New to HOD...LHFHG vs BLHFHG next year...wise council needed

[icukirt]

What an answer to prayer finding HOD. This year we started K with my DS even though he was barely 5 and "all boy". Originally I thought I would stretch K into 2 years, but he has done so well he is ready for 1st grade. I have been really trying to figure out what to do next year and thought about pulling bits and pieces of things I liked but don't really have the time to get it all together on my own. I stumbled upon a few message boards and the Lord led me to HOD and it's exactly what I'm looking for.

Here lies the dilemma...what to do for phonics and math. We used Saxon Phonics K and Saxon Math K this year. Is anyone else using Saxon (phonics doesn't go beyond 2 instead of what HOD offers...or has anyone switched from Saxon into what HOD offers...I'm not familiar enough with Singapore to know if I should switch to this or not or how easy a switch would be down the road. I have invested in the manipulatives (and my son likes his math the most) and have WB and teacher manuals through Math 3.

He has really done well with Saxon Phonics and is reading to the appropriate level for the curriculum.

My thought is to start LHFHG since he is a young K. Though looking at the placement he also fits into BLHFHG...finishing phonics and starting basic reading, knows and forms his letters and copies sentences (not always the best he could do), obviously he has had formal math. He already memorizes scripture. So can anyone who has used both levels can you give me some advice.

Also, does anyone have a recommendation for cursive writing curriculum. I would prefer this over manuscript.

I also have a 2 yr old, so if all goes well te curriculum will be reused with her...do you think LHFHG will be too little for him...

Thanks and rejoicing on the HOD find.
Kirstin

[Kathleen]

Kristin,

Hi! Welcome to the HOD boards! If I were you, I'd go with LHFHG. I think that your ds could thrive there, and he'll be learning a lot of new skills that will help when he moves into the older HOD guides. I'm thinking specifically about narration. LHFHG is a ton of fun, too. (I haven't used it yet...but in the fall I will.)

My oldest used Saxon phonics and math. He went to a small Christian school for K and 1st, and that's what they used. We continued with it for 2nd at home. I am not going to be using it again. For our family, it wasn't a good fit. I have a friend (with one child) who loved it. For us, it was WAY too much overkill, and very time-consuming. My oldest especially (I'm waiting to see with the others ) catches on to things very quickly. I don't want to spend an hour on math, and an hour on phonics when all he needs is 20 min. I have already started The Reading Lesson with my soon-to-be 5 yo, and we LOVE it! It is a much gentler approach to phonics, without as much drill and coding as Saxon has. If you were wanting to switch, you could pick something like The Reading Lesson, and breeze through the very beginning until you get to stuff that is new for your son. HOD has an emerging readers set that will follow up The Reading Lesson (or whatever phonics you use). The Reading Lesson will have your child reading at an early 2nd grade level, and then the emerging readers build fluency and comprehension to get your child on to being an independent reader. This path is going to be a more joyful one for us than Saxon was with my oldest. (Sorry Grant! )

I'm questioning in my mind what you'd want to do if you switch math. Singapore advances more quickly than Saxon. My son had finished Saxon 2 last year, and placed into Singapore 2A. I'm thinking that you'd want to go with the Earlybird 2A and 2B books along with LHFHG. Singapore won't have a placement test low enough for you. Their 1st placement test is for level 1A, and it will tell you if your child is done with that level (which he won't be). Your other option would be to move into level 1A. Even if you're doing LHFHG, I'd reccommend getting the Beyond manual for the math activities to go with Singapore 1A. I'm really thinking though that there are probably things Singapore covered in EB 2A that weren't covered in Saxon K. Maybe you could read through your table of contents and then compare that to the scope and sequence of the math listed in LHFHG's intro (or EB on Singapore's website). Or ask Carrie. I think you're little math-lover will love Singapore, too. Mine loves it more! The activities Carrie has to go with the lessons are great! They've all been winners here for level 2A and 2B! Your manipulatives can sure be pulled out with Singapore, too. We've used several of ours, but Carrie has suggestions for different things to use so that you don't need a set of manipulatives. You could hang on to them, or get rid of them. (Food is my ds's favorite. M&M's are way more fun than color tiles! ) Carrie's reasoning for choosing Singapore in this thread is what sold me on it. I was wanting a math program that took less time, but did a good job of teaching math. I have found that Singapore actually teaches math better in that it really teaches the child to think mathematically. We didn't get that in Saxon, and I've seen a big change in my ds's ability to do mental math. (This is a hard thing to find. )viewtopic.php?f=10&t=112

Just so you know, HOD will work with any math and phonics you choose. I just wanted to tell you what I've experienced being in a similar place as you and making a switch. If you choose to stick with Saxon for math and phonics, it will add a considerable amount of time to your day.

Kathleen

[icukirt]

Kathleen-
Thanks for your post. I will do some research. I agree both take a lot of time and that doesn't always work well for us (especially with the 2 yr old needing attention too). We will probably also be moving which will add an element of stress. We are looking at my husband going back into the AF.

Before seeing your reply I sent you a PM...I was looking at other posts about cursive and came upon your reply to a post and I asked you a question. Funny out of all the members you were the one who replied to my post.

I saw on your profile on the PM site your are in NE Kansas. I was born and raised in Salina and lived in KS until I moved away in 1993. My family is all back in the midwest. KS, OK, MO...I do miss it sometimes!!

Thanks again for your posted reply.
Kirstin

[Mom2Monkeys]

Welcome! I know you'll love HOD and so will your son! It's incredible!

