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Hi There,

I love HOD and am so excited about starting, but really need to make this decision!! My original plan was to use Beyond with my 1st grader (6 in June) and Bigger with my 3rd grader (8 in June). As we have come to the close of this school year and I am starting to plan for next, I am questioning my ability to teach them both separately. I also have a 3 1/2 year old who will be doing Little Hands I think it would be easiest to combine the 2 oldest, but I am concerned that Beyond would not be enough for the oldest. I know she is ready for Bigger and I hate to not put her where she would fit best, but I also know I have to do what will keep me sane!! She would definitely do her own spelling, grammar, reading and math on her level, so do you think the other stuff (science, history, Bible, poetry) would be okay for her?? Or would you push yourself to make teaching 2 programs work?

Thanks!!

Coleen

I wouldn't push myself to do 3 programs. American Pioneers and Patriots is grade 3 in CLP and Boys and Girls of Colonial Days and Stories of the Pilgrims is a 4th grade reader in CLP. So I think it would be perfect for a 3rd grader.
I would do what would be the best fit for your dc as well as yourself. If you feel overwhelmed, you won't be able to teach to the best of your ability. I would choose what I knew I could do and do well.
Then when you get to BHFHG you have the extensions that you can add for your older.
Val

I think you can make it work. If you find your oldest wanting more, you can look for library books that cover the same time periods.

I used Beyond with a third grade girl this year who could have done Bigger. Next year she'll do Bigger, though she could easily handle Preparing! It is what works for me and we've had a wonderful year. Everyone has really enjoyed it. One thing we did at the end of the year that worked well was having each child notebook the history. They would narrate to me and I would type out their narrations from the reading. (We didn't do narrations every time). They could draw a picture for their notebook. This allowed the kids some outlet for her particular skill level and I wished I had started that earlier in the year. Hope this encourages you. It will be just fine to do that.

Another option would be to combine your 1st and 3rd dc for the left side of Beyond and split them for the right side. My guess is that the right side of Beyond would be too easy for your 3rd grader. You could use the Beyond plans for your 1st and use the right side of Bigger for your 3rd. That way, both dc are getting what they need in the skills areas, such as lang. arts and math and can learn the content areas together.
Just a thought,
Laura

One more option would be to have your 3rd. grader do Bigger Hearts as is, and have your 6 yo do Beyond half-speed. This would be super easy to do, as doing Beyond half-speed only takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hours a day. I'm always a bit worried about recommending combining if that little voice in your head is already saying it might not be enough for your older child. Sometimes when we're thinking that way, we end up adding in so much more that it honestly would have just been easier to do 2 programs. Bigger Hearts takes about 3 hours a day, Beyond half-speed about 1 hour or a bit more, and LHTH 30 minutes a day. I think this is very manageable, and you could say "goodbye" to that nagging little voice saying maybe Beyond won't be enough for your older. Also, you'd be on track for a wonderful rotations of teaching guides, none back to back (i.e. Bigger, Beyond halfspeed, LHTH this year; PHFHG, Beyond half-speed, Little Hearts half-speed next year; CTC, Bigger, Little Hearts half-speed the following year; etc. Of course if the goal is to try to combine them for the future, then, you'll need to weigh that and decide if you do want to combine right now. You will know best what your family's goals are!

In Christ,
Julie

Hi! I will be beginning HOD/Beyond with my 3rd grader in the fall. I do not know as much as all the previous posters about HOD, but I feel strongly that the history, Bible and science (with a possible supplement) is plenty for a 3rd grader.However, your son may be very advanced in those areas and that would be a different situation.

Anyway, just wanted to pop in and say "hello" and let you know that I had the same concerns, but after a trial day or so with Beyond this year, I decided that's it's very meaty!
Blessings!
Tina
mom to Jacob 8 years old
wife to Tim, 15 years

Colleen,

The ladies are doing such a good job of giving you all sorts of scenarios to think through! I'm impressed ladies. Seriously though, all of these are good options and ones that could work for your family. Now, it's just a matter of sorting through which option meets your family goals best.

If you do head toward combining within Beyond for the left side of the plans and the storytime, then you'd want to add the right side of Bigger Hearts for your third grader to up the level of the 3R's. You also will need to add additional science to Beyond for your 3rd grader, either by adding additional science reading to Beyond, or by using the science plans from Bigger Hearts for your older child instead.

If you do head toward the separating your kiddos option, then I agree that the 6 year old could go at half-speed in Beyond to help you better manage 2 programs, while your older child would do Bigger Hearts at full-speed.

Blessings,
Carrie