Beyond questions

[sweetgrace]

Handwriting-I see that Beyond does not come with a choice of a writing program. Is this because it is included in the guide?

Math- We are using Singapore Essentials K this year and plan to continue with Singapore. What is everyone using for the manipulatives for this program? We are living in a fifth wheel this season of our lives and I sometimes find it difficult to come up with a certain number of items to use. I'm short on room so something small and nothing with a hundred pieces would be handy. Should I get linking cubes or something like that? Do I need different kinds?

Literature- Classic or boy book package? Or both, lol? Does anybody use these book packages and also add their own choices as well?

[StephanieU]

Beyond includes handwriting (copywork), spelling, and one a week grammar in the guide. You will need something for your child to write in/on for these, but there isn't a separate curriculum.

We aren't using Singapore, but I find linking cubes to be great for math. If you can find the linking Base 10 pieces, I think those are amazing, but snap cubes/unifix cubes or even Legos will work.

As for storytime, for Beyond I am using our library and picking and choosing books from each of the three collections. But, I am considering buying the Classics package for Bigger (which has a very similar storytime set up). That way I can use one package with all three kids. The library has worked okay, but having them on hand seems even easier. Really though, you can use any book that is an appropriate length for each genre, as the instructions aren't book specific at all.

[sweetgrace]

Beyond includes handwriting (copywork), spelling, and one a week grammar in the guide. You will need something for your child to write in/on for these, but there isn't a separate curriculum.

We aren't using Singapore, but I find linking cubes to be great for math. If you can find the linking Base 10 pieces, I think those are amazing, but snap cubes/unifix cubes or even Legos will work.

As for storytime, for Beyond I am using our library and picking and choosing books from each of the three collections. But, I am considering buying the Classics package for Bigger (which has a very similar storytime set up). That way I can use one package with all three kids. The library has worked okay, but having them on hand seems even easier. Really though, you can use any book that is an appropriate length for each genre, as the instructions aren't book specific at all.

Excellent, thank you! Yeah I thought about reading one book pack this year with DS1 and then the other book pack next year with DS2. DS2 always listens in on his brothers reading I have also found that having the books on hand make it so much easier and convenient. That way if we are sick or unable to make it to the library we still have the books we need.

Is there a book list in the back of the guide like in LHFHG?

Also DITHOR is to be used after the ER's correct. Still not sure I even understand DITHOR.

[StephanieU]

There isn't a book list at the end of Beyond, but I don't think one would be necessary either. Beyond is very rich, with more Bible study questions (the Bible box always has questions or the weekly devotional, all tied to the history) and poetry. The only time we added a little was when we studied Thanksgiving, and that was just because I was looking for books that all of us could read together (including the younger ones).

As for DITHOR, it is recommended after the emerging readers in one way or another. Many families wait until Bigger or Preparing to start doing DITHOR completely. Instead, they just have their children read the DITHOR books and narrate, etc. Since Beyond and Bigger contain some literature study in the storytime box already, adding more literature study is not necessary. You definitely want to continue with reading, but doing DITHOR completely isn't necessary until Preparing. My plan is to buy all of DITHOR for my daughter, but then to decide once we have it and we have gotten going on Bigger how much of the workbook we will do.

[Nealewill]

As for Singapore and math manipulatives, you could get cubes but a lot of times Carrie includes math activities in the guide and you don't need them. She will have you use things you already own, like cereal or even M&Ms (my favorite). I would just follow along with the activities offered within the guide and you will be fine.

As for books - my dd is doing Bigger next year (she did Beyond last year and is doing Little this year so she will move up to Bigger next year - she is definitely ready) and I plan to use a totally separate book list with her than I used with my son. She has absolutely LOVES to listen to the books I have read to him this year! So she will need a new list next year. For my son this year, I used a some from the book list and some from the extension set (as these titles weren't as mature as future books are in future extension packs). For my dd next year, I purchased her the girl literature package. When we did Beyond last year, we read most of the books from all 3 because my kids just love to listen to me read. We studied only 1 from each genre but read the others for fun. We LOVED King of the Wind. That has probably been one of my absolute favorites that we have ever read. I love horse books! And then this year we read Seabiscuit (as part of Bigger). Excellent as well (I have met some mixed reviews with that story but my kids were giddy and jumping up and down when Seabuscuits won his races ) And Little House on the Prairie is a series dear to my heart. I have read everyone of those books to my kids - all 8 - and we even read all of the Rose years as well. My youngest is on a reading kick and she is reading most of the Little House chapter books to herself - one of which is scheduled in the ERs. We learned so much about what it was like growing up in her era. Our library has those books on CD. I still check them out regularly because my kids still love to sit and listen to them. That book was fantastic and I highly recommend it.

