Does this sound OK?!

VC · Post by VC » Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:07 am

I will be using HOD this upcoming year. I'm doing it a little differently though, and I'm wondering if any of you out there have to do the same. My 4 year old (almost 5) will be doing LHFHG. He will ONLY be doing the art, science and rhymes from LHFHG this year, as he will do the rest of LHFHG next year which would officially be his kindergarten year. I already have Sing spell read write, so I'll be using that for language arts for both of my sons this year. My oldest would be OK with singapore math, but he LOVES BJU math and so I'll be doing BJU math next year. For the read-alouds I'll be using Sonlight. I received some Sonlight from a friend who passed it down. Anyway, does this sound crazy??

I have Sonlight I could use next year, and I will use the read-alouds, but it just seems rather dry and NOT very fun. Some of the books seem a little too heavy for my son too. The reason I like HOD and find this compulsion to MAKE it work is because it seems more age-appropriate. Educate your kids well, but let them have fun and be kids, KWIM??? This is the only curriculum I've found that incorporates rhymes, movement, and hands-on fun things. Isn't this how little kids learn BEST??- my church teaches them with fun songs and movement and they have a blast and RETAIN so much. Anyway, I will be using LHFHG, and BLHFHG for my 6 year old. Any comments welcome and appreciated.

crlacey · Post by **crlacey** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 1:34 pm

Welcome!

I too am trying to make sonlight's pre-k (4/5) program go with LHFHG. What we are doing is to do the sonlight books throughout the day. A little in the morning, a little in the evening. And do LHFHG as our core program for my DD's K year. But both of my kids are enjoying the sonlight books at the moment, so I'm trying to read as many of them as possible too for fun.

VC · Post by VC » Fri Jul 04, 2008 1:49 pm

Hi Crystal,

I have the Sonlight 4/5 books, and they look really good, although we havent used them yet. I think it would be fine use LHFHG as the meat and potatoes and just sprinkle the sonlight books in there somewhere, KWIM??

I think I'm going to forget BJU math afterall (The teacher's manual is like a phonebook) and try to simply and use as much HOD as possible. I like the way HOD takes into consideration a Homeschooler's time. Some curric like BJU are Great, but just very teacher intensive and a tad overkill, IMO

Another perk to HOD is I can now afford to buy the kiddos some FUN manipulatives and games, etc.... Because I'm not breaking the bank with just the basics.

Thanks for letting me ramble....I look forward to getting to know you all on the boards.

crlacey · Post by **crlacey** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:03 pm

I think your plan to use HOD as the "meat and potatoes" is a good idea. I was one that tried adding other things to it, but ended up just going with HOD as written and do the sonlight pre-k books for the kids bedtime and morning reading time since it helps me to make sure I'm reading to them enough.

netpea · Post by **netpea** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:51 pm

I think you will find that if you use HOD's program as written you will have a very satisfying experience. You can add more activities or read alouds as your family desires, but you don't have too.

Post by **Carrie** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 2:57 pm

VC,

I just wanted to welcome you to the boards! We're glad you're here!

The ladies have given you wonderful advice, and I'd agree that you'd be better off using LHFHG "as is" as much as possible, possibly just doing 1/2 the day one day and 1/2 the next, thus stretching it out over 2 years. I mention this because the science, art, and rhymes are all tied to the history read-alouds and Bible verses. So, you'd want to keep those together as much as possible to get the meat of the program.

With LHFGH only taking 90 minutes a day, you can easily add on any other things you'd enjoy!

Blessings,
Carrie

Mommamo · Post by **Mommamo** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 4:51 pm

I'm sorry, I haven't read all the responses, but I just wanted to say that I really think you'd enjoy LHFHG as is without trying to modify it. I'm doing it with a little girl who will be 5 in September. We're on week 7 and really enjoying it. I think trying to modify it would take the ease out of it, which is one of the (many) great things about this program. In fact, we started with a different math program which I really enjoy, but I'm honestly considering doing the Singapore just to simplify things even more. I really think that you'd enjoy doing the Sonlight as read alouds and then doing the LHFHG at a slower pace, doing the left side one day and the right the next (I think I saw that suggested as I skimmed through the posts). That would give you the 2 years for the program that you seem to want. I think a lot of people have done the program this way and been really successful. We're doing it regular speed and are enjoying it. Even at full steam ahead, so to speak, it's only taking us a little over an hour a day and my daughter has learned so much. You really can't go wrong with this curriculum. It is just so fabulous.

6timeboymom · Post by **6timeboymom** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:47 pm

I'm just chiming in another "Use it as is" response!

I've been there before, trying to make things fit what I wanted and it was so much nicer when I relaxed and did it "as is".

Sonlight has some great books, though, so to use those for bedtime/free time sounds awesome! I do use their catalog as a shopping list at the library sometimes.