heartofdakota.com

I am assuming that for my boys who are 5 and 7.5 LHFHG is the right level. HOWEVER my 7.5 yo reading AND reading comprehension is 2nd if not near a 3rd grade level. Am I holding him back by using the same level for both kids? they are exactly 2.5 yrs apart. However I KNOW that my 5yo can't really listen to a lot of reading if there are no pictures. So Beyond might be a stretch for him.

What level should we be doing and what should I be using for Fine Motor/Phonics for my 7.5yo if he is already ahead in reading & comp? (but not writing - we are still struggling with that. )

THANKS!

What if you had both of your dc do Little Hearts, except that you have your 7.5 year old do the right side of the Beyond manual? That way you're keeping them together for history and bible, but they each have their own "Learning the Basics" page. Not sure if that really helps, but it's just a thought I had.

thanks! I will look into this. i know the reading & math is separate from the HOD manual anyway. but that is a thought! I do HAVE the Beyond package just hate to crack into it yet and rush them. what do I do with them next year then? How woudl one say it lays out each year? THANKS!!!

I was going to suggest HappyMama's idea. I've seen that recommended before.

Im torn with the same question. But for now Im using LHFHG together for the history, bible, science, activities and just doing the basic skills for my oldest at her own pace seperately. I use LHFHG both sides for my younger dd5. At this point I think I really want to keep them together and Im overwhelmed just thinking of doing 2 seperate complete programs!!
Is LHFHG working for your k and 1/2 grader- are they both interested? . You could also add books from the appendix for more reading if you want to beef it up (thats what I'm doing). Adding the books works good for me then if we have time and interest we read them, if not, well I still feel we have completed our day.

honeymomma4,

The ladies are doing a terrific job of talking through your options with you! I agree that it is always wise when considering placement to find the best placement for the younger child in the combining scenario first. This is because it is always easier to beef up a program than it is to water one down. With what you've shared so far in mind, I would agree that placing both of your children in LHFHG would be a good decision. Then, you will likely need to add the language arts and math from the right side of the Beyond Little Hearts daily plans to raise the level of the 3 R's for your 7.5 year old. Your 5 year old should be able to use LHFHG as written in all areas.

To do this, you would need to add for your 7. 5 year old, the Beyond guide, the Emerging Reader's Set, and possibly a higher level of math. Beyond schedules Singapore 1A/1B and 2A/2B, so one of these levels should work well for your 7.5 year old. You would also use the Spelling List 1 or 2 with the 4 times a week plans in Beyond (whichever list fit best) and the gentle grammar lessons scheduled once weekly in Beyond with only your 7.5 year old. In this way, the 3 R's would fit your 7 year old well but that child could still combine with your younger student for the rest of Little Hearts.

The following year, both students would head into Beyond, with the then 6 year old using it as written. Your then 8.5 year old could borrow a few areas from the right side only of Bigger Hearts in the 3R's as needed, but would use Beyond for all the rest of the academic areas. You wouldn't always be borrowing from the next guide for the 3R's, because by the time you get into Preparing Hearts, 3 levels of math and dictation are included and two levels of grammar. So at that point both kiddos could just use one guide as is.

If at any point, you felt combining was no longer best, it is much easier to bump a child forward than it is to bring a younger student back. So, you have a great back-up plan in mind too with the combining in LHFHG scenario.

Blessings,
Carrie

Carrie, I think that will work great! Thanks for letting me in on the plan down the road. it helps to see sort of a "map" of where I am going! THANKS! it seems much clearer now in our plan.