Placement Question

[slfabric]

I looked at the program placement chart but I'd like advice from those who have "been there" or are pretty familiar with the program. She's in LHTH for age and LHFHG for reading, writing, and math. Not sure about grammar.

I used LHTH with my dd when she turned 2, did it at a normal pace. Seems like forever ago now! She turned 3 last September ... so almost 3.5 now. My question is where to place her now - still in LHTH with phonics/handwriting/math supplements or LHFHG using those "supplements" (which are part of the program)?

Reading/Phonics: she knows letters and sounds (recognizes letter, can pick out letter, point to letter, what does F say?, what letter makes the sound /f/?, etc.). She can also also spell a CVC word (with magnetic letters) if I help her sound it out. She's also sounded out some CVC letters from phonics early reader books but doesn't care to do more than two or three words at a time. I do have a phonics program I'm using with her, but it is mostly reinforcing letter sounds. I haven't yet got something for reading (like blending to read CVC words). I've taken more of a 'play with magnetic letters to read words after mommy has consulted a phonics reader' approach.

Writing: she knows how to and can write a few letters from her name without any formal instruction - just watching me and copying forms I suppose. Because of that I want to start her on a handwriting program because she doesn't always write them properly and I'm really not wanting to break bad habits! She's also done various workbooks with lines, circles, etc. and can handle that. I purchased A Reason for Handwriting K and just started it this week. I see that's in LHFHG.

Grammar: never my strong point so really hard for me to evaluate. In everyday speaking, she knows '-ed' is typically at the end of past tense words, '-s' at the end of plural, etc. (which we correct when it's an exception and she generally remembers). Per her pediatrician, her vocabulary is great, and always has been for her age ... the same can't be said for my son but he's tended to focus on climbing! Not bragging - just saying she does have an extensive vocabulary for a 3.5 year old and does tend to "display" it (in other words, she talks A LOT!). But, no current or previous formal grammar instruction other than capital letter at the beginning of her name (and not *in* it) and the beginning of words in address, etc. That more of making her aware, but not expecting her to remember or master it.

Math: we have been working through Singapore Earlybird Kindergarten Mathematics Textbook A and Activity Book A (she loves to cut and glue so I didn't pass up on that book). I see that LHFHG uses Singapore but a different version than that one - has the book been updated, or is there an appendix style list to show which pages from the math book I have are to be used for the lessons? Anyhow, she loves Singapore and it seems to be going great. I do add in manipulatives as much as possible.

Bible: we have Kenneth Taylor's Family-Time Bible in Pictures. She loves it. So does my son really. I don't have any of the Bibles listed for LHTH. I just read out of the real Bible when I did that with her and sometimes out of her toddler Bible which was quite short (at the time we didn't have any "preschool" level Bibles). She does AWANA Cubbies (I hope that's okay to list!) and has demonstrated she is quite capable of memorizing verses. She does the regular weekly verse, under the apple tree, and the cubbies character builder book. I did playtime devotions with her for LHTH and she "got" it then.

History: In reading a sample of the history book, she would sit through it as far as length. I'm unsure how much she would comprehend/retain. This is where I think going through the program twice - with different levels of phonics, grammar, handwriting, math, and science might make sense. Get the Bible and history in twice. She would do better doing the associated activities to help reinforce it.

Science: Again, in reading a sample of the science book (grade K level), she would sit through it as far as length. I'm unsure how much she would comprehend/retain. Doing the activity would help her with the science and history. She LOVES doing activities.

Storytime: she'll sit through Peter Rabbit pretty well as well as many book of a similar length. Definitely prefers the page spread has at least one picture.

Poetry/Rhymes: she memorizes books with a rhyming aspect (as many young children's books have) and loved the letter rhymes in LHTH. She also likes "teaching" her little brother (18 months) various nursery rhymes that have finger or body movements (think - head, shoulders, knees, and toes).

As far as future planning, we have a ds2 due in mid-April. Granted, I have no clue what abilities will be but I'm guessing my dd and ds1 will not be together - at least not for a few years. My dd is 23 months from ds1 and is much more advanced in "schoolwork" aspects. My dd1 and dd2 will be 20 months apart so if anyone is combined for school, it would be them.

Sorry this is so long but I wanted to go through each aspect of the placement chart. For most of them she'd be fine in LHFHG - but age I'm really unsure. That and moving up afterwards. Thanks!

[Robbi]

Well, I'll take a stab at helping you since I've only done the first 6 units of LHTH with my DS4. At least it will bump your thread for you!
I think your first plan of just doing LHTH with a different Bible and maybe different science book and add in the phonics/extra 3R's as you want. I think it would be a totally different experience for her from doing it at age 2. I think if you went ahead you'd have these delimma with her age every year and some time may hit a road block with her abilities. I also have DD7 in Beyond who was easily reading chapter books before we started and she's loving it. Hope I've helped some!!

