Page 1 of 1

Little vs. Beyond for 7 yo?

Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 7:40 pm
by Bijou
I have asked questions about this before but now I am 2nd guessing myself. My dd will not turn 7 until November. We are just finishing Kindergarten. She is way ahead and I could have totally skipped the K program this year and went straight to 1st grade.(maybe it's just the curriculum we used) Looking back, I wish I would have. We live and learn! my question is this, I don't want her to miss out on some of the history and literature that is described in LHFHG, but she is quite a ways ahead in reading, writing and math. I don't want to hold her back but I wonder if we went straight to Beyond if she would be bored with the history there. I have gone through some of the same books with my older son and I just don't know if she would enjoy it yet or not. I had decided to start her out at LHFHG but now I'm not so sure what to do. Please help! Any advice would be great! Without having any previous experience with HOD, it's a hard choice to make. I have looked through the placement charts several times and she would fit in both Little and Beyond.

Thanks,
Jodi

Re: Little vs. Beyond for 7 yo?

Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 9:01 pm
by StillJulie
I would start her with LHFHG, but use phonics (or emerging readers), writing, and math at her ability level. If you don't own the Beyond guide yet and can afford it, I would buy that now too. Then use that for the hands on math activities (with Singapore 1A/1B) and the schedule for emerging readers (if she hasn't already read them). I would use them before starting DITHOR, even if you think they're below her ability. She can still read harder books for fun. I don't know if LHFHG has the spelling lists in the back. If it doesn't, that would be another reason to get the Beyond guide. You could start her with either list, depending on her ability.

I would wait til the following year to start Rod & Staff 2.

Re: Little vs. Beyond for 7 yo?

Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 5:25 am
by momof3kids
I am so glad you asked this question!...i am struggling with almost the same situation. My oldest will be 6 in May, finishing up K in ps..and is well ahead as you have stated..I was leaning towards Beyond..but now im not sure either...so glad to see what advice you get!

Re: Little vs. Beyond for 7 yo?

Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 8:28 am
by countrymom
The pp gave a great plan. There are a lot of skills addressed in Little Hearts when you really get into it. The action rhymes and memory verse activities are great for motor skill development and the Burgess books are a fun way to ease into narration. You will also be solid when hitting the guides down the road and will not have to worry about hitting them too soon.

Re: Little vs. Beyond for 7 yo?

Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 9:56 am
by Bijou
Thank you for your advice! :) I'm thinking I should stick with my first instinct and place here in LHFHG. She is very smart, but I don't know if the attention span is there to jump right into BLHFHG at this point. We are going to work on math, phonics and reading through the summer so she will be that much farther ahead in those subjects once we start our fall school year. I feel like I'm making this much harder than I need to, but I don't want to mess up by placing her in the wrong guide. With my older son it much more obvious as far as placement goes. No worries there. If anyone else would like to chime in I'd be greatful for your advice too.

Jodi

Re: Little vs. Beyond for 7 yo?

Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 10:05 am
by momof3kids
Have u called HOD??..they may be able to tell placement suggestions. I am really on the fence after reading your post....my ds will be 6 ..but was suggested to place in Beyond..like i mentioned here in another post..sounds alot like your issue..being ahead in reading and writing. Can i ask..if she has finished K, and seems to be ahead ( so to speak)..what are your concerns with placing her in Beyond??..maybe there are issues i am not aware of..I only ask since i am trying myself to get an idea of what we should do, since i am new at this as well :D

Re: Little vs. Beyond for 7 yo?

Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 1:26 pm
by Bijou
momof3kids,
My biggest concern about jumping into BLHFHG I guess is the history. After looking over LHFHG on the site here, I don't want her to miss out on the history that is offered in this guide. It sounds like a great intro. to a biblical view of history. While she gets this in some respect at church and from listening to her borthers school this year, I don't know attention span/maturity-wise, if she will be ready to dive right into BLHFHG. We could try to get ahold of some of the books and go through them this summer and then start with Beyond in the fall, but I like to give the kids and myself an actual summer. We have done some of the same books in our curriculum this year with her brother that are offered in Beyond and I think at this point she would get bored with it and lose interest right away. Her brother is 8, almost 9, and he gets bored with it. Having said that, he is not interested in history much at this point which is why I chose to place him in BHFHG instead of Preparing for next fall. It seems to sort of repeat some of the history we did this year, but in a different way that will appeal to him more...I hope! I digress, I just don't want dd to miss any valuable info where history is concerned, especially given what is going on in our country. I want her to get it and have a firm foundation there. We will continue working on math, phonics/reading and english part time through the summer. Those subjects, while we get them done, seem to sometimes take a back seat if I focus too much on getting through the curriculum guides. If I don't do a guide through the summer, but just focus on these few subjects and they get even further ahead or gain a better understanding in them, I won't feel bad about taking extra time with history and science in the fall. I have never done HOD but have used MFW and it is a similar type of curriculum layout. I don't know if that helps you at all. Not sure how I can possibly hope to help when I am still not sure of it either! :)

Jodi

Re: Little vs. Beyond for 7 yo?

Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 2:07 pm
by momof3kids
Thanks for taking some time to respond..it does help alot!...i am trying to get better understanding of what route we should take. i really like your idea about just doing a little over summer months..so focus on guides more when actual "school" starts. i really appreciate any info you ladies have to offer!..again, i think it helps to hear from someone in a similiar situation!

Re: Little vs. Beyond for 7 yo?

Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 4:20 pm
by momof3kids
Hi Jodi...I have sent you a private message with a few questions... :D