Combining fail

[Mom2Monkeys]

At least, I thInk it is. I combined dd10 and DS7 (grades 2&5) in BHFHG. He is capable of the grammar level, the notebooking, readings, etc and is doing excellent with the emerging readers. He's actually capable and ready for all of the skills. Just not all in one day. She is nearly ready for CTC level really, but maturity (no way will I let her get paints out alone! Not ready for written narrations it out the guidance in PHFHG) dawdling, and some issues with following directions as well as needing to do dou me time on math to catch up to no more than one grade behind has taken. Enter stage so she's more fitted for PHFHG.
I thought it was a great plan, but by the time I get DS through math (SM2A), spelling, grammar (mostly or all orally!), emerging readers, cheerful cursive (which is his first formal handwriting program and he's doing great!) ...basically all the basics, he's absolutely spent. I often hear in a not complaining way that this sure is a lot of writing. He's only 7, 8 in December though. I just wonder if I should move DD on up to PHFHG w/extensions and just stick to basics with DS for now. He really enjoys the history and. It's booming though, but we are really behind on basics and need those done daily. Meaning half speed isn't an option. Right? He will be ready for SM 2B after the holidays. He's on lesson 10 in R&S and reading Amelia bedelia this week for emer readers...unit 14 or 15 I think? He could jump up a few books but he is really enjoying these so I just want to stick to them daily to stay up on them.
Using BLHFHG isn't an option bc I don't have it but do have PHFHG.
DD would move into PHFHG which she had already done 4 units of with R&S 4, possibly SM 3B if I can convince myself it's okay for a 5th grader to be in 3B, level 4 dictation (at #19) ,and she's really enjoying Igniting Your Writing so probably would keep that. I haven't been able to do much of the left side of BHFHG with them at all bc of DS7. So ah hasn't even had history and science this year
Help! Permission to hold off for DS and move DD on up? Lol

I don't mind separating. I can see how it takes LESS time when each is met where they are and have used 3 HOD guides before at once. I just thought I'd really like to combine since we were moving again, thought he was ready for BHFHG and saw. O reason to do back to back guides with her in the extension range.

[sharonb]

It does sound like your dd is ready to be moved up. I just moved up my oldest 2 this week, and I'm so happy I did. Preparing is giving them so much more than my homemade "extensions" to Beyond ever could.

I wanted to encourage you- when my ds was 7yo, just getting through the 3R's each day would wear him out. Learning to read was a difficult process for him, but all the work really paid off. Just a year makes a HUGE difference. He's 8yo now and is handling the increased workload just fine, without complaining AT ALL. When he was in 1st and 2nd grade, pretty much the only writing he did for school was for 3R's subjects. For history and science he just listened to me read (if we even got to those subjects).

[Kathleen]

Just an idea for your son, Tamara...
What if you do basics daily and then "half-speed" what is left in the guide. Then he could keep building skills in those areas and keep some of the FUN there. You could do it this way until he builds endurance through the guide.

Kathleen

[Mom2Monkeys]

Kathleen, (congrats, btw!!) is what you're suggesting this:

Daily do spelling, math, emer readers, grammar, cursive

Then "half speed" what's left by adding a box or two each day from what's left? Like Bible one day, science another, history reading another, poetry/rotating box another?? (is that all the boxes? I can't recall right now.) Or do I need to add more per day...maybe the way I listed spaces it out too much??

I'm on the best roll ever for school really...just happens that it's only the basics. But that seems to be just what we needed to get going well. I think i was teying to do
It all...the all or none mentality...and kept failing so never lwt myself find a groove for anything. I really feel like school is just a daily part of life now that just happens and comes right back easily after a missed day or even a week break. Never been so regular! Life in the Thomas house has never been predictable. I was horribly sick the last two days and was better today, just weak. And we got ALL our basics done and I couldn't wait to get to it even with my feeling top notch.

