Combining later on

[jenntracy]

Iam probably thinking too far ahead, but I can't help it. I like to have some sort of a flexible plan.

my two oldest will be in back to back guides next year. Son in Beyond(October will be 7yrs) daughter in LHFHG (will be 5.5yrs in fall).They are only 16 1/2 months apart ,but at different levels now. I really want to keep them separate for now. My son is in the middle of emerging readers and my daughter is about to start phonics. son is in middle of 1st grade math and daughter just started "k"math.

I am wondering if in a few years i would be able to combine them. How would one do this?
It is easy enough to keep Math and English separate with them.

I thought of doing the history side half-speed over 2 years and continuing with math and english,etc. as normal for son. Wondering if that would be enough for him. Or throw in some other unit study or something while doing half-speed history so he doesn't get bored.Then the 2nd year my son would be doing 2nd half history while my daughter would do all of it.

i have mindset that "i would be holding him back or my daughter missing out on an extra unit study".

Need some affirmations... or any other suggestions.
Wondering if anyone has done this before.
Who knows, I may just end up keeping them separate always. Just wondering if I were to attempt the combining in the future, what my options might be.

Thanks in advance, ladies

Jenn D.

[funkmomma71]

The appendix of LHFHG has a ton of suggested extra reading material for each unit. We went through LHFHG full speed so we didn't use any the books, but I could see how using them while you spread it out over two years would make it more full. If these were my two children I would probably combine them now, because later on you would have to have someone skip a guide or do one over again to get them in the same guide. KWIM? And you know, there is no reason your daughter couldn't do unit studies alongside of her brother, most are designed for a range of ages. I'll confess that I started LHFHG with my daughter when she was only 4.5 yo and she did just fine with it and we never went 1/2 speed, so you may be surprised at what you child is capable of.

The major downside to having your dc do back to back guides is that YOU are repeating the same subject every year, that may wear on you after a while.

[jenntracy]

My daughter wasn't ready to start LHFHG this year. i tried it. i was hoping to combine them this past year.

My son is finishing up LHFHG this year.

So my only option is like you said, to skip a guide, which my daughter would not be ready to do and i don't want to skip LHFHG and put her in Beyond. LHFHG is a perfect fit for her next year. I am not going to redo a guide with my son. I guess that is why i was thinking stretching out a guide for 2 yrs with him in the History side, might work. Not sure if i should stretch out next year for him in Beyond.

It is interesting that my daughter likes doing some activities with us, but some stuff is just too much for her. I do not want my son, who seems to be advanced, bored; and i don't want my daughter always lagging behind. that would definately not be fair to her. she needs to be at a level she will succeed. I can always add some stuff for my son.

I was thinking that about the unit studies. As long as it wasn't too much for her, if she was doing a full guide while doing it.

thanks
JEnn D.

[funkmomma71]

I'm sorry I didn't realize that you had already gone through LHFHG with your son. So my advice isn't of much help. Some moms only stretch out the left side of the plans, I was going to try that this past year with my daughter, but I really couldn't wrap my head around how that would work so we just went full speed and she did fine, but of course she had the advantage of doing LHFHG the previous year. I would certainly not champion the idea of skipping a guide, especially at the younger levels. Sorry I don't have any fresh ideas for you.

[sharonb]

I have several children very close in age, and we combine history, science, Bible, etc where we can. We always keep their math/LA at the appropriate level for each child. If I were you I'd get them combined for the left side of the plans soon, so that you don't have to always do guides back-to-back. Plus, as they get older, the workload is going to increase a lot for you as a teacher if they are always doing different things. My first two boys are 16 months apart, and they are 5 and 6 right now. We just started LHFHG with the 5yo, and the 6yo tags along. I have the option of putting the 6yo in Bigger with my 8yo (and go half-speed), or just keep him with the 5yo in LHFHG. I really don't feel like I'd be "holding back" my 6yo if I keep him in LHFHG. Like I said, his math and LA are at his grade level (so not what's in LHFHG). But for me, it's essential to combine the content subjects where possible. If that means going half-speed in a guide for a while to allow the younger to mature, then that's fine. You can always add more books/assignments for the older if you feel you need to.

I think if I were you I'd put them both in Beyond but take 2 years to do the left side of the plans. Keep them up to speed on the 3R's. Or, if you are set on keeping them separate for one more year, let your younger listen in on the Beyond readings this year so she doesn't miss out on them entirely. Then the next year put them both in Bigger but take 2 years to do it so that they will both be ready for Preparing when you get to it. Add Bigger's extensions for your oldest that second year if you feel he needs them. If I end up taking 2 years to do Bigger because of combining the 6yo and 8yo, then I will add the extensions for my 8yo at some point.

Hope this helps!