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I am currently using LHFHG w/ my 5 y/o dd for K and it is going very well. I have already purchased Beyond and am planning on using it for 1st grade next year. If I continue w/ HOD (which I want to do) that would have us doing Bigger for 2nd and Preparing for 3rd. I am just not sure if that would be too overwhelming for her in 2nd & 3rd grade. Should I take 2 years to do Beyond? Or maybe I could take 1 1/2 years for Beyond and 1 1/2 yrs for Bigger? That would put her in Preparing for 4th grade. I know I need to just wait and see how she does next year, but I would appreciate any input or ideas you all may have. TIA!

Gina

This is a really good question. I'm going to be in this same boat with my dd5 who in in Little Hearts right now, so I'd like to hear some opinions on this as well.

My thinking is...the HOD programs all build on each other so they essentially prepare our dc for the next level each year....??

I do like your ideas for stretching them out....that's usually what happens at our house anyway, just not on purpose....

Well I am in the same postion with my ds. I am planning on just going through the books as he can handle them. I figure we are already ahead of the game so to speak so I can take longer with the books if we need to. We already naturally slow down when things are tougher for him so I guess we are moving at his pace and that is the beauty of homeschooling.

I think that is a great idea too stretching them out. My idea was to use some of the little mini things I have on my shelf that correlate well with LHFG and BLHFG. Just things that I have done with my older kid or ya know the stuff that seems like you could squeeze it in but it never happens. But I really did not want to stop the program to do that so I think stretching it out maybe doing History one day Science the next kind of thing and splitting some days in two while I rid myself of guilt and use some of the other things on my shelf up that are just cool extras could be great for them. I am thinking even character study type things that would go well or little extra Bible study would be easy to throw in there. I am doing a chronological Bible study with some living books and other things added to it for my older kids maybe I will do a Ergermiers or Catherine Vos Story Bible version for them.

But you guys I've got a 3 (will be 4 in a few months) and a 5 year old using LHFG Mine are really young but it is working well and I knew from the beginning slow would be the pace. Here is what I figure how ever it works to stretch it out, that is what I am going to do for these next couple of years. I will have done what is coming for them with my other kids and I will know I have something great waiting for them, no worrying no guessing. And now we have the freedom to take some wonderful little carefree strolls along the way and build some memories that will last a lifetime. And I know I've got their education covered so it's all just going to make their foundation even better. In a way it is really a gift to be able to add stuff and not have to worry about if it is covering the basics and just do whatever our hearts desire is. That's what I am thinking anyway.

Thanks for you input ladies. I think I will just see how it goes next year. I can always slow down if I need to. That is one of the joys of homeschooling!

Gina,

Sorry I'm popping in a little late to this thread. The encouraging ladies on the board gave you so many good answers to this one.

What we've found (and heard from other HOD moms) is that after starting with our programs, your kiddos will be more prepared for the next level of our programs (as the skills build upon each other.)

You can, of course, start with any of our programs without doing the ones before it, but you'll find if you have done the previous ones your kiddos are more ready for the next level at an earlier age than those children transferring from a different curriculum. This has been holding true for all of our programs.

For example, children learn the art of narration slowly through our guides progressing from oral to written eventually. They grow from spelling into dictation and then into creative writing. They move from hands-on to pictorial to abstract math concepts. They move from just performing experiments, to asking questions, hypothesizing, and drawing conclusions. They go from hearing Bible stories and memorizing verses to memorizing passages and applying their Bible knowledge. They go from learning the various types of literature and story elements to seeing how they work together to make good writing. And so on and so forth.

Each guide has skills in the process it hones and practices. Then, the next guide hones and practices new skills while still emphasizing the "old" ones. So, the progression to the next guide is in acquiring the needed skills, rather than in being the correct age. Hope that helps a little.

Blessings,
Carrie

That helps a lot Carrie and it makes sense. Since we have started out using Little Hearts for K hopefully she will progress each year and be ready for the next programs. Thanks Carrie for your input. It is very much appreciated.

Gina