What would you do?

[SoaringEagle]

We are way behind with LHFHG. We're finishing up Unit 13. I'm not sure whether I should scrap the schedule and just do the books on our own, should I keep going with the guide as is and finish whenever or keep going as is and stop in June and go onto Beyond in August...If you have other ideas, please share them with me. Thanks.

[Busymomma1]

You could "double up" on some of the readings/subjects, if your goal is to finish. I know we would sometimes do "2 days in 1" when we did LHFHG (because we were getting a week done in 4 days d/t a co-op group on Friday). Depends on the abilities of your kids... I would only suggest doing this if your kids are showing success (accuracy in math, narrating the Burgess stories well and able to sit through 2 chapters at a time, etc). Now, I understand this somewhat "defeats" the purpose of Charlotte Mason's short lessons and savoring books, but that's one way to do it if your goal is to get to Beyond in the fall without giving up completing the LHFHG guide.

Have a blessed day!

[water2wine]

We doubled up when we got behind toward the end and it worked great for us. Not sure if that would work for you. It would not be double everything so it is not quite like doing two days at once. That is what we did.

[SoaringEagle]

That's what I started doing this week, doubling up on lessons. I guess I could keep doing that and see how it goes.

[holyhart]

I had to double up a little on LHFHG last year too to finish up. But even if you don't finish up by June when you want to stop school for the year, I wouldn't skip the rest and start with Beyond in Aug. If you don't finish, I would pick up where you left off with LHFHG and then start Beyond. One ties in so nicely with the other and you don't want to have any gaps later on. Try not to get hung up on each guide as a specific school year (LHFHG as K, Beyond as 1st, etc.), but rather look at them as a set of skills you want to 'cement' before moving on to the next guide. You can start Beyond very comfortable in Nov. if you have to.

Did that even make sense? Sorry if it didn't....3 sick kiddos right now and not much sleep.

[SoaringEagle]

Yes, it did make sense, thanks. I think we'll try doubling and if that doesn't work, we'll finish the guide before continuing with Beyond. We're actually using Beyond as grade 2 and waiting even later this year to start it might work even better with my dd.

[my3sons]

You've already gotten some great advice, so I'll just second what's already been said. I'd double up as you are able, then take your break, finishing LHFHG after the break, and then starting Beyond after that. We have taken the summer off in the middle of a guide, and I think it's been just fine. I wouldn't worry about that, especially with the younger guides. I know it takes some of the joy out of school to double up though, and it can lead to an overall feeling of stress. When I've felt this way or had this happen (which I did at the end of Beyond when we had some health concerns), it's always good to try to make plans to do whatever I have to do so it doesn't happen again. This reflecting on things has been a huge part of how I've been able to learn to truly enjoy homeschooling rather than just get through it. Anyway, just something I've learned that may or may not be helpful for you.

In Christ,
Julie

[SoaringEagle]

First of all we school 4x/week due to co-op on one of those days. We are too tired to do anything else afterward. So that extends our unit a bit. I was thinking on the days that we do have co-op, we'll try and double the lessons so that we'll complete the unit in 4 days instead of waiting the following Monday to finish. Last year I had jury duty so that kind of messed us up a bit...hopefully they don't call on me again until the kids are finished school or old enough to stay home alone. Then we took too many breaks, took most of December off even though it wasn't my original plan. So this year I'll plan the breaks but not too many since we only school 4 days/week.

[my3sons]

First of all we school 4x/week due to co-op on one of those days. We are too tired to do anything else afterward. So that extends our unit a bit. I was thinking on the days that we do have co-op, we'll try and double the lessons so that we'll complete the unit in 4 days instead of waiting the following Monday to finish. Last year I had jury duty so that kind of messed us up a bit...hopefully they don't call on me again until the kids are finished school or old enough to stay home alone. Then we took too many breaks, took most of December off even though it wasn't my original plan. So this year I'll plan the breaks but not too many since we only school 4 days/week.

Oh, jury duty - well, that's pretty unavoidable and impossible to plan ahead for! The breaks can be figured out though - it sounds like you have a good plan in place. Enjoy the remainder of LHFHG! It will do a good job of preparing your dc for Beyond, and that is a fun one to teach as well.

In Christ,
Julie

[moedertje]

You have gotten some great advise... I was wondering if you were concerned about starting new guides right when public school starts or if it was a grade concern. I like the answer to look at it more as cementing the skills, since the guide can be used in multiple grades. I had to get over it myself that you can start a guide at any time in the school year, that it does not have to be in "August" so I started Bigger in January at half pace so my ds of 7 could mature and get more out of the guides and cement some of these building blocks for future guides. I would like him to be more in the middle age of the guide when we get to CTC.
It is absolutely a blessing to see how each guide builds upon each other and it would be a pity to miss out on some of these amazing skills that our kiddo's learn in each guide.
Success in either doubling up or re-starting the same guide after your break!

[my3good&perfectgifts]

I think it depends on the age and maturity of your child. We are behind in LHFHG because we do it 3 to 4 days a week. I still plan to start Beyond in June or July. We will not be able to finish LHFHG before then, but my ds will be 8 the end of August and I want him to start on the skills in Beyond. I have been waiting for his motor skills to improve before we move him up. Writing just didn't come easy to him. I think your child is younger than mine. If my ds was a year younger, I would wait and finish LHFHG before starting Beyond.

[SoaringEagle]

I have decided that I will finish the guide before moving on the Beyond guide. I calculated that by doubling the lessons, we'll finish by the end of May...so things look good...

[SoaringEagle]

Another thing I am finding is that now that we switched back to Singapore math our school day is going a lot better. CLE math was great but it did add to our day and for dd it was getting too much. Singapore is lots of fun and she is also learning lots. I'll be using BLHFHG guide as it is written and will add extras as needed to satisfy our DOE requirements.

[Mommamo]

That's great that you figured out what will work for you. It's such a good feeling! I'm sure you'll love doing Beyond next year. LHFHG is too good to skip any of though! And don't worry about being behind-we started Beyond LAST March and are just on Unit 16. LOL Sometimes life just gets in the way.

[my3sons]

Juli - Thanks for sharing your plan here! I think it sounds like a good one, and I so agree with you about Singapore being fun and taking a fraction of the time most other programs can take. I'm glad for your little one to get to enjoy both finishing LHFHG and soon, starting Beyond!

In Christ,
Julie