heartofdakota.com

I just thought I'd jump in and introduce myself. I'm Heather, and I live in Texas with my wonderful husband and our two boys (almost 4 y.o. and 2 y.o.). I went to a curriculum fair a couple of weeks ago, mostly looking for a phonics program to do with my older ds since he's already starting to read, and I discovered HOD. I wasn't looking for a full curriculum, so I took a catalog and figured I'd come back to it some other time. But I got to looking at the guides and really liked what I saw in LHFHG. I really think most of it is because the approach is really similar to what I've been doing with preschool--but everything is integrated and I don't have to pull it all together on my own!

I had thought about doing LHFHG half-speed in the fall with my older ds and doing LHTH with my younger. But after looking at the material and really thinking about it, I think we're going to start right now (well, after we finish our insect lapbook we're working on ) with LHTH for both, adding phonics (which we're already doing) and some extras here and there for my older ds. I think academically, in terms of grasping the content and understanding the activities, he's ready for LHFHG, which is why I was leaning in that direction. But I'm not sure he'll be ready in other ways yet (attention span, for one!). Plus I know he'll enjoy the activities in LHTH, and we can add as needed without too much trouble, I think. I figure if he's really needing something more, we can always switch him to LHFHG in the fall or after Christmas. I can't wait to get started!

Welcome Heather! I'm sure your kids will love LHTH. My DD loved it when we went through it.

Welcome, Heather!

Hi Heather!

I just wanted to say welcome! I will be doing LHFHG with my two boys (6 &4) this coming year! I'm also a fellow Texan but my husband I are now in Mexico...he is from Houston and I am from the DFW area. Anyway, just wanted to welcome you to the board!

Welcome! I think starting with LHTH is a great idea! You'll enjoy it and they will too! Looking forward to getting to know you on the boards.

Heather! Hello!!

I too have a 4 year old daughter who also is probably beyond LHTH but after getting some sound advice with the ladies here, I am still going through with LHTH. I am supplementing with Handwriting without tears and some internet games, among anything else that catches our fancy.

I plan on starting out with LHTH as it is written, but two people gave me advice that if she is blowing through it too easily, to double up and do 2 units a week. We'd finish much earlier but then I can transition her into LHFHG immediately after. So we'll see what happens.

Our kids are similar in age, so it will be nice to share this journey with you.

I just wanted to say Hi and welcome to the boards!

Gina

Hello, Heather!

I am new here as well. I will be using LHFHG with my 5 1/2 y.o. son while letting my 4 y.o. daughter tag along with what she is capable and interested in. I know she would probably like LHTH but I don't think I could handle doing both programs!!

Hi Heather!! And welcome!! we too are in texas, the dfw are. Probably at the same bookfair a couple of weeks ago.

We are going thru LHTH and LHFHG at the moment with my 2 oldest. We are absolutely loving this program, wish I would have found it much earlier.

Hi Heather,

Welcome. I'm pretty new here and to homeschooling as well! I have all small children and am getting ready to start LHTH with my oldest ds who will be 5 in June.

I too was first drawn to Little Hearts... and I think in many ways ds would be ready for some of that material. But he is all boy -- very active -- and not very good at fine motor skills. He Knows his letters and many sounds but not all. I have 100 EZ lessons for phonics but haven't started that yet.

I didn't want to miss the great activities in LHTH and I know that ds being a kinesthetic learner would really gobble those up and reinforce those letters/sounds. Plus dh said I need to start slow with homeschool to get the ball rolling with dc in regards to routine and getting used to schoolwork. LHTH looks fun for a starter, and we don't feel like we need to push the academics at this point. So we've decided to start with LHTH, and call it kindergarten. I just don't know when to start. It's only half hour a day, so easily fit it. Sounds like you have been doing more routine preschool work than I have.

I also have twin girls who will be 2 in June. I'll just let them tag along. Being girls, they might pick up quite a bit, they already love coloring and ds won't touch it.

Also, I'm preggers with #4 due in Aug so it really isn't wise to wait to start school this fall, I'll be with newborn and recovery and such then. Maybe even have to take a break. So I better order soon, (I'm talking myself into it).

I thought about just doing 100EZ lessons now and starting the guide sometime late fall/winter, but I'm afraid he will not like it and put a bad flavor on homeschool. HOD looks so FUN. My prob is that I'm so busy (and big) getting the house ready (rearranging rooms/dressers and such) for the newborn. I'm pretty zapped each day. But that's not bound to get better.

It will be fun to track journeys together. Several of us are new here with young families.

Have a great day,

Hi Heather! You've made a great decision here, and I'm excited for you to be able to do LHTH first because it's just a super-happy, solid start to homeschooling. Like Jessi mentioned, if you get going and want to move more quickly, you can always do one day's worth of plans in the AM, and one in the PM. We did that for a bit with one of our ds's. But, either way, you're bound to enjoy LHTH. Be sure and share with us on the Weekly Check-In - I'm kind of lonesome for memories of LHTH again. I'll need to wait another few years to do that one again. Welcome to the HOD boards!!!

In Christ,
Julie

Hi! I'm also from Texas! My dd sounds a lot like your ds. She's actually going to turn 5 this fall. I debated LHTH or LHFHG but finally decided on LHFHG as DD was already reading short vowel words, already doing simple math, etc. We are loving it! (We're on week 2) However, I also think we would have loved LHTH as well. We'll probably do it when ds is 4 or 5, so we certainly won't miss out. What I'm trying to say is, I don't think you can go wrong either way!

Hi Heather!

You're going to LOVE LHTH! We sure have so far...and we're saving it to finish and savor this fall with my 4 yo!

Kathleen

Thanks for the warm welcome!

I've thought about doubling up too, but I'm not sure because of my little one. I KNOW he'll be wanting to participate, so I don't know that I'm going to want to go faster. Or I could just do lighter activities with him (like I did with his brother at that age) and then start him in LHTH later. I was thinking that he'd probably end up going through it twice anyway--once as a tag-along and once really focused on him. I think we'll just have to jump in and see what works for us.

Heather,

I just wanted to welcome you too! I have so many wonderful memories from doing LHTH with my boys. We pray you will too.

My 5 year old still carries HIS Bible from LHTH to church every Sunday and lovingly looks over it page by page.

Blessings,
Carrie