Thoughts (complicated and confused)
Thoughts (complicated and confused)
I would love some input or any thoughts. I know no one else is walking in my shoes but I still would like input as I feel all muddled.
I have two five year old boys. I'm doing LHTH at a quick pace (2 units per week) because I just really loved the bible and it's been terrific. That would put us in LHFHG in January when they are close to six.
One of my kids is on the autism spectrum (mildly) and the other is typically developing. Developmentally/cognitively the spectrum child is a lot like his brother although he has some attention issues. He may be developmentally about six months behind in terms of his listening ability and focus. However, social/emotional development wise he is at an almost three year old level. To work on the autism areas we work with a consultant to implement a specific developmental program for autism. We've been doing it for years and I find it easy to work into our day.
However, I've been reading that many homeschooling parents doing this program don't start academic work until a child has made more progress than my son. Some have suggested that closer to the four year old social/emotional development level is a more appropriate start of academics regardless of actual chronological age. The thinking is they just aren't developmentally ready for academics until that point with the social/emotional lag. I think also the thinking for some is that time is better spent working in the area that the child lags so much in compared to his peers and that academics are easily caught up later, especially at these young ages.
I'm feeling unsure about my plans all the sudden. Does anyone have a thought? My child may be 7 or even older before we got to that four year old level. It's slow going. Especially since I have two kids and one is typical I planned to go on academically. If it were just my spectrum child I probably would wait and do preschool type things until he matured a little. But how academic is Little Hearts? How much time does it take? How much maturity? If you could imagine a three year old emotionally and socially with a cogntive and attention level of close to 5.5 would you feel comfortable with the program? Does anyone have ideas or thoughts based on what I've shared?
I have two five year old boys. I'm doing LHTH at a quick pace (2 units per week) because I just really loved the bible and it's been terrific. That would put us in LHFHG in January when they are close to six.
One of my kids is on the autism spectrum (mildly) and the other is typically developing. Developmentally/cognitively the spectrum child is a lot like his brother although he has some attention issues. He may be developmentally about six months behind in terms of his listening ability and focus. However, social/emotional development wise he is at an almost three year old level. To work on the autism areas we work with a consultant to implement a specific developmental program for autism. We've been doing it for years and I find it easy to work into our day.
However, I've been reading that many homeschooling parents doing this program don't start academic work until a child has made more progress than my son. Some have suggested that closer to the four year old social/emotional development level is a more appropriate start of academics regardless of actual chronological age. The thinking is they just aren't developmentally ready for academics until that point with the social/emotional lag. I think also the thinking for some is that time is better spent working in the area that the child lags so much in compared to his peers and that academics are easily caught up later, especially at these young ages.
I'm feeling unsure about my plans all the sudden. Does anyone have a thought? My child may be 7 or even older before we got to that four year old level. It's slow going. Especially since I have two kids and one is typical I planned to go on academically. If it were just my spectrum child I probably would wait and do preschool type things until he matured a little. But how academic is Little Hearts? How much time does it take? How much maturity? If you could imagine a three year old emotionally and socially with a cogntive and attention level of close to 5.5 would you feel comfortable with the program? Does anyone have ideas or thoughts based on what I've shared?
Re: Thoughts (complicated and confused)
I have not walked in your shoes, but here's what I would do:
I'd go ahead and start Little Hearts as you have planned, and have your non-spectrum child do the language arts and math as written. Wait to start LA/Math with the spectrum child until he's ready. In the meantime, he can still listen to the history/Bible/storytime and participate in the activities.
I know there are quite a few of us with "typically developing" children who combine them for the "left side" of the plans (history/Bible/etc), but then make sure each child has the appropriate level for the "right side" of the plans (math/language arts). (You could use some of the LHTH plans again for your spectrum child, but let him do Little Hearts with his brother for the left side).
I'd go ahead and start Little Hearts as you have planned, and have your non-spectrum child do the language arts and math as written. Wait to start LA/Math with the spectrum child until he's ready. In the meantime, he can still listen to the history/Bible/storytime and participate in the activities.
I know there are quite a few of us with "typically developing" children who combine them for the "left side" of the plans (history/Bible/etc), but then make sure each child has the appropriate level for the "right side" of the plans (math/language arts). (You could use some of the LHTH plans again for your spectrum child, but let him do Little Hearts with his brother for the left side).
Last edited by sharonb on Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Thoughts (complicated and confused)
I want to echo sharonb's advice - I think it is excellent, and it is exactly what I would do. Your ds is doing fine - hooray! So, why not keep going? I agree holding off on the LA and math would be a good idea, though he will still probably be able to participate in and enjoy a portion of them, like the hands-on math lesson, the Storytime read-aloud, the rhymes, etc. He probably just may not be ready for the written portion. You can play that by ear. Many, many moms use one guide as their core guide for their dc, but do different levels of math and LA as needed with them. This will not be hard to do looking down the road. If doing LHFHG becomes a too difficult for him, you can always re-evaluate at that time, and we can all kick around ideas again, but for now - moving forward sounds like the direction to move in.
BTW, I think you are doing a wonderful job with your dc, I just wanted to say that because your heart for them shines through here.
In Christ,
Julie


