Need to fill gap from Feb-May...IDEAS?

[Jessi]

Question for you veterans.

I am doing LHTH right now with dd. At the rate we are going we will be done mid-Feb. Our plan is to school year round and we hadn't planned to start LHFHG until the beginning of July. Slowing down LHTH is not an option as it is already a very slow but doable pace for my daughter. My question is what should we do to fill in the "time" gap from mid-Feb to the end of May.

Here was what I was thinking about. Let me know if this sounds doable or if I am trying to do too much.

My first thought was focusing on teaching her to read using Alpha-phonics and explode the code (what are your opinions on these two choices)

I also thought about having her do A Reason for Handwriting K during this time. Then when she starts LHFHG we could order A Reason for Handwriting 1. Is there a huge difference in work required between the two? She is already doing a handwriting program right now and is learning how to write her letters and numbers, so I know she'd be ready for the K book in Feb.

And then I wondered if I should begin her with Sinapore math for K and just stop when we break and then start it back up in July and transition into Sinapore 1 as the year progresses. But does that mess up with any math tie-ins that Carrie has in LHFHG?

Then my second thought was to begin LHFHG in Feb and spread it out more slowly over a year and a half. And then to spread BLHFHG over 2 years so that she'll be right in the middle of the age ranges for the guides. She'd excel at the younger guides but I worry she'll be on the younger side if I don't slow down one or two guides....your thoughts on this? Especially those of you who have done LHFHG and BLHFHG.

Any thoughts? What would you recommend? She is a bright little girl, so I don't worry about either one overwhelming her. Just what would be a better idea.

Thanks!!!

[Jen in Va]

Jessi,
I think your plans sound great! If you dd is ready in Feb, I would definitely start with phonics for her--I used Alphaphonics with both my older two kids very successfully (you will need to find some readers to supplement the phonics lessons in AP, as they are very bare bones)--using Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading with our youngest. You could start with the Ready for the Code books, but take a look at them first, if you can, they move really slowly. By the time I bought them ds was beyond them. The handwriting sounds good. If you can find the Singapore Earlybird K 1A and 1B, you could go ahead and start with that so that she would be ready for 2A/B with LHFHG in July. If you can't find the EB books, you could do the same with a preschool math workbook from a school store or book store. My son is ahead of the math schedule in Little Hearts. We just started unit 8, but he's doing unit 24 or so in math. I have some money and time workbooks to work with him from to bridge the gap until we can start with Primary Math 1A/B in Beyond. I like being on schedule with Carrie's guides and the activities she provides.

[Samuel'sMommy]

I am currently doing LHTH with my 3 year old and was just thinking the other day about what I'm going to do to fill in some time so we don't get into all the other programs really early. We're already doing LHTH at a slower pace but he loves it and "gets" everything we've do. I was looking at LHFHG and think he'll be ready for it when we get done with this even though he will only be 4 but don't want him to go through all the other programs a year early so I think I'm going to stretch LHFHG into 2 years. I think what I'm going to do is do LHFHG once (when he's 4) using the K thinking skills, math, and science. I may leave out the history depending on how I think my son will do with it at the time. Then we'll repeat it the next year for his Kindergarten year with the 1st grade thinking skills, math (if he's ready), and science. We'll also add in the history the 2nd time.

[my2guys]

