How long does Beyond take? And other questions

[intotheirhearts]

We are re-looking into HOD. We have the LHFHG that we have done some of a couple years ago. We then did MFW 1st grade for my son this year at a slow pace because he is technically in K. We will finish that in November. I am not sure going on to MFW 2nd grade will be best for us though so I am looking into HOD Beyond. I may be seeing that as a much better fit for my son and for me as the teacher (though bulking up in math). How many hours does it take to complete each day of Beyond? The other program's next level would take 3-3.5 hours and I am just not sure we could do that amount of work each day with my then 6 (almost 7) year old boy, especially with his younger sister running crazily around us at the same time. Although since we would still be ahead in grade level, we would actually still take it at half speed, but still. It seemed to be MORE intense then I think I want for him. I'm thinking Beyond might be more hands on for him and more do-able even with my little one running around. And she might even get into some of it. She will have just turned 4, but likely not ready to start LHFHG yet.

Any thoughts please?

Thanks,
Laura

[basesloaded]

I, too, used MFW 1st Grade for my K this year. We used MFW K the year before. I am looking forward to using Beyond with him for 2nd grade next year. I have used MFW K-C&C with his older brothers. And I have used HOD Preparing thru RTR with them, too. This will be my first time using Beyond I am excited . We like MFW but we love HOD .

[psreit]

Welcome back to HOD. We are finishing Beyond now, and as it is not the same every day, I can safely say it does not take 3 hours to do everything if you work straight through it. I've never personally timed it, because some days are quicker than others depending on the difficulty of math and reading varies in length of time as well. We also take breaks because of attention difficulties. If you are doing half speed, that may even cut back on your time a little. Beyond is wonderful program. Carrie's choice of books has been the catch for my dd. She loves the history and storytime readings. Have fun!

[MomtoJGJE]

I'm doing full speed with my 7yo in Beyond. We are ending unit 15, so we are definitely in the groove. We do all except the music (listen to it in the van) and it takes less than an hour every day. When we first started with her I'd say full speed was taking right at an hour. Most days it's between 30-45 minutes now.

[intotheirhearts]

Basesloaded - I sent you a private message. Hope that was okay!

Psreit - I think we would go mostly full speed if we go with Beyond. It doesn't look like too much or too intense like the other program looks. And for us going half speed or 3/4 speed (at least right now) doesn't mean only doing half the days work each day for 5 days. It means schooling 3 days a week, but each of those days is a full day. So we still need the full day to be more do-able and not too lengthy. I think we need more fun and more hands on than we have been having and Beyond does look like it would be more do-able even at full speed. And I like that it is not the same thing every day. Mixes it up a bit to keep things fun, right?

[intotheirhearts]

MomtoJGJE - And so even with less than an hour per day, does it still seem as though your 7yo is getting all he/she needs right now? 30-45 minutes is super fast! Is that with math too??

[lmercon]

It's been a few years since I did Beyond, but I would say that it took us an average of 1 1/2 hrs. per day. Some days might be a little longer because of a project, but other days were a bit shorter. It is a wonderful program! It's been a favorite of mine.
hth,
Laura

[Robbi]

We just started Unit 24. It takes us 2-3 hours depending on distractions & "breaks". However, that includes doing LHTH with my 4 yr old DS.

We are loving Beyond and it has plenty of hands on projects! HTH

[MomtoJGJE]

I timed it this morning because I was curious if my times were still right Doing everything as written took us 35 minutes to do Beyond. Now, today was a pretty easy math day, as she only had one page with four questions on it But more pages really don't add too terribly much time to math (we started SM 1B today) maybe 5 minutes. Also, today didn't have her doing all the spelling words either, but we did have a big discussion on initials that took longer than spelling normally does. I also keep her copy work to less than 5 minutes per day because any longer than that and she stops being careful and starts being sloppy. As per Charlotte Mason, better a few perfectly formed words than many sloppy ones (my paraphrase )

I feel like she's learning, comprehending, and progressing at an awesome rate. I'll tell you more how much after they have their testing next week, but I feel like she's WAY past where my DD1 was at this point in Beyond.

The longest it's ever taken us to do Beyond is about an hour when we are first starting full speed. After that it pares down to 30-45 minutes (and the 45 minutes is if we have a major distraction)

OH, and once we start school we don't take breaks until they are done. I let my oldest take a break when I get done with all three of the younger ones. That's after about an hour of work for her because I start her first and then get the little ones done while she's working.

