WOOO HOOOO!!!

[Mom2Monkeys]

I'm back I'm back I'm back!! DH said today that he wants me to bring dd back home from public school after she was only there for a few weeks before Christmas break. We've been out of HOD for several weeks now and we were already late to start...I think we're only in Unit 8 I really wanted to be done and ready to start Bigger and LHFHG in the fall...I started with Beyond for DD since her physical ability to write was rather limited even though she is academically ready for Bigger...with occupational therapy, she has drastically improved and is ready for bigger's writing even now. If we don't finish Beyond this school year, is it still reasonable to go on to Bigger in the fall? She's in 2nd grade now, Singapore Math 2A is almost done, she's already completed R&S English 2, and we're here and there in DITHOR 2/3 (she's reading the level 2 books, but I should've chosen level 3 books). What would you do?

[netpea]

Does your daughter fit best in Beyond according to the placement chart? If so, stick with that, and just oder R&S 3 for grammar. If she is ready for dictation already, you could buy the bigger manual and start using the dictation out of it. It won't be a "waste" of money, cause you'll be using the rest of the Bigger manual when she finishes Beyond.

[Mom2Monkeys]

If money weren't an issue, I'd move dd7 into Bigger and start ds5 in LHFHG K....knowing I'd be using LHTH with ds2 soon enough and ds5 would be using Beyond before we know it, it's not a "waste" of money at all. Both dd and ds5 are ready for these levels now. We are having fun with the guides we have, but ds5 wants more than he gets in LHTH and dd is using or ready for the right side of Bigger already (i.e. she uses Math 2A/B this year, has learned cursive, is ready for dictation, and can finally handle all the handwriting!!)

If I only get to unit 20 or so in Beyond, would it be okay to just start Bigger in the fall without completing all of Beyond? I may at least get the Bigger manual for the math activities and maybe the dication now... if I do that, what do I do once we're using all of Bigger next year? Would I have to use the dictation and math plans from Preparing? (We'll be using Math 3A/B, R&S 3, and will have already done Bigger's dictation).

[Kathleen]

If I only get to unit 20 or so in Beyond, would it be okay to just start Bigger in the fall without completing all of Beyond? I may at least get the Bigger manual for the math activities and maybe the dication now... if I do that, what do I do once we're using all of Bigger next year? Would I have to use the dictation and math plans from Preparing? (We'll be using Math 3A/B, R&S 3, and will have already done Bigger's dictation).

We started Bigger this year without doing any previous HOD with my oldest...and it works great! So, you'll be fine if you don't finish Beyond. (My issue would be that it would be so hard to pass up the good, fun learning. ) You would need Preparing for dictation if you use Bigger now. (I believe there's a year's worth there if you don't have to repeat any of them...so it may take you a ways into your year next year before you'd need to make that purchase. ) Bigger schedules the dictation 3 times a week. For math, you will have the schedule in the back of the Bigger manual. 2A/B are the last levels to have hands-on activities to go with them in the guides. The schedule in the back of Bigger lists out the text book and work book pages you need to work from for 3A/B.

I'll be remembering to pray that your family enjoys this change back to being home more...even while the stressful times you've been experiencing aren't gone I'm sure. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my strnegth is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor 12:9

Kathleen

[Carrie]

Mom2Monkeys,

With the many changes you've had going on this year in your home, I'd recommend staying with LHTH and with Beyond to finish out the year. Consistency at this point is going to be even more key than making sure your kiddos are being challenged in every area. You'll need time to re-settle into your home routine. With your little guy only being 4, I'd always recommend staying with LHTH anyway, and just adding in phonics and a handwriting workbook if needed.

I just noticed that you had mentioned your son was 5 now, and so I'm not sure if he is 4 (as in your signature line) or 5 or almost 5? Anyway that may make some difference in the overall best recommendation for him.

As far as Beyond goes, the literature study and history read-alouds are strong living books that go across many grade levels interest-wise, so you won't be beneath your daughter's level with those areas. Doing the daily copywork of poetry in Beyond will go a long way toward ensuring your daughter will be ready for the upped level of writing in Bigger. If you wanted to add the Bigger guide to start the first level of dictation and to have the hands-on math activities to go with 2A/2B, I think that would work well to hit your daughter's needs in those areas.

If the Level 2 book set for DITHR seems to be a bit on the easy side for your daughter, then you can sub in your own books instead to use with DITHR Level 2/3. However, since the skills in DITHR take some growing into, it is actually a good idea to read books that are slightly on the easy side when beginning DITHR. It helps kiddos dig into the stories more easily and keeps the reading lessons short, which leads to the child feeling more successful and happy with literature study. With Level 2/3, you are laying a strong literature study foundation that will be built upon more deeply in the coming years, so getting used to the literature study itself can be more important (at first) than making sure the kiddos are challenged in reading.

