Placement Help and Questions!

[crystalbella77]

Hey there everyone! My name is Crystal and I am planning on homeschooling my kiddos next year. I wanted to this past year but health issues and things just didn't allow for it, so my two oldest went to public school. After getting ME sorted out and having to go through one too many inappropriate conversations with my kindergartner, I decided we were going to for sure make it work for the 2012-2013 school year!

My kids are 4, 6 and 8. The older two will be 9 in March and 7 in May and the youngest 5 in April. I wondered if I could combine the other two, both boys (just clarifying so I can say things like 'The Boys' ), into one unit? I was thinking that Beyond could work for them both so I could do them at once? My oldest is struggling a bit. He does well in math and science, with just a few problem areas, but he HATES reading and writing is a HUGE struggle for him. I myself am an avid reader and love it so much and really want to find a good curriculum that won't be too hard for him, but will encourage him and help him to have a love of reading as well.

I had decided on My Fathers World and purchased the grade 1 deluxe package. Then, like a week ago, a friend told me about Heart of Dakota and I think it would be better for us if I could combine the boys! for MFW this year I was going to do two different units because that was what their site recommended. If I could get one unit for both kids that would be just dandy! Is there a huge difference between these two curriculum? I just feel so scared and nervous....like I will totally fail if I pick the wrong one. *sigh*

IF I were to get beyond for both boys could some tell me EXACTLY what all I would need?? I have things in my cart but I want to make sure I have everything. I am not one of those people who likes to shop around little bits at a time. I need the whole shebang all at once or I get utterly confused!

Thank you so much for help/info/guidance!

ETA: MATH!! Should I start my struggling 8 year old in Singapore? I have heard it's harder and different so I was thinking about doing something more what he was used to like Horizons or some such? Do you think I could start my 6 year old in Singapore?? I don't know much about it other than that I have a friend who home schools and she didn't like it for them so I was kinda scared of it.

Crystal
xoxo

[raceNzanesmom]

Before recommending anything, can you tell us how they place on the placement chart, please? Does the younger fit in Beyond? If he does, it's not too hard to beef up for the older ds. If he doesn't, and needs Little Hearts, then that might be a stretch for your older. Give us some more info before you order.

Others can give better info comparing MFW, I'm sure, but I chose HOD when I first started looking simply because I liked the book choices better than other programs. I also liked that books were savored, not rushed through. Now that I've used two guides (Little Hearts and Beyond), I still love the book choices, but truly love how Christ is the center of it all and He's woven into every little part. It's also so easy to use. I, literally, open and go each day. I already have all our supplies in one general place, so I can just go from one box to the next. I love it and have NO plans of ever changing. And, most importantly, my ds loves it. hth.

[farmfamily]

I think Beyond may be a possible fit for them. As pp suggested, check the placement chart to make sure the younger one is ready for Beyond.

By the end of summer my kids will be 4, 6, and 8 like yours. I have the older two combined in Beyond and it's working very well for us - we just started three weeks ago (we school more or less year-round with longer breaks in winter when my farmer husband's work is less intense). My older daughter is doing some things from the Bigger guide because she is ready for them. In Beyond there is poetry copywork, spelling, and sometimes just one more sentence of copying a day. If your older son is ready for a little more writing, you could put him in Rod & Staff English 2 which is scheduled in the Bigger guide. As Carrie recommends, we only write 1/3 of what they ask to be written in each lesson (we do the rest orally).

For Beyond you would definitely need the economy package. If you decide to go with Singapore get the basic package as well, otherwise you will need to separately buy the items in the basic package that are not the math program. Then if you can afford the deluxe package that is a a really good idea - it provides all the read-aloud storytime titles you need. Since you have boys you could choose between Boy interest or Classic set. However if you can't afford this you can go to the library and borrow these books or ones like them (the storytime questions in the guide work with any book in that genre - there are 9 genres I think). Finally you'd need to decide what reading level to get for your boys. Either a phonics program or the emerging reader (ER) set or Drawn into the Heart of Reading (DITHOR). My 6 year-old is doing ERs and the older one is doing DITHOR, but it really depends where your kids are at with reading.

Sorry I can't help on the math question since we use something else.

