That just tickled my funny bone:D Alison

My (just turned) 10 year old loves it. I just read a post where Carrie mentioned that several books used in the Beyond package were for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. I think where you fit might depend on how much of HOD you use. At this point I have my own LA's and math that I am very happy with. I only use HOD to pull together Bible, history, science, poetry, geo., art, etc. I love the way all subjects flow together. I also use it for the storytime (RA's) (love them so far). The Pioneers to Patriots book is wonderful. If you want to have two years of American History I wouldn't hesitate to use Beyond, just use your own LA's and math, or bump up to the LA's and math from Bigger. I think that's where I keep seeing everyone go to the placement charts...because HOD incorporates everything. Still, my kids don't ever fit well into any placement it seems, and I have to combine them. I can tell you that using Beyond with my 3 kids, my oldest is getting more out of it, but my other two (7 and 5) are still enjoying it. So my advice would be that if you want to do two years of American history you could start off with Beyond, then go into Bigger. IF you want just one year then either package would work, but, if you choose Bigger,then I'd buy the Pioneers to Patriots book to read to them also, it's that good. :001_smile: HTH, Alison

Alana, have you tried just setting a timer? For my sanity I have started using a timer and having smaller lesson times. My kids are 10, 7, and 5. My 5 yr old does a little bit of time in phonics and math but no biggie,then she listens in on our HOD work. But, for my older two I set the timer ontheir lesson. Here's approx. how it breaks down. When the timer goes off we just stop, unless there is say one problem/answer left. Lively Latin - 15 min. MUS - 20 min AAS - 10 min (maybe I'll bump this up to 15 min. soon) WWE - 10 min Anyway, that isn't everything, but it helps keep me sane. We try to get going by 09:00, but sometimes it's 09:30. I like to be done with everyone by 1:00...but that doesn't include their reading time. I do all the LA's and math daily, except on Fridays when I do some of it, but I'll replace some things with fun stuff like Mad Libs, only one math page that day, etc. I've just got a new RR in so I'll have to go through and add in my new stuff and do some tweaking, but this is the year that I've grown to love my digital timer! Alison

You could do Beyond first, it is American history from 1565 (ish) to 1800. We're using it with a 10 yr old, almost 8, and almost 6 yr old. I'm really enjoying it. Then you could go to Bigger the next year. Alison

My plans: Math U See Beta WWE 1, then onto 2 Handwriting Without Tears Pathway Readers and Vocabulary (maybe 1st grade, maybe 2nd) Slowly start All about Spelling level 1 Finish Heart of Dakota Beyond (left side and storytime parts only) Alison

LOL, well love is a little strong for what my kids do, but it does help me to get math facts done. Also, if you have a computer with Win. 98 or 2000 you can find those great math and reading blaster games. We've used them for 5 years now and they are great to supplement with. Sounds like you now have a plan. Alison

Jean, I think your plan looks great. This is similiar to what I do and I only have 3 kids. I'd follow the other suggestions and maybe give the 6 yr old a 15 min. phonics lesson, then a 5 min. handwriting lesson, then go with your 9 yr old. Then come back and do math with your 6 yr old. Use the timer and doing those small lessons really helps me. Plus, you can have your older's doing chores, independent work during this time. Another thing you could do is have as many of them as applicable come around you first thing for a short memorization stint (say books of Bible or whatever), a 10 min. RA, poetry, etc. I do this with all 3 of mine together and it's a good way for us to start our day. I usually do this either during breakfast or directly afterwards. It is 15-20 minutes total and they seem to enjoy being together. Plus, after you finish your first 2 hours, you could schedule an older child to have a reading session with both of your younger ones..so the younger ones could RA to the older kids for maybe 10 min (just because I imagine with so many kids at Diff. levels this might fall through the cracks). I'd also suggest having some computer programs for your youngers to get some extra work. I tag team my 3 (2 are doing phonics but at diff. levels, and the oldest gets WAY distracted when his sisters are at the table) with our two computers. I set up the mathusee online drill for them (5 min. or less) or grammar gorilla (5 min. also) and we also use Studydog, starfall, and on our older computer they all have individual time using things like Math Missions, Math Blaster, reading Blaster, and Jumpstart cd's. I like to alternate one week of math cd with one week of phonics cd. HTH Alison

