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Beyond and DTHoR arrived today. I will be doing this with 2 kiddos:

ds will be doing Beyond as is and an emerging reader;
dd will be doing Beyond left side with Bigger right side.

Nevermind we are switching math programs to Singapore so that is another TM I need to get familiar with and prepare manipulatives for (dd will review at 2B but is ready for 3A). Lots to do, get familiar with and prepare for. AND I have been a die hard HST+ user for 3 years so to realize I *may* not need HST+... it feels like I am a newbie all over again. I am excited and anxious and overwhelmed...

now... time to stop whining, dive in, and find my sense of organization. Oh wait, I must go feed the baby and put her to bed first.

Wish me luck!

Congratulations!!! I still remember my first box day with HOD. It's so exciting;-) My girlfriend came over and actually helped me to organize it and put it together. I can't wait to hear all the details? Are you going to take pictures? (excited smile)

Well, I DO wish you luck & will be keeping you in prayer. I have no advice to give, as I am right there with you feeling overwhelmed. My box arrived & although it all looks so interesting, I feel totally lost as to how it's all going to fit together. I am just taking peace from the fact that so many on here make it work by just diving in. This will be my 1st yr. teaching my kids at home & I am stepping out in faith, knowing that my God did not bring me this far in this journey to leave me stranded!! Just wanted you to know you're not the only one without it all figured out!!

No advice either, just hugs. I also felt overwhelmed when I opened my box. We'll be doing Bigger and I glanced through everything but need to sit down and look at it more closely.

It's really nothing to get confused about. Just open and get started. If you open the manual you'll see all the boxes. I always liked to start with Bible as it set a tone. So we'd start with a prayer, and then dive in to reading or memorizing the scripture and I usually had my dd copy the verse on to a 3x5 card, so it was also a bit of copywork. Then your history reading comes next, you read to them and help them understand with the "key idea". Then you move on to the history or geography or timeline project, which ties in to the key idea from the history reading. Then I usually revisited the Bible idea because so often it had a comment about how the verse was applicable to the history.

You just go box by box. Once my dd got to understand what I was doing, she could request story-time or poetry or science to mix things up a bit.

You guys will do great. We had a great time in Bigger last year and are really looking forward to moving on to Preparing this Sept. Just relax and have fun, after all, Carrie has done all the work for you!!!

Take deep breaths. It will all be okay.

Singapore Math TM...gee, wish I could make you feel better there. But...I can't. I found the math manual confussing myself (I used it for a year before I ever found HOD). We switched a while ago...but I know that in Beyond and Bigger, Singapore lessons are laid out in the Math box. If your dc are on level there, then do you even need the Singapore Math TM?

Once you get into it, you will see that the plans are laid out in a wonderful way that makes it so easy to teach. Seeing that many living books and not knowing how they all go together can be overwhelming...but trust me, it isn't at all. It is wonderful.

It can be a bit overwhelming but I think once you actually start using the materials - it gets easier.

Sewpeacful,
I'm sending big hugs and a little chocolate ! You are going to be great with HOD!!!

Just as we were ready to begin Bigger in July my Dad had a massive stroke and boy was I overwhelmed with "How am I going to figure all this out?" and "When do I find time to prepare all my stuff?" I'm here to encourage you that you are not alone.

But I know that once you begin to read through your guides, you'll find it all laid out with alot of instruction to help. I didn't breath easy until we had one week down. It's like the first day of VBS (if you've ever helped with that at your church). You just need a few days actually doing it, then you'll have it down. Looking at all those books seems like it will be so confusing, but I promise you'll be an old pro in no time. I'll be praying for you and all our homeschool friends as we begin a new year!

How exciting. This is what I do, I would put all the books on the shelf according to manual. Then I would take one manual and look at it and read it and get excited again. Then look at day one and pull the books for that manual and see how it all fits together. Then I would put it back and do the same with the other manuals. I think that would give you a great idea how it all fits together and how easy it really is.

You ladies are AWESOME!! Thank you for all of the encouragement. I browsed the books all weekend and sat down today and got up to my elbows in them. I have created my dd's DTHOR list for the year. I had forgotten what a GREAT library I have built so far. It was tough to choose in some cases. Next is the read aloud list (storytime) for both kiddos.

Oh, and to answer the question about the Singapore TM: my dd is doing a beefed up right side, but I don't have the Bigger book. I am simply having her do DTHOR, Rod & Staff English 2 (she is taking the tests right now so I know where to place her), and the Singapore Math. Because I don't have Bigger, I don't have the lessons for 2B. Granted, most of it is review, but there are a few concepts she could use practice or a fresh explanation on. Then off to 3A by Thanksgiving at the latest (really, most of 2B is ridiculous review for her). Could I teach it on my own? Yes, but I teach on paper. Carrie wants our kids to EXPERIENCE their lessons, not something that comes natural to me. So, I will take the Singapore 3A TM and let it hold my hand and teach me how to teach math with manipulatives.

Anyway, thank you for all of the encouragement. My plan should be done by the end of the week. My dd's therapy update is the 11th. After that... time to jump out of the nest and fly.