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Okay, I will most likely be using Bigger for the my 8 and 10 year old next year (with extensions). I have a six year old (and four year old) so I was looking at possibly using Beyond for my emergent reader 6 yr. old but perhaps just the right side. Is it worthwhile to buy the guide for only the right side or should I try and put something together myself. I love the idea of having things pre-planned. What other books would I need to buy besides the teacher's guide if I wanted to do this? Also, when one is doing more than one program, do you combine the Bible memory work or have children learning different ones? It would seem to me simpler to combine that:)

I thought for the History, my 6 year old can just listen in on the Bigger read-alouds instead of having her own history program. I've also purchased a bunch of Am. History I Can Read books to supplement for her.

Then there's my four year old which I guess I could probably look at doing Little Hands or Little Hearts but do you think this is nescessary in a larger family (to have program going specifically for the preschooler?)

Thanks for your input,
Shannon

Welcome to HOD.

My suggestion would be to do what you are doing for the older kids, but combine the younger kids in LHFHG. There are a lot of really fun activities that I would hate for your children to miss out on by grouping them all together in Bigger.

My 5 and 7 yr. old is doing LHFHG this year together, but I did have to purchase the Beyond book (very cheap) for the emerging reader schedule. Which will be fine b/c when you are finished with LHFHG you will already have the next guide, Beyond, to graduate to.

That's my opinion!

I second Tiffanie's recommendation.

Shannon,

I agree with the ladies that it would work well to put your next two in Little Hearts for His Glory together. Then, they could be together as a pair as you go through your homeschooling years. You could do LHFHG at half-speed next year as you're easing in to HOD, doing the left side of the plans one day and the right the next. Then, you'd have 2 years to do LHFHG if needed, or your could bump LHFHG up to full-speed when you hit your stride with Bigger Hearts.

It's so easy in homeschooling to get so focused on the older kiddos that the younger ones just ride along. While this can work for awhile, eventually those little ones need the same focused attention that the older ones have had. Ask me how I know this!?! By doing LHFHG, you'll set up a pattern of carving out the time for them that they will eventually need anyway. We've done two or more HOD programs at once for years, at it truly is manageable (and enjoyable).

Just some food for thought.

Blessings,
Carrie

Thanks, everyone,

Some great advice. I also like that your packages aren't too expensive so it's easy to consider adding anothe program. ONe question, I don't quite understand the difference between the Little Hearts kindergarten and grade 1 package? Where is that explained or am I just missing something on the package page?
'

Thanks,
Shannon

sted wrote:Thanks, everyone,

Some great advice. I also like that your packages aren't too expensive so it's easy to consider adding anothe program. ONe question, I don't quite understand the difference between the Little Hearts kindergarten and grade 1 package? Where is that explained or am I just missing something on the package page?
'

Thanks,
Shannon

The LHFHG K package...
Science K: The World God Made
Math: Singapore's Earlybird Kindergarten 2A/2B books
Fine Motor Skills: Do It Carefully / Finding the Answers and EITHER A Reason for Handwriting K OR Italic A

The LHFHG 1st. Grade package:
Science 1st.: Our Father's World
Math: Singapore's 1A/1B textbooks and workbooks
Fine Motor Skills: Gr. 1 Thinking Skills and EITHER A Reason for Handwriting A OR Italic B

You can click on either the LHFHG K Package or LHFHG 1st. Grade Package (or order individual items if you own some of the books already) at this link:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/little-hearts-packages.php

Also, the 101 Favorite Stories from the Bible would be harder than the Family Time Bible.

Whenever you want to start your dd in the Emerging Reader's Set schedule, it is both the Appendix of Beyond Little Hearts and Bigger Little Hearts. Since you will own Bigger Hearts already, that would be easy to start whenever you want. I don't think you'd need to order Beyond then until the next year. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie