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Received our Beyond Little Hearts and concern is....

Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 12:37 pm
by BrooklynsMom03
I am wondering....if maybe I ordered a bit too young for my daughter...on the math I am concerned that she has already done alot if not all of this....I ordered Singapore 1A and 1B....but she isnt super strong in all the concepts so wondering it is best to just dig right in and go thru it ....for a good foundation...to build on...that way maybe I can see any gaps she might have....yet I want her to feel challenged....I wonder if it would work to maybe do 2 lessons a day if she is whizzing thru it....Has anyone else ordered something felt it was too young but ended up being just right?! I know the program is totally different format than she has been doing at school....so maybe that is why it is looking too easy to me....I do love the way it is all put together and I am VERY excited....to begin!!

Today is my daughters first day back at home from public school so we are taking the day to get organized and just give her a day or two to get ready...I was going to wait itl Jan to start and take off til after Christmas but I dont think she is really wanting to do that! She is ready to plunge right in and get started....So my question is....will I know if this is just too easy for her pretty soon in the process? Or should I give it a few months and see how she progresses? Thanks SO much....Beth in Idaho

Re: Received our Beyond Little Hearts and concern is....

Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 12:45 pm
by inHistiming
Hi Beth. If it were me I would try the math you ordered and if it seems too 'easy' after a couple of weeks, you could move more quickly through it or even place her in a higher level. As for the rest, it is a great program. I used Beyond...with my dd when she was in 2nd grade and we loved it! I am currently using it with my youngest son, though we have not gotten very far....we've had an eventful fall. :? I am looking forward to getting back into it in January, though.

If you start now, that will give you some time to figure it all out together, work out any kinks, and then begin full-swing in January. I say go for it if she is eager. :wink:

Re: Received our Beyond Little Hearts and concern is....

Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 12:53 pm
by cirons
Hi Beth,

I am currently doing Beyond with my ds7 and we are really enjoying it. How old is your daughter??? I think if your daughter is just coming out of school, stick with starting at Beyond so she can build the skills needed for the older programs. My son is doing 2 or 3 lessons a day with the maths because it is easy for him and is reviewing concepts he learnt in another program, but I want him to learn the Singapore math way of thinking so I wanted to start at the beginning. When I finish 1B early, I will just start 2A with the Bigger manual guide. If you daughter is an advanced reader, you could also choose to do DITHOR instead of phonics or emerging readers. The program also allows you to do a different Rod & Staff if your dd is more advanced in grammar. There is also the different spelling levels etc. In other words, there are a few areas you can make it more challenging if you need to, but I think the way it builds the narration and memorization skills in the guide are a great grounding as apparently the next guide, Bigger, is quite a bit more challenging.

Be blessed,
Corrie

Re: Received our Beyond Little Hearts and concern is....

Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 2:09 pm
by doubleportion
Just chiming in to say something about Singapore Math. My dd started Singapore a little later and we went with the 1A. That year she went through at her own speed and she completed 1A, 1B & 2A. I found it easy to speed up at the places she found extra easy. I think it especially helped her to learn the Singapore way and she is now having a great time with Math. I have been really pleased since changing to Singapore math after trying three different math programs before that.

HTH

Edie

Re: Received our Beyond Little Hearts and concern is....

Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 5:30 pm
by pjdobro
We did the same thing with Singapore. We had been doing another program (Miquon) and I felt that my dc knew 1A and a lot of 1B, but we went ahead and started in 1A. We went at a faster pace and that year we covered 1A, 1B, and most of 2A.

We also used Beyond for 2nd grade, though we were doing the math and English from Bigger. It was a nice fit. The program is much meatier than it appears on the surface. There is so much that can be gained and such wonderful discussions can be had by really savoring it all. I think after trying it for these few weeks before Christmas, you'll start to get an idea of how the program will work for your dd. Did she place in Beyond and Singapore 1A when you looked at the placement chart and did the Singapore placement test?

Wasn't it exciting to get all of the books? I just recently received my Preparing guide and it's so exciting to look at all the goodies that are ahead! :D

Re: Received our Beyond Little Hearts and concern is....

Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 7:59 pm
by tjswaine
Here is a link to the Singapore placement tests. I myself have found them very helpful.
http://www.singaporemath.com/Placement_Test_s/86.htm
Enjoy your year with Beyond. We are loving it! :D

Re: Received our Beyond Little Hearts and concern is....

Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 8:59 am
by BrooklynsMom03
Thanks for all the input....Yes Patty very exciting getting the box full of books! We did some of the Singapore yesterday and my daughter did several pages....I wasnt quite sure where she placed on the test....I looked at it...and felt we should start at the beginning to just make sure she has all the foundation....after reading all the input I think it is better to start her in 1A and then just advance thru it ....we are not in a race but a marathon! I have to remember we can go at our own pace and if something is too easy we can adjust! I am loving having my daughter back home! Beth in Idaho

Re: Received our Beyond Little Hearts and concern is....

Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 1:50 pm
by mrsrandolph
I wouldn't skip Beyond altogether. Just fly through the math if you need to.

Re: Received our Beyond Little Hearts and concern is....

Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 4:08 pm
by Tree House Academy
How old is your dd? My ds that is doing Beyond is in 2nd grade this year and he completed a very rigorous 1st grade math program, but we still went back to 1A with Singapore. I thought ds would fly through it, but when we got started, I found that I really didn't want him to! He did so well with the pace and the activities that Carrie planned and we just went with it. I can tell you that, after going through just Singapore 1A, he is ten times better at math than he was after completing the entire other 1st grade math.

Also, on the Singapore site, it recommends the 1A/1B combo for 2nd grade.

Re: Received our Beyond Little Hearts and concern is....

Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 5:01 pm
by BrooklynsMom03
Rebecca...

Thanks for this input...I will have to look closer at the 2A because I was assuming that 2B was for the next grade level...Yes I want to do the activities as well....I think that the more solid foundation she has for math the better! Understanding the *why* is more important to me than finishing the book quickly....I really am so excited about this program and have looked at LOTS....When I found this I just knew it...fit....Beth

Re: Received our Beyond Little Hearts and concern is....

Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 8:57 pm
by pjdobro
.we are not in a race but a marathon! I have to remember we can go at our own pace and if something is too easy we can adjust! I am loving having my daughter back home! Beth in Idaho
That was one of the most difficult things for me to learn with homeschooling. You are your child's teacher and the best one to decide what she needs to learn and at what pace. The curriculum is a tool and you are not a slave to it. At a conference that I went to a year or so ago that really stuck with me. I need to teach my children, not the book or the curriculum. If we don't finish the book in the prescribed time or at all, that really doesn't matter. You know her best and can use the tools you have to teach her the best way. Let God be your guide and all will be well. :)