After months and months of thought, here's what I'm doing with my 4.5 yo this year (considering it his "preK" year). Not that this is exactly the answer to your question, but there may be some ideas in there that you can use. Like you, I thought about going right into LHFHG, but I didn't want ds to be too far ahead and mis-matched when we got to some of the more advanced programs. Anyway, we did the first half of LHTH this last year, pretty much as is with a few modifications/additions b/c he's been ahead in the reading/math area. Starting in September, we're going to continue doing LHTH AND I've recently purchased LHFHG and will be doing just the fine motor skills (ARFH and R&S), math and phonics at the K level. Then, next year, we'll be doing the full LHFHG with the 1st grade level for fine motor and probably math - and not sure what we'll do with the reading area - it will just depend on where he's at. If he's ready for emerging readers, I'll purchase Beyond and then use the math from there too. If he's not quite ready to move ahead in math and reading, we'll finish up phonics and figure out what he needs for math. Anyway, back to this year - to stretch things out, I'm going to be adding in some science/nature study (ds loves this kind of thing right now), working on learning about the calendar, doing read-alouds, scripture memorization, character training, "life skills", math games, music, extra art projects, holidays, geography/maps for areas he's familiar with(something he's taken an interest in lately), health/nutrition/safety and other things along those lines. (I just re-read that and it seems like a lot - to clarify - we're not going to be doing ALL of those things every week. What I mean is that we'll pick and choose things to add in every so often. For example, we'll take a week or two around Thanksgiving and study that holiday. ) We've been working through the Singapore EB 1A/B this summer, so I think that would be a great idea for you. And when you finish up with LHTH, you could always read through a different story Bible than what you've been using with LHTH - and kind of use it as a review of what has been learned with LHTH. Well, enough rambling from me. I just thought I'd share where we've ended up in case some if it could help you out!

[Vicki]

What about doing a few of the fun units from homeschool share? That would be a freebie for you, and would also add in some wonderful storybooks for that age. You could also just get a few Kumon workbooks and work with those. Another idea is to get a list of the Caldecott winner books and read through them, discussing illustrations and playing around with some art supplies to get some experience with drawing, painting, textures, colors, etc.

Does that help at all?

We're actually dragging our feet a bit with Beyond, as we have been on an extended break and haven't finished on time. I plan on adding in FIAR titles that will go along with our Beyond lessons for theme, geography, or character lessons to stretch our year out before starting Bigger Hearts.

[Jessi]

Ladies,

Thank you so much for each of your replies. I'd like to say the confusion fog has lifted but that will come with prayer I am sure.
I need a little more clarification please:

Jen, what kind of readers work great with Alpha-phonics? So it doesn't bother you that you are further ahead in math than the guide suggests? Do you go back and do her activities or just skip them?

my2guys- I like the idea of adding in calendar time and focusing on the holidays and all around beefing up the program. I tend to get overwhelmed if I try to add too much but those things would be easy to do.

Samuel's Mommy- I too like the idea of spreading LHFHG out over two years and beefing it up. Perhaps I can combine my2guys and your ideas and make the K/1 year the year I beef up with other studies such as the holidays, calendar time, lapbooking, and interest studies. As well as including some music and art and health in there as well.

Vicki- I found a book that I think is just the neatest thing and it kind of ties in with your idea about Caldecott books. It is called Discovering Great Artists. You learn about some of the most famous artists, look at their work and then try to do an art project in their style. For example, when you study Michelangelo you learn about how he painted the Sistine Chapel completely lying on his back. So to emulate you have your child lie down and tape a piece of paper to the underside of a table and have them paint lying on their backs. And homeschool share is a GREAT resource!!

Again thanks for you opinions...if anyone else has something to share I'd love all the help I can get.

[Jen in Va]

Jen, what kind of readers work great with Alpha-phonics? So it doesn't bother you that you are further ahead in math than the guide suggests? Do you go back and do her activities or just skip them?

Let's see...the Bob books are a good start--most libraries should have them. Also, Merrill Linquistic Readers--I like these because there are no pictures to get clues from--the kid has to be able to read. I found a set of readers at our used curriculum fair last year--Little Patriot Readers by Mile-Hi Publishers. This set is from the 80s, but many of the drawings look like they could have come from the early 60s, also stories involving God. Looks like they are out of print, but if you can find a set, I'd grab it. I'll be saving mine for the grandkids.

Alpha Phonics now puts out a set of readers--Little Companion Readers--on the AP site.

Once the student is a a good way into phonics, but you still need a controlled vocabulary, the Pathway Readers are excellent. Inexpensive. Hardback. Wholesome.

I'm really looking forward to being able to use the Emergent Reader set. We may be there by fall--then I'll have to pull out my Beyond manual and have two guides at the same time--or I may just keep him in the readers until we start Beyond. He's reading, that's what is important.

It doesn't bother me that I'm ahead, but would I rather be on Carrie's schedule--yes. That's why I purchased the workbooks to stretch us until we start Beyond. I have a marker on the math lesson we're on--do that lesson with her activities. I don't go back and do the ones we've missed. He seems to get it, so I think we're okay.

