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Anyone skip some boxes at times or do you always do everything written? Would doing Preparing for 2 years be too long to stretch it out for a 4th grader that will be in 5th in the second year of it? How about doing some reading of living books when new baby comes and then after we get settled by end of Dec using Preparing for the rest of the year for her and the next year, 1 1/2 years? I'm just throwing some ideas around in my brain to make things easy with 6 weeks off and not feeling "behind" or that we can't stop mid May when thier brains turn off as MN weather warms up! LOL! I want a fun year, but low stress for us all, 4-6 weeks off in Nov and still be able to end when they need a break and enjoy it together! I'm thinking about the recommended LHFHG (sp?) for my K and 2nd too.

I'm sorry I can't help much since I'm still in the younger guides but I didn't want you to feel ignored. I would think that you could spread Preparing out by starting it half speed and then carrying it over into the next school year. Hope someone else can give you some better ideas.

We are still working on LHFHG, but I have poured through Beyond and Bigger and I don't think you would want to skip boxes. It seems each guide is preparing the student for the next guide, and I think I remember reading that the jump from Preparing to CTC is significant. If you are ok with not staying on a "school year" schedule, I would start out at half speed and jump to full speed when you are ready. I know a lot of families that take summer breaks just end where they are at and start back up again in the fall. Hopefully someone that has done Preparing will chime in.

lisaha wrote:Anyone skip some boxes at times or do you always do everything written? Would doing Preparing for 2 years be too long to stretch it out for a 4th grader that will be in 5th in the second year of it? How about doing some reading of living books when new baby comes and then after we get settled by end of Dec using Preparing for the rest of the year for her and the next year, 1 1/2 years? I'm just throwing some ideas around in my brain to make things easy with 6 weeks off and not feeling "behind" or that we can't stop mid May when thier brains turn off as MN weather warms up! LOL! I want a fun year, but low stress for us all, 4-6 weeks off in Nov and still be able to end when they need a break and enjoy it together! I'm thinking about the recommended LHFHG (sp?) for my K and 2nd too.

We finished out Beyond and started Bigger Hearts half-speed at the end of this past school year. Now, we have started our summer break. We will go full-speed with Bigger Hearts next year to finish it by the end of next school year. That pacing has been perfect for our ds. We live in SD, so I understand your wanting to seize the nice summer day weather in MN, as they pass quickly. I'm confused about what time you'd like off here - I probably haven't had enough caffeine yet. Could you please list out when you could start, what times you'd like to take off, and about when you'd like to finish (or maybe you don't want a set time to finish?)? Then I'll certainly help you with some schedule ideas.

In Christ,
Julie

Thank you!
Yes, I will start at the very beganing of Sept, unless the children really want to get started some in August for just a few days a week. We normally Start begaining of Sept. Then baby number 6 is due mid Nov, but the last two were delivered 3 weeks early, so I'm thinking first week of Nov possibly. Then I would like to take 4-6 weeks off to recover from a c-section and just get in a new routine. Last time I only took 2 weeks off, and it worked, I do wish I would have taken more time. The children only had two hour school days though and the school work kept them happily busy! Then I take off from Christmas eve to New Year, and 1/2 a week for Easter. Other then the occasional day to shop or to go with the homeschool group (which is worked in with 4 day weeks! ) we will be able to do school. My DD can work well until end of MAy, but it warmed up sooner here this year, so my son's brain turned off at the beganing of MAy (must be the farmer in him wanting to get out in the field and help! LOL!) We finished up this year in Adventures in MFW by doubling up days to get done by mid May. I think mid- MAy is a good time for a break, end of May is douable though if they are having fun! I just can't see going into June though. MN, got to love summer!
I just LOVE the way this cirriculum is written with God first! At first I wasn't big on the gross and fine motor skills in the younger books, but then I thought about it, this year in adventures we had to stop often to have Joshua get up and run or jump around just to get the wiggles out! Then there will be James starting K this year, he may know his letters, numbers and phonics, but his fine and gross motor skills are wayyyyyyyyyyyy behind. We see a chiropractor every two weeks to try and help him as he can't run or jump and has bad balance, having gross and fine motor skills would help James in an area he needs much owrk in and help Joshua with his wiggles, that is such a thoughtfull blessing I have never seen written into a cirriculum, it's normally all about academics, but little ones are wiggley and need to move to learn!