Wow,I'm curious to. I just ordered it from Rainbow and I didn't notice that it was on backorder. Darn, I was looking forward to seeing it. Alison

After 9 years of MUS, what is it that hasn't worked out for you? Alison

So you saying that they really existed...just not the obvious mythological part of the stories? That's what I mean, I want to have it figured out before I hand it over to my son :). Thanks

I have older kids and was already settled in on these subjects prior to starting HOD. I use Math U See. For LA's I use the Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading and Writing With Ease (it's similiar to what HOD recommends but it's easier to use in a workbook format (at least for me). When they are doing well in their reading I go to All About Spelling (even though I like the looks of HOD, I also like how AAS is more scripted, plus I know it's working for my oldest and since I already have it I'll use it). For grammar I've been all over the place. I tend to hold off on a formal grammar program until 3rd/4th grade. For a 2nd grader this year I'm using Learning Language Arts Through Literature Red, when I finish with it I'll probably use the AAS and Growing with Grammar while still using WWE1. HTH, Alison in KY

I'm combining 3 kids in Beyond. They are 10 (9 when we started), soon to be 8 and soon to be 6. I use Beyond for it's scheduled RA's, history, science, geography, art, poetry, etc. I do not use it for LA's and math because I have my own programs that I really like, so I don't want to change. I do not think Beyond is below your 8 yr olds level. My oldest, my son, is an average student who is learning alot from Beyond. It was pointed out to me that the Pioneers to Patriots book was written for 3rd and 4th grades. I don't know if that is true or not. What I do know is that I have a history program that works for all of my kids. My oldest gets more out of it because he retains better than the other two. That's how I know it's working. He is interested in the stories, including the RA's from the book package. So far all we have done is Helen Keller and A Lion to Guard Us. They have both been perfect. Keep in mind that we have just finished Unit 5, so we aren't that far into it. The program links the Bible portion with the history, poetry, science, geo., and art. That is what I was looking for. I usually skip the crafty portions (there aren't many) and I sometimes skip the science activities if everyone gets the concept from my reading to them. My main focus while teaching this is to my oldest, then my middle and last my daughter. So I'm really shooting for exposure with my younger two, since we'll go through this a few more times. I also want them to enjoy the stories. They are all interested and that's so good to see. Before I started HOD my history, science, and everything else was hit or miss. It seemed all I could ever get done was the basics. Now that I've started this program I am so satisified with what I am able to accomplish in a day. We are able to do so much more and it's interesting and painless. Again, I don't do every single thing, I still make it work for me. Here's what we do. First is chores, then breakfast. Then I start off with their storytime, Bible and poetry. This is 15-20 minutes. Then we get into their basic subjects and I do alot of tag teaming since I have two working on phonics. The other kids rotate using the computer while I do some one on one work with each of them. I really use a timer and since I'm doing shorter timed sessions everything is working out so much better for us. We now have more of a flow to things and we are getting more chores done. After everyone's basics are finished I will then pull everyone back together to do the HOD history and science/geo/art/or whatever is scheduled for that day (these things will rotate throughout the week). If your oldest likes listening to stories then I think HOD is great for you. However, it won't have you reading from alot of sources at once. You'll go over a poem, and a scripture daily (if you want to of course) then you'll do a few pages of a story and a few from history. Sometimes, depending on the day, you'll read a page of science. But things are flowing and the program doesn't skip around so much like I've seen other programs do. On busier weeks when I've gotten off track I've just done alot more reading on one or two more days of the week to get caught up. The reading is way more doable IMHO than Sonlight. I can't compare it to MFW. The cool thing about using this package is that if you wanted to add a little bit more for your oldest, you still can and not pull your hair out. We usually start around 09:00 and go to 1:00, but that's with 3 kids, lunch, phonics, our own Bible reading, typing, everything. Before it seemed like my day was taking forever and I wasn't satisified because we didn't ever do history and science. Lastly, and I haven't personally tried this, but if your oldest is a big reader then you could pick up Drawn into the Heart of Reading. One thing I do like is the HOD book packages...they are convenient and so far we've enjoyed the selections. Hope this helps, Alison in KY

