Help w/ 1st Grader

[Shannon C]

We are starting week 3 in Beyond and LHFHG and we are already way ahead and it's driving me nuts!!! We are way ahead in math and read alouds. We finished our biography-Helen Keller in 1 week, dd just couldn't get enough. Now I'm in between read aloud books and I really want to start another, but I can't stand skipping ahead to other week's schedules. Then there's math, I don't even know what to do with math! We got the Singapore 1A and B, but dd is blazing through it, she was in Horizons 1 and some of Singapore is just too simple for her(though I think the new way of thinking is a bit of a challenge) but again-I really don't want to skip ahead in the manual. I want it to all work out nicely! What do I do? It just bothers me to not have everthing fitting into the week I'm on. I've tried to keep ds on schedule, but we did get ahead in Reddy Fox and he's dying to work faster in Earlybird--he's never done a math program, but learned a lot when dd did Horizons K and 1st. It's been good for him to learn to write numbers correctly, but he has most of his math facts memorized and wants something more challenging too. Anyway, any thoughts or do I just go ahead and jump into other weeks lessons?! I almost feel like dropping Singapore, but I want to give it a chance. Dd actually enjoys math instead of crying, but maybe it's because it's too simple for her. I just really wanted it to work out without having to follow a different schedule. Maybe I'm just crazy for not wanting to follow different pages.

[lmercon]

We are in the mystery genre right now in Beyond, and my ds begs me to read ahead. BUT, I don't! I only read the amount I've determined we would read. We take time to narrate and do any activity associated with the reading. CM taught that children should spend time with a book and ponder its contents. I would slow down the assigned reading and just do what is scheduled. You could have another "fun" book that you do on the side at their pace as a night-time read-aloud. As far as math goes, Singapore offers several "extra" workbooks - extra practice, intensive practice, and challenging word problems. They are fabulous and give extra practice with the concepts. I would go horizontally rather than vertically, meaning expose them to more of the concepts they are working on instead of moving ahead to new concepts. On the other hand, you could just move along with Singapore at their pace. There will come a time when they will need to slow down because it does get markedly more complicated by 1B into 2A and B.
hth,
Laura

[Lynnw]

As far as finishing your read aloud early, I would just pick another book from the same genre, in this case biography. Pick one you can finish in two weeks so that you're ready to move on to Adventure when you get to week 5 (I think). We are only a couple weeks ahead of you in Beyond and are really enjoying it. I don't have any advice about math... we are still in our former math program and will probably switch this summer/fall - so we will be off from the guide. Laura made some good points about expanding horizontally, or else getting ahead in case you need to slow down later, or what about adding a drill program like QuarterMile Math? - if they need it - they may not .

But about read alouds, just pick another biography and you can keep using the discussion suggestions in Beyond until you get to the next genre.

Congrats on your kiddos sailing along so smoothly!

[Mom2Monkeys]

Hi! I'll see if my tired mind can offer at least a little advice...

With the read alouds in Beyond, don't jump to another weeks genre...just do the questions/activity that is scheduled for the day you are on, then read as much as you want, then start another biography (or whatever genre you are on for that unit). You can choose any you like, and there are plenty of suggestions in the appendix, as well as on the main site.

In LHFHG, try to stay on track with teh read alouds...the anticipation is good. Start the next reading by revisiting the reading from the day before and see how much your child remembers, help him recall some so the next reading flows from that. I think it's important to do it as the guide says b/c you are building some important skills that are hidden within the fun of the stories...you are teaching beginning narration skills which are very important! If you like to read aloud, then add in more books outside of HOD, but try not to get ahead on these in LHFHG!

