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Blessedwith8 wrote: I think I will try combining the 4 yo and 6 yo with the LHFHG Guide, though, it will make life easier in the long run.
Now to prayfully consider! Thanks again for everyone's invaluable help!!

MomtoJGJE wrote:
It will only make things easier if the 4yo is completely capable of doing everything in the guide as written by the... second half? last third? You want the child to be completely able to do everything before moving on to the next guide.

mskogen wrote:I am doing 4 guides right now, CTC, Preparing, Beyond and LHTH. It is doable ONLY because my children are placed correctly. Placement is key with HOD and easy to do with the help of this wonderful board.

I agree that you could very easily place your 4 yr old and 2yr olds in LHTH. The 2 yr olds will enjoy it but could redo it at a later date and get more out of it. LHTH would be a great program for your 4 yr old, especially since just turning 4 and you shared he isn't ready for phonics.

Your 6 yr old could place in LHFHG or BLHFGH. Where does 6 yr old place in areas of writing, grammar and math? This helps deciding between the 2.

I would ask the same questions for placement for your 12 yr, 10 yr and 8 yr old. These are very important in placement. When you have time to share where they place we can give our best recommendation.

I want to encourage you that 4 guides is completely sane

Carrie wrote:Blessedwith8,

The ladies are doing a terrific job of helping you talk through possible placement options. As you already know, there are several different options that could be possibile. As we try to help you decide which option is best it can take a bit of back and forth. However, once you find the right fit we pray that your family may be blessed by what we have to offer!

As I'm reading through your thread, based on what you've shared so far, I'm leaning toward LHFHG as being a good solid placement for your 6 year old. ~~~ OK ~~~ As far as your older kiddos go, I need a few more questions answered before I can really get a feel for where they place.

First of all, since it sounds like you'll be using your own math, I think it is important to take that consideration out of the equation as far as which HOD programs will fit your kiddos best. So, for now, we'll set aside any math related advice.
I STARTED WITH CLE MATH YEARS AGO AND SWITCHED A COUPLE TIMES TO OTHER PROGRAMS AND FOUND CLE STILL CAME OUT ON TOP, IT WOULD TAKE A LOT OF PERSUADING TO GET ME TO CHANGE THE MATH WE'RE DOING

Next, I'm wondering if your 12, 10, or 8 year olds have been reading their history or science at this point and if so which kiddos?
HISTORY AND SCIENCE I LIKE TO USE 'LIVING' BOOKS VS. TEXTBOOKS. ALSO LIKE THE TOPIC SCHEDULE LAID OUT IN "A WELL TRAINED MIND." 4 YR CYCLE ON BOTH TOPICS. SADLY, THE CYCLE HASN'T BEEN STRICTLY FOLLOWED AS THERE WAS A YEAR OF PUBLIC SCHOOL THROWN IN 2009/10, THEN I HAD THE TWINS SUMMER 2010 AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR WE HOMESCHOOLED, BUT I RELIED ON A LOT OF WORKBOOKS MOST OF THE YEAR AND THEN TOWARDS MARCH GOT BACK INTO MY 'CLASSICAL' GROOVE. THEY ARE ALL READING SCIENCE AND HISTORY BOOKS. I'm also wondering if you've ever done a more "formal" curriculum with your older kiddos in the areas of history or science, and if so which one? THE 12 YO HAS HAD SOME REAL SCIENCE 4 KIDS (CHEMISTRY), EARTH SCIENCE WAS COBBLED TOGETHER, AND THIS YEAR SHE IS USING CLASSICQUEST SCIENCE LOGIC STAGE BIOLOGY. THE 10 YO I GENERALLY HAD TAG ALONG WITH OLDER SISTER BECAUSE HER READING SKILLS WEREN'T VERY STRONG, THO SHE HAS IMPROVED A LOT THIS YEAR SO I HAVE HER DOING R.E.A.L. SCIENCE ODYSSEY CHEMISTRY LEVEL 1. 8 YO WAS MOSTLY JUST READING CHAPTER STYLE BOOKS ON SCIENCE TOPICS, THIS YEAR HE IS USING R.E.A.L. SCIENCE ODYSSEY EARTH AND SPACE LEVEL 1. I AM NOT SURE IF YOU ARE WONDERING, BUT INITIALLY USED 'STORY OF THE WORLD' AS A HISTORY SPINE FOR TWO YEARS, HAD OUR FORAY INTO PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR ONE YEAR; THEN GOT INTO SONLIGHT, THO I ONLY USED THEIR BOOK LISTS AS I WAS NOT INTERESTED IN THE WHOLE CORE THING, SO THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF BOOKS THEY'VE READ. I ask because this will give us a good starting point as to what they have had in the past in these areas and possibly what they are capable of doing.

