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Hello!

So after much consideration, I purchased LHFHG for my son. He can read fluently at about Level 2, maybe a little higher. He can also do simple math. We have about half of the Emerging Reader Set (from Beyond) on our shelves already. And I just purchased Singapore Math 1A/B after seeing it at a conference.

I know that the Emerging Readers Schedule is in the Beyond Instructor's Guide. Is it just a schedule, or does it have comprehension questions or other activities also? And, I know that there is a schedule for Math 1A/B in LHFHG, but no activities. The activities are in Beyond, right? Are these activities that I could probably figure out on my own (if needed)?

I have already purchased LHTH as well... so I'd love to avoid buying 3 guides in one year. But, I'm thinking of getting Beyond for the Readers Schedule and the Math Activities. What do you think, ladies? Is it worth it?

The emerging reader schedule in Beyond does have questions for each assigned reading. Categories include narration, comprehension, application, evaluation, knowledge, etc. As for the math activities, Carrie does such a great job of coming up with creative activities that help so much in applying the workbook material. I don't have a creative bone in my body, so I would be lost trying to replace them. You could look at the math in LHFHG and get an idea of what she does and try to come up with your own activities. I guess for me it would be worth it.

We will be doing LHFHG. DD is still doing phonics, so we won't need to worry about the ER schedule yet. Also, I'm having her work through the Earlybird Math, even though she will be first grade, just because I'm not really sure how far she got in K since she went to school. More than likely, she will finish the Earlybird Math before we finish Little Hearts, because I started some math with her already and she may be able to work through some of it a little faster. When she is finished with that, I will go directly into 1A. Depending how the phonics goes, we may possibly begin the ERs sooner, too. I already have the Beyond guide, because I had originally planned to use that and then decided on LHFHG. But, if I didn't have it, I would definitely want to get it for the math and ERs. If you are able to purchase it now, it would be worth it. That would be one less guide you have to buy next year.

Camden,

We're in the same boat this year and will be using LHFHG but need the ER schedule and Math 1A/B to go along with it. I purchased the Beyond guide, and I think it is most definitely worth it!!! I love the hands-on activities that Carrie has written to go with the math. I do not think that I would come up with ones nearly as good on the fly on my own. (I'd be so tempted to just skip it and do the workbook page and be done.) I think that the hands-on activities do a great job of helping kids connect the math with real life at this age, too. If you don't put the money towards the Beyond guide, you'll need to spend $18 on the textbooks for that level.

The Emerging Readers do have questions to go along with them that cover all of the thought levels in Bloom's Taxonomy, so they're well-written questions! (Also much better that I'd do on my own on the fly! )

Kathleen

Thank you for your input! It's good to know that there are comprehensive comprehension questions for the readers. Glad to know that others have found the math activities helpful, too. OK, I'm leaning toward getting Beyond now...

I bought the Beyond guide for the Emerging Readers guide/questions, while using the LHFHG guide. This year we are using Beyond anyway and have 4 more books to finish in the ER. It was worth it to me to buy it.

Jenn

Thanks again, ladies!

Another question... my son will be just barely 5 years old when we begin this. He's an advanced reader, but do you think that the Emerging Reader questions will be too much for him? Sometimes I start thinking it's just better to let him read at a higher level for challenge and fun instead... and do the ER schedule next year.

I'm pretty sure the Math 1A/B stuff will be a good fit.

Does he comprehend what he reads? Or does he just know how to read well?

If he comprehends what he reads (if he can tell you about it) then the questions are not really difficult...

but if he just knows how to read well then I'd say just give him a year of reading for fun and let him tell you about what he reads... or maybe not even a year, but just until he can comprehend better.

My ds was 5 yo when he did the ERS schedule and questions from Beyond, along with us using LHFHG for his core guide. We decided to do both Bibles, as it added 9 weeks to stretch out the ERS books, and it also let him grow into the questions part of it. The reading he had down, which sounds like your sweetie's situation. I wouldn't do the ERS without doing the questions, as they do an excellent job of preparing dc for DITHOR 2/3. I do think stretching the ERS out a tad may be a good idea for your little guy, and I'd definitely follow the bite-sized reading suggestions for each day in the Appendix of Beyond, along with the excellent comprehension questions. We loved the hands-on math plans in Beyond for 1A/1B. I feel like the hands-on instruction our dc received through HOD along with the Singapore workbooks is the reason both of our dc do so well with math. Definitely worth betting the Beyond guide IMO, but you'll know best.

In Christ,
Julie

Thank you... this is helpful!

He generally understands what he is reading. I just wasn't sure how hard the questions were. If they are just simple comprehension questions, I think that will be perfect! Much better than my trying to think of questions myself.

Getting excited for this year!

I have an advanced reader on my hands too. He's also 5 and getting ready to do 1st grade. I'll be doing LHFHG with him. However, I'm doing the emerging readers and questions from Beyond as well as the Singapore Math with the Math activities from Beyond. I did Beyond with my 2nd grader last year, so thankfully, I already have the guide in hand.
The beauty of HOD and the beauty of homeschooling is you can adjust to what your child needs. If you start doing any certain thing and you see it's not working ... just re-evaluate and adjust as need be.
I am trying to avoid pushing my son forward because of his obvious advanced skills. I pushed my oldest a little too much and burned him out. I don't want to do that with my 2nd son. I am determined to keep the joy in the learning!

Good to know I'm not alone!

Just purchased Beyond.