heartofdakota.com

My ds7.25 (1st grade) is currently doing Beyond right side with LHFHG left side. I also have a Kindergartner (ds5.75) who is doing both sides of LHFHG. Next year we will be doing Beyond plus some Bigger. How do I get on track to have my kids in the same guide and use the extensions for my older ds (instead of using the next guide up)?

This year: LHFHG + Beyond for oldest
2011-2012: Beyond + Bigger & DITHOR for oldest + ERs for ds5.75
2012-2013: Bigger + extensions (for oldest?) + DITHOR

If my older "repeated" the right side of Bigger plus added extensions, what would that look like? I could substitute a different science for ds7.25 for 2011-2012 so that when they are in the same guide they can both do the same science. I could use different set of storytime books so that shouldn't be a problem. My older boy should start DITHOR next year so he can just do different books with the 2/3 student book again. We use Math U See, so that won't be a problem. So here's the issue:

What would I do about LA? If he does R&S2 in 2011-2012 what do I do for 2012-2013? Also, what to do about cursive and dictation and such? He did the second spelling list of Beyond this year. So I could substitute in a new spelling list for next year and put dictation off another year (when they are together)?

Thanks for your help! Y'all are the best!
Cyndi
P.S. Everything is going great right now, but I know there is a chance that when we get to Bigger, it might be too much for the younger son.

Cyndi,

We basically did the plan that you are doing with your older ds except we stayed with the science that was in the core guide, i.e. we did the science that went with the history. I don't know if that will work for you since you may have already done the science in Beyond while doing LHFHG. I do like the idea of actually doing the science in Bigger when you are doing the history in Bigger. So if you have already done the science in Beyond with your older ds this year, I think this coming year that I would substitute in something else. Perhaps let him do the science with your younger ds but plan on having him read a bit more on the subject with books from the library?

As far as grammar, go ahead and have him do R&S2 this coming year and then R&S 3 at the pace of one lesson each day next year (2012/2013). I think I would go ahead and start him with dictation this year also if he is ready for it. You probably won't end up having both dc at the same level of dictation in the future anyway. So if your older ds is ready for dictation, I would go ahead and start him. If you do end up finishing all of the dictation passages in Bigger this year, you can get the Preparing guide to be ready to move onto the next level of dictation the following year.

So in the year that Bigger will be your core for everyone, you'll have your younger ds doing the guide as written. Your older ds will be doing the guide as written except using R&S3 for grammar, his appropriate level of dictation, his own level math, and the extensions if you feel he needs them. He will actually still be well within the age range for doing the guide as written so you may choose to have him not do the extensions.

One other thing, I think I would only do one storytime for both sons this year. Just choose one book that appeals to both and follow the directions in the Beyond guide with both ds.