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Hello all! Do you think it would be "okay" to do spelling list 1 even though we've already successfully done list 2? I didn't realize the full intention of the skills built through the spelling lists when I chose to do list 2 last year without ever having done list 1. Julie, if you read this, I apologize for not getting back to you about this in the midst of an earlier thread about combining my K and 2nd grader. You had asked if DD had done all the activities with list 2 or if she had just been successful at spelling the words. The answer is that we did, indeed, do all the spelling activities as laid out in Beyond (as we were doing the left side of LHFHG). We also did the day 5 grammar lessons and DD did great! This year DD is doing the left side of Beyond along with Singapore 1B/2A and whatever is best for LA. I just got the Bigger manual today and I do think DD would do well with dictation, but I also wonder if it wouldn't hurt to wait a year. If I do, that means she could do the dictation when she is officially in Bigger. I guess the only real advantage to this is that I would finally get her into one guide instead of two. Hmmm, now that I think of it, that may not even be true because we already did the day 5 grammar in beyond, so this year we would head into English 2, which is laid out in Bigger, and next year we'd have to go up a guide again. I hope this is making sense! Any thoughts?

Thank you!!
Erica

I don't know about the spelling but with R&S, you really don't have to use the next manual up to get the schedule. R&S is just a lesson a day. It's very easy to add in. I don't know if you need to do all of the right side of Bigger this year or not but perhaps someone will have more advice for you. WHere did you say she falls in math?

I would think if your daughter did all the spelling activities with spelling list 2 and seems ready to move onto dictation, then that is what I would do. I think spelling list 1 is going to seem way too easy after doing spelling list 2. I agree with the pp in that with R&S you really can just schedule a lesson a day so you'll be fine doing R&S3 with the left side of Bigger the following year. That's what we did this year. You would end up needing the Preparing guide for the next level of dictation if she finishes this level in Bigger. Since a dc has to get them 100% correct before moving on, you might not make it through the entire list this year. When she finishes it though you would need Preparing for the next level of dictation, but that should be the last time that you would need two manuals. Preparing has 3 levels of dictation in it and schedules both R&S3 and R&S4 so once you are using the left side of Preparing, you should have all of the language arts levels you needs in that guide.

Thanks for answering my question, and I agree with the ladies - I would have dd move on to Dictation Level 2. I think she is ready for it, and she will continue to grow in her spelling and writing skills through it. There are wonderful directions for the steps of doing dictation CM style in the Appendix, right before the first passage. Not all dc need to do both spelling lists - some are just natural at spelling and writing well - and some come to HOD later and are already writing quite well. I think your dd will do great with the dictation in BHFHG! I also agree that it is not hard to schedule out R & S English on your own, but should you so desire to have the schedule in hand, you can easily just get the next guide too. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

Thanks, everyone! It is so great to have this group. I wish I could meet you all in person around the dinner table (although that would have to be one mighty big table! ) I am feeling good about doing dictation with DD this coming year. It's also good to know that eventually we will end up in one guide instead of two. I'm so excited to begin now that I have all the new books spread out on the floor! I know, I know, DD is the one "in school," but I just can't help myself . I love books!

Blessings,
Erica