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What could I add to beef up Beyond for a 9 year old?
Thank you

If I remember correctly, at least one of the history books used in Beyond is used in 3rd grade CLP curriculum. I am reading Beyond's history books to my children right now, and I think they would be fine for a 9 year old. Just make sure math and LA are on the right level. If you wanted to, you borrow the vocab idea from Bigger and find new words in the readings in Beyond and have your child keep a vocab notebook.

I think it really depends on the 9 year old. Why are you wanting to use Beyond for her? Are you combining with a younger child or just want to do American History?

This year, I tried Bigger with Extensions for a 10 year old 5th grader and it was not a fit for him. I really feel I chose the wrong guide (knowing full well it was not the right choice) because I was trying to get in that year of American History. We had to stop after a few months and take a more textbook (yuck) approach. This coming year, I am going to use CTC with him. That puts him up by one guide, takes away the extensions (which were tough for him because of his struggles in Grammar and Writing early last year - it just made too much work for him). I also love that preparing and up are 4-day plans!!

I guess I say all this to suggest that you place your 9y/o by where she "fits" on the placement chart. Not doing so can make a wonderful curriculum go bad, fast. My younger son started out a guide ahead of where he needed to be. I dropped him back to Little Hearts a few weeks into Beyone and his progress has been amazing. The right guide REALLY makes a difference, IMO.

Here is a link to the placement chart. In case you have not looked at it to see if your 9 yo fits in the Beyond category or could do Bigger. Once placed in the right guide, you and your child will absolutely fall in love with HOD. Just keep in mind that it takes a few units to get into a schedule and routine with any of the guides. If you have concerns about all the writing in Bigger, you could always start at half pace for the first couple of units.
Hope this helps and success!
http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php

We have been doing Preparing and my younger ones are going into Beyond. I am having to drag him through Beyond.
I do not want to do 3 guides, so the most logical choice seems to place him in Beyond. He does have his own LA and Math.

I have 7 children and I am trying to take some stress off. I had Optic Neuritis (sight hasn't fully returned) a year and a half ago and was diagnosed as Preliminary MS.
I also took a test at Igenex and got a positive for Lyme. It is a long story. I am doing good, not taking medicines, and seeing a Naturopath.

Marsha, hugs to you and all that you are going through.

I am new to HOD and haven't officially started using it yet. I am looking to use Beyond with both my dc. My oldest will turn 8 in June before we start Beyond. There's areas where he fits Bigger already, but I wanted to combine both dc so we're going with Beyond. He has his own Math, and we'll start Rod and Staff English 2, and Carrie suggested to me that the Science would need to be upped for someone going into third grade. We are choosing to do Apologia's Botany as my ds loves plants. I just wanted to mention that she suggested the Science would need to be upped.

Praying for you as you make your decision.

Marsha,

I'm so sorry to hear about your health struggles. I will say a pray for the Lord to be near to you and put His healing and comforting touch upon you right now. I agree that it would be wise to choose 2 guides for your kiddos to use and find your best combining fit.

From what you've shared, if Preparing Hearts is a struggle for your 8 year old, I would definitely work toward combining him with his younger siblings. If you make sure that his 3 R's are on target (and add a bit of additional science reading for the 9 year old), then you will be fine with this plan. You can either borrow the 3R's from Bigger Hearts or do your own plan in these areas. For a 9 year old, we would typically recommend either English 2 or 3 (depending on when he'll be 10), Cheerful Cursive, Singapore Math, dictation passages (either Level 2 or 3), and either the Emerging Reader's Set or DITHR 2/3 (depending on how well he's reading).

The history readings are definitely enough for a 9 year old in Beyond, and the corresponding Bible and activities, poetry, geography, timeline, etc. should be fine too. If you have other questions, ask away. We'll be glad to help!

Blessings,
Carrie

Marsha - I have the utmost respect for you as you must make it a habit not to complain. I have known you through this board for quite awhile now, and I have never heard about any of your health struggles before. This is such a wonderful quality to have, and I know it is not one that is easy to have without having the Lord in your heart, walking with you through it all and holding your hand. I have prayed first and foremost for your health. I second Carrie's post, and I think it is just fine for your 9 yo to be doing Beyond, with those few thoughts in mind.

Love in Christ,
Julie

Oh wow...I am so sorry to hear of all of your health struggles. Though mine are nowhere near the same as yours in severity, i definitely know how health worries can hinder a homeschool year. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Will you be doing DITHR with him? If so, and if you feel the need to beef anything up, you could always use the DITHR books on his level that relate to the time period studied in Beyond. I bought the DITHR book list for $5 and it has been such a valuable resource for us! $5 well spent, IMO. Carrie did such a great job choosing those books.