In Christ,
Julie
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
Re: Thoughts (complicated and confused)
I would also do the left side of LHFHG with both and fix the right side to meet each of their needs. My 4.5 yo is doing all the K additions to LHFHG, and my 2.5yo LOVES the history and Bible and poems, etc from the left side of LHFHG. She can't do the right side at all yet, but loves the left side and her art/letters stuff from LHTH too!
I would think that at a 3yo level he'd probably be about the same, seeing as how she'll be three in October. And I'd get developmentally appropriate workbooks for him to do along with the right side of LHFHG. Cutting/pasting, coloring, letters, numbers, fine motor development, etc for when he wants to do what brother is doing, but can't quite.
I would think that at a 3yo level he'd probably be about the same, seeing as how she'll be three in October. And I'd get developmentally appropriate workbooks for him to do along with the right side of LHFHG. Cutting/pasting, coloring, letters, numbers, fine motor development, etc for when he wants to do what brother is doing, but can't quite.
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- Location: GA
Re: Thoughts (complicated and confused)
I would also go on too. I did LHFHG with a younger child and it worked great. I have one with different special needs. She lags emotionally for sure but it is the cognitive lacking that makes it far harder to teach her for me although I do wish she would act more mature sometimes and it does cause issues sometimes. But I think on your situation if I were you I would definitely move on. Maybe start out a little slower and ease into it but I think you will find your child will do just fine. The great thing is you can really customize LA and Math and that has been wonderful for us. My heart goes out to you. It is hard to know sometimes what to do for kids that have special needs but it sounds like you are doing a wonderful job and God does lead. 

All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. Isaiah 54:13
~Six lovies from God~4 by blessing of adoption
-MTMM (HS), Rev to Rev, CTC, DITHR
We LOVED LHFHG/Beyond/Bigger/Preparing/CTC/RTR/Rev to Rev (HS)
~Six lovies from God~4 by blessing of adoption
-MTMM (HS), Rev to Rev, CTC, DITHR
We LOVED LHFHG/Beyond/Bigger/Preparing/CTC/RTR/Rev to Rev (HS)
Re: Thoughts (complicated and confused)
I do not have the experience you have, but I did teach several mildly-autistic children when I taught public school. Are you already teaching LHTH? If so, how is your spectrum-child doing? You said that both boys are very similar, academically speaking. If your child is handling the academics just fine with his brother, I would just continue doing what you are doing. I wonder if he will be upset if you do the math and LA with his brother and not with him. Will he become more aware of differences between them and react negatively? You may need to require a little less of him, say 2 sentences copied rather than the 4 your other son may do, but at least they are working through the same material. I would not hold back his academics unless he's struggling with them. As long as he can keep up and is learning, go for it. You can always slow him down if he hits a roadblock in the future. I saw a lot of hand-holding and lower expectations for students who really didn't need that. They needed to be inspired to do their best, with little accommodations along they way.
Just my 2 cents,
Laura
Just my 2 cents,
Laura
Wife to a great guy and mommy to:
Ds(15) - using WG and loving it!
Dd(11) - using Res.to Ref and having a blast!
Ds (3) - our joy!
Two little ones in the arms of Jesus - I can't wait to hold you in Heaven!
Ds(15) - using WG and loving it!
Dd(11) - using Res.to Ref and having a blast!
Ds (3) - our joy!
Two little ones in the arms of Jesus - I can't wait to hold you in Heaven!
Re: Thoughts (complicated and confused)
I so appreciate everyone sharing their thoughts. I worried posting it originally that no one would respond! So thank you. It also helps that my initial thoughts of moving on don't sound inappropriate to all of you. I could see if a child was spending the majority of his day on academic stuff but HOD isn't intrusive like that.
Laura, he is acutely aware. So it isn't going to work to do things with his brother that I don't do with him. Cognitively he is capable of LHFHG (I think there is about 6 months cognitive difference between the two) and little hands is going great. It's attention/sustained attention that is different between them. So I do feel like I hold back the typical one because I want his brother to be successful too. It's a balance. Little Hands doesn't require a lot of sustained attention and so I don't know how it's going to go when we switch to LHFHG. I guess I'm going to find out though!
Laura, he is acutely aware. So it isn't going to work to do things with his brother that I don't do with him. Cognitively he is capable of LHFHG (I think there is about 6 months cognitive difference between the two) and little hands is going great. It's attention/sustained attention that is different between them. So I do feel like I hold back the typical one because I want his brother to be successful too. It's a balance. Little Hands doesn't require a lot of sustained attention and so I don't know how it's going to go when we switch to LHFHG. I guess I'm going to find out though!
Last edited by Rachelle on Wed Sep 02, 2009 6:07 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Re: Thoughts (complicated and confused)
How much time does a LHFHG lesson typically take if you do both sides?
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- Posts: 2743
- Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2007 7:24 pm
- Location: GA
Re: Thoughts (complicated and confused)
I did it with two children when we started out ages 4-6 and they both ended a year older. It usually took about 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours. I sometimes read some of the books in the appendix with them ,usually Bible stories. That would include the seat work time as well. Both these kids have no learning issues. With my child that did have learning issues which are different in that she has CP the extra time would come in for LA and Math for her becasue those are her harder area. She did Bigger actually but I think the principle will be the same. You might spend a little more than normal on the areas that are a challenge for your child but the rest will just flow. That is how it has worked for us hopefully others with similar learning issues will respond for you. I know there are lots of us here that have kids with different learning issues.
HOD really works well to accommodate them where they need to be accommodated.

