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I really need some input! I just finished my first year homeschooling my dd using LHFHG for Kindergarten. I loved it and so did she! She just turned 6 this past spring. She did very well, especially with her phonics-she's reading on her own pretty well. The only area she "complained" about was handwriting. She loved to write her own stories, but hates copywork. She followed all the Kindergarten recommendations for Math, etc.

I was all set to move full pace into Beyond for 1st grade with her, but then that would put her into Bigger for 2nd grade. She'd only be 7 starting Bigger, not turning 8 until the following Spring. I have been told that Bigger is quite a jump from Beyond, especially since handwriting is her least favorite thing to do.

I really would like some suggestions from folks...should I half-pace her for Beyond for 1st and 2nd, then go into Bigger for 3rd...OR should I go full pace for 1st in Beyond and then half -pace her for 2nd and 3rd in Bigger? It's hard to tell where she's going to be at a year from now, whether she'd be ready to go into Bigger or not and I don't want to have to change pace half-way through the year.

Also, I would appreciate any input on HOW to half-pace with either.

I hope this make sense.

Thanks in advance!

Hi!

Julie (my3sons) just shared this thread with me:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5600&p=41232#p41232

It has a few suggestions on how to do several of the HOD programs at half-speed. I can't speak from experience myself, but hope this helps!

I was in the same situation last year with my twin dds after finishing LHFHG for K. I have been doing Beyond half-pace for 1st and 2nd, and my girls are doing well and enjoying themselves. I used Bigger this year with my oldest ds for 3rd grade and it was a good fit for him. I choose to do Beyond half-pace to spread out the guides a bit, so I wouldn't be doing them so close together. That way it will keep it fresh for all of us. Beyond has been a very gentle approach for 1st, and this year I will be able to "beef" it up for 2nd grade. Good luck! HTH.

I will give you my 2 cents, but keep in mind that I'm coming from a 'late' starting viewpoint. We completed Beyond... with my dd when she was 8...we had started at 7 but due to reading issues and her not being quite ready for the story time and history readings we set it aside until halfway through her 2nd grade year. By then she was readng much better and had matured enough to really enjoy the readings. So, now that it is coming time to get my younger ds into a program, I had a lot to think about. I had planned to do LHFHG this year and call it first grade. However, we have decided to go with Beyond... he is starting as a 'young' 7 yr old so we will most likely begin half-pace, at least for a week or two, and bump up to full speed if he seems ready to do so. Each guide builds on the other, so if you did Beyond... with your dd she should be ready to move into Bigger... whenever you complete Beyond...However, I understand not wanting her to be there so early. I personally would hesitate to do Beyond...full speed with a 6 yr old, but again, I'm more of a late-start type person. Six is definitely within the recommended age range. Anyway, I guess my suggestion would be to start Beyond...half-speed. It is a great program for both 1st and 2nd grades. Then, when you finish you'll be ready to move on into Bigger...for 3rd. Plus, even though you said you don't want to right now, you would have the option of bumping up to full-speed later on if you desire, rather than having to scale back if it's too much. Just my opinion, hope it's helpful.

jabs,

The ladies are doing such a good job of talking through your options and giving such wise counsel! We are so blessed to have one another on the HOD Board!

As far as your daughter goes, I'm thinking that if she did well in LHFHG, then she will likely be ready for Beyond as written. We typically don't recommend slowing a program down unless a child doesn't seem quite ready for the material within the program. Then, slowing down is the perfect option. With my second son, we have never slowed a program down. He does a guide a year every year, and it fits him perfectly. With my next little guy, we stretched out LHTH over two years, stretched out LHFHG over two years, and then went to full-speed 5 days a week with Beyond. This fits him perfectly. Each child is different. But in all cases, we typically find that completing one guide prepares a child well for the next guide in line.

In your case, I'd likely lean toward beginning Beyond as written and seeing how your daughter does. If she seems to be doing well, I'd just keep on going! Or, you may wish to do Beyond 4 days a week at full-speed, taking one day off each week. This would leave you finishing Beyond the first 9 weeks of the following year.

Then, when you get to Bigger Hearts, if you need to go half-speed, you'd have plenty of time left with your daughter age-wise to do so. Just take your cues from your daughter readiness-wise, and you'll be fine!

Blessings,
Carrie

Hi Jabs, and welcome to the HOD Board! I just wanted to agree that if your child did well with LHFHG, I'd just move into Beyond next. You can always start half-speed if you want to, but I bet you'd enjoy full-speed from the start. My oldest ds is on the youngest age of the guides every year, and he has always done great with each one, including Bigger Hearts, right from the start. My middle ds was a tad younger than the target age, so he needed to go half-speed now and then with some guides at the start of them usually, but sometimes longer. I wouldn't slow down the pacing of a guide if dc finished the guide before it well. They should be prepared for the next guide then, unless they are younger than the target age range, then I would do it half-speed from the start until they grow into the suggested target age range. I would start your pumpkin in Beyond full-speed. She sounds ready for it. If need be, I'd start Bigger half-speed after completing Beyond - but I wouldn't decide that now. You'll know better when you get there what pacing will fit her best. The target age range for Bigger is ages 7-9 yo. There are 7 yo's that will flourish with Bigger Hearts, 8 yo's that will, and 9 yo's that will (and the age can go higher with extensions). I'd assume your sweetie is one of those 7 yo's that will flourish with it, because she's already reading, and she'll have an entire year for her writing to grow, not to mention, Beyond prepares dc well for Bigger if you do it all. HTH as you consider what to do!

In Christ,
Julie

I agree with what has already been suggested. The guides all build so well on eachother that I think you'd be okay to just plan on keeping on plugging through. You can always slow down any of the guides if she needs it. Also life sometimes has you slow down. DD is on the WAY younger end of the guide (we'll be starting Bigger about the time she turns 7, maybe a little before) but I know she'll do great. We will be doing a 4 day week because we also do a homeschool group, and that will put her in Preparing by about 8 1/2 if all goes well! But I trust that she would do fine because the guide before prepares dc so well for the next guide. It's always the perfect step up.