On Singapore, I would really aim to stay on track with these, unless you child placed higher. Singapore will get difficult enough, soon enough. The fact your dd is not having tears over it is wonderful and a great sign you have a great math program that works for her! Let it be easy for now, it will build her math confidence, development of love for (or at least tolerance of) math, which will help with later math success, as well as get her adjusted to the Singapore way of thinking. You are laying a great foundation for future math studies with Singapore-- an advanced, proven, fun, and effective math program...no reason to leave it b/c it's going well! Of course, it's up to you My ds5 is way past the first bit of earlybird math 2A, (we did some of Horizons K) but we are doing the hands-on activities and assignments as is anyway...it's a great progression and eventhough he says "mom, I like this. I can do it. Let's do more!"...I'm the mom, I want our plans to be covered on one two-page spread without flipping...so I'll just write a bit more on a plain piece of paper and let him do more of the same without moving on to another lesson. When kids have success, they learn to love learning! It's a good thing! Not everything will be easy all the time, and math will not stay easy. I'd enjoy it while it is! LOL

Also, remember that most kids start 1A in Singapore when they are 7. That's 2nd grade here. So you are already ahead. Singapore 3 starts getting pretty tough so I don't think you want to rush to it! My 2nd grader is about to finish 2B and I'm realizing math is getting out of the fun stage all too soon for her! I wish I wouldn't have let her move on so quickly! I'm not going to do the same with my next dc-- the older they are when they hit the more mature concepts, the better, IMHO.

So, lighten you math load and use that time to add in add'l books for storytime!

PS- We switched from Horizons and as much as I thought I loved it, I'm seeing fruit with Singapore that I never saw with Horizons. My kids actually like math now and they are retaining so much more...plus dd is learning her multiplication facts with NO flashcards or drilling!!!

HTH!

[Shannon C]

Thanks so much with your thoughts, ideas and encouragement. I will just slow down a bit and try to enjoy the peacefullness of HOD! I don't want my kids to suffer just so I can feel like we are accomplishing something! I know that we have time. My kids are adoring their history lessons too! I guess being in the beginning weeks, I just need to adjust to the program and let my kids do the same. I do think it is great!

[netpea]

I'm glad you are enjoying the programs so much! Like the others who have responded, I would suggest slowing down. Pick one Read aloud for the daily readings and stick to the schedule with that. Slow and easy like it's scheduled. If you enjoy reading together though, you could read the other selections from the genre at whatever rate your kids wanted to. That way they get to slowly savor and chew on one book and devour the rest.

It might be the best of both worlds.

[my3sons]

I totally agree with what's been said here. Congrats on your dc doing so well - but I wouldn't rush to the next stage. Things don't always have to feel difficult for it to mean learning is taking place. When dc beg to be read to more, that is the perfect time to put the book away - keeping the love of the book going and building anticipation for tomorrow's schooling. (It's kind of like chocolate - I LOVE chocolate, but if I always ate it until I completely had as much of it as I wanted, I would eventually be pretty tired of chocolate. ) Books can have the same effect if we're not careful. Plus, I've personally found the books we race through the kids don't remember. The books we do with HOD, they remember fondly for years to come because we really spent time with them.

There are so many other skills that need to be focused on in Beyond. Your dc already love to listen to books - but now the next thing to focus on is the comprehension and oral narrating. I've found both to be key for our dc - and a big turning point in Beyond Little Hearts. Because we worked hard on beginning oral narration skills and reading comprehension in Beyond, my ds grew to be a better narrator and was ready for Bigger Hearts and Drawn into the Heart of Reading the next year. That's another reason the readings are short - so these skills can be taught.

Singapore is the same way. They will need every bit of instruction - including the hands-on parts in HOD - to be able to move into 2A/2B and 3A/3B. Teaching Singapore is teaching a way of thinking, an approach to problem solving. I wouldn't rush to get to the harder levels because they are HARDER, and that will come soon enough.

You deserve to just open your HOD guide and teach from it as it is written - enjoying the smooth flow of the day, and seeing the fruit of that continuity in your dc's learning. Why not try to do the plans exactly as they are written for a few months? You can always blow through other books and add other things off and on, but let HOD be the rock and stability of your day. Then, you will feel grounded and the dc will know exactly what to expect. That has been the beauty of HOD for us, and I am thrilled each day to open my guide and know I've got my bases covered, and extra time for any other books or activities we want to explore... though often, we just play and enjoy the day!

In Christ,
Julie