Gap between LHTH & LHFHG.? New 1/2 guide

[Gwenny]

I've been reading a lot of different discussions about there being somewhat of a "gap" between LHTH and LHFHG. It seems that many feel that their young ones are too advanced for the one but then the next is too advanced. I'm curious what Carrie's feelings are on this and what Julie could add to helping with this. Is the answer to need to find something else for that gap year, or is it just to slow down Little Hearts? I can see what people are saying as I feel my littlest will be ready to do some of the Little Hands this fall and she'll just be turning 3. I don't usually do things like that with my littles, but this one wants to now and I'm holding her off. We'll just be taking our time, but we'll probably want some fresh material before she is ready for Little Hearts.
I actually think I have a brilliant plan!! In Carrie's spare time she could create a "half guide" for the little gap!! Actually, Carrie MIGHT be a little busy, so JULIE could write one! It would be so wonderful! I don't think we need a whole guide, just a half of one!
What do you think?

[MelInKansas]

I really don't think there is a "gap." We are at the end of LHTH and the activities we are doing are right at the right place for my DD who is almost 5. It does cover a really wide age range and little 2-3 year olds can get a lot out of it, but it is also great for 4-5 year olds. With my DD who is almost 5 we actually started it when she turned 3, for the same reasons you say, she was ready to do something and it worked well for her at that point. But I did it really slowly, 2-3 days a week, and got her some simple workbooks for things she was interested in like cutting and pasting, mazes, dot to dot and she did those on the other days we didn't do LHTH. She was excited about the workbooks too but LHTH was "school" that she was required to do when I told her it was time and the workbooks were only if she wanted to.

I don't know if this makes sense but I just don't think that much structured school for 3-4 year olds is really that necessary especially if you are already schooling older ones. They learn and pick it up through play, interaction with you and with their siblings. My almost 5 YO learned all the letters, sounds, numbers, colors, etc from just doing life, not really from LHTH. LHTH helped reinforce it and I love it for the Bible learning they do.

[Gwenny]

I totally agree with you about the little guys. I've rarely done much of any of "preschool" with any of mine--and with some it was none. They learn from life. I guess it's more, are they ready to really get the ideas/skills in Little Hearts?

[lmercon]

What I would suggest is to do something else for the 3 yo year and then do LHTH when she is 4. When my dd was 3, I used a free preschool program that I found online. It was very cute as it was centered around a sweet little theme each week and highlighted some nice children's books. Then we did LHTH when she was 4 and 5. I took 2 years to slowly get through LHTH with my dd. We didn't do school every day. Then we went full speed for LHFHG because they she was ready. Some people like to take 2 years to do LHFHG. I actually did LHGHG when my dc were 6 because I felt my kids would get much more out of the programs at the older end of the age range. That has been a very good decision.
hth,
Laura

[MomtoJGJE]

We started LHTH with Evie when she was 3. We did it roughly 2 days per week and basically only when she asked for it those days. So some weeks we did 2 days, some we did none. When she turned 4 we started being more intentional with doing it 2-3 days per week. If we did half days for anyone else, she didn't do school those weeks.... like when we had swimming lessons or VBS or something else. She just turned 5 and we are finishing up doing 3-4 days per week now along with FMS and K math from LHFHG. I have no doubt she'd be ready for LHFHG whenever we start it, even though we will probably do the first few units half speed just to get her used to it.

For the record I probably would not be starting her in K this year if she went to PS simply because she still seems young. Capable of the work, just young... or something.

Now with all that said, I don't really think there is a gap. If you do LHTH as 2-3yo preschool (4-5 days per week/ as written) then you could just do it over again the next year as a 3-4yo pre-K with all the older options. Then the child would be perfectly ready for LHFHG with the K options. If you started LHTH out as pre-k as written then you could either move on to LHFHG if the child was roughly 5 OR you could do it over again with the K level FMS/math from LHFHG and then move on to LHFHG the next year with 1st grade options for those subjects.

