2nd gr. and LHFHG: questions

[Sue G in PA]

I've decided to do LHFHG with dd5 (Ker) and ds7(2nd gr) next year (actually we will start as soon as I get all the required books so prob. by Aug.). I had a few questions about the Thinking Skills books. From looking at samples online, it seems the 1st gr. book will be too easy for ds7. Should I go ahead and get the 2nd grade book? And it also seems dd5 would probably enjoy the 1st gr. book instead of the Do It Carefully set. Would she be missing anything if I jumped her up to the Thinking Skills book? Thanks. We are also going to use the 1st grade Science book for both children. Does that seem okay?

[jenntracy]

I actually got the 2nd grade thinking skills for my son who will be 7 in October and considered "1st grade" next year. We are using Beyond in fall but i wanted a "thinking" book for him. i decided on the 2nd grade because i thought the 1st grade one looked too easy. Mostly because of his reading level. He is already half way thru emerging readers.when i looked at the 1st grade one i thought "he is beyond this". If that is how your son is and 2nd grade anyway, i would say get the 2nd grade one.
Can't say much about the 1st grade book for your Ker. I think it depends on what level she is at. My dd will be Ker in fall and the Rod and Staff will fit her well. so it just depends on your child and which one you think fits her ability better. Don't want a bored kid.
glad to her things are going along nicely. we will start August 3rd , if all goes well. got 4 1/2 units to go in LHFHG.

Jenn D.

[Sue G in PA]

Thanks Jenn. Dd4 (5 in Aug.) is very advanced...already reading, doing what I consider 1st gr. math (adding/subt., etc.), but she does love to cut/paste and the like. I think I'll get the 1st gr. book for her and just let her use the Kumon books I have for cutting/pasting stuff. Thanks! Oh, one question about the 2nd gr. Thinking Skills book: would my son need to know how to read very well to use it? Ds7 is still learning...doing CVC words, some blends and silent e words.

[jenntracy]

There are some things that even if he couldn't read super well you could read to him and have him follow the directions for. i was just looking and in the middle of the book is homophones which my son would probably have trouble with and a few things with math like time are in the book. I plan on just skipping a page if there is something in between he is not ready for. Also it is May now, and i know his reading will get better. We were just going over silent e words with our Victory Drill book the other day. So 2 more months from now might make a diference. i just know my son would be bored with the 1st grade one and so i will leave out the "too" challenging pages in 2nd grade one and go back to them. I really don't see a reason in this book to have to go exactly in order.
Hope that helps.
Yep it sounds like your Ker would probably enjoy the first grade Thinking skills

Jenn D.