Thanks, it's intimidating me a bit, but I'll get into the swing of things. I'm still trying to decide if I want to do the history or not. I noticed it does take a bit of time doing the copying if I do not copy the history sheets. I'll figure it out, but I'll have more questions before it's all over with. Alison in kY

If you like LLATL and you think you need it, go one level above. Alot of people use it that way. It's a good program. Alison

Excuse my great ignorance. Is the Roman history in the LL series total myth, or were some of the people (like Romulus and Remus) actually real people with some crazy fictional stories surrounding them? I'm trying to figure out how to explain this to my son and I don't even know my self. Thanks Alison in KY

bump

The only obvious thing that leaps out at me is that you are doing two math programs and two for science. I guess I'd call that overkill unless you are staggering them, or doing a short timed lesson in each. Other than that it looks great. Alison in KY

I just re-read your post. You definitely will have plenty going on with the BJU math and reading and LHFHG. I think it's plenty for first. I would just add in that handwriting. Then, at a later time (maybe next year) bring in the WWE 1 and then AAS (I'd save this for last, but that's just me). The BJU reading might cover some of the narration/comprehension that WWE1 has. IF it does, then you could always have them copy a sentence from their BJU reading. However, the WWE1 workbook is so convenient. You would just need one workbook and then to buy the extra student pages. I had Office Depot cut my WWE1 so I could put my teacher instructions in it's own manual, then each child can have their own 3 ring binder with their copywork and narration in it. Alison in KY

I would drop phonics if they are doing okay on their reading. I don't know how far The Reading Lesson takes you in phonics but if they are able to read their own little books and are getting things okay then I"d stick with that. Definitely don't do the time intensive BJU. Just have them read out loud to you every day. Yes, you could start WWE 1 slowly if your twins can write a little bit. There are two copywork choices and one is a bit longer than the other. Then on other days you would simply read a passage to them and ask them comprehension questions about what they read. I allow 10 minutes or less for this at my house. I personally tend to wait on spelling, but with AAS if you wanted to get them started on some short little lessons this year I think that would be fine. It sounds like you have plenty going on for first grade. I don't think you have to start off with AAS or even WWE 1. Maybe go with the LHFHG, math, handwriting, and reading aloud to begin with it. Once you get into the flow of things I would bring in the AAS and WWE 1. Just my 2 cents and good luck Alison in KY

Some of you may have seen where I posted last night my fear for spending the money and buying Lively Latin. Well, I went with your blessing and bought the BB1 downloadable files. Now I'm confused, so please help me. #1, what's the easiest way to get to where you need to be at (I had a time just getting signed up :glare:) #2, which pronunciation should I use? #3, how do I listen to the chants, I clicked on there earlier and my computer was working but nothing ever happened. #4, should I dive right into lesson 1, or do the pre-lesson 1 stuff? #5, what's the easiest thing to do...print off the entire lesson and answer sheets, or print only the lesson and use the computer for the answers, etc? #6, do you have to use the vocab. cards? and if so, do you just glue them on as she has said, or is there an easier way? #7, anything I've forgotten? I think I'm a bit intimidated...I miss opening a book and doing a lesson (I'm an open and go queen). Thank you SO MUCH!!! Alison in KY

Gulp, I just did it. Now I have to figure out how to use it:D.

Any news on this? Alison in KY

I'm curious on the answer. By the way, WWE 3 is at Rainbow Resource. Alison in KY

If you've been using MUS for a long time, what's your overall opinion? Is it really too light for the upper levels? Should I consider supplementing (which I always try to do then I ask myself why)? Are any of your kids going into a science or math field after using MUS? Any particular levels you've had a problem with? Anything else? I want to add that I'm currently using this with my three kids who are in levels Primer to Gamma. I've been extremely happy with it, I just don't want to look back in a few years and have some regrets that I didn't foresee. Thank you, Alison in KY

Anyone? Now that I actually have the money to buy it I"m getting nervous about purchasing something that I won't be able to sell if it doesn't work out. And I know NOTHING about Latin. Alison in KY