[Tidbits of Learning]

Are you placing for right now or for next school year? If she isn't turning 4 until September, I would not put her in LHFHG right now. I too went through LHTH with my son at 2. He enjoyed it, but I would not have put my son in LHFHG last year when he was 3 turning 4 (dec. b-day). He went to a day school at 3 turning 4 for part of last year until we had to move to my Mom's for a few months while she was ill
I would really look at the placement for the higher guides and ask myself whether if I put her in LHFHG at 3.5/4 will she be ready for the skills required in Bigger at 5.5/6 or ready for independent work in CTC at 7.5/8. I would not start a guide younger than the recommended age level. I would wait until she was 4 turning 5 to even attempt LHFHG. Even starting LHFHG at 4, I would start at half-speed. That is what we did this year. We started ds5 who was 4 at the beginning of this year in LHFHG at half-speed and he is doing very well with it.
Honestly though, if it were me I would do LHTH with the higher options, the phonics I was already doing, and pick up a pre-k giant workbook from the book store if she was really wanting more seat work after that. This is actually what I did last year after we went to my Mom's. He left day school and did LHTH with hooked on phonics alongside a giant pre-k workbook my mom happened to already have at the house for the rest of the year. He is really doing well with LHFHG this year.
I would save ARFH K and the other options from LHFHG for when she was 4 or 5 and starting LHFHG. I would definitely not do LHFHG at 3.5 at any speed. I have kids that have went through LHTH, LHFHG, BLHFHG, some of BHFHG, and CTC. I would definitely want my children at least at the youngest age range for CTC if not the mid-age range.
Hope this helps.

[Larissa]

I wouldn't place her anywhere. At only 3.5 years old, I would just let her spend her days playing and learning through play. Go on nature walks and have her draw pictures of what she sees outside. Read lots and lots of wonderful books out loud to her. Teach her math by doing fun games like rolling dice, and counting blocks rather than sitting down and doing formal math workbooks. Let her education happen spontaneously at this age.
Once she is at least 5 years old, start her in LHFHG with the K options.

My oldest son was super advanced in his recognition of letters and sounds at 3 years old. So, I pushed him into reading way too early and started him on K level work at newly 4 yo. He was my first child ... and I hadn't really developed a philosophy of education yet. Anyway, seeing that he was clearly advanced in some areas I forged ahead dragging him along with me. It went rather well the first 2 years, but completely backfired on me the 3rd year. (when he was 6 years old and doing 2nd grade level work) At that point, I completely halted our year ... spent lots of time in prayer and searching for a curriculum that would better fit our family ... and especially be better suited for my son, who I had burnt out at the ripe old age of 6. He doesn't really remember much of that now ... and doesn't really realize that he repeated 2nd grade the following year (with HOD - a completely different style!)

My point is ... when a child is advanced at 3 ... she's probably still going to be advanced at 5 or 6. So, starting early doesn't really get you ahead. There is a leveling off that has to occur somewhere down the road if you start her too early because the material eventually will become to advanced for her developmentally to handle. If I had to do it over again, I would have just had my son play all day with his brothers and started him with HOD in K and slowly taken him up through the guides at his pace. (but no do-overs allowed, so I am just going to be thankful I found HOD and leave it at that!)

In light of the busy household and precious little ones you have in your home, you'll probably enjoy just being able to relax a couple more years before you formally begin to educate. Keep in mind that HOD guides are rich in content and have a wonderful and steady progression of skills through each guide. If you take her up through the guides too quickly and at too young an age, she may not fully benefit from the progression of skills.
If you really do just want to do something formal with her, then I agree with the previous poster about taking her through LHTH again - using the book options for an older child. I wouldn't do much more with her than that, though at this young of an age. Tough decisions!

[my3sons]

I like your idea of doing LHTH with higher level Bible (The New Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes) and the devotions (My ABC Bible Verses), and adding in the K Options of LHFHG, doing the K options slowly at a pace that is enjoyable for both you and dd. I like this plan for your dd! THe comprehension questions in the Bible and devotional, as well as the longer readings, will fit dd so nicely. The LHTH plans will provide balance to the day, as she will have training in each subject area. This works to help dc transition into LHFHG nicely. I would get the LHFHG guide to do the math activities along with Singapore's EB Kindergarten. They are excellent, and add another dimension of learning to math. Dc must be able to show what they are doing along with writing it on paper. We found the pairing of hands-on and workbook to provide an excellent foundation in math for each of our dc. After completing LHTH with the higher level choices, and completing LHFHG "K" options, your dd can do LHFHG with the 1st grade options the following year. Yes, she will be 4.5 yo, but you can enjoy doing LHFHG, Beyond, and Bigger Hearts 4 days a week (they are 5 days a week plans), and nicely stretch out the guides a bit that way, having the fifth day each week to explore other interests. It important to keep the continuity of learning and balance going, and I think by doing LHTH with harder choices, and LHFHG K options, you will be meeting your dd's needs beautifully. All 3 of my dc began LHFHG slowly at age 4.5, and have loved the progression ever since. It gives some wiggle room in the following guides, and it fit their placement well. I think it sounds like this will be a good fit for your dd too! Enjoy!

In Christ,
Julie

[slfabric]

Thank you so much to all of you! I forgot to mention that we "school" 4 days a week now - except Bible! We read the Bible and do scripture memory every day...well, most days! The other subjects are very much at a reduced speed, with math deliberately slow as there are some "jumps" I've heard about later on. One math lesson in spread over as much as a week sometimes - easy with the multiple books! Same with handwriting - one week per lowercase letter - and we are still on the practice lessons at 2 lessons/week with those. Capital letters aren't even on the radar for a while (other than maybe her initials). One letter/week in phonics. All this is to reduce the amount of seatwork. She loves doing it but my focus is on Bible reading and scripture memory (AWANA Cubbies stuff), reading regular books, and then the seatwork.

I think I'll go through LHTH at a fairly normal speed (though maybe 4 day) and when we finish I'll start in LHFHG and figure out what speed I should take it at that point, depending on comprehension levels, where she is in Math, Handwriting, and Phonics/Reading, and her age.

My son will love to sit in on the LHTH Bible readings and rhymes anyhow! My daughter will probably like having an extra person there for any activities that could use another child We didn't have that benefit the first time through. She can return the favor when he goes through the book sometime after.

Again, thank you for your responses and help!