, I have been babbling here..my point is I think bigger may be ok for them, but then being that they are only 16 months apart, I could always use bigger the following year when they are 3rd and 4th graders. Is Beyond going to be too young or easy for my ds or would it be a good place to start because they have not had alot of history this year. For my ds I could order separate the math and cursive at his level and the reading and do Beyond. I was just not sure if it would be a good fit for him as he is very bright and does need some challenge. But again they have not had a really good base of history yet??? I am so thankful for boards like this to ask experienced people questions....sorry for carrying on so.
Thanks, Kristen in Michigan

Hi Kristen!

Welcome to the HOD board! This is my 1st year to use HOD with my oldest. So, I have experience with Bigger, but not Beyond yet. From what you've said, I think it sounds like Beyond would be the better fit for your family. (But if someone more experienced than me says otherwise...go with them!) You'll be new to several CM skills, so I don't think it will seem simplistic to your 8 yo. You'll want to be doing math and LA on his level. I'd highly reccommend doing Drawn Into the Heart of Reading with him. You should have more time for that if you start in Beyond. It sounds to me like you were saying that if you start with Bigger it may be just a little out of reach for your daughter. I'm sure there will be more moms who come help talk out the best fit for your kids. (This is the hardest part, but very worth it!)

Kathleen

Kristen,

Kathleen did a great job of advising you. If you haven't already had a chance to look at the placement chart, I would definitely start there. Here's a link to the chart: http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php

If you're feeling that Bigger will be a stretch for your 2nd grader, then you'd be better off starting both kiddos in Beyond (for the left side of the plans and for the storytime box on the right side of the plans). However, if your 2nd grader has strong reading skills and is already reading pretty well, is a good writer and can copy pretty well and without much trouble, and is a good listener to chapter books with few pictures, then you could put both in Bigger Hearts instead.

If you do decide to go with Beyond for your core program, then your 7 year old would be able to it as written, using the Emerging Reader's Set for reading, and the spelling, grammar, and copywork as scheduled in Beyond. If you do Beyond, you'll need to add the right side of the Bigger Hearts guide for your third grader's grammar instruction using English 2 (which is advanced, so it is good for a third grader), cursive handwriting, dictation passages in the Appendix, and possibly for the math schedule for Singapore math (depending on what you'll do for math). If you will be using your own choices for these options then you wouldn't need the Bigger Hearts guide. You'll also need Drawn into the Heart of Reading Level 2/3 for your 8 year old's reading instruction.

If you get a chance to pop back and tell us what you're thinking after looking over the placement chart that would be great!

Blessings,
Carrie

Welcome to the HOD board, Kristen! From what you've said so far, I think the "Beyond for both, but Bigger right side for ds" plan sounds great. I agree with what Kathleen and Carrie said. Life throws some curveballs, and I want to commend you and your dh for working together to be able to continue homeschooling your dc. I wouldn't worry about sticking with ABeka in case your younger dc go to the school your older child is going to - life could again throw various curveballs before then, so I think you are wise to make the best decision for your dc for the here and now. Your dc would thrive with HOD, and I've met a fair share of dh's teaching HOD at book fairs, so I think if your dh needs to continue doing the teaching that he would do great with it! The guide is set up clearly and easy to use. HTH, and I'm so glad you are here!

In Christ,
Julie

Thanks so much for all of your help, input and encouraging words. Ah yes, life does throw curve balls and I think HOD will be a nice change for my dc and my dh. Although, we continue to pray that I will be the one home teaching them in the fall, we are still grateful that one of us can be here at home. I really do like the way the guide is laid out, it just seems so right at your fingertips and not at all too cluttered with info. I really like the layout. I think Beyond sounds the way to go for my dc and do as Carrie suggested use the more advanced math,readers, english for my ds. I figure the following year they will be 3rd and 4th grade and Bigger will be a nice fit then. I appreciate all the help and look forward to chatting with you all soon. Kristen