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Hi all,
I have a ds (4:7) and dd (2:3) and I actually bought both LHTH and LHFHG because I think I need to see them both to decide where to start. I'll give you some background: My son and I started phonics a couple of months ago (at his request) with All About Spelling, knows his letter sounds, can write his name and a few other letters (we started Cursive First and do lots of large motor practice as his pencil skills aren't quite ready for letters all the time.) We did R& S Counting with Number last fall, tried Singapore Earlybird briefly, then started Rightstart math A recently. He knows and can write 0-9, and can count much higher and do simple problems (How many forks will we need if T joins us for dinner etc.) He enjoys listening to chapter books when I can find one on an interesting topic (He loved LH in the Big Woods and LH on the Prairie) He enjoys coloring while I read a short bible story to him & his sister together, cutting and pasting, and listening to Vos' Child's Story Bible when she's not around. He loves science books, and biographies when I can find ones at his level. By skills and interest, he seems to fit well into LHFHG and I know he'd like it. However, I want to make sure that dd can tag along with the non-math-phonics-writing parts, so I'm thinking that LHTH would be a better place to start. I don't want to start LHTH in the middle, but I think it would be nice to get into the history and science more around January (he turns 5 in Oct and we'll cut back significantly on school around Thanksgiving until the new year). Also, we've been doing Living Books Curriculum's Foundation Year, and while I adore most of their recommendations, we've tweaked it so far it's not recognizable any more Suggestions?

krismoose wrote:Hi all,
I have a ds (4:7) and dd (2:3) and I actually bought both LHTH and LHFHG because I think I need to see them both to decide where to start. I'll give you some background: My son and I started phonics a couple of months ago (at his request) with All About Spelling, knows his letter sounds, can write his name and a few other letters (we started Cursive First and do lots of large motor practice as his pencil skills aren't quite ready for letters all the time.) We did R& S Counting with Number last fall, tried Singapore Earlybird briefly, then started Rightstart math A recently. He knows and can write 0-9, and can count much higher and do simple problems (How many forks will we need if T joins us for dinner etc.) He enjoys listening to chapter books when I can find one on an interesting topic (He loved LH in the Big Woods and LH on the Prairie) He enjoys coloring while I read a short bible story to him & his sister together, cutting and pasting, and listening to Vos' Child's Story Bible when she's not around. He loves science books, and biographies when I can find ones at his level. By skills and interest, he seems to fit well into LHFHG and I know he'd like it. However, I want to make sure that dd can tag along with the non-math-phonics-writing parts, so I'm thinking that LHTH would be a better place to start. I don't want to start LHTH in the middle, but I think it would be nice to get into the history and science more around January (he turns 5 in Oct and we'll cut back significantly on school around Thanksgiving until the new year). Also, we've been doing Living Books Curriculum's Foundation Year, and while I adore most of their recommendations, we've tweaked it so far it's not recognizable any more Suggestions?

Hi Krismoose, and welcome to the HOD Board! Thanks for sharing about your dc, as that helps all of us out with placement advice so much. It does sound like ds fits in LHFHG, but since he is on the young side, you are wanting to combine, and just because LHTH is a blast - I do think the best placement would be for the 2 of them to do LHTH together. You can easily add in any of the right side of LHFHG if you'd like. Since there are several LA and math choices written in each guide, this is easy to do. For example, for Fine Motor Skills, you could do A Reason for Handwriting K (or Italic A) this year with LHTH, and A Reason for Handwriting A (or Italic B) next year with LHFHG. Of course, you can continue doing the handwriting you've already started to if you're enjoying that. For Fine Motor Skills, you could also do R & S books D and F with LHTH this year, and Thinking Skills with LHFHG next year. For math, you could do Earlybird K with LHTH, using the hands-on plans in LHFHG, and then the next year use the Appendix schedule in LHFHG for 1A/1B (or use the hands-on plans for 1A/1B in the Beyond LIttle Hearts guide). Or, continue with the math you've been doing if you enjoy it. (You'd probably want to wait to do the Storytime in LHFHG until you do all of LHFHG next year.) However, there really is absolutely no need to add anything to LHTH - it is very appropriate for both your ds and dd. I just thought I'd mention those ideas since ds would place individually in LHFHG. We've loved doing LHTH several times over here at our house! It is always a hit, always a great start to homeschooling, and always make me be a more "fun" mom that gives needed attention to the littles. Not to mention - it does a beautiful job of teaching prek skills - like getting dc ready to read, write, do math, and listen to read-alouds.

