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Hello all,

I am considering HoD for my 6 year old girl. We started with Sonlight Core A this year and she has really struggled with sitting long enough to listen to all of the reading involved and starts to moan or say "uh oh" every time I say it's time to do some school. She is a visual to Kinesthetic learner which is why I am strongly considering HoD. Because she has now declared to me that she hates books and being read to, I have to make the switch! I'd like to make the switch now instead of waiting and turning her off to learning even more. My question is where should I begin? She has already been through a half year of "Kindergarten." She loves the Singapore Math and seems to grasp it well and she loves science. She really struggles with writing and obviously reading. She knows most of her letters and most of their sounds but sometimes still confuses them. If someone can give me their honest opinion who has been through these two programs, Little Hearts or Beyond Little Hearts, I would be very appreciative.

Hi! Welcome to the board.

You should check out the placement chart
http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php
This will help some.

Also remember that Little Hearts (LHFHG) can be used for 1st grade as well. My ds is almost 6 and we went through a "kindergarten" with him first, then when I could afford it we got LHFHG and started midyear. He is in unit 14 and loves it. We have some of the K options, and some 1st grade options. He is very advanced for his age, but I can't see him doing Beyond yet, especially keeping up with the writing. ( and I have done it with my older son).

Only you can make a final decision, but I hope this helps.

Welcome to the HOD Board, jeanniemarie01! TrueGrit gave some solid advice already - the placement chart is the very best place to begin. From what you have shared, I think your dd would love LHFHG! Many, many families use it as a first grade program. Your dd can just continue on where she is with Singapore math, only you can add the fun hands-on math activities planned in LHFHG. This brings me to the hands-on portions of LHFHG - I think your dd will LOVE them! My bodily-kinesthetic learner sure does. I think she would have a blast with the history activities, the twice a week science experiments, the get up and move rhymes in motion, the art activities, and even the practicing of the Bible verses (which often involves physical activity, like tossing/rolling balls, etc. - my dc's favorite!). Not to mention, the books in LHFHG are awesome! They are very narrative, interesting, and well-suited to my 6 yo ds 's interests and maturity level. They are short and sweet, but packed full of good learning. What are your thoughts though? Looking forward to getting to know you!

In Christ,
Julie

I'm doing LHFHG with my 6 and 7 year old boys and they really like it. One thing that might benefit you and your daughter with this program is that the readings are short. For a child who is burned out from listening this might be a benefit. I know that as the programs go on the amount of "listening" required goes up, but I'm not sure how much since we've only done Little Hearts. Because it gives options for K and 1st grade it really is easy to customize.

We have done Beyond before and currently have a child, 7, in Little Hearts. I would agree with these wonderful ladies that Little Hearts just may be a perfect fit for your family. We use some of the K options, and also the 1st grade options.... I can't imagine a child not enjoying the read alouds in Little Hearts, they are so wonderful and fun! The whole family gets quiet when we read them around here!

We had bought Little Hearts for my daughter's K year (this year) and partly due to a stressful move, we shelved HOD for most of the year. The Lord has drawn me back to it, so my daughter is going to be finishing this year with Little Hearts, and doing it for about half of next year (1st grade), as well. My kids love the rhymes in Little Hearts. My son (2nd grade) will even come over and take part with us. My daughter loves animals, so she really enjoys the Thornton Burgess books, too.

Another vote for Little Hearts!

I started my oldest with Beyond at 6. I wish now that I would have "held her back" (in my mind... not really) with LHFHG. She did fine with Beyond. But she got so much more out of it as she got older.

We started this year with Sonlight A as well, and switched to Little Hearts midway through the year when I just began to feel like I was reading over his head. I knew, too, that he needed to move. I'm so glad we switched!!! The shorter readings and fun stories have helped my son connect with what we are reading. He particularly likes the days he gets to act things out, and would probably do it every time if I let him (sometimes I do!)