should my boys (6 and 5) continue together next year?

[jjdmathnut]

Hi - I know there have been a lot of questions about combining, but I haven't found my exact situation, so I thought I'd ask... My boys turned 6 and 5 this past fall, and we're doing LHFHG this year. It is going well; they both seem engaged and are "getting a lot out of it". My youngest isn't doing the math b/c I didn't know if he'd be ready for it (he's doing the Rod and Staff A, C, and E workbooks and enjoys those!). Anyway, I'd planned to do BLHFHG next year but am afraid that it will be too much for my youngest. Next year would technically be his kindergarten year, and I know BLHFHG is designed more for 1-2nd grade (?) Plus, if we continued with HOD, from what I read, Bigger would be too difficult for a 1st grader. SO, should I find a different curriculum for next year (if so, what?!), then come back and do BLHFHG the following year when they're in 1st and 2nd, or...? P.S. My personality is more like "have a plan and stick with that plan" as opposed to just "go with the flow"... .....Thanks!.....Jennifer

[Carrie]

Jennifer,

Since your boys will be 6 and 7 when you begin Beyond and it sounds like they have been doing well together, they would be great candidates to stay together in Beyond. I would consider stretching just a bit to allow your younger one to grow up to be past newly turning 7 before heading into Bigger Hearts eventually. You could do this easily by scheduling Beyond at a 4 day a week plan, stretching 9 weeks into the following year to finish before heading into Bigger Hearts.

You could still choose to do math and phonics at 5 days a week for both kiddos if desired (starting the LHFHG math with your younger one as soon as he seems ready). You could also use a handwriting workbook from LHFHG for your younger one next year, instead of the copywork in Beyond. Then, when you do begin Bigger Hearts, you could always go half-speed if needed to ease both kiddos into it in the beginning 9 weeks. This should work well for your kiddos in the long run.

If you get a chance to pop back and share what you're thinking that would be great

Blessings,
Carrie

[my3sons]

Jennifer - I have found that if my dc are doing well with the skills/activities in any given HOD guide by the end of the year, they will be prepared for the next guide the next year. It sounds like your 2 boys are doing great with LHFHG already, so no worries ahead there! You can have your little guy do the math in LHFHG next year since you own the guide anyway and he hasn't done it yet.

If my dc are going to be on the young side of a guide the next year, and I've wanted to give them time to grow into it (which I highly recommend if you are concerned about this), I've taught the next guide either half-speed (left side of plans one day, right side of plans next day, phonics daily though) for awhile or done it 4 days a week, taking Fridays off. Both have worked well. I think it sounds like your 2 dc will be ready for Beyond Little Hearts and will thrive in it together.

I wouldn't worry about Bigger Hearts. I'd just plan on going half-speed when you get to Bigger Hearts for the first while (if needed), and then you can always go full-speed when you see they're ready. It's amazing how much dc can grow in a year or two's time. You may find going half-speed is totally not necessary when you get to Bigger Hearts, but you'll always have the half-speed option in the back of your mind otherwise. And of course, you'd always have the option of doing Bigger Hearts 4 days a week too, which would stretch it out another 3 months. Your dc will love Beyond as much as LHFHG - my ds is having a blast with Beyond this year! We are only about a month from finishing - we initially started it half-speed for a few weeks, and then did it full-speed 4 days a week. My ds was 5 1/2 yo when he started it. We plan on doing Bigger Hearts half-speed for the first while, and then switching to full-speed 4 days a week when he's ready. We've done this pacing before and enjoyed that flexibility so much. Please ask more questions if you have them, but I think your boys will do great combined together in Beyond next year!

In Christ,
Julie

[jjdmathnut]

Thank you both for your encouragement and input. I think we'll just keep going along as we are, then if we need to start half-speed next year with Bigger, then that's what we'll do.