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Hi All,

I haven't been here in a while. I had decided to scale back, but was not happy with trying to teach everyone out of the same resource. So, I am back . I need some advice. I am trying to use LHTH with my 3 yo., LHFHG with my 5 & 7 year olds, and BHFHG with my 9 yo. I was thinking of my 5yo being in K, 7yo in 1st and 9yo in 3rd (with possible graduation of my 7 and 9 year olds at 19 with this grade placement). I felt like this was the best level for them in HOD, even though my oldest will be 10 next month. Well, since I had put HOD on the back burner, we are just now in the first few days of the guides. Since the 7 yo and 9 yo are already on the higher end of the age range, I don't feel comfortable feeling so behind, but I don't want them to miss anything either. So, my question is what to do about moving forward. I hate the feeling of being "behind". Should I just keep going at the pace we are on, or should I skip ahead to where we "should" be in the year? I could really use some words of wisdom on how to proceed!

Thanks!

Well, I don't think you are behind. My then 11 year old will be using Preparing with extentions next year. And my 8 year old is currently in Beyond.

I am using Bigger... with my 10 (almost 11) year old , with extensions, and 8 (almost 9) year old, as is. It has worked well for us to combine...and with them each in their own LA and Math programs, I don't feel like they're behind. I think you would be fine to stay on pace...you can always complete the guide over the summer or complete it within the first weeks of next year if needed.

Well...here is my advice and thoughts...

When you say "behind"---do you mean as in important skills, like math and grammar/spelling/reading? Or do you mean just the guide as a whole, and you need to get them caught up to whatever lesson they should be on if they had continued with HOD? That's what I think you really have to sit down and look at and come to terms with...

From what I can see from your signature, you have your hands very full! This is only my opinion, but here's what I would do to make each day livable, doable, and peaceful.

1) Contact Carrie for some ideas or her opinion of how you can set up Bigger Hearts for independent work for your 9 y/o---assuming that she's able to do some of it independently---maybe you could set up a small index card box with a card for each subject, then let her pull a card for whichever subject she can do independently, and check it off as it is done. Carrie can tell you, and you probably know best which things your 9 y/o can try to manage independently, then do readings from texts while the others are coloring/napping/writing/etc... That should get you back on track with the guide, and give you a feeling of forward progress---and free you up a bit for the other children's needs.

2) Is either your 5 y/o or 7 y/o a reader yet? For either or both, get them going with the Emerging Reader list (is that in LHFHG?) daily or work each day with emphasis on reading skills. To me, working on reading/phonics skills is essential---everything else is gravy at that age.

3) For the 5 and 7 y/o --if you can't get to the Singapore lesson, or they can't do it independently, let them play and work with manipulatives every day. Try to get to the math lesson a couple or three times per week, but keep them playing/working with the manipulatives. This will help to keep those wheels turning in their minds for how math "works". Maybe your dh could do the math lesson with them in the evening, and you could just save it for then (don't know if that's an option, but just suggesting it...) Read the history or Bible lesson to these two children while the 9 y/o is doing some of her independent work, then switch up and work with the older child.

4) For the 3 y/o---how about a plastic washtub of playthings to interest him? I've read about those preschool activity bags, but don't know if you have the time or energy to get something like that together. I wouldn't stress over getting lessons done at the age of 3. You've got plenty of time for that later. Let this child listen in on the LHFHG Bible/history lessons, maybe try to do the letter/alphabet focus of the week from LHTH, or play with foam letters or a cookie sheet and letter magnets, or color/draw with the others while they're doing their written work.

5) You have several children to take care of, and to me, you need to simplify, simplify, simplify... I know that I could not do three programs with a small baby to care for. Take it slowly, try to get some advice from Carrie for making parts of BHFHG independent work, and focus on the 3 R's for all school-age children. I really believe if you can come to terms with being a bit "behind" in the manual, there will soon start a natural flow to your day, and you can see progress. Try to decide what you can keep, and what you can let go for the time being until things settle down. Let the 3 school-aged children all work on handwriting together (at their own level). Let the 9 y/o read some of the Thornton Burgess stories to the youngers if possible--this will hone those reading skills, and all get two things done at once!

6) Schedule in some time during your day for "Mommy time". Let the kids work quietly on handwriting, practicing math facts, or just reading/looking at picture books by themselves. You've got to take care of yourself in order to care for everyone else! Have some warm apple cider or a hot cup of tea, and take at least 30 mins. or so for yourself---then gather up the troops and let everyone help with folding laundry, washing dishes, setting the table--those kinds of things. Something I learned from reading of Montessori is the learning of basic home skills at the early age. I think it's great, and you definitely can use the help!

7) Hang in there...Carrie has written these guides to make it easier for you. Take what works for now and use what you can. I think you'll be surprised how much better things will go if you place a priority on certain things from the lessons, and let a few things go. You can always take Saturday afternoons (when it's raining or too cold) to catch up on the science or geography lesson for the week.