[StephanieU]

My son is 4 and like LHTH, but I can see how some families struggle with a gap so to speak. If we didn't add in K math and handwriting, LHTH woudln't be enough for my son. But, he won't be ready for LHFHG until he is closer to 6. If we just did LHTH starting at four, we woul dhave to go half speed in order to spread it out of the 2 years I think he woudl need before starting LHFHG. Although we could go through it again, it woudl be even more modifying, as almost all of the 3R things in LHTH would be too simple for him in about 6 months. And I think this is where the gap comes in. Some of us finding HOD when our oldest are at least 5.5 and ready for LHFHG. We see how wonderful it works for an older 5yo and 6yos, that we don't want to start the youngers until then. But, we start LHTH at 3.5 or 4, and then either have to go half speed (even if the kids are ready for full speed) or try to figure out another way to spend 2 years before starting LHFHG.
My other "issue" is that so many of us find LHFHG perfect for 1st, Beyond for 2nd, and Bigger for 3rd. But, if we do this, we have to wok out of two guidies to use Carrie's math plans. It wasn't an issue for my family personally since we are using Horizons for math, but I know it is a struggle for some. We had to use the Beyond guide for grammar halfway through LHFHG and then for the ER things because my daughter was ready. It isn't terrible to have to use two guides, but I kind of think it would be easier for most families to have the K math in a "gap" guide, then 1st grade in LHFHG, 2nd grade in Beyond, and 3rd grade in Bigger.

[Nealewill]

One thing I learned a few years ago is that I am not bound by the book LOL! I totally get why Carrie set up the levels for Little, Beyond and Bigger the way she did (or at least I think I do). Seems like kids really do have 3 big leaps of learning in the yeas between K and 3rd. It seems like kids do a lot of hands on during K and beginning 1st. There is also some activities to help kids with memory. Then kids move into more structured learning and more difficult hands on activities in Beyond. They are increasing opportunities for reading at this point, improving hand muscles in prep for writing more, working on spelling for the first time and having formal math. Then in Bigger, they are doing a lot more work load in volume and deeper understanding.

I think HOD is very flexible. While it may seem a challenge to run two guides at once if you have adjust for math or for grammar, as you move up in level it is much less of on an issue. My dd is in a different math as well and we just do one lesson a day. Spelling becomes much less tied in with the guide and you are doing the same, working toward the end and not worrying about which lesson you are on. So while it does seem difficult that there is only 3 levels for the younger guides, it actually makes it much more flexible. Most people feel like they need to do everything. But really, we don't. We should be placing our kids at the level they should work at and that is the best - especially for those who find HOD later rather than earlier.

[Gwenny]

I think Carrie did an awesome job writing the guides. I'm so grateful God gave her the ability to do it and she was willing. I know that I sure couldn't! There are so many variables and all of the little ones are so different there is no way to meet everyone. The guides are very flexible. I'm actually doing LHFHG now exactly the way it's written except I'm doing the "F" Rod and Staff book and will also do G. We are slightly ahead in the math also. We are using it for my 1st grade boy just turned 7. We really should've been farther along than this and he could've done it--it's his mother's fault. We won't go there.... We will start Beyond this fall in Oct. for his 2nd grade. We are about to start Bigger in June for my guy who will be in 4th grade this fall. Again...mother...

I was somewhat writing this post "tongue in cheek" because I know that Carrie and Julie are completely swamped! But, for those of us that want more, we like how they would do it!! The other reason is that I have seen quite a few people discussing this issue and they are finding other curriculum to fill that in and I am so partial to HOD, I don't want anyone leaving to another curriculum. Silly... HOD has so changed my home school and my life and I try to let everyone know how fun, fulfilling, interesting, easy, etc it is to home school with HOD. Every child will get a fantastic education with them. My children ASK to do school in the morning. Part of it is because they want to finish and be able to do other things, but...they never did that when we were not consistent with the guides and mainly did the 3 R's because we were always "pressed for time". They really enjoy it, like to read more of the history and the story books, and like having one on one time with me. Because of a facebook post that Carrie did, on the days when we won't be able to do everything, I make sure to do the guide and drop the math or them reading to me instead. That keeps us moving on in the guide and not getting bogged down, keeps the books going, and I am much more likely to get the other things done later in the day or evening if it's possible. That one thing has really changed how I do things and it's been for the better. I think I didn't see all of the skills and important things they are learning in the guide and why it's just as important to them learning and growing. I have several friends doing HOD (because that's all I talk about when school is a subject) and they are bogged down in the guides and really should've moved up to the next one by now, but it was dropped and the 3 R's kept going because of other things getting in the way. So, they are looking for maybe another curriculum because it seems the guide they have now is "too young".

