LHFHG for Shana - ideas???

[Heidi in AK]

I noticed Lora Beth used her kids' names, and being this is a safe place, I will too.

Shana just turned 5 in July, and we have begun LHFHG. I'm trying to figure out if she's ready for full-speed, given that we have co-op one day a week and Tuesdays I'm in a Bible study, and all we can eke out those days are the 3R's. We moved on from LHTH to just start LHFHG, when I could tell she was bored and we were having to piece stuff together.

We are still working on getting a routine down, and have John, who's 2.5. He insists on being a part of everything we do.

I have questions on a daily schedule and an overall map of how to get "through" LHFHG for K and 1st.

In addition to LHFHG, she has piano practice every day and we have an additional science we do, where we read 3 pages a week together. We also have a project that I'm probably not going to do with her. That science is for the co-op, and yes, we don't have to do it. DH wants me to do the co-op for the "socialization" aspect. Phonics-wise, we chose Explode the Code Online, because it monitors her ability and gives her lessons based on that, so I don't have to figure it out. Yesterday she read me an entire short story in Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel. Math-wise, she is doing Singapore Earlybird Math 2A mostly for the numbers writing practice. She's got a sharp brain in there and has a lot of comprehension, but lacks the fine motor skills. We're basically doing the Kindergarten package with ETC Online.

So, we get three good days of school a week for LHFHG, and I can do one more with her on just the 3R's. Sometimes she even wants me to do school on the weekends, but I try to encourage her to be a kid and "go play."

She's young, and I don't want to burn her or me out. How can I do LHFHG justice for her? How would you do the 1st grade package? I'm not sure I want her to be a first grader doing Beyond. I just don't want to rush her, but I'm not sure how to get things scheduled, mostly for the right side of LHFHG.

We are in the second day of Unit 2.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=10345#p75263

Based on this, I want to do:
BREAKFAST
Calendar, handwriting/fine motor skills, math
30 min play break (NO DVD, or should I allow one? Kids LOVE them, and I have to contend with them after breakfast because they want one then)
LH Side of LHFHG
LUNCH
Piano Practice
Phonics and Storytime

John would take a nap after lunch.

[Heidi in AK]

I guess when I say full-speed, I don't mean a unit a week. I do, however, mean, RH and LH all in one day. We would just commit to do 3 pages in a week, and then I don't know about the 3R's. I get a little lost when I try to figure out the skills side of things.

[Heidi in AK]

I keep thinking of info to include.

Right now I can't even comprehend putting John into the mix with LHTH, since this is our first year of homeschooling. I was thinking of taking Julie's suggestion and starting him half-speed on LHTH next year when he's three, or even waiting till he's 4 to do LHTH full-speed. I'm trying to WAIT to make that decision, lol, but I do know that I am not going to try to do LHTH with him right now. It's just too much.

[Robbi]

Personally, I say your DD is still young enough that you could do the 3R's just 3 days a week also. Or have her just do ETC online the other days. You don't need to do math 5 days a week etc. . . maybe ask her to help write grocery list, help with cooking, that sort of stuff. And of course, just read, read, read to them!!!

[blessedmomof4]

First, breathe It looks like a good schedule to me, except I might move storytime to during lunch, while the kids' mouths are busy and to save time. I think you could get a full day in 3 times a week, and then by the next school year, just pick up where you left off in Little Hearts. You don't have to finish a whole guide each year at this point, if trying to do so would be stressful for you and your kids. Having a co-op and piano added makes a very full week even if you are only doing Little Hearts fully 3 days a week.

[krismoose]

I think your 3 days a week schedule looks good. I didn't know to slow down and ended up finishing LHFHG too early with my ds, and we needed to wait before starting Beyond. Your plan would get you 60% through LH this year, and then when you finish it part way through the next year, you can decide if your dd is ready to start Beyond then, slowly or full-speed, or maybe wait until the next "school year". I personally like keeping math and reading flowing separately from the rest of the guide - I just have a few sticky tabs to move, instead of one . Have fun!

[pjdobro]

I agree with the others. I think you could just plan on doing a full day of LHFHG 3 days each week. She is young enough and far enough ahead in both math and reading that I wouldn't worry with the 3R's much on your other busy days. You could always have her do a little handwriting for fun or maybe one handwriting page, read a little story, and play a math game. Just some low-key activities that incorporate the 3Rs. It sounds like she is already way ahead in these areas so perhaps just some fine motor skill activity on those days is all that is really needed to keep her skills progressing along. If you continue to do LHFHG 3 days a week that will 56 (almost 57) weeks if I figured that correctly. So that should finish kindergarten and go about 2/3 of the way through 1st grade. You could just add in the appropriate 3Rs as you continue along upping them when she is ready for the next level. You might want the Beyond manual before you actually start the left side of it for some of the right hand boxes and for the emerging reader schedule. It sounds like you will be getting to that sooner rather than later. When you finish LHFHG then I would just head into Beyond even if it is 2/3 of the way through 1st grade. You could always continue it at a slower pace like 4 days a week and end up finishing it at the end of 2nd grade. Your dd is young and you are so right that you can both burn out if you try to do too much too soon. I think keeping it short and fun during these early years is so important to help cultivate that love of learning. So relax and enjoy the ride!

