Still struggling with concerns about placement.

[RestInHim]

Hello, long-suffering ladies of the HOD board! I'm back again This is such a hard decision. Let me begin with the positive: I completely love all I'm seeing of the programs and materials here, and am excited to use each one as we move forward. My kids are still young and we have an amazing opportunity to use and cherish all the great homeschooling moments to come. That excites me!

I do still have some concerns. I have a very advanced 1st grader with whom I am planning to use Beyond Little Hearts this fall. She is very advanced in math and is far, far advanced in reading and comprehension (her reading level is about 3.3 right now and she's 5).

My plan was to use Beyond as written with the emerging readers set and an indeterminate math option. But here's the thing: yes, she'll be just six. But the math is too easy for her. The reading will be way to easy for her. I might as well just scrap the ERS because she could read all of those when she turned 5. The spelling will be too easy for her. She would want to copy the whole weekly copy work assignment on the first day because it wouldn't challenge her to do so.

I don't want to rush her, I really don't. That's just where she is. I love the looks of Beyond and really like the idea of starting at the beginning of the cycle, if that makes sense. But I am just afraid that because Beyond won't challenge her, she'll get bored and start disliking school. She has a brain that just doesn't quit and she excels if she's being challenged.

So the questions are: are R&S English 2 or 3 and/or Singapore 2A/2B scheduled in Beyond's Appendix?
(Yes, I know I could buy the Bigger guide just for that, but I really dislike the idea of running two guides for one student for the next 11 years )

Has anyone had experience adapting HOD for a very driven/gifted student?

I really want to use it. But I want it to fit her and I want it to challenge her. Thought? Oh, please, somebody have a thought!

[MomtoJGJE]

First of all, the idea behind it isn't to finish the copywork assignment or what have you. The idea is to do short portions so that you can really dwell on it.

So my thoughts would be to do Beyond as written (math and English on her level)... let her do other things after school time... let her expand challenge herself then.

Spelling - my kids have all been able to spell the words on both lists before starting Beyond. However, it trains them in an easier way on how to do dictation. It's nice to help them see patterns or what have you, but it's nicer for the dictation training.

As far as running two guides forever. With math, once you get to 3A/B you start using workbook and textbook... there are no longer hands on activities, and multiple years are scheduled in the guides. So once you get past 2A/B you won't need the next guide for that. Dictation has multiple levels in books past Bigger, so you would no longer need multiple guides for that. And English is one lesson per day straight from the book, so no need for an extra guide there. Basically what I'm saying is that, even if you go ahead and start dictation this year, you'd only need the Bigger guide as "extra".... once you get into Bigger you wouldn't need the Preparing guide for those subjects.

My kids really love the freedom to explore their own interests. They love how little time HOD takes (and I do too!) so they can do whatever they choose for the rest of the day.

There's also the issue that even though she's very smart and very bright, you don't want her having content that's too mature for her. So even if you choose to move at a faster pace for Math, English, dictation, it would probably be wise to not move faster in history/poetry... This is what we've decided to do. To keep them going at their pace for math, English, and dictation but keeping history at a lower level. Even though my 6yo is extremely smart and very intuitive, there's no way I'd want her doing Preparing next year... And if you decided to go with Bigger for her guide that's what would happen. There's just no way that at that age they have enough life experience to really really grasp the deep concepts in Preparing... and I'd dare say not in Bigger either. Which is one reason I"m holding off on starting Beyond right now with my 6yo and continuing through LHFHG until we finish even though she's WAY WAY past that. That's why I'm giving her extra math and handwriting and spelling and reading and Bible. Just to fill her up.

[momof3kids]

Hi, I am new to this..but having the same issue trying to decide where to place my 6yo as well. He is finishing ps K and well about 1st gr level in reading and math already....was thinking about Beyond for him..but i also have a 4 1/2 yo...not sure where to put him either....So, i feel your concerns of wanting them challenged but not pushed too hard!