All of this to say--I love HOD and would love a little 1/2 guide for in between LHTH and LHFHG. Julie, this would be fantastic for you to do while Carrie finishes the high school guides.

[StephanieU]

I want to second what Nancy (Gwenny) said. I love HOD. But, I don't think there is a perfect curriculum out there. I hope my "wishes" didn't sound like huge criticisms. Like I said, we are making it work and loving it. We have no plans on using anything else.

The main reasons I pointed out our need for modifications was because (1) like Nancy said, families are doing something else for K4 instead of HOD because they are seeing a gap, and (2) I think some families don't use HOD for LHFHG-Bigger because they feel they need to use two guides to make it work. It sounds daunting to use two guides, although it isn't THAT hard. But, it is a little bit more cost upfront to buy two guides, and it does take a little more work keeping everything organized (only a few minutes, but to some it seems like more that haven't done it before). My suggestions are ones that I think might get more families to use HOD for LHFHG-Bigger...

[MelInKansas]

I just take a slightly different approach. Of course my kids have fit into the guides really well without modification the way I have done them. I have done LHFHG for K, Beyond for 1st so far with both of my older 2. Bigger can be a hump, or it was for my oldest and we will see how it goes when my 2nd born gets there. This is part of why I am not in any hurry to move up, even though Beyond is a breeze right now and goes so quickly and easily for her. I am trying to soak it up and do everything thoroughly so she gets all she can out of the guide, whereas I did skip things with Beyond with my oldest (mostly due to being pregnant with baby #4). I hope this will also help her be ready for Bigger when that time comes. We also school 4 days a week, though we do school nearly year round so we do finish the younger guides in about a year's time, maybe a little more.

I agree, it can't be a perfect fit for everyone. I have a friend who says she would not like a guide that tells her where to be at in all the subjects, because if she was off it would drive her crazy. I don't think it's as bad as they think either. When I had baby #4 we did 3Rs only for a little while so we got ahead in Math and have just kept going with it so my oldest is several weeks ahead in math still and that is fine with me. It just takes some bookmarks. ER/DITHOR don't have a specific place to be so we just continue on with those as needed (and I do drop DITHOR sometimes when it seems needed but I rarely do anymore because she is doing so much on her own now and we fit it in in the afternoons).

[StephanieU]

One thing I wonder is if when their birthdays are makes a difference. For example, if your student would be one of the youngest in school, then often you want to save LHFHG for 1st because they aren't ready for the history, devotion, and story time. But, if you have one that would be one of the oldest in class, then using LHFHG for K works well as written. I bet that also plays a huge role in things for the first few guides. I love that HOD lets you customize the 3Rs, but with some things only in 1 or 2 guides, it can be a little tricky. I bet some families would even be willing to buy a little book that just had the ER's, Beyond grammar, and math activities (1 "book" for each, so 5 "books"). I know I would buy an ER one if it was available and reasonable priced.

[MelInKansas]

Well, my kids who have done it for K and 1st were winter babies, Jan and Feb. So they are right in the middle of age for their grades and their grade level (as far as at church) has never been in question. Right now my 4YO will be 5 in the summer and there is so much debate about "start K or hold back" among her peers that I am glad I don't have to deal with that. But she will start LHFHG in the fall. She is advanced in listening comprehension and narration skills because of being exposed to her older sisters doing it so much, she loves to sit in on my 7YO's read aloud time. So that makes a difference too. The skills came much easier to my 2nd born because she had been exposed to them through her older sister, I bet you will find that also. But then when you start a child in the younger end of the age range, you just take it slow and easy so they don't move on to the next guide so fast. That's where I see the big difference. If you wait until the older end of the range, they probably do get more out of it, but you do also want to be diligent and keep going full-speed as much as possible. At the younger side of the range, you have more flexibility with the pace and I like that.