Little vs. Beyond for 7 yo?

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Bijou
Posts: 42
Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 3:51 pm
Location: Montana

Little vs. Beyond for 7 yo?

Post by Bijou » Mon Apr 22, 2013 7:40 pm

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
Mom to:
DS 18
DD 16
DS 13

StillJulie
Posts: 394
Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2009 5:04 pm

Re: Little vs. Beyond for 7 yo?

Post by StillJulie » Mon Apr 22, 2013 9:01 pm

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.
16yo DD using US History 1 for 11th grade
14yo DS using World Geography for 9th grade
13yo DS using Rev to Rev for 7th grade
10yo DD using Creation to Christ for 5th grade
8yo DD using Bigger for 3rd grade
7yo DD using Beyond Hearts for 2nd grade

momof3kids
Posts: 150
Joined: Sun Mar 03, 2013 6:10 pm

Re: Little vs. Beyond for 7 yo?

Post by momof3kids » Tue Apr 23, 2013 5:25 am

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!
Married almost 13yr..dh and great father
5 blessings from God, 1 in heaven
9 yo ds- Preparing DITHOR
8 yo ds- Bigger
5 yo dd- Jut starting Little Hearts half speed
Baby boy born September 2014, now 2yo

countrymom
Posts: 770
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 3:16 pm

Re: Little vs. Beyond for 7 yo?

Post by countrymom » Tue Apr 23, 2013 8:28 am

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.
Countrymom
Wife to J
Big J - LHFHG, Beyond, Bigger, Preparing, CTC, R2R, Rev to Rev, Modern Missions, beginning parts of World Geography
Little J - LHTH, LHFHG, Beyond, Bigger, Preparing, working in CTC

Bijou
Posts: 42
Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 3:51 pm
Location: Montana

Re: Little vs. Beyond for 7 yo?

Post by Bijou » Tue Apr 23, 2013 9:56 am

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
Mom to:
DS 18
DD 16
DS 13

momof3kids
Posts: 150
Joined: Sun Mar 03, 2013 6:10 pm

Re: Little vs. Beyond for 7 yo?

Post by momof3kids » Tue Apr 23, 2013 10:05 am

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
Married almost 13yr..dh and great father
5 blessings from God, 1 in heaven
9 yo ds- Preparing DITHOR
8 yo ds- Bigger
5 yo dd- Jut starting Little Hearts half speed
Baby boy born September 2014, now 2yo

Bijou
Posts: 42
Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 3:51 pm
Location: Montana

Re: Little vs. Beyond for 7 yo?

Post by Bijou » Tue Apr 23, 2013 1:26 pm

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
Mom to:
DS 18
DD 16
DS 13

momof3kids
Posts: 150
Joined: Sun Mar 03, 2013 6:10 pm

Re: Little vs. Beyond for 7 yo?

Post by momof3kids » Tue Apr 23, 2013 2:07 pm

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!
Married almost 13yr..dh and great father
5 blessings from God, 1 in heaven
9 yo ds- Preparing DITHOR
8 yo ds- Bigger
5 yo dd- Jut starting Little Hearts half speed
Baby boy born September 2014, now 2yo

momof3kids
Posts: 150
Joined: Sun Mar 03, 2013 6:10 pm

Re: Little vs. Beyond for 7 yo?

Post by momof3kids » Wed Apr 24, 2013 4:20 pm

Hi Jodi...I have sent you a private message with a few questions... :D
Married almost 13yr..dh and great father
5 blessings from God, 1 in heaven
9 yo ds- Preparing DITHOR
8 yo ds- Bigger
5 yo dd- Jut starting Little Hearts half speed
Baby boy born September 2014, now 2yo

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