I'm so excited!!! LHTH and LHFHG

[Heidi in AK]

We just received the LHTH and LHFHG curriculum and I can tell you I'm so excited! After we slithered on the ground for the first box, I was hooked. I thought, "how FUN!" I've looked at a lot of other curricula, and I can tell you they all either seem overwhelming or boring compared to HOD. And HOD is so easy! Carrie, thanks for laying it all out for us.

We're currently at the Christian school where I'm finishing out a term on an assignment from the Lord. I don't feel like I've been released to homeschool...yet. Carrie, like you have been, I'm a classroom teacher, but my gifts are not in curriculum development, so I was looking for a "boxed" curriculum (pun intended, lol! ) that wasn't super expensive or overwhelming. I have friends who both use very popular literature-based packages but they just contained SO MANY books and were SO expensive. I had heard from friends that you just have to get used to not being able to get to it all. That would really frustrate me, and I would still have to prep some.

I looked at my stack of LHFHG books and thought, "wow, I can't believe this is all I need for a K curriculum," but I didn't feel the program lacking at all.

I LOVE the fact that the Lord led me to the same Psalms passage that you have on your catalog, Carrie. That was surely a confirmation from us that we are all tracking and this is a suitable curriculum for us!

So, here's my plan for DSalmost 2 is easy. We're doing LHTH as much as he'll take, and we'll do it over at least once before he's 5.

[Heidi in AK]

For DD4.5, right now, as we can or as she wants to, we're going to do the following:

- Rely on LHTH for Bible, devotions, science, Bible history, gross motor, etc.
- Use a Carson-Dellosa workbook I had gotten last July for her fine motor skills work
- Use a Fisher-Price preschool workbook 1 & 2 DH's mother got DD for her 4th birthday for math and handwriting
- Start on Burgess and Potter readers read at reduced speed because DD shows interest in reading them (with a focus in building her attention span and narration skills in prep for the full-speed readers in K)
- Use Bible in Pictures and Devotions for the Children's Hour to go along with LHTH for DD

I had FINALLY today noticed that you instructed parents to circle the guides their children lined up with in each discipline and go with the guide with the MOST circles. I hadn't noticed it at all before!! You had then, on the board, recommended LHTH for her until she gets through the book, after which we can start LHFHG left side, and I'm ok with that! I think we'll get through LHTH and then start fresh with ALL of the LHFHG K materials at the same time, so I don't go crazy trying to keep up with various statuses in each of the books!!!

So, we might need to come up with readers and other fine motor skill workbooks, but my MIL supplied me with many, many workbooks and flashcards, so we should be ok. I am SO looking forward to starting fresh, but I appreciate you wanting me to s-l-o-w her down and not rush into LHFHG.

Any thoughts? What should we do about the Burgess and Potter readers? Should I hold off on those till K, or go ahead and let DD start reading them? She's so interested! I had bought some books off another CM booklist prior and I wonder if we can do those as storybooks in K or 1st if she gets through the readers?

[Mom4Him]

Hi Heidi!! I can see why you are SO excited- we use LHTH & LHFHG right now & are having a blast!!!
It sounds like you have a wonderful plan forming for your children! I think going through LHTH right now with your little girl will be great, & then you will be all set to start LHFHG after that!! If it were me, I would wait on the Burgess & Potter books until you get to LHFHG- that way it will all be scheduled for you- with the perfect amount of reading & great questions right in the guide... and it will keep you "in-line" with the rest of that day in LHFHG. I think that you will find that The New Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes will prepare your daughter well for the readings in LHFHG (attention skills, etc.), as well as if you are planning to use any of the LHTH devotions (although, I would wait on Devotions for the Children's Hour, as this is also scheduled throughout LHFHG & fits well with the History)! LHTH really does a great job of preparing our kiddos for LHFHG!! A couple other things we have done to help with attentions skill & listening comprehension were to get some of the Burgess/Potter books that we would NOT be using in LHFHG from the library & read those... we also have our children listen to stories/books on CD- so, just some thoughts!
Enjoy- you really will LOVE it!
Jessica

[lmercon]

As a former teacher, I concur with you regarding the completeness of HOD. I do like curriculum development and did a lot of it when I was teaching. I have been thrilled with HOD. This is our third year, and I continue to enjoy it as much as the first day. It is such a wonderful way for children to learn.
Laura

[my3sons]

I'm excited for you too, because I know you have good reason to be! Having been through both LHTH and LHFHG, I know you have some wonderful days ahead of you. I used to write curriculum and be on curriculum selection committees years ago as well, and HOD is very complete. I second Mom4Him's sage advice. I think that will give you an excellent year and also good years to come!

In Christ,
Julie

[Heidi in AK]

Thanks, Julie! I appreciate that. Duly noted that Devotions for the Children's Hour will well-suit us in LHFHG, so I put that aside to wait for that time.

Right now, we're doing what she doesn't know already in LHTH (meaning we skip a lot of the math and letters) and supplement with the Carson-Dellosa and letters workbooks I had on hand. She's ready to write.

I decided to replace the storytime set for the Blue Fairy book and related series, which is found on some of the CM booklists. We also have the complete "Ambleside Online" readers for K, so we do those. That way, when we get to LHFHG, it's all new. DD4.5 is not the type to take kindly to repeating stuff if she already knows it.

That way, we're really only doing LHTH with extra stuff until next fall, or whenever we get done with LHTH. Then we'll transition right into LHFHG. And I'm sure by then DS2 will want to do LHTH!

[Carrie]

Heidi,

I'm excited for you too! We'll enjoy sharing the journey with you and will look forward to getting to know you better through the board. I agree that it is amazing when the Lord lays it on your heart to homeschool! My hubby and I had never planned to do this, but the Lord always knows best!

Blessings,
Carrie