repeating a program? (LHFHG)

[crlacey]

As some of you might remember, this year has been a struggle with my DD in LHFHG. She is moving along at a nice pace through her phonics and math. She does great with memory verses and loves to read Bible stories over and over. But DD had been having problems with the activities (she seemed to be going through a self conscience phase and wouldn't do any of the rhymes) and the storytime portion (she didn't want to sit and listen to the Burgess books) of LHFHG. She has asked to do a Bible notebook so she can draw each Bible story, then we add a 3-4 sentence review for the handwriting practice. I'm thinking that since she was just turning 5 when we started the program, maybe she wasn't quite ready for all of LHFHG. Has anyone ever thought of repeating the core program and just moving on with phonics and math? She seems really interested in doing the Bible history again. She's already decorated a notebook to use for her Bible drawings. I read the first chapter of Reddy Fox to her last night and she asked to keep reading. I know she's not ready to do Beyond yet, so I am wondering about repeating LHFHG and then adding in books from the appendix when needed. Please help me think this through.

[3whizlets]

There is no reason for you not to repeat LHFHG again. When my dd was 4 we did a program (it wasn't HOD) and I knew she wasn't ready for the next level so we re-did the entire program again for her K year. I am not sure she even noticed it was EXACTLY the same as we had done the year before. Young children love the repetition. You can just move on with math and phonics and do all the books you left out this year. If she isn't interested in reading the bible stories again, pick a different bible storybook so it seems "new" to her. You want to make sure you are working with her at her level or she isn't going to want to do school and then you have another battle on your hands. Ask me how I know this?

[crlacey]

Shelley, Thanks. I understand the battle. I think that was half my trouble this past year.

[Candice]

Crystal,

Hi, I think your plan sounds just right.

I started LHFHG with my daughter, age 4, back in Aug/Sep. and for the most part it worked very well. The history and devotional reading was a bit of a stretch for her, but nothing to fret over, we certainly could have moved forward sucessfully. However, because of a combination of all of the holiday commitments soaking up a lot of our time and my lack of direction with schooling (an entirely different topic! ), I ended up putting things aside until the new year.

Well, here we are in the new year and we are ready to begin LHFHG. Since we did not get very far with the program initially, and since it has been quite a while, I have decided to start LHFHG from the beginning. Also, she will be having her 5th birthday in about a week or two, so I feel she will be a bit more prepared to go through LHFHG. As you mentioned, I will pick up where we left off with both math and phonics and just move forward with those as her abilities dictate. I know for certain that my daughter will not mind starting at the beginning, she too loves repetition, and I like the idea of presenting everything from the beginning instead of trying to explain things that we already covered quite some time ago.
You mentioned adding the literature suggestions from the appendix of LHFHG and that is exactly what I am doing. I have already placed an order for quite a few of the recommended titles and hope to receive them shortly.
It seems that your daughter's readiness has has reached a point to where she will be more accepting and more willing to participate in the activities that were uncomfortable or not enjoyable for her. It is amazing how quickly our kidlets can mature in certain areas.
I think it sounds like you are just trying to meet your daughter where she is at by adjusting the program for her specific needs.

Candice

[spidermansmum]

Ive been wondering whether to repeat LHFHG next year or move up.

[Carrie]

Ladies,

Somehow I missed this thread! I'm so sorry. This is a good question, and one that can have several different answers.

We normally don't recommend repeating a program, however there are some exceptions to that. If you never really got very far in the program or were very sporadic with the readings and never really got through much of them, then it would be worthwhile to do the program closer to the way it was written. Also, if you got started, and then it seemed like your child wasn't quite ready for it, and you set it aside, it makes sense to pick it back up where you left off (or if you were very close to the beginning to just start over).

However, if you have done most of the readings from the program with your child, then most likely you should move on to the next program, in order to keep it fresh and new. Also, if you have gone through the program quite thoroughly then you would want to just move on up to the next program, even if your kiddo doesn't quite seem ready (as a trip through LHFHG will prepare your kiddo well for Beyond, even if you need to start Beyond at half-speed for awhile).

Whenever you are deciding about which program best suits your kiddo for the upcoming year, it's honestly best to just go back to the placement chart and really assess where your child places on the chart right now. Try to clear your mind of anything you think your child may have missed or that you'd wish you'd done better, just look at where your little sweetie places on the chart. That will really help you see more clearly where your child should be placed. Here is a link to the chart:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php

So, for any of you ladies who are still wondering what to do, I'd love to hear more clearly where your little ones fall on the placement chart, as that would really help me (and you) in figuring out what would be best.

Blessings,
Carrie

[6timeboymom]

I was going to say move onto Beyond and do only half the lesson at a time. that way you are doing new material, but you aren't going at a breakneck pace, either! I plan to do that with my son if he's not ready when we are done with LHFHG.

Now my 2 yr old, though, we will be able to repeat all of LHTH that he's doing now, because we only do a fraction of it as written. It will be new for him next year.

[spidermansmum]

thanks I found that helpful.
I think I need to remember we are half way through LHFHG and that means my son will do alotof learning between now and when we start 'next year'.So al though I dont think he could do Bigger yet,he probably will be ready by next'year'.I have been teaching him now for a few months and already he can do things He couldnt do when we started-he can now count to 100,etc.
I think we struggle a bit with reading,We have swapped and changed systems trying to find a good fit and I think we now have something that works,but finding that system -caused a few delays and a great deal of frustration.
Darci Hmmm maybe I should start LHTH with my youngest