heartofdakota.com

Charika,
First of all I'm praying for you and that the Lord will give you great peace in following His perfect will for your family. I guess I'm wondering from reading your post if you are very familiar with the Charlotte Mason methodology. If you've not read any books on it, see if your library has anything by Catherine Levison (link removed per board rules) Karen Andreola. I think even the (link removed per board rules) Clarkson's book even though not entirely Charlotte Mason, but a ton is would be good to read if available at your local library. I think reading about the gentle art of learning would help quiet some of your fears. Maybe you're already very familiar and don't need this info. Just thought a pass it along just in case you weren't. I do believe if you aren't and you read it, so many things will ring true with your mother's heart for your dc.

On another note, maybe someone else who sends in the reports that you have to would be willing to share theirs as an example for you. I know sometimes seeing something someone else has done can really help. I'm visual though.

Edwina,

No, I am not very familiar with the Charlotte Mason Methodology (although I have heard of it). I will certainly look for these books! Thank you so much for this great suggestion/advice and even more for your prayers!

Charika - You've really gotten some good ideas here already! I really do think that cutting out the workbooks is a wonderful idea that will free up much time for the more authentic and exciting learning in Beyond to take place. I was worried about standardized testing too. We've pretty much only done HOD from the start though, and our dc have done very well with their testing. I think year after year of Charlotte Mason style skills being taught makes a big difference.

I would say as far as your state testing is concerned, Beyond is for ages 6-8, so you'll be fine with that as a core program. For the math, since you are in Unit 26, you will soon be done with that and onto the next level, so technically you could just state the next level for this year's math as you'll be doing it the bulk of this year too. I'd encourage you to get the Bigger Hearts guide for the 2A/2B hands-on Singapore Math plans at that point, as that was a huge help to our dc! As far as the Emerging Reader's Set, that is the same deal. You are already underway with it, if you keep moving forward with it, following the schedule and comprehension questions in the Appendix of Beyond, your ds should be ready for "Drawn into the Heart of Reading" Level 2/3 by the end of the year. You could thus declare he is doing that for his reading, and then finish it out the following year. I wouldn't worry about cursive until next year. However, it sounds like you'd enjoy some improvement on his printing, and that would be one area a workbook would be good - possibly something like "A Reason for Handwriting A" or "Italic B". We did "A Reason for Handwriting A" with both of our dc during Beyond, as I felt they needed a little more practice before cursive, and it worked well. We went for "quality" over "quantity" though, and just had them write only 2-3 very good letters/words on each line, rather than the whole line full.

I think if you make it your number one goal to do school every day from here on out to the end of the year, stop all the workbooks save a handwriting one, and begin DITHOR 2/3, Math 2A/2B, you'll be just fine. I hope that helps, and God bless!

In Christ,
Julie

Thank you so much, Julie! That helps a lot! I did state that I was doing 2nd grade math (singapore's math 2A/2B) last year, so I think I have to state I am doing the 3rd grade level, unless I can repeat it? I guess I can inquire about that. And yes we are doing a handwriting book. We were doing A reason for handwriting A and then I read such wonderful reviews for italic B on Amazon and switched him to that. So, I wonder if I just stick with math 2A/2B this year (and 2nd grade spelling), will he be ready for the 3rd grade testing this year for those subjects? I do remember one mom stating that singapore is advanced, so maybe he will be ok. Perhaps buying a prep book will also help to answer that question. otherwise, I guess I can just double up on just the math so that I can finish 2A/2B sooner and quickly get started on the 3rd grade level? In any case, Again, I thank you so much for this great advice!!! I'm so glad I came to this board instead of trying to figure this all out on my own...

God bless you too and your family,
Charika

Charika30 wrote:Thank you so much, Julie! That helps a lot! I did state that I was doing 2nd grade math (singapore's math 2A/2B) last year, so I think I have to state I am doing the 3rd grade level, unless I can repeat it? I guess I can inquire about that. And yes we are doing a handwriting book. We were doing A reason for handwriting A and then I read such wonderful reviews for italic B on Amazon and switched him to that. So, I wonder if I just stick with math 2A/2B this year (and 2nd grade spelling), will he be ready for the 3rd grade testing this year for those subjects? I do remember one mom stating that singapore is advanced, so maybe he will be ok. Perhaps buying a prep book will also help to answer that question. otherwise, I guess I can just double up on just the math so that I can finish 2A/2B sooner and quickly get started on the 3rd grade level? In any case, Again, I thank you so much for this great advice!!! I'm so glad I came to this board instead of trying to figure this all out on my own...

God bless you too and your family,
Charika

Yes, I think I'd just stick with 2A/2B along with the hands-on math activities from Bigger Hearts (if you have it or if not I think it's worth it to get it), finish out the handwriting book, and do the 2nd grade spelling. I would do one day's worth of plans every day Monday through Friday and try hard not to take many vacation days to catch up, in lieu of doubling up anything. I just don't think doubling up doubles the learning. I am not sure what you should tell your advisor, but I would think it would be fine to just let him/her know that your ds needed to slow down in some areas, so you are finishing out some of the things and plan on starting the next level up when he finishes. You will know best here! I think it will be hard for him to be ready for third grade testing, but I think the best thing you could do is just move through the guide's plans consistently. Real learning really will take place, and this can only help on not only the testing, but on what is truly learned too. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

Again, Julie, I thank you so much!! Yes, you've helped a lot!! You've given me a lot to think about (and to put into action asap). I am very encouraged to press forward in our homeschooling journey! I know with God we can do this!!!

Many blessings,
Charika

I did want to also mention that Singapore is advance to the point that, in Singapore (the country), a child would start 1A at the beginning of 2nd grade. I have a 6th grader doing 4A this year..and in another math program (that is also considered "advanced"), he was finishing the 5th grade level at the start of this year. Singapore is just a whole different kind of math program...so much deeper thinking is involved with it than with the "drill and kill" programs. I hope this will hearten you a bit with regard to math.

Rebecca- This heartens me a lot!! Thank you!!!