[Mom2Monkeys]

I told DD last night she is going ahead with PHFHG and she about had a happy dance fit. going to time our basics today to see how much that's taking us now that we are in a good groove with those and try to work the rest into or day. Still not sure about DS7. May do as Kathleen suggested....hmmmm. Pondering and wanting to think through other options. My other son starts K in the fall and will be almost 6. So I'd really hoped to be through BHFHG with DS7/8 before starting with DS5(6) next fall since its quite teacher intensive compared to other levels.
Baby is going to be 2 in a few days. So maybe it'll actually be easier next fall since he will be nearing 3 and DD will be more independent and my focus can go to BHFHG and starting some more formal school with the next one. And hopefully his sleep patterns will have bettered by them aI'm talking out loud here.
Anyone else have any thoughts?

[8arrows]

I am not following the ages of your children very well, but could you just wait and do Beyond with both the 5/6 and 7/8 in the fall? The older child could then just use the extensions from Bigger on up.

[my3sons]

Tamara - Dc often make known once a combining scenario is started whether they were ready for more or less, or whether combining is a good fit for all. It sounds like dd is ready for more and ds for less - now you know for sure, so that's the up side. Moving dd up to PHFHG sounds good. Keeping ds in Bigger Hearts half-speed with full-speed 3 R's (or even half-speed 3 R's) sounds good too. If younger child is close to doing Beyond, then 8arrows idea of combining those 2 in Beyond could work well too. I'm thinking your 5 yo is ready to begin LHFHG though, I may not be remembering this right though, and it sounds like your 7 yo ds is maybe, beyond Beyond, so I'm thinking combining those 2 may not work, making the PHFHG with oldest, Bigger half-speed with next child, a good option. You'll know what would fit best though!

In Christ,
Julie

[Mom2Monkeys]

I'm so glad we tried bc yes..now I know for sure!

As for combining the 7/8 as 5/6, I don't think that'll work. The 5/6 will just be starting K in the fall. He's a sept birthday so isn't kindy this year. And I don't think I want to hold 7/8 from BHFHG for 2 years. Though that is a thought that crossed my mind. I know it would wind up just like this DD/DS situation though.

So, I'm thinking for sure DD in PHFHG w/extensions and Igniting Your Writing (she can opt to do or not do IYW bc it's something she likes but I don't think is a must)
And for DS:
Daily full speed math, emerging reader, and spelling
Daily half speed (confusing, huh?-- just mean half lesson unless he wants more and as time allows) cursive
Less than half speed: all the rest. Perhaps 1/3 speed. Trying to figure out best way to pair boxes off. Any thoughts on that?

Thank you for being my sounding board.

[mom23]

We often do half-speed here, but with the basics every day. Usually that means 2 boxes from the left side each day, if there's an extra left over just fit it in on your shorter day. If I remember right in Beyond, our History often took longer than our Science box, so maybe you could pick up any extra work on the Science day-does that make sense?? I try to work it so that I get through everything in two days. I also usually alternate the grammar and cursive, so the things we do every day are math, er's, and spelling.

Day 1: History, Rotating box, cursive; plus daily stuff
Day 2: Science, Bible, Poetry, grammar; plus daily stuff

[Heidi in AK]

Tamara, what did you decide to do, &how is it working? Bigger 1/2 speed for DS?

[Mom2Monkeys]

Well, DD10 has started PHFHG and is super excited. Didn't get far bc thanksgiving was approaching.
I think I'm going to get DS going well with his basics first, and then pick up BHFHG at whatever pace he is able to do later. He's only in 2nd grade, so there's no rush.
And as usual, life happens and I was hospitalized for heart issues for 2 days of thanksgiving week. I had started having issues resurface and they continue to worsen. I'll be habig a rather involved procedure done soon (was supposed to be some in the hospital and I was meant to be there a few more days but the specialist was on vacation), just got the heart monitor off Friday and am being medicated.
I can't tolerate any activity most of the day...I get out of breath and my heart goes wild. Even at rest, my heart rate is near or in triple digits. Needless to say, this wears me out! So, I guess that's why God was leading me to split them up and move DD into her own guide. It means she can continue easily and he doesn't have to at this point. He wears out so quickly and is hitting some tough concepts in math, meaning this math loving boy is taking soooooo long just for math now too. I just domt have the energy at this point to do more than the must-haves for more than one kid, and oldest has more must-haves.