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Anybody else just on Unit 6? I'm am feeling so behind but trying not to get worried about it. We school 4 days/week so that makes it last longer. I know we won't be done before the end of May and that's ok. We'll just finish when we start back up in August. I was just wondering if I'm the only one...

Juli if it makes you feel better we are finishing unit three on our school and most of it is designed to be 4 days a week. Just illness and getting a late start. But you know what this is why we homeschool to not be a slave to the schedule. So I have just in my mind decided that we are going to have a new schedule and actually for it I am ahead. Hahaha! Why not. I have to tell you it makes me feel so much better. Why be burdened with being behind when you can be ahead instead.

we started end of September. we are in middle of Unit two. we have been doing a co-op and had dr. appt , field trips, etc. we just plan to go all year long. Our last co-op is next week and that will give us more time also. we try to do 5 day plan. Things come up and sometimes we do day on the weekend. when the weather isn't so nice we will be stuck indoors so we are enjoying our pace and know that we ARE learning.

Jenn D.

I'm doing Bigger, but we are only on week 6 too. PS doesn't usually let out until the middle of June around here, so I don't worry about it. My dh is a ps teacher, and it makes it hard to keep schooling once he is home.
Laura

Well, we are only on week 9, and we started last April. It was very freeing and empowering to start a new curriculum sometime other than August or September!!! Just finish the book, and start the new one then, whichever month it falls. There's no rule that you have to start and finish a book at a certain time. Just remember, in ps, they hardly ever get to the end of a book by the end of the year. Which is probably why the next year's book (in ps) contains so much review!!

Thanks for all of your responses. I am started to stress less about it...once I figured we'd have to go through till July with no breaks just to finish. That wouldn't have worked so I'll just make sure to do everything I listed on my plan to the DOE and then finish up when we start back up.

Juli,

I just wanted to encourage you too that since your little Froggy is only 6, he will still fall well within the range for LHFHG as you finish next year. LHFHG is a much richer program than what most kiddos are exposed to at age 6 in a different school setting, so you can rest assured that your little ones are getting a solid education that can last for more than one year per guide if needed. In all honesty, consistently progressing forward through the guides rather than rushing to catch up will give your kiddos more of a solid foundation in the skills needed eventually for higher level work. I compare it to this:

In my early years of homeschooling, I had always wanted to do a full-blown art study, full-blown composer study, full-blown foreign language study, full-blown nature walks etc. So, each year I would purchase a full-blown program for these areas and then feel very guilty about never getting to them consistently. Or, I would start strong and fade away as the rigors of life settled in upon us. I always made sure the needed academics were done, but the extras slipped by the wayside.

As I started reading more about Charlotte-Mason's philosophy, I realized that doing art study once a week, poetry study once a week, and a composer study once a week, and nature journal once week on a rotating basis was something I could honestly get done. I wasn't sure ANY progress would be made by only spending 15 minutes A WEEK on each of these areas, yet after doing it consistently over several years with my oldest son, I was amazed at how much he had gained in each of these areas.

So, when we began writing our curriculum, we implemented this method within our programs. You'll notice many areas that only come up once or twice a week for 15 to 20 minutes. Yet, as the guide moves forward each week that consistent bite-sized serving allows you to cover so many other things beyond just the 3 R's. I share this with you so that you know that through doing your HOD guide, even slowly and steadily, you are getting the extra bells and whistles that I never had time for with my oldest. Your kiddos are getting much more than you can imagine.

So, be encouraged!

Blessings,
Carrie

Thanks Carrie.

I have slowed down a bit too during the last few weeks due to beautiful weather, dh's fall break, dr.'s appts., etc. Now I'm getting ready to have surgery myself! We haven't done a five-day school week for a few weeks now. But we'll get back on track. And then I'm sure we'll get off again. I am constantly reminding myself that one of the nice things about hs is the flexibility. One good thing I've found about slowing down is that we get to spend longer with each Bible verse.

We took over a year and a half to go through LHFHG, doing it half-speed for quite a long time, taking the summer off and then finishing it after that. It was a great decision for our little guy! He thoroughly enjoyed it, and it was the right pace for him - just enough without being overwhelming, plus I wanted to school 4 days a week. Worked great - I wouldn't sweat it if I were you, Juli. I think it sounds like you are doing awesome!

In Christ,
Julie

We just started unit 8 and only school 3-4 days a week. We did 3 units last spring. I'm in no rush to get through it. My dd is on the young end of the guide, so I figure we can take our time and really enjoy and have fun with it.

It's nice to know I'm doing ok...better to go slow and enjoy our journey, than speed through and not have any fun/needed breaks.

Well, we will have taken about two years to do Bigger when it's all said and done. But that's why I homeschool-so I don't have to worry about missing those great outdoor days, or other experiences when they come up. In fact, my boys still take time off in the spring and the fall to help my dad with farm work (and one of the boys mentioned, "we're just like Almonzo!" )

Juli,

I agree with everything that the ladies have shared here! I have to tell you though that it took me a good couple of years homeschooling to switch the way I was thinking about what we needed to accomplish and when.

I'm only on unit 3 with my LHFHG kids. We had 3 units left of LHTH at the beginning of our year...and I'm so glad that we finished those units instead of skipping them! We had some wonderful talks about Jesus!!! I'm wanting to make LHFHG last 2 years, and we're thoroughly enjoying it. We will go half speed only 4 days a week this year. (So we'll only get 2 "days" worth done per week.) And then next year most likely I'll do it full speed with them 4 days a week. It truly is SOOO flexible! Enjoy it! And feel free to stretch it out! There really is a lot in these guides.

Kathleen