Combining 6 and 10 in Bigger?

This is where new posts begin. All questions or discussions about any of Heart of Dakota's curriculums start here. If you wish to share a one-time post about your family's experience with our curriculum, you may post under the specific curriculum title (found beneath this "Main Board" heading).
Post Reply
4froggies
Posts: 125
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 9:02 am

Combining 6 and 10 in Bigger?

Post by 4froggies » Tue Apr 28, 2009 12:17 pm

Well, just as I thought I had decided to do two programs (CTC and Beyond) for my two daughters (ages 6 & 10), I'm getting cold feet :oops: I love what I see in the samples, and think each would be a good fit for them, but am concerned about doing two programs at the same time. I also have a verrrry active 3 yo son and a baby! I'm wondering if I might be biting off more than I can chew, at least for next year.

So, I'm taking a look at Bigger. We haven't done very much American history yet- just colonial times last year. I'm wondering if I should do the left side of Bigger with the girls together, and then have them do their own program for the basics. I just want to be able to complete something and am afraid that I will not get everything done with two programs. Maybe it's easier than I think??

What do you all think? BTW, love this board!!
Beth

Mom to 5 great kiddos (15,11,8,5,2) and one due in October!

my3sons
Posts: 10702
Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:08 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Combining 6 and 10 in Bigger?

Post by my3sons » Tue Apr 28, 2009 6:31 pm

Well, I was trying to remember what you'd shared about your dc after checking out the placement chart, and I enjoyed looking back and reading what you'd shared there. From refreshing my memory about your family's specifics, I think it would be best to have them each in their separate programs. Your older child placed strongly in CTC (that's right, isn't it?), and your younger child placed in either LHFHG or BLHFHG. I think Bigger Hearts (even just the left side) would be pretty difficult for your 6 yo. I think if I were you, I'd start Beyond Little Hearts at half-speed with your 6 yo, and start CTC full-speed. Then, you can either start doing BLHFHG full-speed sometime within the year, or just continue doing it half-speed and taking 2 years to do it. She's on the young side of BLHFHG, so no need to rush it. Also, there's no need to start LHTH yet with your 3 yo. You can always add that later if you really want to, but I think I'd hold off on that until the next year or two. We've done 2 programs for 3 years now at our house and enjoyed it so much. We finish school by lunchtime, and have the rest of the day for other things. It took us until 2:30 or so to finish school the first month, but after that, we were done in about 4 to 4 1/2 hours. If you read this, however, and you are really still wanting to combine them somehow - that's just fine too! You will know best. If you do want to combine for sure, please give information about your oldest child's 3 R's, and we'll go from there. :wink:

In Christ,
Julie
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie

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

Re: Combining 6 and 10 in Bigger?

Post by Carrie » Wed Apr 29, 2009 1:56 pm

I completely agree with the advice my3son's gave you. The gap between your kiddos is pretty wide in both age and abilities, so you'll actually find it easier to have each in their own program (without a lot of tweaking for you). We will be doing LHTH, Beyond, CTC, and piloting our new program next year, and I know it will work well. We had such a good year this year with LHFHG, Preparing, and piloting CTC. :wink:

My3sons gave you wonderful advice for beginning at half-speed and working your way up to full-speed as time allows. CTC is also quite an independent program, so once you get your older child trained to read from the guide, you'll be surprised at how much she'll be able to do on her own. I am really looking forward to using CTC with my second son in line, as he's had me with him for years and is ready to do more on his own. Then, I can spend more time teaching my littles who are ready for their turn with mommy. :D

Blessings,
Carrie

4froggies
Posts: 125
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 9:02 am

Re: Combining 6 and 10 in Bigger?

Post by 4froggies » Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:31 am

Thanks to both of you for your suggestions. I am praying about it, and am thinking about doing two programs, but doing CTC for dd10 and LHFHG (instead of Beyond)for dd6. LHFHG seems a little more "doable" in addition to CTC and would allow my 3 year old to join some of the activities. What do you think?
Beth

Mom to 5 great kiddos (15,11,8,5,2) and one due in October!

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

Re: Combining 6 and 10 in Bigger?

