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Ds is turning 6 at the end of May and I was planning on starting LHFHG for 1st grade in June. Dd is turning 4 in the beginning of May. I am trying to decide whether it is feasible to combine them and do LHFHG with both of them doing it at half speed over 2yrs so that dd will be 6 when we start Beyond and I can continue to combine them. This means that ds will be newly turned 8 at the beginning of beyond. Ds will be using some of beyonds right side this year(math, and LA), and dd would do preschool level math and LA and then do the K options of LHFGH the next year with the 2nd half of LHFHG. I figure I could then have them do beyond together at full speed and add the extensions in Bigger so ds would be more challenged since he would be on the high end of the age ranges, if that makes any sense. My question: would I be doing ds a disservice by doing LHFHG at half speed and putting him at the end of the age span? I know that in Bigger I can add the extensions to make up for it but I just want to make the right decision. I am currently doing parts of LHTH with ds and dd for the 2nd time and adding in the K options from LHFHG with ds so I just don't know what to do with dd next year if I don't combine, and they really enjoy doing school together.

I'm combining my middle two. We'll be starting LHFHG when DD2 will have just turned 6 and DD3 will be a little over 4 I"m going to go half speed, but every couple of months I'm going to make sure we still need to be going half speed. Either way I'm planning on starting Beyond when they are roughly 8 and 6 Unless something changes greatly between now and then DD2 will be doing the basics from Bigger along with DITHOR. So you can even beef up Beyond to make it more challenging.... but you might find you don't need to!

Sorry for any typos... the baby is helping me type

I think LHFHG half-speed with your 2 dc sounds like a good plan, depending on your 4 yo. When you look at the placement chart, where does your 4 yo place?
http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php

If your 4 yo doesn't know her letters and at least some sounds yet, or cannot sit and listen to 2-3 pages of a book with few pictures read aloud to her very easily, then she may need LHTH. However, if this is true, you could very easily do LHTH the first year along with your half-speed LHFHG to fill in any gaps she may have. LHTH only takes 20-30 minutes to do and is a blast. We're going through it a third time with our third son and enjoying it immensely. I think your long-term plan to keep the 2 of them together is a good one, especially since a goal of yours is to combine. Your dc are quite close in age and this should work well long-term.

In Christ,
Julie