As for phonics, you could easily switch into an HOD recommendation (we use RME and really enjoy it!). But, you don't have to. If you decided to, you would just pick up in the phonics manual where you left off in the other. RME has quick, easy, fun lessons and lends itself to more of a Charlotte Mason approach than a textbook. I've also used Phonics Pathways and online ClickNKids...I like those too!

And math...if you plan to switch to Singapore at some point, the earlier the better. If you wait, you may find that you have to back up a level or two b/c it's more advanced than saxon in the sense it teaches a different approach and skill set (mental math, higher order thinking, all the how's AND why's, etc.) If you start in it now, you'll be able to move along quite nicely. The manipulatives will come in handy, but Saxon math sells easily (books and manip.s!) So if you did decide to switch, rest assured you'd be getting a fair return on those! I'd encourage you to switch b/c after all the math we've tried, Singapore seems superior to me in so many ways. You can search the boards for more details.

So long as you are using the right level of math and phonics, you could go either way with LHFHG or BLHFHG for first grade. LHFHG won't be too "little" for him b/c it will be new skills with narration, listening skills, storytime discussions...and the verses are fairly lengthy but not too long(just ask my K'er! ) He's 5.5 and doing LHFHG...just started yesterday I think the story time books would be a little too much for my ds to sit through in Beyond (LHFHG was a little hard for him yesterday), but if you're little guy likes to be read aloud to (without pictures), then he might do pretty well with it. Otherwise, LHFHG might fit better.

As for cursive at this age, I'd recommend New American Cursive. They have workbooks for K-2 and they also have the StartWrite program with NAC font on it. That can come in handy as you can have him copy his verse or poem, etc and customize handwriting pages for him. My son has started it and I'm just having him trace individual letters right now, trying to group the ones with the same starting point.

[Jessi]

Kirstin- Welcome to HOD! Isn't it just great. I knew when I found it that God had put a special annointing on the program.

My question would be: you said your son is All Boy, right? Have you read chapter books to him (ones without pictures on every page or even every other page)? The reason I ask is that LHFHG introduces listening to chapter books in a gentle fun approach. It develops skills that will make Beyond more successful as he'll be used to it. I am finding how amazed I am that my daughter and her friends (I run a day care) are responding to the Thornton Burgess books now. We are still reading Reddy Fox but it is a hit around here. Their recall is getting better all the time. Today we finished the chapter where Reddy pops out of the house even when he was supposed to stay inside and finds himself at the end of Farmer Brown's boy's gun and I looked up from the book to see all of their eyes (even my 2 year old's) wide as saucers! I can see ane excitement for learning building in them!

Another option would be to do Beyond with him at half speed. It would ease him into the work (I know my3sons does this with her son right now as he is younger too) and then once he is able to you can pick up the pace to full time and finish it out. It wouldn't be so overwhelming for him time wise if it is broken downin manageable pieces. By going half speed you'd do the right side of the guide one day and the left side the next. We are doign that with LHFHG right now and retention is GREAT! It is just right as my daughter just turned 5. It might be something to consider.

As for sticking with Saxon- if it works for him, he enjoys it, and you don't mind how much time it takes to teach those- then I say stick with what's working. But if you are looking to lessen your teaching time and still find something that will work, you might want to consider singapore. Only you know the best fit. Carrie recommends Cheerful Cursive in the later guides...I have no clue if Cheerful Cursive is available in for K or 1st but it might be worth checking out.

[funkmomma71]

We haven't used Beyond yet, but I must say that LHFHG is a terrific program with lots to offer your little one. As the other ladies have pointed out, your ds will learn beginning narration and listening comprehension skills, which he will need as he progresses through the manuals. If you feel he is ready for emerging readers, you could also buy the Beyond manual for the schedule of readers and the lessons that go with them. As for copywork, you could easily have him copy the weekly verses or passages from the storytime books. You could use the StartWrite program, as mom2monkeys suggested, to printout verses for him to copy. I really love StartWrite, we use it as our handwriting program, it is easy to use and you can create whatever your child needs, such as more practice sheets or move more quickly if child masters a concept. Whatever you do, give it the Lord and He will give the wisdom you need to make the right choice for your ds.

Blessings,
Nancy

[Jen in Va]

I was in the same boat last year this time. I had a son 5.5 yo who seemed to place well into Beyond for math and phonics, but who is definitely all boy. I decided to go with LHFHG instead, and used the 1st grade options for fine motor skills. We have loved every second of it, and he has come a long way over the 24 weeks we've used the book. I have supplemented the Singapore math a bit, because he had already completed the Early Bird 2a, and was part way through 2b when we started HOD in April/May (we went half speed for the early part of it). So he's been working ahead of where we are in the manual for math--almost finished math in LHFHG, then I will start him in the Beyond manual for math and reading, while we finish up the right side of LHFHG. Don't miss all the good stuff in Little Hearts--it will give you one more year to savor what Carrie has created with HOD.

I, too, found HOD as a real answer to prayer after searching and searching for something that would work for my son after 11 years of not having a child in the early grades. So much had changed. HOD was a most welcome change! I am a HODie as long as Carrie produces the manuals, and I try to convert everyone I know with kids that would fit her program agewise.

[netpea]

I haven't read through all your replies yet, so forgive me if someone already said this. But I bet he'd love LHFHG. It will give him a Wonderful overview of history from Creation to now. Try it out as written, it will really help him grow before starting Beyond. after a while if he wants more, you could always go through it a bit faster. It is such a wonderful program, that you could easily do it over the summer if you wanted to get a head start. I can't say enough good things about it.