Help! What to use with a 7, 5 and 4 year old?

[deut6family]

This past year was my first year using H.O.D. I used Beyond little hearts for my 6 year old and have LOVED it! My 5 and 3 year old have just followed along and participated in all the activities that my 6 year old did in Beyond. I have 2 questions. 1. I started this curriculum late in the year and so will only be half way through by the time we are done with the school year. Should I move my 6 year old (soon to be 7, in 2nd grade this fall) on even though we did not complete Beyond? I am wanting to get her in the more advanced Science-notebooking that I have seen comes with Bigger Hearts- but don't want to miss essentials by skipping over the last 15 weeks.
My second question is what to do with my 5 yro (kindergarten next fall) and 4 yro (preschool next fall). I would rather not use 2 separate programs for them b/c of time... but my 5 yro is already reading and my 4 yro doesn't even know her letters- so that are definitely at different places! Would it be reasonable, do you think, to go ahead and use Little Hands to Heaven for both of them- and just supplement additonal reading/handwriting for the 5 yro? Or would it really be in the best interest of my 5yro to have her do Little Hearts? I just don't know how i can manage time wise having 3 kids- each in their own book, yet all of them are pretty dependent on me at this point.

Help! I want to do what is best for our family. Any advice??? Thanks so much!!!

[deut6family]

After reading some other messages that have been posted on the message board, I am wondering if the best thing REALLY is to have them all do 3 separate programs? It just seems like a lot- but they would enjoy independent school time with me each day. I guess I just kinda thought I wouldn't have to do 3 separate programs until they were all a bit older. I also noticed a lot of you saying that to move into the Bigger Hearts book, the student needs to be able to form their letters well and write complete sentences independently. My daughter can write really well, but it is pretty intense for her still. At this point, I do not even do the poetry copywork in Beyond b/c it takes her forever! She is a bit of a perfectionist, though. So would you hold a 2nd grader back from doing Beyond simply b/c of the writing? I really want her to start doing grammar daily and writing daily- and it seems that Bigger Hearts is the way to go for this? Thoughts???

[my3sons]

Thanks for sharing about your dc here! All that you have shared about their skills specifically really helps with placement advice. From what you've shared, I think it is important that your 7 yo finishes out Beyond Little Hearts before beginning Bigger Hearts. Her writing skills need to be practiced and strengthened before starting Bigger Hearts, as there are many writing assignments in that guide. Writing skills continue to steadily increase in length and in difficulty through the guides, so it is crucial dc be able to do what is in one guide completely before moving to the next guide. Beyond Little Hearts has a target age range of ages 6-8 yo, and can be used easily as a first or second grade program. Families have even used Beyond for higher grade levels with extensions, so your dd will be just fine finishing out Beyond.

I see no reason that dd cannot begin R & S English 2 now, if that is a concern of yours. You could spread a lesson out over 2 days, and then when you begin Bigger Hearts you'd just have a jump start on it. R & S English is advanced... really advanced... so advanced that R & S English 7 and 8 are high school credit worthy. In fact, HOD will spread 7 and 8 out over the 4 years of high school for credit. Working back from this, HOD has a goal for students to complete Level 6 by the close of grade 8. Your dd will be just fine waiting to start R & S English 2 until Bigger Hearts, but you could have her start now otherwise too.

It will be important for dd to work up to being able to copy the poetry in Beyond Little Hearts. By the close of Beyond, it is very helpful for students to be copying the entire poem each week. This is great prep for the upped writing in Bigger Hearts. Likewise, it is important for students to be able to write the 3 sentences for their spelling words each week. Having practiced oral narrations within Beyond's Storytime follow-ups is pretty key too. I think having dd practice these skills as she finishes out Beyond will really help her be ready for Bigger Hearts. How is dd doing with reading instruction? This can be an area to challenge her in as well, if that is what you are wanting. If she has not completed the Emerging Reader's Set, that is important to do. If she has, there is no reason why she cannot begin DITHOR at age 7, and that would have writing in it.

For your other 2 dc, I would definitely combine them. They are very close in age, and LHTH with the older options still fits your older child. You can add in the K Fine Motor Skills and Math from LHFHG for your ds very easily. Then, when they move on to LHFHG together, you can just have your ds do the first grade options and your dd do the k options for fine motor skills and math. HTH, but what are your thoughts?

In Christ,
Julie

[laurapella]

I just wanted to say that I would definitely combine your younger dc also. I started my 5 1/2 yo in LHFHG in Sept. After about 5 weeks, I stopped doing everything except reading, math, and FMS. In January, I started doing HTH with her and my 4yo dd. I continued with the reading, math, and FMS. They absolutely LOVE doing "together school!" Next year I will move forward with them together with the left side of LHFHG. It has been a lot of fun! HTH!

Laura