placement help, please :)

[3littlebirds]

Hi there, I could use some opinions on placement for my daughters. I have a 6 y/o in K, who understands basic math concepts and is just starting to read. I have a 4 y/o who is just learning letter sounds and has not yet been introduced to math concepts.

I have purchased a curriculum in the past and it was not advanced enough for my oldest, so it was not fun and didn't go well. So I really want to get this right. They both have birthdays this summer and I was thinking about putting them in little hearts (5-7), but I noticed in the testimonies, people mentioned using it for their 5 and 3 year olds, and if that is the case, I don't think that will work for the 6 y/o.

My other option is putting my 6 year old in beyond (6-8) and getting little hearts (5-7) for my soon to be 5 y/o.

Thanks for reading.

[StephanieU]

We started LHFHG when my daughter was 5.5 and doing 1st grade work (Horizons 1 math and phonics, which is on the advanced side overall). I will say that the first few units of LHFHG were not easy at all for her! The storytime and devotional books are definitely enough for kids past 7yo even. The history starts with Bible for most of the first 18 units and then moves on to other topics. The main text used for the second half is also enough for kids past 7yo even, and the Bible portion is a great review of the stories will learning that the Bible is history AND Christ is the center of history.

I don't know of any families that do LHFHG with a 3yo and expect anything out of a 3yo. My 3yo sometimes listens in and participates in fun things, but she isn't learning much from it. LHTH is geared more to the 3-5yo ages, so I wonder if people are just mixing up the abbreviations.

The question will be if you want to combine your children or not. Since they are one grade level apart, combining is possible. But, it isn't always easier. It depends on how they will work together. Will each let the other participate and not "steal the show?" Will either one feel either pushed too hard to not pushed enough just because they are combined (and different ages)? Those are questions you are going to have to ask.

If you are thinking of combining, I would do LHFHG with both of them. If you are considering two guides, I would seriously consider LHTH, LHFHG, and Beyond as the three to pick from.

[countrymom]

I am thinking the guide people with 3-5 yr olds were referring to was probably Little Hands to Heaven (LHTH) and not Little Hearts. I would not put your current 4 yr old in anything other than LHTH unless you took two years for Little Hearts and did it 1/2 speed, but if your child has not done LHTH that would be my first choice. There are several choices for that guide according to age so you would have some options. Your current 6 yr old could go in Little Hearts or Beyond, but I would look at the placement chart carefully. From what you have described I would lean towards Little Hearts. Many children are not ready for the next guide, Bigger Hearts at a young 7. Another option would be to place your daughter in Beyond but go 1/2 speed. The advantage of that option is you could keep your children a guide apart and not be running back to back guides. Your youngest could do LHTH and your oldest Beyond at 1/2 speed.

[Nealewill]

As both moms mentioned before, I would take time and review the placement chart. While your child doesn't need to be reading independently for Beyond, your child would need to be able to form all of their letters because they spend time copying poetry each day to help build up their hand strength and to begin showing them visually word spelling. In addition, in Beyond you would begin spelling where as Little Hearts does not include spelling.

As for your oldest being on the youngest end of age range, my girls will always be on the youngest end of the guide. It hasn't been too much of a problem. On thing with LHFHG, BLHFHG, and BHFHG is these guides are written to 5 days a week. All of the other guides after them are written to 4 days a week. Many people have take these first 3 guides and completed them full speed but only complete 4 days per week. This would extend the guide a little bit and allow your child to mature up through the levels. As for your youngest, I would probably start with LHTH. With LHFHG, your child will begin learning to write and they will be learning basic math.

Every child is different and you know your children best. If you did start LHFHG, I would definitely take it slow. I came to HOD last year and my youngest child is gifted. She taught herself how to read at 3 and taught her self math before K as well. She is currently reading at a very high level (she can read most of my oldest's books) and she is doing 3rd grade math. Her and my middle child play a lot of multiplication and fraction math games together. She is smart and school comes easily. When I came to HOD she was 5 and easily placed in level Beyond. My year did go fantastically with her and her brother. But what I discovered is that with HOD, every level increases with volume and mature content. The age ranges are very important. My youngest actually placed in Bigger this year but I decided not to move her up. In Preparing, the kids begin reading all of their science to themselves and they read half of the history to themselves. I decided this year to put her down in Little Hearts and modify it to make it more like the volume of Beyond. She will then move into Bigger when she is 7 and she will be in the age range. And I am actually very glad I made this decision this year. My son is showing signs that he will be completely ready for the volume of Preparing once he finishes Bigger. But my youngest will do well next year with volume of Bigger and I am glad I didn't advance her.

With what you are looking for in a program, it sounds like you may be happier separating your kids. HOD is easy to modify if you would like to combine but I personally have found that I prefer my kids separate. Until finding HOD, I had always tried combining. HOD makes it very easy to separate and I LOVE having them each learning their own thing at their own level. It has been a total blessing to have a curriculum where I can do this.

I would definitely start with the placement chart. If you are planning to order now, I would place each child in the guide they place in. If you not yet ready to order, I would wait until you are ready to order and then at that point, I would decide the level based off their current skills.

[3littlebirds]

Thank you for trying to help me sort this out. It is quite possible I was looking at LHTH testimonies by mistake, I was tired. I'm thankful you guys seem to be advising I teach each child separately, that will probably be best, since my oldest loves to learn and middle has a short attention span.

Are there samples anywhere to look at? I did see the charts. I will probably go with LHFHG for my oldest. Thanks again!
Eta: found the sample

[my3sons]

Welcome to the HOD Board! From what you've shared, your 4 yo probably places in "Little Hands to Heaven," and your 6 yo probably places in "Beyond Little Hearts..." I'm basing this on the 4 yo learning her letter sounds, and the 6 yo beginning to read. If you get the chance, could you please share a little more about each of them in regard to the first page of the placement chart (reading/writing/math)? Here is a link to the chart...
http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php

Then we can help fine tune placement better and get you off and running in the right direction! You are going to love HOD - it is such a great way to go about homeschooling! I am excited for you to start! We'll all check back here to see your placement chart findings, whenever you get the chance. Thanks, and looking forward to getting to know you better here!

In Christ,
Julie

[3littlebirds]

Thank you so much Julie. I had not seen that page before. That made it a lot more clear. You are right, they do need to go in the ones you mentioned. Thanks for taking the time!