LHFHG or Beyond..I'm torn!

[momof3kids]

Hi again, can't decide where to place my 6yo ds next yr..?...this will be our first yr hs..he is already an advanced reader. So, LHFGH (i like the Bible study)..can you use with Emerging Readers?...but afraid he is already past this skill level and may not be challanged?...or Beyond..maybe a better fit, but hate to miss the yr of Bible...?..cant decide. Also have a 4 1/2 yo, who just started LHTH...but thinking long term as well as i know some families combine...? (but may end up combinning him with younger sis down the road since my oldest may be in more appropriate level if separate..?)
Appreciate any thoughts.....also, looking ahead if we don't go with HOD, can u use DITHOR with other cirric??...Thanks again!

[my3sons]

Both LHFHG and Beyond are great guides, so I can see why you are torn! Placement according to skills is key when choosing a guide, so I wonder if you could look at the placement chart and tell us more about your ds? It sounds like he is in the Emerging Reader's Set level for reading, but as you mentioned, you can do that with LHFHG or with Beyond (you'd just need the Emerging Reader's Set and the Beyond guide). Could you please share when your ds will turn 7 yo, and a little about his writing (is he writing letters, words, or sentences?), his math (what has he done and what level?), and if he is ready for spelling words and once a week gentle grammar lessons? Also, has he had history and science yet - if so, what has he done? If you get the chance to share some answers for these questions, I'd be glad to help you out with better placement advice! One other thing - if you could share about your 4 1/2 yo doing LHTH (how she is doing, how far she is into doing LHTH, and a little about her reading/writing/attention level to task/books, etc.) that would also be great! Thanks!!!

In Christ,
Julie

[momof3kids]

ok, glad to share more..my oldest ds is going to be 6 in May..he is finishing K in ps, and like i mentioned is already a good reader..his teacher says he is reading past books that are half way through 1st gr. just read "Frog and Toad are Friends"..for example..with little help from me. math seems to be good as well...he can add and subtract numbers under 10..wish i could be more specific, but like i said he has been in ps this yr, so can just tell you what we do at home. his writing seems good as well..can write several sentences, likes to write "letters" to family members with a few sentences, but does need help spelling some words. probably not much history, and only basic science intorduced i ps. I want our first yr to be fun for him, as he really loves going to school now i ps..don't want him to think hs will not be fun..while also keeping him challenged where he needs to be. my next ds was 4 in jan, and we have just started LHTH and he really likes it. he knows some letters, and can count past 10, but i think LHTH is probably what he needs for now...30 min is probably all he needs..lol..wiggle worm. but is asking to do more each day, so may finish quicker..?..I do also have a dd who is only 19 mo right now, but thinking long term if HOD is a good fit for us. Thank you so much for any response...helps so much to get advice for our whole family. i am excited to begin hs, and want to make the right decisions for cirric and placement, to hopefully get off to a good start!

[my3sons]

ok, glad to share more..my oldest ds is going to be 6 in May..he is finishing K in ps, and like i mentioned is already a good reader..his teacher says he is reading past books that are half way through 1st gr. just read "Frog and Toad are Friends"..for example..with little help from me. math seems to be good as well...he can add and subtract numbers under 10..wish i could be more specific, but like i said he has been in ps this yr, so can just tell you what we do at home. his writing seems good as well..can write several sentences, likes to write "letters" to family members with a few sentences, but does need help spelling some words. probably not much history, and only basic science intorduced i ps. I want our first yr to be fun for him, as he really loves going to school now i ps..don't want him to think hs will not be fun..while also keeping him challenged where he needs to be. my next ds was 4 in jan, and we have just started LHTH and he really likes it. he knows some letters, and can count past 10, but i think LHTH is probably what he needs for now...30 min is probably all he needs..lol..wiggle worm. but is asking to do more each day, so may finish quicker..?..I do also have a dd who is only 19 mo right now, but thinking long term if HOD is a good fit for us. Thank you so much for any response...helps so much to get advice for our whole family. i am excited to begin hs, and want to make the right decisions for cirric and placement, to hopefully get off to a good start!

Thanks for sharing about each of your dc here - that helps so much! I really do think "Beyond Little Hearts for His Glory" sounds like a sound placement for your 6 yo ds. The Emerging Reader's Set will be a great fit for him in Beyond Little Hearts, as will the copywork a few sentences at a time each day, Spelling List 1 with its LA plans in the guide, and the gentle grammar lessons 1 x a week. I also think he will be fine with Singapore Math 1A/1B, and he's sure to love all the hands-on math activities for them in the Beyond guide (many involve snacks - which are sons sure loved! ). I bet he'd love the Boy Interest Storytime books too - or the Classic set if he'd prefer. Both are good! Beyond is FUN! It's a blast to do, and there are many patriotic heroes for boys to look up to. The history activities fit our sons well, lots of neat things that are easy to do, reinforce what was learned in history, and are full of adventure. Likewise, the science experiments were a favorite of our sons. They looked forward to them and could actually do them themselves rather than watching me do them. Beyond is just a neat year, and I think you and your ds would love it! I wouldn't try to combine him with younger ds, as LHTH is a super fit for him, and your 6 yo ds will be wanting his own thing to shine in that is at his skill level. I bet you'll love HOD as much as we do - ten years and we are still loving it! I can't wait for you to start! One little seed to plant though - please do give yourself a little grace as you begin. It takes a bit for dc to decompress from ps and get used to homeschooling, and it is rare for boys to say they LOVE school, as we as moms so wish they would (or at least that was my thought when I first began homeschooling ). My sons do enjoy homeschooling very, very much, and we have great memories together! But, they also enjoy their free time, shooting each other with nerf guns, and racing around on their 3-wheelers. So give yourself and your son some time to get into your groove with it all! When we start a new guide, it usually takes us 2-4 weeks to find our groove, and with the change from ps to homeschooling, it may take that and a little longer. Other than that, I think you are set here, but what are your thoughts?

In Christ,
Julie

[momof3kids]

Thanks so much for your response!..I really appreciate the time to take my questions into consideration. I think i agree that Beyond is probably a better fit for my 6yo....i was kinda wanting to do LHFHG just for the Bible study, but i think he would be better off to be properly placed..as would I not having to worry if he was doing "enough"..just wanted to make sure about combining them as well..for down the road..but, i guess i should just take it one step at a time and focus on doing what they need for this first yr of hs. Again, thank you so much..i will continue LHTH for the 4 yo for now, and just see when he finishes and maybe go into LHFHG at that time....but will prob stick with Beyond for my oldest for this yr!..thanks for giving some clarity!