LHFGH Kinder or First Grade???

[rni'smommy]

I am on the fence as to whether ds is really ready for LHFHG. On the Placement chart he definitely falls in LHFGH in the basics. I am just not sure about the history, science, and most of all storytime. He was in speech therapy for two years and we just recently took him out of that he still has a slight expressive delay(about 6 months) but the therapist thought he would do okay without out further therapy that he just needed time to practise. His receptive vocab. tested right at or slightly above his age. I am just trying to decide whether or not he will be able to follow the reading in the history and science text and whether he will really understand the storytime text. We have done lots of reading aloud but with picture books. We have already done LHTH and I don't want to make him bored with repeating it but at the same time I don't want to frustrate him with things that are too challenging.

If I do try LHFGH how do get him to transition into chapter books? Any ideas for helping him not zone out (which he seems to do when I read anything without pics.).

[Emilylou]

I am sure all the ladies will give you some great advice, but I wanted to suggest using LHFHG at 1/2 speed.
Taking a 1 1/2 or 2 years to finish the guide.

Hope that helps. We just finished LHFHG and loved it~ Enjoy.

[kiloyd]

I would think if you've done LHTH, then yes, you should move on to LHFHG and do half pace (as the previous poster suggested) if needed.

Did he do well with LHTH?

[rni'smommy]

Yes he did wonderfully with LHTH he learned alot! That is why he definitely fits in the basics of LHFHG but I guess I am just worried about the reading comprehension from the storytime and history parts.

[WigglesMom]

I have had 2 dc go through speech. Both had a little ways to go when we discontinued speech. Both were borderline in something. It has been a few years and I don't remember exactly what they still needed help with after therapy. The therapist said to give it time. You will be amazed at what wonders time can do.
That said, I would recommend that you follow your gut and heart on this one. If you feel that your ds might be overwhelmed, then take it to heart and pray about it also. I don't know the age of your ds, but if it were my ds and he was kindergarten age then I would probably go back through LHTH (using a different children's Bible and devotional) and add in the right side of LHFHG with kindergarten options(except storytime). I would do the R&S books, a phonics program, math, and handwriting from LHFHG.
There is a book on cd for Thornton Burgess, http://www.chinaberry.com/prod.cfm/pgc/ ... 2/inv/8056,that you could substitute in for story time. Listening to the books on cd or tape could help prepare him for LHFHG's story time books. I don't believe it is the same books that LHFHG uses so you would still be able to go through LHFHG the next year with 1st grade options reading the story time books.
Then the next year you could do LHFHG both sides with 1st grade options.
I hope you find what will work best for you and your dc. Congrats to your ds on finishing speech! I remember when we were there and it seemed like we would always be doing speech.
Val

[funkmomma71]

When I started LHFHG with my dd we hadn't read chapter books before, at first she had trouble listening well and then being able to answer the questions afterwards. It did not take long for her to get the hang of it, I would say that you just need to be persistent and keep reading and asking the questions until your dc gets it. As for the history and science readings, they are quite short and pretty easy to grasp. Remember, that the history and science are "gravy" at this point in your child's education, most public and private schools wouldn't provide much in that area. These are just an introduction to these areas of education, not the main show. The basics, reading, writing and math are really what you need to be concerned about, if you child places in LHFHG for the "Learning the Basics" portion, than that is probably what you should do. Blessings!

[my3sons]

I'd do LHFHG half-speed, only with phonics daily. Your ds did so well with LHTH, and he's ready for LHFHG. Just remember that listening to read-alouds with fewer pictures is the next skill he needs to develop. The books in LHFHG are wonderful to listen to, so he just needs to develop the habit of listening attentively without all of the "eye candy" of pictures. The LHFHG readings are kept purposefully short, and this helped my ds grow into this habit of listening. We did LHFHG half-speed for quite awhile, and he grew into this skill well over time. The Storytime is great - you just can't beat Thorton Burgess! The books are about the same group of animals, so the dc really get to know them and enjoy each of their personalities.

In Christ,
Julie

[Carrie]

rni'smommy,

I agree with the wise advice the ladies are sharing. If your kiddo has been through LHTH, then moving into LHFHG at half-speed would be a great next step. We did this with my own son (who is third in line and who also had speech/language delays) and kept him at half speed the whole first year of LHFHG (even though he could have bumped up to full-speed mid-way through the year). The following year we did LHFHG at full-speed 4 days a week, and we saw an amazing amount of growth.

Listening comprehension is definitely something to grow into, so as your child progresses on through the year, he'll gain more and more. The first 9 weeks or so are often just the child enjoying good stories, however as time passes you'll see many more connections taking place. I'd encourage you to head into LHFHG at half-speed confidently and enjoy!

Blessings,
Carrie

[MamaBear23Cubs]

You could just do the right half first and then the left half the second year.

[rni'smommy]

That is tenatively what we have decided to do. We are going to start out with just the basics from LHFHG and let ds do the Bible part of LHTH again with dd, along with any other activities from LHTH that still interest him and then in December we will decide whether or not to add in the rest or wait till next fall.

Thank you ladies for taking the time to help me decide.