Post by Carrie » Thu Apr 30, 2009 1:53 pm

Ooh, I do like that idea! I agree that LHFHG is a great program to do when running two programs, as it slides into the day so easily! :D However, if LHFHG is not a good fit for your child and you end up tweaking it alot, it could be easier to just do Beyond. Language arts and math-wise where does your little sweetie fit?

Blessings,
Carrie

my3sons
Posts: 10702
Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:08 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Combining 6 and 10 in Bigger?

Post by my3sons » Thu Apr 30, 2009 2:34 pm

Carrie wrote:Ooh, I do like that idea! I agree that LHFHG is a great program to do when running two programs, as it slides into the day so easily! :D However, if LHFHG is not a good fit for your child and you end up tweaking it alot, it could be easier to just do Beyond. Language arts and math-wise where does your little sweetie fit?

Blessings,
Carrie
Ditto - I like this idea too, but am wanting to know more about your little one? If she places strongly in Beyond, then doing that half-speed would be a good option too. :D

In Christ,
Julie
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie

4froggies
Posts: 125
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 9:02 am

Re: Combining 6 and 10 in Bigger?

Post by 4froggies » Fri May 01, 2009 7:39 am

Thanks for your help! My younger daughter is still 5- will be 6 in June. She is a pretty easy student to teach- picks up on things quickly and is good about working independently. Here is how I think she fits on the program placement chart.:

reading: We are finishing Abeka K5 phonics. She is reading, but would not be reading for Emerging readers set quite yet.
writing: Knows how to form upper and lower case, but has not mastered. Able to copy words- haven't tried sentences yet.
spelling: Spells short words on her own phonetically, but have not done any formal spelling with her.
math: We are finishing Abeka K5 math. She has picked up math concepts easily. Would be ready for Singapore 1A

Other: Her listening and narration skills need practice. She memorizes things easily (bible verses). Not as interested in History as her sister was at this age, but loves animals and science. :)

Hope this helps. Thanks again!
Beth

Mom to 5 great kiddos (15,11,8,5,2) and one due in October!

my3sons
Posts: 10702
Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:08 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Combining 6 and 10 in Bigger?

Post by my3sons » Fri May 01, 2009 9:04 am

Hmmmm, I think I'd go with LHFHG and let her grow a bit in her writing and reading skills. I think this would also give her a year to grow into listening to history readings too. Beyond does have copywork of the poetry, spelling, oral narration, probably a sentence written each day for something, and longer history/science/storytime readings. I think I'd do LHFHG with the first grade options though - 1st. Grade Thinking Skills, A Reason for Handwriting A (Or, Italic B), My Father's World Gr. 1 Science, and Singapore Math 1A/1B. You can decide to EITHER purchase the Beyond Guide/Workbooks only 1A/1B for the hands-on math plans, OR you can use the 1A/1B Textbooks for the teaching part along with the schedule in LHFHG. If you got the Beyond guide, you could also do Spelling List 1 this year, and then Spelling List 2 in Beyond the next year when you do Beyond. One other plus to having the Beyond guide on hand that I found is I could start the Emerging Reader's Set partway through LHFHG, which is what we ended up doing and it worked great. However, just LHFHG with the First Grade options would truly be enough - just thought I'd throw those ideas out there because we enjoyed them. :D If you are still thinking you'd like to have her do Beyond, you could do that half-speed for 2 years still and just know she'd need time to grow into it. You will know best because you are mom! :)

In Christ,
Julie
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie

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

Re: Combining 6 and 10 in Bigger?

Post by Carrie » Fri May 01, 2009 11:01 am

4froggies,

Thanks so much for taking the time to share more about your precious daughter. 8) From what you've shared, I'm agreeing with my3son's and thinking placement in LHFHG would be best overall. I always err on the side of giving kiddos all they time they need to grow into the writing required in our upper guides. :D

I also agree with the suggestions she made about your options for doing LHFHG as is (with the possibility of adding Beyond for math 1A/1B, spelling list 1, and eventually the Emerging Reader's Set when you need them). :D

Blessings,
Carrie

4froggies
Posts: 125
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 9:02 am

Re: Combining 6 and 10 in Bigger?

Post by 4froggies » Fri May 01, 2009 12:48 pm

Thanks, Julie and Carrie!! :D
Beth

Mom to 5 great kiddos (15,11,8,5,2) and one due in October!

Post Reply