Can I do this?

[Carolann]

I just bought my first Beyond Five in a Row book. I must admit I am overwhelmed. I am currently using all textbooks (BJU) but thought I would like to try something different as we are getting a little bored. I have read much on this forum but I am still doubtful if I can do all of this. My daughter will be in 4th grade next year. Do you think she is too old to start Beyond? It seems like most of you have been doing FAIR for years and I don’t know if we can just “jump in” now. Thank you.

[rachelmn]

Welcome! YES! You can do this! :) You are going to have SO much fun! :clap: Can you be specific with what you are feeling overwhelmed with so we can offer help? You say if I can do all of this., what feels like it's a lot to you? I'm sure it's something to get your mind around if you have been using textbooks.:group: The great thing with fiar is you can just jump right in! I have one in 5th and one in 4th and they are going to do another year of beyond next year yet. There is just so much meat in there I don't want to miss.

:group:

[Heather W]

NOT too old! She is a great age for BY and will be for a few years!

We LOVE BY.

Check out the work we've done (http://blogshewrote.blogspot.com/p/beyond-five-in-row.html) if you'd like.

Good for you for trying something new! Enjoy it.:)

[Heidi J]

I have a 4th and 6th grader using BY this year. This is the first year my 4th grader is using BY and she is at the perfect age. She is the one that hates school but she will beg to do BY. I know the manual says that one volume covers a semester but we've found that one volume covers a year with some extra time to trail off of the main topics or study something they are interested in.

[CINDY LB OH]

:hi: Welcome, Carol Ann

First, she is not too old for Beyond. I am currently doing Beyond with my 5th grader and we only did a little FIAR before this.

My first encounter with FIAR was when my dd15 was in 2nd grade. I used it with her on and off between other studies that we were doing. I really liked it but found it hard to implement at first because I was used to a scripted, day-by-day curriculum. It was a curriculum I absolutely loved and didn't want to give it up totally, and it was also unit study based. I still love that other curriculum BTW, too.

But now that I've been doing the FIAR-thing for quite a while, I love it even more. The learning with my ds11 has been tremendous and I love the flexibility and natural learning it inspires.

I guess you'll never know until you try. So I say, give it a whirl-- YES, you can do it!!

[Tamie_in_MI]

Realize that a lot of what's in the manuals is DISCUSSION. The child learns it because it's based on an interesting story that is being read.

Also, there is no reason all of the lessons must be done. Choose the ones that will best fit your child and your situation.

Save some lessons for doing the book again after doing the others in the volume or in all the volumes.

[Carolann]

Thank you so much for your replies. I feel better already. I sat down with the book and made notes and lists (I'm a big list person) Your replies were exactly what I needed to hear--that she is a good age. I think she will really like it. She is easily bored and this may be just what we need. I thank you all for this great forum and ideas and support. You already seem like old friends. :)

Carolann

[Tracey]

Yes! You can do this and 4th grade is perfect!

[Ann in IA]

Just wanted you to know that we're just starting too with a 3rd and 5th grader. So we can learn together!