Combining K and 1st

[gerka528]

Hi everyone, I'm new here! I am excited to being using HOD with my kiddos in the fall! I have DD1 who is 5 and is in K in a private school this year and is an emerging reader, DD2 who is 4 and is in PK at the private school this year and knows letters and some sounds, but hasn't had any real phonics instruction yet, DD3 who is 2 who is working on letters, and DS who is 13 months and is just getting into trouble most of the time. I purchased LHTH for my 2 turning 3 year old for fall, since I know she will want to have school with her big sisters....we will be taking it very slowly with her and just keeping it fun! My questions is for my older girls who will be turning 6 in April and 5 in August. Is there a great way to combine then? According to the placement guidelines DD1 places squarely in Beyond and DD2 who will just be turning 5 places right into LHFHG. They will each be doing their own math and reading, but is it better to go down a level with DD1, up a level with DD2, or keep them each in their own book? They're only 15 months apart in age, but quite different in ability at this point in time. I purchased both LHFHG and BLHFHG and they haven't arrived yet, but hoping to get some opinions to help me decide. Thanks!

[eachlee]

Sounds like you are in the exact situation I am in this year. I am doing LHFHG with my DS6 who's doing first grade and DD5 who's in K. They do the left hand side of the guide together, then DD uses the K options, and DS uses the 1st grade options for the right hand side. (We use math u see, each on their own level.) And then I've also added spelling and the gentle grammar lessons along with the emerging readers for DS. It works well for us. These two kids are 15 months apart just like yours. I also have a three year old who tags along and has some work books that he does when we are doing seat work and he wants to do school too.

We previously did LHTH together for pre-k and k.

If you had any more specific questions about how I make this work I'd be happy to help. DD's skills are very different than DS's but for me it's what I need right now.

[mommadonna]

Hi there! My ds went through LHFHG last year for K and I found that I prefer to use it for 1st grade instead of K. So, that being said, I think that it would be a great choice to combine them in LHFHG! Like the pp said, just have them do the L side together and the R side on their own level. I hope you are as blessed by HOD as we have been! Sounds exciting!

Blessings!

[MelInKansas]

I would totally combine them both in LHFHG, you can add in some LA from Beyond, and Emerging Readers from Beyond for your older one. LHFHG would really give you all a great intro into HOD and get going with all the concepts - things like narration of stories are difficult and you would be spending a lot of time on read-alouds if you were doing them for both Beyond and LHFHG. I think there may be additional resources in the back of LHFHG that you can read to your older one if you want more enrichment in the history and things like that.

[gerka528]

Thanks so much for the replies! I'm so glad to hear that they can share LHFHG and it won't be too light for my oldest! Can't wait for my books to come so I can start planning!

[Carrie]

Erinn,

Welcome to the HOD Board! We're glad to have you here. The ladies have done a terrific job of advising you. I agree that you could combine your pair of sweeties in LHFHG, doing the K options for your younger child and the grade 1 options for your older child.

Then, it sounds like you will need to add a few areas from Beyond for the 3R's for your older child. From what you've shared so far, I'd plan to follow the Emerging Reader's Schedule in Beyond's Appendix for your first grader's reading/literature each day. You'll need the Emerging Reader's Set to be able to do this. I'd also encourage you to do Spelling List 1 with your first grader following the plans in Beyond's language arts box each day and using List 1 in Beyond's Appendix. Last, you'll likely want to follow the daily hands-on math plans in Beyond for Singapore math 1A/1B with your first grader. To do this, you'll only need Workbook 1A/1B and will not need textbook 1A/1B. This is because the hands-on math plans in Beyond replace the need for the textbooks at this level. This combination should work well.

If you have other questions, ask away. We love to help!

Blessings,
Carrie