[my2guys]

I found a book that I think is just the neatest thing and it kind of ties in with your idea about Caldecott books. It is called Discovering Great Artists.

I just discovered this book a few weeks ago and I love the looks of it. I plan on ordering it at some point too. I just ordered another book by that author called First Art. I'm waiting for it to get here. Anyway, just wanted to let you know that the author has another book called Storybook Art along the same idea as Discovering Great Artists but using children's book illustrations. And she's got another one coming out called Great American Artists. They all look like fun.

[Carrie]

Jessi,

I would vote for either going the gap-filling route using that time to really hit phonics, beginning math skills (using Singapore Earlybird Kindergarten Math 1A/1B - if you can find it - as its now out of print), and handwriting, OR starting LHFGH at half-speed and doing it over 2 years. We have done the spreading it out over 2 year plan and are enjoying it very much.

If you did go ahead and start the Earlybird Kindergarten Math 2A/2B from LHFHG early during your gap-filling (and then began LHFHG as is in the fall), it is no big deal to have a separate bookmark for math in the guide. We have done it this way for several years with my second son. Then, you'd still be on track for all of the rest of the plans. You could still do a 4-day plan, as I mentioned below, using this scenario.

However, if you're going to spread LHFHG out over 2 years by doing the left side of the plans one day and the right the next, then I'd try to keep the math on track (or you may get confused). Just some food for thought.

One other option, is to do LHFHG as written (except on a 4 day plan). Then, you'd go into the next year 9 weeks to finish the guide. This extends the guide easily, while still using the daily plans as written.

Blessings,
Carrie

[Jessi]

Carrie,

Another question that popped into my head:

How feasible would it be to do LHFHG as is for K year minus the history portion with all the K books and then revisiting it the following year and doing it over with 1st grade math, handwriting, etc and doing the "Older" child ideas instead of the younger ones for crafts, art projects, etc and then covering the history that year and hopefully by then she'll be reading well enough to do the emerging readers instead of the storytime set (especially if I am starting phonics much sooner)? Wow that was long winded....

My thinking is that if it worked out that way, then when we start Beyond, she'd be able to transition into DITHR.

I just love that we have all these options...but nerve wracking as well.

Thanks for your input.

[Jen in Va]

If you did that, the emerging reader set is not scheduled in LHFHG, so you'd still need Beyond for the schedule.

[Jessi]

Jen, thanks for responding. I know I'd have to buy beyond the second year for the emerging reader set anyway...I guess I am just wondering if it is too redundant or if it would be enough different that she'd not be upset about it. Thanks!

[Carrie]

Jessi,

You could go do what you listed, following the 'K' options, but it would take you a whole year to go through those, and then you wouldn't be doing any of the history/science/Bible/storytime for that year. So, it depends on how you feel about that.

We actually intend for a child to be doing phonics while doing LHFHG and then for them to move to being an emerging reader along with either Beyond or Bigger. By the time kiddos reach Bigger or Preparing, they need to be into DITHR.

Blessings,
Carrie

[Jessi]

Thanks Carrie and all ladies that have responded....now it is time to hit the knees or at least pray with my eyes wide open when I don't have time to hit my knees. I am giving this to God and thanking him I dont' have to make that decision in the next week. Lots to ponder. I appreciate wisdom from you fine ladies. Thanks!

[Vicki]

I had another thought after reading this post.

Looking back on our own homeschooling journey, I have realized that you can never spend too much time on reading or math. So...my advice today is to gather lots of cheap or free math manipulatives for exploration---counting bears, ruler, linking cubes, heart candies from Valentine's Day and shells and M & M's for sorting and counting---the list goes on and on. There's a list of things you can do with an early learner at Cathy Duffy's site for math without using any specific curriculum. I think the exposure to lots of math hands-on activities is great for understanding later on.

I'd also suggest possibly looking at a set of sandpaper cards for letters of the alphabet (handwriting), and the Leap Frog phonics videos. Make a set of index cards with word families, and type up some silly sentences in large font, then print for early reading practice. These things you can do without investing much money, but have benefits even in their simplicity.