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Tina, don't fret! We should never compare our kids to others' kids, only to themselves as a measure of progress. Did he place pretty well in Beyond when you began it? Has your 10 year old learned new things and improved since you started Beyond? Then he is doing great, and so are you! For what it's worth, I have an 11 year old and a 13 year old in Bigger right now with Extensions and some extras-they are learning and progressing. Also, notice the guides overlap in age-the Bigger Guide, which you will be coming to next fall, is for approximately ages 7-9 with Extensions for ages 10-11. These guides are written to be used as a tool to be used to meet your family's needs and target your children's learning right where they are, not to be worried about being "behind". Isn't that one of the reasons we homeschool-to teach our children at a level that is individualized and appropriate, as well as engaging, so that they can make progress from year to year, instead of being overwhelmed and frustrated? I hope this encourages you!
Lastly, I am sure Julie posted to encourage as well, to show the result of years of using HOD. Her son got to that point by going through all the previous guides, and your son will get to be there too! In fact, he may even surprise you when certain things begin to "click" for him. Just last year in January, my then 10 year old couldn't write a paragraph, truly no more than 3 sentences. Today, at age 11, she produced for me a 12 sentence, well-written paragraph.
Hugs

Thank you, Lourdes. I really did need that encouragement. Yes, my son has definitely progressed this year with Beyond. Especially in his reading capacity. He used to NEVER want to read at home when he was in school, now he reads at reading time and at bedtime. He is currently reading the Narnia series, which is not an easy read! So, I have definitely seen that progression in him, as well as his reading aloud skills. They have GREATLY improved since we started.

He is just a very concrete, black and white kind of thinker, not an abstract, philosophical type like my younger son. I just have to accept this and see the beauty in his uniqueness. I tend to be more abstract and philosophical, whatever you want to call it. I was an English major in college, so I guess I tend to expect too much of him. Language Arts was always my strength, so I guess I am less patient in that area than I should be with him. He is a very intelligent child, but just not in the same way I am. He got up about an hour earlier than everyone else to get his work done this morning, like his math, reading, copywork, spelling. Then he asked if he could make breakfast. This is how he is. He is very much a doer and a server. He just started Taekwando a couple of weeks ago and LOVES it. To me, that would be so boring, but he is really enjoying it! He is very helpful, like with breakfast, grocery shopping, putting groceries away, doing his laundry, and all of those kinds of things. All of the things I DON'T like! It is just more difficult for me to teach him in some ways because I feel that he comprehends things very slowly. But honestly, he is JUST like my husband in that respect. My husband has a brilliant mind when it comes to engineering/math, but when it comes to reading comprehension, he has to read something several times to really get it. Sooo...

Thanks again for the encouragement. Homeschooling works on my heart even more than my children, I believe. I must remember that my Father already knows the plans he has for my son in life, and my job as his mother is to point Him in that direction, and into the direction of a relationship with Jesus. He can't and won't be good at everything! None of us are! By the way, he has accepted Christ in his heart as His Savior. Which is so awesome!

tnahid wrote:My now 10 year old is only using Beyond!!!!! Now what is wrong with this picture? He would be like light years behind yours, Julie! Help!

I'm so sorry if I in any way discouraged you, Tina! That was not my intention at all. My ds is 11 yo, and as Lourdes said, we have worked through each and every HOD guide inching along in writing skills to get to this point. I want to encourage you that these things cannot be rushed. Trying to push dc along just results in them missing things along the way. By systematically doing the HOD guides in order, your ds will continue to improve and grow in this area, as well as many other areas. That is such a joy to see! I believe it is very possible for dc to end up at the same point in their academics at an older age, though they got there at a different pacing. I often wonder if I should have had Wyatt slow down, as he is on the youngest age of the guides, and if he were older, he certainly could be doing better work. I felt such a pressure from my dh when I first began homeschooling to push, push, push - to show our dc would be fine being homeschooled. Had I not had that pressure, I would have taken more time at the onset of schooling. As it is, we are on the pace where my ds will graduate a year early. I think I am alright with this, as we will more than likely have him go the CollegePlus route and live at home as he does that, but I too wonder sometimes about the pace I've chosen. My only intent in posting this was to show how far Wyatt has come, as those who have read the board for awhile know this has been a bit of a struggle for him - and not his favorite subject usually. Your ds is doing just fine!!! It sounds like he is growing and moving along very nicely with Beyond, and he will most certainly continue to do so beautifully as this is the soundness of HOD's progression of skills. I too sometimes get into comparing (my nephew is a year older than Wyatt and doing the same guide and is an INCREDIBLE ARTIST), but then I remind myself he's special in other ways that God created him to be.

In Christ,
Julie

Oh no, Julie. You didn't discourage me. Please don't feel bad about that! I am so happy for your son doing so well. I am even more encouraged now actually after seeing your and Lourdes posts. Bless you! And thank you for all of your thoughtful posts! I so enjoy reading them!

tnahid wrote:My now 10 year old is only using Beyond!!!!! Now what is wrong with this picture? He would be like light years behind yours, Julie! Help!

If your 10 year old is in the guide where he places best, then don't despair. My now 12 yo used Beyond as a 10 yo and he is now in Preparing and I'm so pleased with his progression of skills and abilities. IT will happen in God's good time.