Just Starting Out - Placement Questions

[CookFamilyHomeschool]

Hi,

I am a homeschool graduate now on the verge of beginning the homeschooling journey with my own children! I really like the idea of finding a program that I can use from K-12 to provide consistency and eliminate decision fatigue. Heart of Dekoda is the first K-12 program I have found that both fits our budget and our family values and learning style. I definitely lean towards Charlotte Mason style education. So all that said I'm trying to figure out where to start my little guys in the program. We have three little boys aged 4(5 in a few weeks), 3, and 20 mo. And we were also just blessed 2 months ago with our first little girl! I have been doing the Delightful Reading program from Simply Charlotte Mason with my 4 1/2 year old this fall and he is doing very well with it. I also feel like he would really enjoy doing more math and hands on stuff. However with so many little ones I really need the open and go concept of HOD because I don't have a lot of time to come up with stuff for him! I'm trying to decide between putting him in "Little Hands" with his two little brothers and just supplementing with reading and math, or putting him in "Little Hearts" by himself and just do "Little Hands" only with my 3 year old and toddler. They all love to do everything together and it would simplify things for me, but I also want it to be challenging enough for him. Also, I know that Singapore Math is what is recommended. I am leaning toward another math curriculum and I was wondering how it would work out doing something different. I also wondered if just doing the math activities from the guide would be enough for this year?

So these are some of my questions. I'm sure I'll think of more. Just looking for some advice from some experienced moms who have used this program before. Any thoughts and suggestions would be so appreciated. Now that I'm past the pregnancy and recovery stage I feel ready to start adding in more structured preschool/kindergarten.

Thanks in advance,
Bethany

[StephanieU]

Personally, I like to wait until close to 6 (at least 5.5yo) to start LHFHG. I think that the maturity of sitting still for readings, understanding the sometimes more mature vocabulary, etc are all helped by letting them not be at the very young end of the age range. But, other families start LHFHG around 5 and just go a little slower than full speed (3-4 days a week of the guide) for LHFHG through Bigger, and that works as well.
Personally, I think doing LHTH this spring would be a great way to start HOD. I would let the 3yo do as much as he desires but not require school until 4 or older (I normally start requiring something beyond Awana/church verses at 4.5 and slowly add until they are doing a "full" K load around 5 or 5.5). Then in the fall you can decide if you want to move the oldest up to LHFHG or finish LHTH.

[Rice]

I totally agree with Stephanie.

I have a just-turned 8yo doing Beyond this year for Grade 2. We weren't with HOD for LHTH but he started LHFHG for Grade 1 when almost 7. He's my mover, so we "kept him back" a year behind the majority of his PS peers - one of my best decisions ever! Others would do just fine with LHFHG at closer to 6, but he needed (and still does need) that extra year to be able to sit well and handle the workload demanded of him.

My next guy now in LHTH is 5 1/2 and turns 6 in March. He may start LHFHG some time this spring instead of next fall (since he's finding LHTH so easy, he may finish early) but I'll also be spreading LHTH out some when we introduce phonics early next year (around his 6th birthday, as CM recommended). He may be able to handle LHFHG this year but I'm running 5 guides, so don't have time to do that this year, and know he'll benefit, as he'll be that much further ahead in reading before starting LHFHG.

My guy in LHTH this year is also doing the K-level fine motor skills from LHTH. Adding math would be another easy one (if I had the time!). You could also introduce a story time, if he's ready (although bed time works, too, rather than formally). There are lots of other CM curricula (as you are obviously already aware) with great reading lists for that level.

My advice is to err on the side of caution when starting. The earlier within the guides that they learn to read, the earlier they will also be independent, which will help you ENORMOUSLY as the younger ones come along, requiring more of your time as they learn to read, too. They will enjoy learning more, they will have more confidence at their own abilities and they will be more independent. All bonuses in my book!

Blessings,

[my3sons]

Hi,

I am a homeschool graduate now on the verge of beginning the homeschooling journey with my own children! I really like the idea of finding a program that I can use from K-12 to provide consistency and eliminate decision fatigue. Heart of Dekoda is the first K-12 program I have found that both fits our budget and our family values and learning style. I definitely lean towards Charlotte Mason style education. So all that said I'm trying to figure out where to start my little guys in the program. We have three little boys aged 4(5 in a few weeks), 3, and 20 mo. And we were also just blessed 2 months ago with our first little girl! I have been doing the Delightful Reading program from Simply Charlotte Mason with my 4 1/2 year old this fall and he is doing very well with it. I also feel like he would really enjoy doing more math and hands on stuff. However with so many little ones I really need the open and go concept of HOD because I don't have a lot of time to come up with stuff for him! I'm trying to decide between putting him in "Little Hands" with his two little brothers and just supplementing with reading and math, or putting him in "Little Hearts" by himself and just do "Little Hands" only with my 3 year old and toddler. They all love to do everything together and it would simplify things for me, but I also want it to be challenging enough for him. Also, I know that Singapore Math is what is recommended. I am leaning toward another math curriculum and I was wondering how it would work out doing something different. I also wondered if just doing the math activities from the guide would be enough for this year?

So these are some of my questions. I'm sure I'll think of more. Just looking for some advice from some experienced moms who have used this program before. Any thoughts and suggestions would be so appreciated. Now that I'm past the pregnancy and recovery stage I feel ready to start adding in more structured preschool/kindergarten.

Thanks in advance,
Bethany

Hi Bethany, and welcome to the HOD Board!

It sounds like you are going to be a fantastic match with HOD - loving Charlotte Mason, Christ-centered learning, open and go complete/balanced plans - you just described much of what I too love about HOD in a nutshell! With your ds just turning 5 yo, Little Hands to Heaven or Little Hearts for His Glory could be a good fit. I am wondering if you could share a little bit about your ds with the placement chart in mind? I am unfamiliar with the reading program you mentioned - is he doing the reading, or are you? Is it a phonics program or a read aloud program? Also, I am wondering specifically about ds's writing skills. Is he read to write his letters and do a handwriting program? How about his numbers? Can he write those? How about math skills in general? Finally, looking ahead, do you see him paired well with the 3 yo, or do you see him taking off more and would you rather pair the 3 yo and the 20 month old and maybe baby girl together? Those are just a few of the questions that came to mind, but here is a link to the placement chart, so you can fine tune what you share here...
http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php

No matter what placement you end up with, I think you are surely going to love HOD as much as we do! I look forward to hearing more about your little son and will then comment with more detail about suggestions!

In Christ
Julie

[CookFamilyHomeschool]

A big thank you to the mom's who gave their imput! It was very helpful. My husband and I have talked and prayed about it and decided to go ahead and start all three boys in Little Hands. My hope is to start our oldest in Little Hearts in the fall and hopefully repeat Little Hands with the younger ones. This should give us a gentler introduction into homeschooling, as I have a lot of other things on my plate with a new baby as well as still unpacking from moving last year. I am so excited to be at the start of this journey as it is something I have looked forward to since I was homeschooled. But I am also way more nervous than I ever imagined! I am grateful to have found HOD and I hope to pop in and out on this board to share our journey and yours. Can't wait for our package to arrive!

In Christ Alone
Bethany