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I guess my question is twofold...

1) I totally understand the reasoning behind using multiple guides geared toward specific ages...however, one of the reasons I love homeschooling is that it allows me to teach my dc together and then as a family we are studying the same topics...how does this work when you are teaching multiple ages with multiple guides??

2) Given the above thoughts...I am planning to begin BLHFHG with my 6yo ds and plan to involve my 4yo dd in as much of the program as she can handle...read alouds, Bible, history, science...is it enough to just have her sit in on these (as she has done to this point) and add her own LA (basically letters and sounds) or will I miss alot if I do not follow a specific guide (I am thinking LHTH)?

I appreciate your insights...

Eryn

I know exactly how you feel, lol! I am in your same situation, with two dd's 19 months apart. I am currently doing LHTH with my 3 1/2 year old and my almost 2 year old is participating as much as she can at her age. My youngest is enjoying the fingerplays, the Bible Stories, Music, and she LOVES the tape letters on the floor! The math and most letter activities are over her head, though. For example, when we glued dried macaroni to the letter A she was more interested in eating the macaroni than doing the activity, lol! So my plan is when I start LHFHG with my oldest in 2010 when she turns 5, I will do the right side of the page (I mean left) as well as storytime with both of them but do the math and letter activities from LHTH over again with my youngest, as she is not really participating in them now at her young age. This would continue as we move up in the guides. When my oldest is doing Beyond, they would do the right side plus storytime together again, but my youngest would do phonics and math at a kindergarten level. I am hoping this will work well for me, as I really like them doing some subjects together and the sisterly bonding it fosters. I'd be curious to hear what Carrie has to say though, as I get the impression she feels it's better to put each child in the guide that's at their age level rather than combine and have to "water down". Will I be doing my youngest a disservice by not having her do LHTH over again completely and keeping her in a guide below her sister?

ETA: Oops...I said the right side of the plans, when I meant the left!

Ladies,

One of the wonderful benefits of HOD is that you can tailor it to meet YOUR families needs and goals. Our HOD guides do work very well for combining a several year age-span together (i.e. ages 5-7, 6-8 etc.), so if your kiddos are only a couple of years apart it is well worth it to try to combine them.

Many moms on the board here do combine their kiddos within the guides for the left side of the plans (which is the history) and for some of the right side of the plans. Then, they make sure each kiddo has their own language arts and math from one of our other guides to get the right fit in those areas.

If the age span between your kiddos gets to be 3 or 4 years, however, it is harder to combine. This is why we have extension packages to help in those areas. At our house, we found it easier to just do the kiddos on their own levels and in separate guides due to them being 3 and 1/2 to almost 4 years apart. Each family has to decide what's best for them as far as that goes. The personality of the kiddos also plays a BIG part as to how well they will combine. My take charge oldest son does better separately from my easy to please second son, who would just let my oldest do all the work (if we let him)!

When your kiddos are in the learning to read, write, and do math stage, it can be hard to combine them with another sibling (just because the levels of what they can do will be so different). But, if you have a younger child who "wants" to do school and keep up with an older child it can work. Even if combining doesn't seem to work in the early years, it can still be an option in the upper years, once the reading/writing/listening curve evens out.

So, there is no one-size fits all approach to HOD. There are moms that combine and moms that don't on the board. Usually if you stick close to the recommended age ranges for each guide, you'll be in good shape whatever you decide to do.

Jewel,
Since your daughter will have already been along for one trip through LHTH, you could easily do as you planned. If the material in LHFHG is just going over her head, however, then you can do another run through LHTH for her instead. You'll already own it, and won't be out anything by trying to combine.

Blessings,
Carrie

Carrie, Thanks for your input...as I have been thinking about this the last few days and discussed with another HOD friend I began to "see" the importance of being sure that the younger doesn't get "dragged along." I thought through my 4yo dd's abilities and began to realize that although she has a good grasp on alot, there are things I'm not sure she knows and in order to make sure her foundation is firm, I need to spend some good focus time with her...hence, the need for the individualized instruction!! It just makes sense...so, I'm off to order LHTH for the new year and will be glad to have my 4yo sit in on read alouds and whatever else she loves with the 6yo!! I am excited to incorporate her officially into our school day and love that my dear friend reminded me that just simply by homeschooling we are building family memories!! Thanks again Carrie...I can see by reading so many other posts that it is easy to teach multiple guides and I am not in the least concerned about it!!

scrapsmith,

I remember when I first decided to separate my kiddos. It went against everything I had planned (in my mind) for our homeschooling journey. Yet, it has worked very well for my family situation. I do covet the time I get individually with each of my kiddos, and I have found it easier for me not to pull a little one along behind each of my learners.

I'm so glad that you have such a wise HOD friend who knows your situation and can advise you well. It sounds like you have a good plan and have a peace about it. Enjoy LHTH with your little one. Those are memories I treasure with my boys, especially as they are getting older!

Blessings,
Carrie

Carrie wrote:. It went against everything I had planned (in my mind) for our homeschooling journey.

You hit the nail on the head...this is exactly what I was struggling with...thanks for hearing my heart!! I am so excited to continue on this homeschooling journey with a little plan adjustment!! And we are loving walking this path with HOD!! Thanks again for all you do!!

Eryn