Hope some of this helps. Sorry it's so long-winded, but I'm not too good at being succinct with my explanations!

Just wanted to add, as I forgot to say this in my earlier post...

We will be starting up with Bigger Hearts in a week or so. After much thought and prayer, I have decided to work through it at half-speed---meaning, we will work on the Learning Through History side one day and then doing the Learning the Basics the next. This will make each unit stretch out for 2 weeks, and I realize that we won't be getting to Preparing Hearts when I'd like. I have come to terms with how my child can function with school on a daily basis, and this will work best for him. If at some point we really get going and can make it through both sides in one day--great! But until then, we'll just plug away at it as we can. Just knowing that in each day we'll have some fun thing to learn and we're moving along is enough for me. I've really pulled away from thinking of it as a race---it's really more of a long journey---and I'm giving him the best I can give him.

All this is to say again that you can do this. God will lead you along.

Hi Terri,

I understand how you feel my friend. It is very difficult to find the right fit for each family. What works for me, may not work for you and vice versa. The problem lies in that we hear wonderful idea's that work well for other families and when we try it, it flops. It can become discouraging. Sometimes in that discouragement we throw the baby out with the bathwater. (throw out an entire curriculum)

For me, I LOVE LOVE LOVE HOD! In all the years we've homeschooled it is the first program I found that truly works for my children's learning style and my teaching style. However, I have had to flip flop idea's and try different things to make it work for me in my home with my children. In my heart I would love to be able to use every single thing, just as it's assigned. But every time I try this I feel overwhelmed and I start to think HOD is not working. When I slip away and sit quietly before the Lord He helps me to get rid of the confusion and to focus on how to take HOD and make it work for me. That's the beauty of home education. You are the driver and your curriculum is the vehicle. I love my car (HOD) and take good care of it. But just like when you buy a car you get to pick the ammenities. Do you want all the goodies? Leather seats, sunroof, power locks? My boys are kinesthetic learners so the activities are very important. Have a Christ centered history and science is most important to me. I like the poetry and the music, but they are not as important in our home. (Trying to show you how I think through my choices, my ammenities)

What I have found that has been a good fit this year has been to use "Beyond" with my 6, 8, 12 year old boys for all activities on the left hand side. (we do not always do music and poetry) I beef up for my 12 year old with books from the library in science and have found that between storytime, emerging readers and history books the history is SOLID for any age.

I have been using Time4Learning for Math and Lang arts and it's been wonderful because it is more student directed. I am available if they need help, but for the most part it teaches directly to the student. As much as we've loved Time4Learning I am praying about going back to A.C.E. for English and Math. It's what I used when I was in school and it also is student directed. This has helped me to keep balance and to enjoy my journey with HOD. I embrace our activities, I LOVE what we are learning through history and science and I feel sane. (smile)

Next year, I am praying about whether to use two programs? By using A.C.E. for my basics it frees me up to use more than one HOD program should the Lord direct us to. Enjoy your car!



Blessings,
Mary

Teri,

One other thought I had today as I was cleaning. (I think a LOT while I clean ) One of the hardest lessons for me in my home education journey has been to look at skill level and not grade level. If I have a child working above their level than I find curriculum to meet their individual needs. For my children who have LD's I meet their "skill" level even if it's behind. I don't know if that will help you, but I thought I'd throw it out there

Thank you all for your thoughtful replies. I would be interested in hearing more replies if anyone else has something to share. Thank you!

Terri,

The ladies have given you pearls of wisdom in their posts. We are so blessed to have such wise, Christian moms on the board who graciously give of their time to encourage one another on their HOD journey!

First off, I agree that it would be best to simplify at this point in your life. In order to do that, we need to reassess where your kiddos are at as far as reading, writing, and math goes. I know we probably did this when you first looked at starting HOD, but in half of a school year, many things change (including lifestyle), so whatever was the best placement then, may have changed by now.

If you get a chance to pop in and give a snapshot of where your 5, 7, and 9 year old are as far as the 3 R's go... that would really help. Just let us know a book title or two your kiddos have been reading on their own lately (or where they're at in phonics), let us know whether the kiddos can copy sentences or paragraphs ( or are just writing letters), let us know what they're doing for math. Last, if you can let us know how well they listen to read-alouds without pictures and how independent the older one is... that would be terrific!

Blessings,
Carrie

Carrie wrote: If you get a chance to pop in and give a snapshot of where your 5, 7, and 9 year old are as far as the 3 R's go... that would really help. Just let us know a book title or two your kiddos have been reading on their own lately (or where they're at in phonics), let us know whether the kiddos can copy sentences or paragraphs ( or are just writing letters), let us know what they're doing for math. Last, if you can let us know how well they listen to read-alouds without pictures and how independent the older one is... that would be terrific!

Blessings,
Carrie

Hi Carrie, thanks for offering to help me decide which direction to go.

My 5yo girl is pressing on in phonics and is showing steady progress. She can read controlled readers with help. She is using Language Lessons by Sandi Queen and can copy the sentences that are required. She understands basic addition and subtraction and can count well, I would say a K level of understanding in math. She will be 6 in July.