In Christ,
Julie

Hi and welcome! You'll love HOD but finding the right fit is important to that love!

One option would be to start LHFHG at half speed and continue at that rate until he's ready to handle full-speed.

Or, do LHTH as is with the older kid activities. Sounds crazy I know, but it is so much fun and he'd still learn so much! It would be great prep for LHFHG!

Or, you could do LHTH with the older kid activities and add in the K options from LHFHG, and the following year do LHFHG with the 1st grade options. (those options are math, handwriting, critical thinking/R&S books) I think you'll find the Singapore Earlybird math to be a great fit for a Kindergarten child. It's fun and effective! Or you could wait on the math, and start it the following year since that would be his actual K year.

Or, you could wait on starting at all. Then once he is 5, maybe in January like you mentioned, you could start LHFHG with K options half speed for a few weeks, then bump it up once you find your groove and if he is ready.

Others will have other options for you. But if I were going by age, which is a HUGE factor, I'd go with LHTH as is or add phonics if you really wanted to start now. I did this will my lil' guy with a Dec. Bday. We did most of LHTH, some phonics and a little bit of Early Bird 1A/B (for 4yo/PreK). Now we've picked up LHFHG mid-2nd semester and it's just right. I'm also doing cursive first with him, but using another program to do it (New American Cursive). It has turned out to be a great plan!

HTH!

krismoose,

I just wanted to pop-in and welcome you to the board! The ladies are giving you wonderful options for various ways you could reach your family goals. I agree that placement-wise your kiddos would fit best in LHTH for the younger child and LHFHG for your older child. However, if you desire to combine, then any of the options the ladies suggested would be workable.

I'd love to hear your thoughts if you get a chance.

Blessings,
Carrie

Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions! I'm so excited for the books to come so I can start I suspect we'll start with LHTH and just keep on where we're at in AAS, RS math and Cursive First, and we'll re-evaluate in the fall. I forgot to mention we're already going through Finding the Answers, and we have Going on Eagerly on the shelf, so we'll probably just keep on alternating with that. I turned Kumon's first tracing book into a wipe-off book which my daughter likes to try now and then, and she also loves to snip, so she can "do school" with her brother a couple of times each week. You all reminded me that there are many possible ways to do this that will work, and to make sure we're doing what God wants for our family right now. Carrie, it amazes me that you are homeschooling and writing new curriculum guides, and still make time to check in to these boards regularly! I'll be sure to update when we start!
Kristen

Update : I looked over LHFHG and decided to hold off for awhile, next spring or summer perhaps. My ds will then be 5.5 and able to get more out of the program, and my dd who will be 3 by then may enjoy listening in on some of it. I couldn't wait for LHTH to arrive, so I started today from the sample on the website and both kids had a blast! I'd say I'd go a half-speed for my 2 yo dd's benefit, but them what would I do every other day? Oh, and I tried out The Reading Lesson, and ds started blending sounds into words! We were all thrilled...So I ordered that as well, and I'll be putting All About Spelling down for a while...we'll come back to spelling rules later
I'm just tickled to have found a curriculum that feels comfortable! Thanks for your help!

krismoose,

I'm so glad that you're finding your fit! We pray you'll enjoy LHTH as much as we have! We're gearing up to do it this fall with my fourth little guy. I've already been through the program twice before with my previous little guys, however each child is so different that LHTH feels new every time!

Blessings,
Carrie

Speaking of repeating LHTH with other children, has anyone repeated it with the same child the following year? I suppose I'll cross that bridge next year when my dd is 3...