Solution to the giggles has put me in a panic

[Tracee]

I have 3 kids really close in age, and I've been having trouble with them goofing off and giggling when we do the left side of the guide. My 5 year old twins have been tagging along with my 7 yr old while we do the left side. They aren't ready to do LHFHG officially, so I plan to start that next year.


Julie posted a reply to my dilemma, that actually made me gasp. I'm only posting here in a new thread, because I know she is busy and was hoping you ladies could help me. She suggested that maybe I do them separately. I could do LHTH with my twins, and then LHFHG with my 7 yr old.

Fear and panic swiftly rushed through my veins. How in the world do I do two guides at one time? I need to figure it out at some point, and I guess now is as good as time as any. Here is what is causing me the panic:

LHFHG will take about 2 hours to complete. I'm not sure I can get my son to focus for 2 hours straight. There is a possibility though. I see him improving everyday. He is severely dyslexic, so the phonics portion of our day is very mentally draining for him and he needs a break after that.

While I'm doing LHFHG, what are my 5 yr old twins doing? Playing? Running a muck?

Lastly, my twins place right in the middle of LHFHG and LHTH. I have the LHTH guide, and I had all intentions of doing it with them, but at that time when they were ready, we were still trying to figure out what was causing my son so much difficulty and how to get him going. Now we have that figured out. Do you think I could do LHTH with extensions? My twins know most of the letters and sounds, and because dyslexia is so prevalent in our family, I work on some special things with them while they are learning the letters and sounds. They are doing Earlybird Math 1(the new book that combines 1A/1B) and working through a handwriting program. Do you think it would work if I did everything in LHTH, but left out the Finger Play/Letter Activity/Math Activity?


Thanks,
Tracy

[mamas4bugs]

Absolutely, it would! Although, they might enjoy those activities, even if they don't "need" them.

You can do this! Both my boys have ADHD/ADD and dyslexia, and my youngest dd has SPD/high functioning Autism, so I know it can seem daunting. But Julie is right--when they are correctly placed in the guides, it actually makes your days go smoother. We run three guides. Have you looked at the scheduling thread at the top of the page? It has lots of great ideas on how to run more than one guide. I personally would break it up. Work with the older one while the twins are coloring/playing with manipulatives/etc for a few boxes, then have the 7 year old work independently (and by that I mean do a handwriting page or work a puzzle or finish his math sheet) and do a few boxes with the the twins.

Some things I set out for my 4 1/2 year old to do while I work with her brothers are blocks, lace up cards, bubbles (outside-we school in the dining room, so I can see/hear her on the back steps), chalk (either sidewalk or chalkboard), a giant pad of paper with markers (got this at Staples), puzzles, a big plastic tub full of dry rice or beans and little toys to find/cups to pour (that's a sensory activity for her, but it still might be fun), plastic food and dishes, and then we have some manipulative type things I bought at Lakeshore Learning like pattern blocks, lace up beads, counters, matching puzzles, etc. Also, on LHTH drama days, you could do the drama with the twins first, and then leave the area set up for them to continue to play with while you work with the older one.

Part of them not running a muck:D is just going to be age and training. I know you'll find your feet and have a great time once you do!

[holdinon]

Yes, I agree with everything mamas4bugs said!

And, no. I wouldn't spend the entire 2 hours at one time. Break the boxes up.

You could do the Bible Study box and the music at breakfast. (The twins shouldn't be too much of a distraction as they are sitting at table eating). Other than that, I would probably do reading first before his mind gets tired. But I would definitely take breaks---outdoors when possible.

As far as what the twins will do during your focused time with ds, I think the key is to having pre-planned activities (or at least just a couple of choices). If littles had totally free "free" time, chaos would certainly ensue with in 5 minutes----at least it would at my house What we do for "free" time during school is have activity cards. They get to choose one card for a block of time and that is what they do during that time. It may be playdough, water paint, work on jigsaw puzzle, board game, etc.

Little Hands is a sweet little program and only takes about 30 minutes (45 if you "play" more). You could do both Little Hearts and Little Hands with lots of breaks and still be done by lunch!

By the way....I recently tried letting my dd5 (turned 5 last month) sit in with my Little Hearts kiddos, just to see how it would go. . Let's just say....that didn't last a week!! So I feel your pain

Angie

[Kathleen]

Tracy,

I agree with what the other ladies have said here, and just wanted to add that most likely if you do split them up your time for LHFHG will go down. I combined Allison and Garret for a while, and even though they didn't get the giggles, it was still MUCH faster for me to teach the guide when I only had the child that really fit there with me. This year I'm using LHFHG, and it only takes us an hour to complete everything. I'm not spending long on phonics - like 10 min. We just cruise through the boxes and do everything that's there, but not more. An hour and a half is what it says it will take, so I'm guessing you will get much closer to that time if you cut the giggles.

We have also LOVED LHTH at our house with kids who already knew their letters and sounds and basic math. It is such an enjoyable program for mom & kids! I love the way that it lays a great foundation of Biblical truth for them as well. We still did all the letter activities. "Tape Day" and writing the letters in pudding were favorites at our house. On the day pudding is suggested (like once a month), I let the kids actually make the instant pudding - so they got practice measuring, pouring, and stirring, too. The "play" activities were always a hit with my kids, and we found here that the different suggestions in the boxes were great ways to continue to build the gross and fine motor skills that can always use work. (And they didn't even know they were doing "school work".)

Kathleen

[Mom of Three]

One day at a time. You don't have to figure out next year right now. You don't have to figure out next week right now.

[MelInKansas]

Just a quick answer/suggestion as to what your 5YO twins should/will do while you need some time with your 7YO doing LHFHG. I have my schedule set up so that there is a very short amount of time where my 4YO and 2YO play in an adjoining room with the door closed. If I hear anything alarming I pop right in to mediate. Usually I get out some toys that they don't always get to have. Then, my 2YO is in her room by herself while I read to the other 2. My thought is - set up an area for each of your 5YO to have something fun to do by themselves. This is amazing with my 2YO, she is so happy to have some time to do some interesting manipulative or toy she doesn't always get without interference from anyone else. I would guess that since your 5YOs are probably almost always together, a little alone time during the school day wouldn't seem like a burden to them, or are they terribly hard to separate? It's just a thought. As I thought through school time I thought... I can let those youngers play unsupervised ALONE but definitely not together!

I agree with the others, LHTH would not really be that hard to add. If you need to beef it up for them, even so they will enjoy it immensely. My biggest concern about wanting to do LHTH again next year with my youngest is that I don't know if I can manage it without the older sisters being so eager to jump in and really interfering with it, it's so much fun!