Newbie - How should I space them out?

[rgrindle]

This is my first post, I'm totally new to the idea of homeschooling, and I've got a few questions (of course!)

Background: DS1 turned 5 this week. He L-O-V-E-S school, is very social, and keeps asking when he can start Kindergarten so that he can go to school every day. He's currently enrolled in a private preschool (3 half-days per week) because we aren't fans of the public schools around here. School is expensive, though, and we won't be able to pay for both boys to go to private school. Thus, we're looking for a viable alternative. At 3.5-years-old, DS2 is 18 months younger than his big brother and technically should be starting preschool next fall. He is somewhat introverted and not much of a talker, but loves music, activities, and games.

I've ordered LHTH and will start using it with BOTH boys as soon as it arrives. DS1 will still finish out his school year, but can participate in LHTH with his brother on his "off" days. From what I've seen, they will really enjoy the stories and activities, and I've been looking for a good devotional to use with them anyway. My question comes in with when to start LHFHG. Do I wait a year and a half and start them both together when DS2 turns 5 and DS1 is 7.5? Or should I start DS1 on LHFHG and move him to BLHFHG when DS2 moves to LHFHG, keeping them one book apart? Also, if I use LHFHG for the kindergarten year, what do I do for first grade? Do I repeat it, using the 1st grade extras? Do I skip the 1st grade extras? Do I do BLHFHG and replace the 2nd grade extras with the 1st grade extras? I'm so confused.

Okay, that was more than a few questions, but I warned you that I am a newbie! Thanks for any help or advice you can offer.

[mamayi]

Welcome to HOD and homeschooling! It's a very exciting way to live and learn with your children.
This is a very good place to get answers to you questions as the ladies here are very kind and helpful and have a lot of experience!
I think your plan of starting your boys together in LHTH is great and just go at a pace that seems to fit best for your children.
If your desire is to keep your children combined than take things at a slower pace during these younger years (and that allows you to supplement the "extra" time of the day with reading, exploring and teaching life skills or whatever else your family enjoys.) We took a year and a half to do Little Hearts and a year and a half to do Beyond so that I could keep my older two combined. We are even taking two years to go through Bigger (well, at least that's the plan ). These HOD programs are so flexible to use just how your family needs them to be used.
I am sure more ladies will be here to welcome you and give you their "seasoned" advice!

[MomtoJGJE]

I was thinking you could just do LHTH with both of them on the days your older one is not in school (and even during school holidays, etc.) and that would space it out nicely enough that you could do LHFHG with both of them. If necessary you could even start out LHFHG "half pace" by taking 2 weeks to do each unit instead of one week until your younger one caught up. Then you could do first grade with your older one and K with your younger one.

Honestly to me the thought of doing guides back to back (just finishing with one and then starting almost immediately with the next) is VERY intimidating to me. The thought of never having a break... just drives me insane. Not that it actually would be most likely, just the thought of it is. So for me, I would either try to combine them in the same guide or have a guide in between (start LHFHG with your younger when your older is in Bigger)

I had planned on my middle two being combined, but my older (dd2) just shot ahead with knowledge. So right now I'm doing LHFHG with her and putting LHTH on hold with DD3 and doing little workbooks from the store and other random things so that I can get them farther separated....

[my3sons]

Welcome to the HOD Board! You are so going to love HOD. We have been using it many years and are still enjoying homeschooling so much. I am wondering if you got a chance to check out the placement chart? That may help you see how "close" your 5 yo is to placing in LHFHG. I agree I'd either combine them or put a year between them, so you aren't having guides back to back. Which of these options is better probably depends on several things - how close your oldest ds is to needing to do LHFHG, how quickly your youngest takes to learning, and how badly you think you want to combine. Time is a good indicator of this, but for now, maybe just looking at the placement chart would be helpful? If you foresee your oldest needing LHFHG very soon, then I'd probably not combine them. If you foresee him being able to wait a year and a half to do LHFHG, so your youngest is at least 5 yo, then I'd slow down LHTH so you don't get to LHFHG until then. Here's a link to the placement chart:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php

In Christ,
Julie