[raceNzanesmom]

We finished Beyond today. Doing all the boxes, including storytime, took us about 2, sometimes 2 1/2 hours each day. That includes taking time for discussion, projects, math on the whiteboard, his reading to me, etc. If I cut corners, or it was simply a lighter day, it still took about 1 1/2 hours.

[MomtoJGJE]

I think it's also big to note that my kids do not chase rabbit trails, hate discussion in any form, and do not take extra time on art/project stuff more than they have to. Maybe that's why it doesn't take as long for us? I also overlap when possible, like when we were making cheese the other day, we did the mixing vinegar in milk right after history reading, and then did spelling and math while we waited. Then we did everything else while it was draining.

A breakdown of times for us.... gives me a MAX time of 45 minutes and that's on a rough/bad day

Reading about History/Bible/Poetry - 10 minutes (normally less than 10)
Rotating box - 5 minutes
LA - 5 minutes (normally less)
Storytime - 10 minutes
Math - 5 minutes (normally less)
ERs - 10 minutes (sometimes less)

[lissiejo]

We take between 45 minutes and and hour and a half depending on handwriting usually. She despises practicing handwriting even though she does very well at it and tends to drag it out, but everything else is pretty quick. She stays focused fairly well and will tell me if she needs a break, but that's only about 30 minutes. She's 6 and using it as a 1st grade program.

[MomtoJGJE]

She's 6 and using it as a 1st grade program.

I think this also makes a big difference... I think there is a huge difference in abilities between 6 and 7. Not saying a 6yo can't do Beyond, but that when they are 7 it just goes so much easier.

I did Beyond with my oldest at an older 5 to 6. She learned from it, but she didn't like doing the work, and she wasn't really comprehending the reading. It took us over an hour maybe an hour and a half every day, and I was having to cut some stuff out because I didn't want her to be doing school more than that amount of time. So I went through it again when she was an older 6 to 7 and the difference was night and day. There was a mental shift that allowed her to do the work more fluidly. We were consistently getting done in 45 minutes, and that was taking breaks with the little ones and having a new baby.

[Carrie]

Laura,

I just wanted to encourage you that for most families Beyond takes around 2 hours a day (if you do not take any breaks). The right side of the guide alone takes an hour or more typically, even though families may vary. The left side of the guide takes anywhere from 35-45 min., depending on whether there is an activity that takes a bit longer on that side of the guide. On a short day, it may take 1 1/2 hours (but that would be if you were really moving quickly through every part of the guide and the activities for the day happened to be short).

LHFHG usually takes 90 min. a day, and Beyond is intended to be a step up from that as it raises the level of learning in many ways. Beyond needs to prepare kiddos for the upped level of rigor required to complete Bigger Hearts, and Bigger is intended to take around 2 1/2 to 3 hours a day. So, Beyond is written to be a stepping stone in that direction both time-wise and skill-wise.

We pray you enjoy your year with Beyond as much as we have in the past with our own kiddos. We've done Beyond now twice with two very different kiddos, and each child really took a lot from it! This year my youngest is doing LHFHG, my third son is in Preparing, my second son will be doing our new guide Missions to Modern Marvels, and my oldest will be a junior in high school.

I love the short school day that comes with my younger kiddos, as it is a breath of fresh air! Yet, we want to be sure we are preparing our younger ones for what is to come. So, I want to assure you that each guide prepares a child well for the next guide in line.

Here's a breakdown of typical times allotments for each box of Beyond:
I need to be up front in saying that I am a no-nonsense, check-it-off type teacher and don't stray far from the planned lessons, so these times can vary widely depending on whether or not you enjoy going off on bunny trails with your lessons.

Reading About History Box: 10 min.
Poetry and Rhymes: 5-10 min.
Bible Study and Music: 10 min.
Rotating Bottom Left Box (Artistic Expression, History Activity/Timeline, Geography, Science twice weekly): 15-20 min.

Language Arts Box: 15 min. (spelling/grammar)
Reading: 15 min. if doing the Emerging Readers and 20-25 min. if doing DITHR 2/3
Math: 15-20 min.
Storytime: 15-20 min.

Blessings,
Carrie