My own second son did Bigger as a third grader, and I felt it was a wonderful fit for him, even though he is a strong learner in all areas and has always loved school. I like to keep it that way, rather than pushing too hard (which is what we did with our first-born son)! So, your daughter will be in great shape placement-wise whenever she does get to Bigger.

It sounds like you are on the right track placement-wise and should just keep on going! Then, at the end of the school year, you can reassess and see what is best to do going into next school year.

Blessings,
Carrie

[Mom2Monkeys]

Carrie, Thanks for the wise words of advice. So much has changed or is changing at our house that I lose track of everything ...including how wonderful Beyond has been for dd. I do plan to stick to Beyond with her. I was debating since for her basics, (math, LA, etc.) she fits so well into Bigger.

Instead of using dictation in bigger with Beyond, I'm just going to add in words that follow the rule from Spelling Power. I don't want to have to use a second book (Preparing) just for dictation when we go on to bigger. Oh, and the DITHOR level 2 books are easy, but good. Although, she did sneak and read most of our storytime books these last 2 or 3 weeks! LOL I think I'll still just move into the level 3 books next year.

Oh, and my son turned 5 in Dec. I just didn't change my siggy yet. Sorry He is already reading some (CVC), orally spelling a lot by sounding out,handwriting has improved leaps and bounds, and is very math minded suddenly. He wants more...for example, he said to me, "Mom, I'm 5 and brother is 2. So when he's my age, I'll be ...sev...no, eight!" I was, of course, proud and amazed at the multi-step math problem he performed. He counts by 2's to 10 and can count to at least 29 and higher if he can remember the 10's names. But, that's an idea of where he's at with math. With that in mind...

This is my plan for him unless you have a better one! Let him join us in the left side of Beyond, more consistent lessons in Phonics and Reading Pathways, and slowly move through Horizons Math K- probably just Book 1 (its not as advanced as SM so it should be a good precursor to SM K). We did 2 Left side Beyond lessons together the other day just for fun and he loved it. Ds2 already knows all his letters (upper and lowercase) and many of the sounds so I think he's ready for LHTH. I'm hoping it will mostly teach him how to sit still longer than 2 seconds and to follow directions!

[water2wine]

I have no more advice then what has been given but just wanted to welcome you back! Yeah!

[Mom2Monkeys]

Hi Carrie,
Just an update from my last post...we started back to school today! DS5 did great with his Phonics Pathways and actually read the first pyramid page in the Reading pathways book! He did great in the Horizons math K which was lesson 20. He didn't do great sitting in for any of Beyond. I don't really know what to do with him....I guess I could just do Bible and such from LHTH plus his phonics and math. I do think he needs handwriting though but he doesn't do well with pencil and paper...he's a pro at it if its on a dry erase board (lined of course) ...

A bit of wisdom please?

[Carrie]

Tamara,

I'd still do LHTH with him, as it does a great job of hitting all needed readiness skills. It will especially work on getting his large and fine motor skills ready for writing, which it sounds just like he needs. LHTH is so much more than just alphabet readiness. It is complete preparation for the skills to come in LHFHG, so it is worth doing with him now, even if it seem on the easy side at times. If he's doing great with the phonics and math, just keep on going with those too (right along with LHTH). He can continue to do his writing on the lined markerboard, which is actually excellent writing practice (and hold off on a formal handwriting workbook until next year).

Blessings,
Carrie

[Mom2Monkeys]

Thanks Carrie,

This might seem dumb, but what exactly should I have him practice writing on the board? What he does right now is just a sort of free choice and just letters. If he is starting to read simple words, should I have him practice writing words? I didn't realize writing on the board was excellent practice There's such a huge difference between his handwriting on paper and on the board, I just assumed practice would need to happen on paper. So, that's really good to know! It's also just good to have someone else that knows about home schooling to give me their two cents and tell me I'm doing something right! LOL

[Carrie]

Tamara,

You are SO right that kiddos writing on the board and on paper varies a lot. When first starting writing practice, it's best to use unlined paper or an unlined marker board. Then, as you can see their fine motor skills (and muscle control) improving, you can shift to wide-lined marker boards or paper.

Along with LHTH, I'd just have your little guy write the letter you are practicing for the week in LHTH. Have him write several capitals of the letter for that week and then several lower case letters of that same letter beneath it. If he enjoys writing practice, you can also have him write his name. At first, I always make a dotted outline of the words (or letters if needed) to let my kiddos trace the outlines and be successful. Then, I slowly move to just putting the starting dot for each letter.

Eventually, he can write simple 3 letter words like those he's reading in his phonics. Make sure to stop before there is frustration though and remember that one letter perfectly formed is better than a whole row of poorly written ones.

Blessings,
Carrie