As far as reading goes - Carrie picks some truly excellent books. I think that should encourage your son to enjoy reading more.

HTH

[crystalbella77]

Before recommending anything, can you tell us how they place on the placement chart, please? Does the younger fit in Beyond? If he does, it's not too hard to beef up for the older ds. If he doesn't, and needs Little Hearts, then that might be a stretch for your older. Give us some more info before you order.

According the placement chart I think my 6 year old fits perfectly in Beyond. He has learned phonics and is reading at the 1st grade level. He can copy basic sentences. Definitely has had basic math. I am just not sure on Grammar where he is....That really is the only thing that I am unsure of on the placement chart. When it comes to writing I know my 8 year old cannot do manuscript. That wasn't even mentioned in his 2nd grade class this year so I think Bigger would be too much for him in that area?

[Robbi]

Hi, it sounds like your younger will do fine in Beyond. The grammer in it is very light, just one day a week. We used Beyond for my DD age 7 for 1st grade after public school kindy. Its been a great fit!

For your older, in Bigger they just start learning cursive (is that what u meant by manuscript?) So no previous knowledge is needed. But it would also be fine to combine with younger. You would probly need to do different, age appropriate math and maybe even add in more grammer. There are 2 spelling lists in Beyond but if your older is past those you can get just the Bigger guide for the dictation. The Bigger guide would also have the math activities for Singapore 2. Singapore is different but what makes it great is the activities Carrie has planned with it. There is something about subtracting by eating choco chips one at a time that really solidifies it for the kiddos. Lots of the activities are snacks!!! Big hit & makes math fun!! I would say give Singapore a try!

[my3sons]

Hi Crystal, and welcome to the HOD board! I am excited for you to begin your homeschooling journey with HOD, and also praising the Lord that He has helped you come to this decision to homeschool this coming year! We have used HOD for 10 years and are still loving it.

I agree with the ladies' advice that Beyond sounds like a good fit for you older 2 dc. This was some great advice...

Hi, it sounds like your younger will do fine in Beyond. The grammer in it is very light, just one day a week...There are 2 spelling lists in Beyond but if your older is past those you can get just the Bigger guide for the dictation. The Bigger guide would also have the math activities for Singapore 2. Singapore is different but what makes it great is the activities Carrie has planned with it. There is something about subtracting by eating choco chips one at a time that really solidifies it for the kiddos. Lots of the activities are snacks!!! Big hit & makes math fun!! I would say give Singapore a try!

I would combine the 2 older dc in Beyond - I think that will be a good placement that you will love! Singapore Math has worked well for all of our sons - 1 who is mathy, 1 who is not, and 1 who is too little to tell. Our oldest has worked through level 6A, our middle through 3B, and our youngest is in Earlybird Kindergarten. I would agree with Robbi that the activities Carrie has written for Singapore Math through 2B help catapult it into the "love it" category! Your friend may not have had the activities in HOD, as well as the nice planned out pacing and schedule for Singapore Math in the HOD guides. I would recommend giving your 8 yo the free placement test, starting with 1A Primary Math US Edition (as Singapore is considered advanced), and making sure not to help as it inflates scores. Here is a link to the placement test...
http://www.singaporemath.com/Placement_Test_s/86.htm

Wherever ds places is where I would start him. I think I'd at least give Singapore a try, as HOD has it all conveniently planned out for you and has neat hands-on activities your dc will love already in the guide. You can always switch to something else the next year after giving it a try. I think Singapore Math is hard to come into only if you have dc that are much older, like doing 5th or 6th grade level math. Otherwise, it is not hard to come into at 8 yo. However, if you find you prefer another math program, any math does work with HOD, so you can choose that if you wish.

I can help you with what to order specifically if you can tell me these things...
- What stage of reading are each of your dc at? (phonics, or beginning early readers - like "Frog and Toad" books)
- What level of math fits each of your dc? (probably 1A/1B for the 6 yo, but what does the placement test say for the 8 yo after you give it?)
- Would you like your books you read aloud to be more classic and a little old-worldly sounding, or more all boy and a little easier to listen to?

You could also do "Little Hands to Heaven" with the 4 yo - that would be fun and easy to do!

I'll check back - HTH - and looking forward to getting to know you here!

In Christ,
Julie