I think if you had to take Preparing out to two years or stretch it out that would be fine. The subject matter changes because it is an over view so I don't think you would get tired of it personally and it definitely works to do half speed. I would just keep them going with math and LA at their regular speed. Sometimes you do have to work school around life and I think that is completely fine. Congratulations on your up and coming blessing!

lisaha wrote:Thank you!
Yes, I will start at the very beganing of Sept, unless the children really want to get started some in August for just a few days a week. We normally Start begaining of Sept. Then baby number 6 is due mid Nov, but the last two were delivered 3 weeks early, so I'm thinking first week of Nov possibly. Then I would like to take 4-6 weeks off to recover from a c-section and just get in a new routine. Last time I only took 2 weeks off, and it worked, I do wish I would have taken more time. The children only had two hour school days though and the school work kept them happily busy! Then I take off from Christmas eve to New Year, and 1/2 a week for Easter. Other then the occasional day to shop or to go with the homeschool group (which is worked in with 4 day weeks! ) we will be able to do school. My DD can work well until end of MAy, but it warmed up sooner here this year, so my son's brain turned off at the beganing of MAy (must be the farmer in him wanting to get out in the field and help! LOL!) We finished up this year in Adventures in MFW by doubling up days to get done by mid May. I think mid- MAy is a good time for a break, end of May is douable though if they are having fun! I just can't see going into June though. MN, got to love summer!
I just LOVE the way this cirriculum is written with God first! At first I wasn't big on the gross and fine motor skills in the younger books, but then I thought about it, this year in adventures we had to stop often to have Joshua get up and run or jump around just to get the wiggles out! Then there will be James starting K this year, he may know his letters, numbers and phonics, but his fine and gross motor skills are wayyyyyyyyyyyy behind. We see a chiropractor every two weeks to try and help him as he can't run or jump and has bad balance, having gross and fine motor skills would help James in an area he needs much owrk in and help Joshua with his wiggles, that is such a thoughtfull blessing I have never seen written into a cirriculum, it's normally all about academics, but little ones are wiggley and need to move to learn!

O.k. I have to admit I LOVE figuring out things like this! Crazy, weird, I know - but, I do! So...
Start date: Beginning of September (or a few days a week in August)
November to Dec off: Precious baby and Christmas/New Year's
A week off for Easter and a few days for errands, etc.
Done by Mid-May

Well, I'm just printing out our calendar and figuring our days as well, so I'll just do it for you too...
September 1-30: 22 days of school
October 1-29: 21 days of school
January 1-31: 21 days of school
February 1-28: 20 days of school
March 1-31: 23 days of school
April 1-22 (off for Easter week/and extra days figured in errands): 16 days
May 1-15: 10 days of school
*You'd get 133 days of school in with this plan. PHFHG has 140 days of plans, so if you could get 7 days of school in sometime in August, you'd finish PHFHG by the end of the year. For your LHFHG sweetie, there are 170 days of school, but you'd just get as far as you did, take your summer break, and pick up to finish. With the younger guides, it doesn't make as much difference to stop in the middle. However, if you choose to PHFHG half-speed, then you could figure out a different plan. Our boys have LOVED the get-up-and-move parts of the HOD plans. In fact, they loved it so much we made an exercise rotation with the plans in the winter. Anyway, HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

Wow! Thank you! I can't believe how well it would work to finish in the same year! I thought there would be no way I could finish with the days I wanted off, but the numbers show that we would only have to start a bit early and we could fit it all in! Very cool! I know the children wouldn't mind doing some school during the summer as they have asked to start a new cirriculum already! I think I just felt stress lift off of my shoulders! LOL! I just need to thank you again, you have been quite a blessing with all of my questions as I look through everything and stress a bit too much about wanting to enjoy my babies and toddlers, enjoy teaching school and yet make sure my children are well educated in the Lord and school. May God Bless you!

I'm glad to help, and I can totally understand what you are saying about trying to balance enjoying babies, toddlers, homeschooling, etc. while still trying to get done what needs to be done! Balance has become my motto, and HOD helps me with that beautifully. I'm so glad you're feeling less stressed, and I think you have a good plan with a lot of balance in it! I have also prayed for your pregnancy to go well, and for you to be able to enjoy that baby stage and Christmas as well.

In Christ,
Julie

A appreciate the prayers! I'm working through the last weeks of morning sickness at 14 weeks. We are looking forward to a fun summer and meeting the new little one in the fall. As much as I was ready for the end of the school year, I'm really excited looking at HOD.