Combine or separate? Beyond or Bigger

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FiveLittlePeaches
Posts: 284
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:19 am

Combine or separate? Beyond or Bigger

Post by FiveLittlePeaches » Mon Apr 27, 2009 4:22 pm

Ok. I've written before about my daughter, but maybe I need to reevaluate my decision.

My daughter is 7, and will be 8 in the fall. She's a strong reader with good comprehension skills. She loves challenging books, for example, and recently finished The Moffats and Pinky Pye. She will also go through a few level 2/3 reading books every day just for fun. She is very strong in language arts and is a good speller. Sometimes she likes to write and illustrate story books for her own amusement. In addition to doing LHFHG with her sisters, I also get her a lot of the recommended reading books from the appendix of LHFHG from the library. I never felt like she was lacking this year, because she kept herself busy on her own. She's also finishing most of the R&S 2nd grade subjects, including Preparing to Build. I was doing R&S before I found out about HOD. She's very easy going and a joy to teach but now I'm completely off track with her because I didn't factor all this information in during the beginning of the school year.

Plus, she has already read American Pioneers and Patriots. I found it in her room one day, and she confessed to reading it. :? :roll:

One bonus in keeping the children together is that school gets done every day. We're pretty much on track and Lord willing, we'll finish out the school year mid-may. I also a four year old and a toddler in the mix. I don't want to drive myself crazy and over do it. BUT...

I think my daughter is ready for Bigger. I bought the Bigger Economy Package just to get a feel for the program, but I know my 5 and 6 (will be 6 and 7) will not be ready for Bigger in the fall, so I'd have to keep them in Beyond.

I will come right out and say I'm afraid to do 2 programs. But I think my oldest is ready for more of a challenge and at this point I think I might be holding her back if I don't move her up. She loves biographies, and I think she'd really enjoy that aspect of Bigger. Plus, I plan on starting her in DITHOR asap and I already have the manuel, but I just have to figure it out.

I would welcome any suggestions.

Thank you.

Joy

Alison in KY
Posts: 181
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:00 pm

Re: Combine or separate? Beyond or Bigger

Post by Alison in KY » Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:16 pm

Well, if you are afraid to do two programs, then just go with Beyond and combine them for now. You are lucky with your oldest being such a great reader. You can keep her busy with great books, just don't use the books from Bigger or any of the other HOD programs before EVERYONE is ready for them. :mrgreen:

You could use Honey for a Child's Heart and/or Ambleside online to give her some books to read through.

Just my two cents.

Alison

Carrie
Site Admin
Posts: 8128
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2007 8:39 pm

Re: Combine or separate? Beyond or Bigger

Post by Carrie » Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:59 am

Joy,

I'd agree with Alison's great advice! :D In looking down the road, it sounds like you have two more little peaches coming up that will eventually need their own program, so you'll get your chance to use 2 HOD programs. However, since you're having a good school year and your daughter is wonderful at extending her own learning by reading, creating, and writing you are doing just fine with her. Charlotte Mason believed strongly in kiddos having plenty of free time in their afternoons to pursue their own interests, which your daughter is excelling at doing. :D

Just because your older daughter has read Amercian Pioneers and Patriots doesn't mean she can't enjoy listening to you read it aloud with Beyond. It is a wonderful book with excellent stories that are worthy of being reread. Just make sure to hide any other books from Beyond from her! :lol:

I would definitely agree with you that your daughter is ready for DITHR and that is one great way to up the level of reading to the literature study level. Keeping her together with your other sweeties for the left side of Beyond and the storytime will allow you time to focus on the very important area of reading/literature study through DITHR which brings in deep discussions and questions that get your daughter digging beneath the surface of what she's reading. :D

If you already own Bigger Hearts and you felt your daughter was ready, you could easily add a few things from the right side of the guide like English 2, the higher level of spelling/dictation, upper level of math, and even possibly the science from Bigger Hearts if you desired. However, I would keep the left side of the guide and storytime for all of them to do together the next year after Beyond. :D

It sounds like your daughters are having a good "school" experience and that you are doing many things right! That's a good reason to celebrate! Way to go, mom! :D

Blessings,
Carrie

FiveLittlePeaches
Posts: 284
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:19 am

Re: Combine or separate? Beyond or Bigger

Post by FiveLittlePeaches » Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:34 am

Carrie,

Thank you for your post and for your words of encouragement. It's exactly what I needed to hear. :wink:

We have had a wonderful year doing LHFHG, and it would just make things more complicated if I did two different manuels when it wasn't necessary. Plus, I totally agree with what you said, that my daughter will benefit from hearing American Pioneers and Patriots being read aloud. Now that I think about it, my children often reread their favorite books. I don't see how a text book is any different, expecially one so well written. I know she'll get more out of it during the school year anyway.

I am so thankful for HOD! It has been such a blessing to our family.

Warmly,

Joy

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