Ugh, sorry!!! Placement question

[Heidi in AK]

Ok, so this is the third time in eight months I've asked this question. :/ Sorry!!!

It just seems that DD is morphing at light speed and I can't pin her down. I also don't want to miss anything.

Right now we're on LHTH week 13, David. DD5 enjoys it, but I find myself getting a bit ho-hum about it. DS2 is also jumping in and enjoying himself immensely. DD5 places squarely on the LHFHG chart, and even in phonics/reading, is finishing phonics and is an emerging reader, so she places in Bigger. Also, in math, she places in Bigger. I'd probably tell you she's ready for LHFHG.

I just find our days are a bit disjointed doing LHTH with her, and adding in handwriting and math. Also, we're using bits and pieces of other handwriting books, which is really making me a little loopy. So, we're just doing Bible (skipping the "Count on Me" and Letter Activity) and then Earlybird Math, our own handwriting books (till we work through them), and our own readers.

We are doing LHTH at the recommendation of some wonderful ladies here, but I wonder if it's worth a reconsideration. I was going to double up, but our life is so hectic we are currently doing school 3-4 days a week.

I was going to do LHTH half-speed as Julie has suggested when DS2 turns 3.

What should we do? DD's ok; I'm not...

[NicoleJ]

If she is ready to go onto Little Hearts, then I would move her on. She will love school just as much, but it would tie everything together for you, instead of you doing LHTH plus all the bits and pieces that you are doing. She would probably enjoy the added Storytime and all those other Little Hearts bits and pieces too. You can hold off LHTH with your DS until he is ready. Sounds like you wouldn't be able to combine them in the future anyway, if she is streaking ahead. Just my two cents' worth!

[countrymom]

It sounds like she places in LHFHG. If you have reviewed the placement chart and feel she places squarely there, I would go into Little Hearts. Then you would be back to open and go and your day will be much smoother. Our oldest did well in Little Hearts at age 5. Every child is different, but some are very ready. If you are worried about down the road, you could always start out at 1/2 speed for a bit just to ease into it and slow things down some.

[christina101902]

I completely agree your daughter is ready for LHFHG and she will blossom with it, just as my 5yo has this year.

[Heidi in AK]

It went great this morning. We had already done a test run of Unit 1, Day 1, left side, so we did right side today. DD loved it, and I was much more happy. It will be a bit tricky to figure out what to do with DS2 during that time, though. Off to read some threads about how to occupy him. He wants to do "han-riding" and "maf" with his sister, though. Hmmmm!

[KristinBeth]

Great news, Heidi! Hopefully this will cure some of your angst.

[solagratia824]

We are finishing up LHFHG, which we started last year 3-4x a week with my then-5-yo ds. I have a dd who was doing some parts of LHTH and tagging along with ds. Here are a few ideas for "han-riding" and "maf."

Last year when dd was sitting in with us for LHFHG... I purchased Do It Carefully and Finding the Answers for dd so that she could "do" them, since they were inexpensive and she could color or draw or do beginning cutting. She enjoyed tagging along with the "real" workbooks, even though they were above her level. I'm going to purchase them again and have her do it "for real" next year. I know that wouldn't work for everyone, but I just thought I'd mention it. I also purchased a dry-erase prewriting book for her to trace during handwriting time. For math, I let dd use the same manipulatives as ds from the guide (cheerios, choc chips, cotton balls, etc.) but I let her count them and then just do whatever she wanted with them afterwards (eat, gather, scatter, etc.)

Hope that helps! It sounds like you've found the right placement for your dd now... yay!

[Heidi in AK]

Hey ladies! Thanks for all your help! After merely a week, our homeschool is transformed. We are doing LHFHG half-speed with DD, along with some other things, including Spanish. We really LOVE it, and I appreciate this group. Actually, focusing in on DD5 allowed me to realize I need to come up with something for DS2. The LHTH for a 2yo thread was really helpful, and I think we'll hold off on LHTH till DS is 3.