All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. Isaiah 54:13
~Six lovies from God~4 by blessing of adoption
-MTMM (HS), Rev to Rev, CTC, DITHR
We LOVED LHFHG/Beyond/Bigger/Preparing/CTC/RTR/Rev to Rev (HS)
~Six lovies from God~4 by blessing of adoption
-MTMM (HS), Rev to Rev, CTC, DITHR
We LOVED LHFHG/Beyond/Bigger/Preparing/CTC/RTR/Rev to Rev (HS)
Re: Thoughts (complicated and confused)
Just a thought for what you can do to accommodate his shorter attention span if he wants to be right there at the table with brother. My 2.5 yr old tags along with brother for LHFHG and when we do fine motor/writing activities, she gets her own special workbook or a copy of the page he's doing (and she can scribble/color/cut it to her hearts content.) Once she's done, which is usually about 5 minutes, she's happy to do another "school" activity at the table with us, like lacing cards or beads etc, and sometimes even one more after that. If my son is still finishing something, she will go play on her own, satisfied that she has "done school." My son has gotten used to it and will do his own work as long as he gets to play with the activities later. Perhaps you could prepare some activity boxes ahead of time to be able to pull out when he needs a new activity. I have around 10 boxes I filled for dd with things she can do independently (or close to itit isn't going to work to do things with his brother that I don't do with him. Cognitively he is capable of LHFHG (I think there is about 6 months cognitive difference between the two) and little hands is going great. It's attention/sustained attention that is different between them. So I do feel like I hold back the typical one because I want his brother to be successful too. It's a balance. Little Hands doesn't require a lot of sustained attention and so I don't know how it's going to go when we switch to LHFHG.



Kristen
Loved LHTH & LHFHG
DS8 (2nd) WWE1, HOD dictation, Sequential Spelling, SM 2B, VP OT/AE & SOTW1 history, Song School Latin, Getting Started With Spanish
DD6 (K) Saxon Math 1, VP Phonics Museum K
DD3 cutting, gluing, more cutting
Loved LHTH & LHFHG

DS8 (2nd) WWE1, HOD dictation, Sequential Spelling, SM 2B, VP OT/AE & SOTW1 history, Song School Latin, Getting Started With Spanish
DD6 (K) Saxon Math 1, VP Phonics Museum K
DD3 cutting, gluing, more cutting

Re: Thoughts (complicated and confused)
If he's only 6 months behind with the academics, and the problem is attention, then I think LHFHG will be great! We get through with the left side of all three programs (Beyond, LHFHG, and LHTH) in about an hour of straight work... so if you are just doing LHFHG and do a more active portion in between a more sitting/listening part it should be a great fit.
Re: Thoughts (complicated and confused)
I have a six year old who is also on the ASD he was just diagonised this summer, but we knew there was somthing just different about him. Anyways he did recieve help while younger and still get therapy and I was planning on doing LHFHG this fall with him when we got the diagnosis I thought oh now what do I do? I decided to go on with my plans of starting LHFHG and just do it at half pace. I also have five other children, two who I am also home schooling, the others are to little still! Anyways I thought at half pace we could spend more time on things he needed help, but to my surprise I quickly found out he is much more capable of things then I thought! We are now doing a full day almost everyday. He also is at a three year old level social/emotionally. So I would just try it and see what happens! Kids can surpise you in so many ways!!!!!!!!!!! If it seems to much for him you can slow it down some. Sounds like you are really on top of things with your kiddos! So whatever you do I am sure will work out.
Sheila mom to six wonderful blessing!!!
Sheila mom to six wonderful blessing!!!
Re: Thoughts (complicated and confused)
Rachelle,
It looks like the ladies did a terrific job of giving advice and sharing their own experiences. I pray you feel at peace with the path that you're on.
On a sidenote, I'm so glad to see that your little guy is doing so well with LHFHG, Sheila!
Blessings,
Carrie
It looks like the ladies did a terrific job of giving advice and sharing their own experiences. I pray you feel at peace with the path that you're on.


Blessings,
Carrie