Is this ok(a bit unstructured)......?

mamamia · Post by **mamamia** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:47 am

Hmmm, what to do what to do! So maybe I should re-think this. I'm going to give the history another try today. Seriously though, as soon as I pull it out and start reading from "Little Pilgrims" his eyes glaze over and same with the Burgess.

I will be starting LHFHG from day 1 today. Should I double up to try to advance through the summer and beginning of fall. Then start Beyond when finished?

Sorry.....this is the post that will never end(think Shari Lewis song)

mamamia · Post by **mamamia** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:14 am

Yes, I am a Momma obsessed! After writing my last post.....while making breakfast.....I had a huge thought. Which I'm thinking was from the Lord. I've been confused, concerned, chaotic-trying to figure out my plan of attack to teach my son. His age(turning 6)made me think that he should be closer to 1st grade curriculum. I don't know why I can't accept that it's ok to do Kindergarten at 6+ yrs old(what he will be in the fall). Any words of encouragement in that area would be appreciated

Sooooo, I'm thinking I should wait and start LHFHG in Sept. For the next few months just do some Explode the Code books, handwriting books, finish the Earlybird 2A & 2B math, continue teaching Bible stories and scripture. Teach character. Then in Sept only use LHFHG. I can then use Earlybird 1A and 1B and the 1st grade science(though I will consider him in K). I'll save Beyond for the following yr.

Oh so sorry for making my thread so long winded. I'm really appreciating the hand holding right now( I have little IRL support).

Are many of you doing K with a 6 yr old??

Jen in Va · Post by **Jen in Va** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:26 am

Hi Mamamia!
I'm in the same place you are. I'll be starting LHFHG from day 1 today, too. My son (5.5--6 end of October) also places between Little Hearts and Beyond, and my plan is to work through the summer and fall with him doing Little Hearts and then go into Beyond sometime around Christmas. At Christmas last year I made the mistake of not continuing reading and math for 3 weeks. When we restarted in Jan, it was as if he had never seen a letter or number in his life. I will not make that mistake again, hence the schooling all summer.

When I first found HOD several weeks ago my plan was to start Beyond in the fall, but after talking with some of the ladies here, and praying about it, I felt like the Lord was really leading toward Little Hearts, and after seeing the curriculum yesterday, it is a decision I'm happy with. That said, I have started to ask him questions about things I read to him, and about sentences he's reading to me from his readers. At first he'd just sort of look at me and shrug his shoulders, but now that he knows what to expect, he's starting to pull more out of the readings. I know that glazed over look well. I'm amazed at how rapidly the change is occurring. I imagine that when we start today, there will be an initial period of bewilderment on his part--especially with Burgess--but based on past experience--it will pass. I used Burgess' Mother West Wind's Animal Tales and another one with my oldest kids. They were difficult to get into at first, but became favorites with them.

Let's check in later to see how things went! I'll be praying for you and your son!

Jen

Lilyanna · Post by **Lilyanna** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:00 am

mamamia wrote:
Are many of you doing K with a 6 yr old??

I did! My dd turned 6 in early September. I am in no hurry to see her grow up. We called this year kindergarten, which is also how she would have been placed in ps.

I didn't know about LHFHG, but it would have really appealed to her. We had a very gentle, loosely structured year and she really blossomed!! I have no regrets, even though many people thought she needed to start first grade. We will be doing BLHFHG for 1st grade, when she is 7.

When I want to read something that my dd will not be immediately intereted in, I do it while she is finishing breakfast or lunch.

pjdobro · Post by **pjdobro** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:31 pm

I am going to be doing LHFHG in the fall with my twins who turn 6 next month. The story time, history, science and other activities just seem too rich to miss. I'll be using Beyond for the language arts and math. It's so hard not to get hung up on the idea of one program being a kindergarten program or a 1st grade program. I know I was having problems with that too, but really one isn't K and the other 1st, it's just about what best fits the needs of your child and I think that is one of the reason that the books have age spans and not grades on them. I think we are so programmed to think about grades which isn't at all important in homeschooling. I've been reading quite a few Charlotte Mason inspired books recently and one of the things I'm getting from them is that you have to teach the child not the program or grade, etc. We have a wonderful opportunity to do that with homeschooling. I know it's hard, but try to relax and enjoy the journey. I say that to myself multiple times per day

Hopefully soon it will sink in!

