heartofdakota.com

Ladies, I have 4 kiddos who will be "doing school" this year. My oldest two, are combined in Creation To Christ, but each doing their own level math, reading, etc. I have a 7 year old, who is 2nd grade, and she is doing Beyond. My (just turned) 5 year old is DETERMINED she is starting K this year...and really she is ready. She really wants to learn to read and do her workbooks! I am trying to decide if I should just do Beyond with my 7 year old and do Little Hearts with my 5 year old or if I should combine them??? I would be doing 3 guides, but I also am very familiar with Little Hearts and Beyond as I have used them both a couple times now. My concern with combining them, is that I'm afraid History and Science may be too much for my barely 5 year old. I also know that if she did Beyond this year, that Bigger would be a HUGE step up for her next year, when she'd just barely be 6 years old. Advice???? Thanks!!!

I definitely would not put a 6 yr old in Bigger, but doing back to back guides can be teacher intensive for a couple of years. What about placing your 5 yr old in Little Hands with kindergarten options and next year have her do LHFHG with 1st grade options? That keeps your workload doable and allows your youngest to get the most out of her guide.

I like Countrymom's idea. Or, another idea would be to do the right side of LHFHG with your 5yo and let her do the parts of Beyond she wants. Then, next year, have her officially start HOD with LHFHG, while big sister moves on to Bigger. That would put a guide between them, so you won't be doing Bigger and Preparing at the same time. A third option would be to start LHFHG, but only do the left side 2-3 days a week. That would spread them out as well. I wouldn't do LHFHG full speed AND Beyond full speed though, because that would line you up for Bigger and Preparing at the same time (they are the two most teacher-intensive guides, so Carrie and Julie recommend not doing them to save your sanity/patience).

Thanks ladies. She would be bored in Little Hands, because she's already been exposed to Little Hearts last year with her sister, and she has already done some of the stuff with her. You reminded me, though, that I do usually go half-speed with my little ones and we do usually spread Little Hearts out over 2 years! My 5 year old is very ambitious and has been begging to "start school" for 2 years, even though she technically would not have even been old enough for Kindergarten in our public school this year. I had sort of forgotten I went half-paced with the others, because this one is such a go-getter! That makes me feel better, just realizing that will put a guide between her and her older sister next year! Thanks!

It sounds like you could do LHFHG and keep that slow, but add in the math, reading, and fine motor work that she is ready for and that will be challenge enough. My 5YO is very smart and ready for LHFHG but sometimes it still surprises me that she can't sit still through a short reading and has trouble focussing. She definitely couldn't do Beyond right now, no matter how slowly.

I hope it works out great for you!

Honestly, even if you find she's ready for full speed LHFHG soon, running Bigger and Preparing together after you've already done it before, and the kids are properly placed, is really not that difficult. I'm doing it right now actually. I tried to separate my kids more, but my 3rd was more than ready to go full speed.

Thanks ladies, it's always such a blessing to get great advice and encouragement here!!!