[my3sons]

Hi Sara! Reading about your dd took me back to my oldest ds, Wyatt, at age 6. He was reading everything in sight, writing like crazy, awesome at math. They really are 2 peas in a pod, those 2. Do you know what I did with him? Beyond Little Hearts for His Glory - and it was awesome! There is so much more to consider than academic levels in placement. His placement as a 6 yo in Beyond has meant he is doing Missions to Modern Times as a 12-13 yo. It has been an exact fit! Looking through the past many years of guides, I'd not want to be any further than where he is though. The maturity of content, the spiritual focus, the Bible Quiet Times, the purity studies, the in-depth discussions, and the steady increase of narration skills and writing skills and reading skills, all came at the right time. I would say go ahead and do Beyond with your 6 yo, but start in the middle of the Emerging Reader's Set with "Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express" (which is a Level 3 reader). The comprehension questions that accompany this last half of the ERS will help prepare dd for DITHOR 2/3. When she finishes ERS halfway through Beyond, she can start DITHOR 2/3, and this will be challenge aplenty for her, both in reading and writing. For math, I'd give her the Singapore math placement test and be sure to have her do it solely on her own with no help (as this inflates scores unintentionally). It is printable and free at this website...
http://www.singaporemath.com

Just follow these steps once you are on the website...
1. Click on "parents"
2. Click on "assessment tests" (which is a clickable link under Step 3 on that page).
3. Click on the level you want to begin with under PRIMARY MATHEMATICS 3RD & U.S. EDITION SERIES , keeping in mind Singapore Math is considered a year advanced - in other words, start LOWER than you think your dc will place.
4. Print the test and have your dc take it, making sure not to help with anything as this inflates scores.
5. Follow the guidelines for placement (dc will probably take several levels tests before arriving at a placement).
6. Wherever dc place, even if it is lower than you anticipated, start there. If they tested into a "B" book, just begin with that. It will be fine!

As far as R & S English, I would not start R & S English 2 until dd has had the grammar introduction of Beyond. She is going to have oodles of years of grammar, and I'd not start that one early or she may burn out (or YOU will ). The history read alouds in Beyond are at the 3rd grade level, the classical poetry is outstanding and offers excellent copywork material and discussion, the science will give her hands-on opportunities - there is so much more there than one sees at first glance! But it is the Bible Study and the devotions that takes Beyond to an even higher level - and it gets to the heart. That little Bible devotional is one of my favorites (along with its counterpart in Bigger Hearts). Frances Ridley Havergal as a way of stepping into the room with us and speaking to our hearts through her devotions. Childlike faith that runs as deep as deep allows is what that amazing lady had. It has an 'old-worldy' sound and feel to it that is just more adultlike, though childlike in ways too. You just have to do it with your dc to know what I'm trying to describe here. It reminds me of my Grandma growing up, a little lady (5 feet tall ) with childlike faith that was steady through becoming a widow at 50, living alone for most her adult life, and having cancer for many years. Frances Ridley Havergal could have been her sister. I'd not want your dd to miss it.

Likewise, the Bible Study is outstanding. Daily Bible study questions instill Biblical values by training our dc to read and reflect on God’s word. Each unit includes the following Bible study activities in coordination with the history stories:
*Day 1: introduction and interpretation of the memory verse
*Day 2: personal application of the memory verse
*Day 3: observation of Godly character through devotional reading
*Day 4: practical application of the devotional character trait
*Day 5: exploration of a Bible passage focusing on Godly living

This introduction is not to be missed and does much to deepen Biblical study at an early age! I just wanted to share our experience, as I remember Wyatt seeming to be 'past' the reading level of the ERS, able to do more writing, a natural at math, when he did Beyond. What he wasn't 'past' was the deep discussions, the development of Godly character, the foundations of grammar/oral narration skills/comprehension skills - and THAT, was more important. It has served him well through all the rest of the guides. HTH as you consider what to do with your dd!

In Christ,
Julie

[acsnmama]

We just started Beyond on April 1st. I too struggled with placement. My son finishing 1st grade for age (just turned 7 this past month) but does all 2nd grade work, without a problem. He is fantastic at math and reading. He honestly places perfectly into Bigger with his intellectual abilities....

Even though my son is past the emerging readers set, I'm having him read them anyway, and we use the questions in in the guide. We've had great conversations about the meanings of the poems, about the meanings of the Bible verses, etc. Like Julie said. Our days go by quickly, and while my son too would love to sit and copy the entire poem in one sitting, I only have him copy parts, like the guide instructs him to do. He thoroughly enjoys reading each part of the poem to us, he uses enthusiasm and his reading is full of meaning. We discuss things more and it opens opportunity for great conversation.