My 7yo boy has been a struggle with reading. I would say that he is making steady progress though and is finally trying to sound out words on his own. He likes me to "help" him with words. I would put him on about the same level with my 5 yo at this time in reading. He will copy sentences, but it is S L O W going. I haven't done much with him in math because I felt like he wasn't ready. We got maybe about a 3rd of the way through with Singapore 1A before I decided to stop. I was trying to do RightStart with him, but have not done much with that either. Since we have been doing LHFHG I have just been letting him do the K math activities with 5 yo, although I know he needs more, and is capable of doing more at this point.

My 9 yo has a good understanding of phonics and can read on a high level, I would say between a 5th-6th grade level. She can copy well. She has been using Math U See and is working on multiplication and then will go into division. She has been through Singapore 1A and 1B. I plan on having her start on 2A soon while continuing MUS. She writes in cursive on occasion. She can work independently, but does need pushing and hand holding occasionally.

As far as read-alouds, I think my 9 yo prefers to read to herself at this point, although she does seem to still enjoy being read to also. My 7yo will sit and listen to a story and understand what is going on IF it is something he is interested in listening too . My 5 year old will listen also, if it is not too long and is geared for the younger crowd, although she does love to see a picture to go along with the story.

Well, I hope there is something there that can shed some light on where we are. I look forward to hearing your suggestions as to how I should proceed. Thank you, and all of the ladies, for taking the time to advise me.

We pretty much school year round, so I don't have a problem with a suggestion that involves carrying on through the summer. However, the main reason for that right now is feeling like I am behind and want the extra time to catch up.

Please feel free to aks any more questions that might help in suggesting what direction we should go.

Terri,

Thanks so much for giving us a better glimpse into your kiddos current levels. It does sound like you have your kiddos correctly placed in the right guides for now. Since you have a lot on your plate, I'm going to give you some things to ponder that will really help you hit your stride. Whenever I make a plan for a new school year, I look over my kiddo's varying needs and try to see who needs me "the most" for a particular year. Then, I make that my number one, can't-be-skipped, daily focus for that year. From what you've shared about your kiddos right now, I would say your number one priority is getting phonics-time and math-time with your 7 year old. So, I would make sure to put that at a time in your schedule each day that is best for you and for him. It would also be best if your 7 year old had a separate phonic's time from your 5 year old (which you may already be doing... just thought I'd mention it).

Next, priority-wise, I would work toward teaching your oldest child to read from the Bigger Heart's guide and do as much as possible independently, only joining you for spurts of teaching. In order to do this, I would drop back to doing the Bigger Hearts guide at half-speed doing the left side one day and the right side the next until you have her "trained" to work as independently as possible. Make sure you still listen to her narrate, join in for poetry, and Bible study, and help as needed in other areas, but allow her to do all of the readings and as much as she can do on her own without you. Then, I'd bump up to full speed when she's shown she is coming along in independence. You'll find it will take less time for her to learn how to be independent at half-speed. You could always add the Extension Pack to beef it up for her, if needed, as she goes into next school year and is still doing Bigger. I wouldn't worry about hustling her along to "catch up". She is on track for the Bigger guide even at age 10.

While training your oldest child at half-speed, I'd also keep your 5 and 7 year old at half-speed until you hit your stride there. Make sure to get to phonics and math daily, but if the rest must remain at half-speed, it wouldn't be the end of the world. In truth, if you get to the "end" of this particular school year and do not get all the way through Little Hearts, you could honestly still move your 5 and 7 year olds up to Beyond (without finishing Little Hearts), if their reading, writing, listening, and math skills have grown. Or, you could finish LHFHG at full-speed next year and still be fine, if that is where your kiddo's skill-level is at that time.

I would look at doing Little Hands with your 3 year old as a last priority right now. You may even wish to shelve it until you've gathered some stability with Bigger Hearts and Little Hearts. Or, just schedule a time each day to read the Bible story and do the finger play from Little Hands and that's it. Next year, you could go back through and re-read the Bible stories and do all of the activities.

Hopefully, there is something in here that will help! I know that overwhelming feeling, and baby steps toward your overall goals is much better than feeling that you're always behind and never catching up. Once you get a working schedule, you'll feel so much better. I know you can do this!

Blessings,
Carrie

Carrie,

I think you should archive this post. Your response is EXCELLENT and very helpful! I LOVED it!

MamaMary wrote:Carrie,

I think you should archive this post. Your response is EXCELLENT and very helpful! I LOVED it!

I was thinking this exct same thing as I read it! (I may be one of those who needs to reread this as we go through our homeschooling years! ) I loved your explanation of how to "train" your child to do the independent work...and was planning to ask about that before we start Preparing as I'd seen you say you were in "taining mode" with that child this fall.

Kathleen

Me too!
Rebecca

Carrie,

Thanks so much for your advice. We are still plugging along and trying to find our groove. Thanks for the suggestions and taking the time to help me .