[my3sons]

Your little Shana sounds like she is ready and raring to go with LHFHG - way to go, Shana - way to go, Mom!!! I like your 3 day a week plan. If you get going and feel like continuity is missing, you could always do half-speed left side of plans on the co-op day and right side of plans on the piano day. Every family feels differently about DVD's, our family does not watch any t.v. or do video games, so I'm fine with a DVD each day for a controlled amount of time (30-45 min.). For our older dc, we let them choose either a DVD or computer time, but 45 min. is the max for media time each day. For our little guy, he watches an educational video for 30-45 min., and plays a preschool computer game for around 30 min. This is a learning time for him he enjoys, and as he gets older and can read and do more learning things independently, we'll lessen the time to 45 min. a day as it is for the olders. I was thinking, if you had your ds watch a DVD on his own for the break after calendar/hw/fine motor/math, then you could do Phonics and Storytime with your dd during that time. Then, dd could watch a DVD on her own, and you could do half-speed LHTH with ds whenever you want to start that (this year or next year). When we have done this, the dc actually have really loved being able to choose a DVD on their own, as usually we are making a family decision on that. That is just an idea though. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[MelInKansas]

Hmmm... another idea pops into my head, it's kind of similar to Julie's idea but a little different. It would be to do it 1/2 speed, meaning do 1/2 of a page each day, even the piano day (maybe taking co-op day off if that seems too busy - I know on our co-op day I don't do any other school). Of course you'd add in the science reading, piano, etc especially on your 3 days you don't have other activities.

As to the DVD or anything in the middle of your day - I generally don't do that. Like Julie, we don't really watch TV or do much with media as a family (occasional movie night but it's not a regular thing), but I do let my children have 1/2 hour or so of educational computer games on days they do chores. I think you definitely have to weigh your children's hearts and reactions to having DVD time every day, and even things like what is their attitude like when they do have it every day. I quit letting my children have it every day because they were constantly begging me for it, and even though I don't think it is entirely removed as an idol in their hearts, at least now that it's not a daily habit they don't really think about asking for it anymore. I have seen imaginative and fun play grow a lot, especially with my 6YO and 4YO because we don't watch much TV.

But each family has their own needs, habits, and convictions which is why we all seem to arrive at different results in some of these areas.

I also liked doing Phonics and Storytime while my little one was napping. There are lots of ideas on here about how to keep a busy toddler occupied and/or even involved while you are doing school, especially in younger guides where you pretty much have to be involved the whole time.

[Heidi in AK]

Well, I just remembered that we could do 2-1/2 days of school a week and stretch it out to cover 1st grade too. I'm sure we have plenty to get us so that Beyond would be 2nd grade. What about the Science book and fine motor skills/math, though?

[pjdobro]

Well, I just remembered that we could do 2-1/2 days of school a week and stretch it out to cover 1st grade too. I'm sure we have plenty to get us so that Beyond would be 2nd grade. What about the Science book and fine motor skills/math, though?

The science I would just continue doing the activities in the book and use whichever text you wish. They are very similar with the first grade one perhaps having a bit more in it, but not much. I think either text to connect to the activities is fine. I would just continue the activities and reading as scheduled in LHFHG when you do your full day of LHFHG.

I think for math you could just continue doing it 3 days a week following the schedule in the guide and then move into 1A when you get to Beyond. Singapore math is advanced and the children in Singapore don't start 1A until they are 7. If you feel that is holding her back too much then you could do math every day since it is really short and quick and just get the Beyond guide for doing the math activities with her when she finishes the kindergarten math in LHFHG.

For the fine motor skills, I think that is the one thing that I might try to do every day. It is the area that you mentioned that she is weaker in so I would do the motor skills workbook everyday. We didn't do the K book so I'm not familiar with it, but I'm guessing it is something that she can mostly do by herself, and it's fun. So doing it on the day you have Bible study probably wouldn't be a problem, and it's the one thing that would probably be easy to let her do on a Saturday if she wishes. Once you finish the K workbook, you could get the 1st grade Thinking Skills book for her.

[Heidi in AK]

Thank you, Patty! That totally answers my question.

[Heidi in AK]

We did a full day today, as Carrie advised in the thread I referenced above, and it worked great. We now have our new schedule! Carrie, God saved me a lot of stress through your curriculum! To Him be the glory, and thanks for being the vessel!

[moedertje]

Glad to see that it all worked out with your schedule. I'm a little late, but I did something similar as what you are planning on doing.
Last year I did LHFHG 3 times a week at full speed with my than 5yr old ds. He did 3R's 4x/wk with k-thinking skills, because of co-op we had. When summer came we just stopped and picked back up where we left off with LHFHG and he did not skip a beat. He did ask all summer why we did not read his bible and storytime
This year he's in 1 st grade, doing all the 1st grade options and because of scheduling purposes he does 3 R's daily and LHFHG full time 4 times a week. We will finish LHFHG in November. We will continue our 3 R's and perhaps start Beyond in February and break for the summer. Doing that 4 times a week as well.
It is a bit different not to do day 1 on Monday every week, but I have gotten used to this.
Success with your schedule and glad HOD is such a blessing to you and your family.

[Heidi in AK]

Thanks, moedertje. I had decided to take a day off today because I have to get ready for a women's conference, and Shana was so sad! Thank God, I had already prepped DH to do school with her while I'm gone this weekend. We've already done Fine Motor Skills, our Bible memory verse, and the corresponding music. I have someone coming over soon and I'm trying to fill the kitchen with goodies, in addition to prepare a message for the ladies! And Shana wanted to do school. It was then that I thought this curriculum is PERFECT for us. Julie, I saw a thread of yours that discussed the fact that you had to spend your weekends putting things together for your boys while waiting for Carrie to finish a new curriculum. I need one I don't have to think about, and one DH can pick up and do in my absence. Not many systems in my house are that open and go (unfortunately, I haven't set it up that way), but this is. DH has got the marching orders! We may blow through this curriculum faster than in 1 and 2/3 years.