Next, I'm wondering how independent the older kiddos have been up to this point and whether they read and follow a series of written directions well on their own? If you are able to give a bit of info. about each of your older children in this area that would be great! ON A SCALE OF 1-10 (10 BEST), FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS, I WOULD SAY THE 12 YO IS AN 8, THE 10YO A 5-7, AND THE 8 YO AN 8, WHEN I CAN GET HIM FOCUSED. THE 12 YO IS ALMOST COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT WORKER, I GIVE HER LIST AND SHE GOES AND DOES WHAT SHE NEEDS TO DO. I CHECK ON HER REGULARLY TO MAKE SURE SHE UNDERSTANDS WORK BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T ALWAYS ASK QUESTIONS WHEN SHE SHOULD. THE 10 YO IS FAIRLY INDEPENDENT AS WELL, THO SHE TENDS TO NEED MORE EXPLAINING, AND I GENERALLY GO OVER INSTRUCTIONS WITH HER FOR SEVERAL LESSONS OVER A PERIOD OF DAYS UNTIL SHE IS FAMILIAR WITH THE LAY OUT AND RHYTHM, OR ELSE SHE TENDS TO SKIP STEPS OR MISUNDERSTAND DIRECTIONS. THE 8 YO IS A WHOLE NOTHER KETTLE OF FISH AS HE READS VERY WELL AND COMPREHENDS LIGHTNING QUICK, HOWEVER, GETTING HIM TO STAY ON TASK AND COMPLETE HIS WORK IS THE TRICK. CLEAR EXPECTATIONS, TIME LIMITS, INCENTIVES, CONSTANT SUPERVISION AND A DISTRACTION FREE WORK AREA ARE THE ONLY WAYS TO KEEP HIM ON TASK.

Then, I'm wondering if you can share a title or two that each of your older kiddos are currently reading on their own?
12 YO 'A THOUSAND NEVER EVERS' 'BATTLE HYMN OF THE TIGER MOTHER'
10 YO 'DIARY OF AN EARLY AMERICAN BOY' 'CIVIL WAR SUNDAY' (MAGIC TREEHOUSE BOOK)
8 YO 'THE BFG' 'THE AMERICAN BOYS' HANDY BOOK'
One more thing that will help is to know whether they do much writing throughout their school day, or whether the writing is mainly limited to their writing programs? Last, I'm wondering what each child has had in the way of formal grammar programs?
THEY EACH WRITE AT LEAST A PAGE IN THEIR JOURNAL EVERYDAY. BUT THE WRITING IS MAINLY LIMITED TO WRITING PROGRAM. 8 YO HAS HAD NO FORMAL GRAMMAR. THIS YEAR 10 AND 12 YO HAVE HAD ONLINE LANGUAGE ARTS THROUGH ODYSSEYWARE. THE YEAR BEFORE THEY USED ELEMENTARY LANGUAGE SKILLS WORKBOOK, AND BEFORE THAT SHURLEY ENGLISH (THO THIS WAS ONLY THE OLDEST), AND THE 10 AND 12 YO HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT USE OF THE R&S BUILDING CHRISTIAN ENGLISH SERIES, THO I TENDED TO HAVE THEM DICTATE THE ANSWERS TO LESSONS TO ME AS ALL THE WRITING MADE LESSONS FAR TOO LONG AND DIFFICULT TO MAKE PROGRESS.
IT HAS BEEN ONLY IN THE LAST 4 MTHS THAT I HAVE HAD THE 8 YO DO MUCH WRITING AS IT HAS BEEN SO PAINFULLY DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO DO. HAND STRENGTH AND MOTOR SKILLS HAD TO CATCH UP! BUT HIS SPELLING ABILITIES ARE QUITE GOOD. THE 10 YO HAS A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH SPELLING, SO GETTING HER TO WRITE HAS BEEN HARD, BUT I HAVE FOUND THE DAILY JOURNALING HAS BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL FOR HER. I GATHER SPELLING WORDS FROM HER WRITING, SO HER SPELLING HAS IMPROVED BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS AND THE SAME FOR STRUCTURE, ETC. THE 12 YO WRITING ABILITIES SEEM TO BE ON PAR FOR OTHER CHILDREN HER AGE, NO NOTED DIFFICULTIES THERE.

If you get a chance to share these things, I think we can help advise you much better!

Blessings,
Carrie