Kathleen · Post by **Kathleen** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:44 pm

pjdobro wrote:I think we are so programmed to think about grades which isn't at all important in homeschooling. I've been reading quite a few Charlotte Mason inspired books recently and one of the things I'm getting from them is that you have to teach the child not the program or grade, etc. We have a wonderful opportunity to do that with homeschooling.

Patty - I've been doing the same thing, and have been able to start thinking this way, too. It sure is freeing! And makes so much more sense to just be able to enjoy teaching your child what they need to learn, rather than be worrying about whether they are matching the right "grade". It's hard though when most of the people that we're in contact with send their kids to school and everything is based on grades...Sunday School, soccer, baseball.

Thanks for this encouragement Patty, and I couldn't agree more!

Kathleen

mamamia · Post by **mamamia** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:46 pm

Thanks for sharing Patty in NC!
Exactly which LA and math from Beyond are you going to do? Is that all you will do from Beyond and then all of LHFHG?

Thanks!

pjdobro · Post by **pjdobro** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 11:10 am

I'm planning on doing the language arts block which is mostly using the spelling lists and copywork, I think. For the copywork, I might just substitute in handwriting practice since it uses the poems used in Beyond and we won't be doing those until we do the history part in Beyond the following year. I definitely wanted to pick up the spelling and grammar lessons that she does in Beyond this year.

I'll be using the emerging reader list too. I might have to delay my ds starting it for a few months since he might not be up to it quite yet. I'm going to do some leveled readers from Abeka that I have with him until he is ready to start the emerging reader schedule.

For math, I'm going to do the math exporations in Beyond and maybe do the Singapore workbook. I haven't decided for sure yet whether I'll use Singapore or continue with my Miquon books. I may do both. I think the explorations will be great to use though no matter which way I choose to go.

I'lll be using all of the other blocks; history, rhymes in motion, science, Bible study, music, artistic expression, dramatic play, thinking games, and story time from LHFHG. I haven't decided for sure whether to add in the Thinking Skills from LHFHG or not. Maybe someone can give me some advice on this. I looked over a few sample pages of the workbook and it looks like it would be fun.

So that's my plan. Carrie looked over what I had done before and suggested we proceed this way. At least, I think I have it figured out the way she intended. It looks to me like it is going to work out great and be a lot of fun!

Post by **Carrie** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:58 pm

mamamia,

I agree that "History for Little Pilgrims" is harder to listen to and may throw off a few kiddos at the beginning of Little Hearts.....

However, if you look ahead, you'll see that the Family-Time Bible is where most of the history readings come from for the first chunk of the year. Those readings are shorter and have beautiful pictures. So, once you get there, I'll bet your little guy will hang with the readings better. If you don't have the "Family-Time Bible", I would recommend it to bring Little Hearts.... to your kiddo's level.

I also wouldn't worry about hustling through "Little Hearts..." to get to "Beyond....". If your little guy is still gaining as a listener, he'll need all of "Little Hearts..." in a steady fashion to prepare him for the lengthier stories in "Beyond...".

If you needed the spelling lists/grammar lessons, emerging reader's schedule, or math lessons from "Beyond...", you could easily add those to "Little Hearts.." the way Patty mentioned.

Blessings,
Carrie

mamamia · Post by **mamamia** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:25 pm

I so appreciate everyone giving me their input. It's all been a help. Just wanted to give an update......I re-tried the history and Reddy Fox book yesterday. I'm pleased to say that though the history book was not a huge hit he did sit and listen to it:D(probably going to save it for the fall-still a bit over his head) . We read Reddy Fox at bedtime and it went well. He is very excited for chapter 2 this evening!! Yeah!

Post by **Carrie** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 8:12 pm

Yeah, Mamamia!

I'm glad your little guy is getting another chance at Reddy Fox. My kiddos loved Thornton Burgess, and all of my boys (so far) remember the characters fondly.

Thanks for sharing.

Blessings,
Carrie