As for DITHOR - I haven't started it yet with my younger 2 even though they could read the books and start the study. I am planning to start it in a few months. But because we do study different elements of literature with story time, I am also happy with waiting. My oldest dd started DITHOR when we did Preparing and that seemed to be a good fit. I am currently just focusing on listening to my younger 2 kids read to me for about 15 minutes a day and then they read to themselves for 15-30 minutes a day. I do have the $5 book list that is offered with DITHOR and I love that. We have selected several of the books on there just as books for free reading. I also purchase all of the books for each book pack with DITHOR. We only cover 1/2 of them with DITHOR because we study about 5 genres per year. But then my kids will read the other books over the summer or in their spare time. They love the selection and so do I. It is nice being able to know that I am giving my kids a safe and interesting book selection to choose from. I also plan to offer them extension books when they get older (not as part of the guide but just available for free reading once they reach that age range) because I have read several of them already and they excellent finds as well. For us - my kids aren't necessarily the type that love to read.....unless you give them the right book. If they get into a book and it is interesting, they will read and read and not put it down. That is what I love about HOD. I feel like they offer us the "right books."

[sweetgrace]

There isn't a book list at the end of Beyond, but I don't think one would be necessary either. Beyond is very rich, with more Bible study questions (the Bible box always has questions or the weekly devotional, all tied to the history) and poetry. The only time we added a little was when we studied Thanksgiving, and that was just because I was looking for books that all of us could read together (including the younger ones).

As for DITHOR, it is recommended after the emerging readers in one way or another. Many families wait until Bigger or Preparing to start doing DITHOR completely. Instead, they just have their children read the DITHOR books and narrate, etc. Since Beyond and Bigger contain some literature study in the storytime box already, adding more literature study is not necessary. You definitely want to continue with reading, but doing DITHOR completely isn't necessary until Preparing. My plan is to buy all of DITHOR for my daughter, but then to decide once we have it and we have gotten going on Bigger how much of the workbook we will do.

Thank you! I'm sure I'll understand the guide better once I can get it in my hands. I won't worry about DITHOR this year

[sweetgrace]

As for Singapore and math manipulatives, you could get cubes but a lot of times Carrie includes math activities in the guide and you don't need them. She will have you use things you already own, like cereal or even M&Ms (my favorite). I would just follow along with the activities offered within the guide and you will be fine.

As for books - my dd is doing Bigger next year (she did Beyond last year and is doing Little this year so she will move up to Bigger next year - she is definitely ready) and I plan to use a totally separate book list with her than I used with my son. She has absolutely LOVES to listen to the books I have read to him this year! So she will need a new list next year. For my son this year, I used a some from the book list and some from the extension set (as these titles weren't as mature as future books are in future extension packs). For my dd next year, I purchased her the girl literature package. When we did Beyond last year, we read most of the books from all 3 because my kids just love to listen to me read. We studied only 1 from each genre but read the others for fun. We LOVED King of the Wind. That has probably been one of my absolute favorites that we have ever read. I love horse books! And then this year we read Seabiscuit (as part of Bigger). Excellent as well (I have met some mixed reviews with that story but my kids were giddy and jumping up and down when Seabuscuits won his races ) And Little House on the Prairie is a series dear to my heart. I have read everyone of those books to my kids - all 8 - and we even read all of the Rose years as well. My youngest is on a reading kick and she is reading most of the Little House chapter books to herself - one of which is scheduled in the ERs. We learned so much about what it was like growing up in her era. Our library has those books on CD. I still check them out regularly because my kids still love to sit and listen to them. That book was fantastic and I highly recommend it.

As for DITHOR - I haven't started it yet with my younger 2 even though they could read the books and start the study. I am planning to start it in a few months. But because we do study different elements of literature with story time, I am also happy with waiting. My oldest dd started DITHOR when we did Preparing and that seemed to be a good fit. I am currently just focusing on listening to my younger 2 kids read to me for about 15 minutes a day and then they read to themselves for 15-30 minutes a day. I do have the $5 book list that is offered with DITHOR and I love that. We have selected several of the books on there just as books for free reading. I also purchase all of the books for each book pack with DITHOR. We only cover 1/2 of them with DITHOR because we study about 5 genres per year. But then my kids will read the other books over the summer or in their spare time. They love the selection and so do I. It is nice being able to know that I am giving my kids a safe and interesting book selection to choose from. I also plan to offer them extension books when they get older (not as part of the guide but just available for free reading once they reach that age range) because I have read several of them already and they excellent finds as well. For us - my kids aren't necessarily the type that love to read.....unless you give them the right book. If they get into a book and it is interesting, they will read and read and not put it down. That is what I love about HOD. I feel like they offer us the "right books."

Thank for the book suggestions! I'm so excited to be able to start reading some of my childhood favorites to my children!