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Hi everybody! I am new to HOD, after recommendation from friends. We have a DD4.5 and a DS 20mos. I currently teach Christian school, and we are planning to HS later. As of now, DD is eager to do school even when she arrives at home. So, in preparation for that, in love of a CM education, & in appreciation of a pre-prepared curriculum, we are embarking on this journey!

I wonder what to do with her? I'm guessing we start at LHTH? But DD already knows her letters, numbers to 120, shapes, colors, and Bible stories. So I am not sure if I should start LHFHG with her to see where she is at? I know we need to do Phonics with her, and handwriting.

DS is a very busy and interested younger brother, so that is a factor as well. I'm purchasing LHTH for his benefit!

Hi and welcome!
It sounds like your dd would probably enjoy starting LHFHG. I started my ds at 4.5 and we had a *great* time! My only regret was that I went through it at a normal pace, which he really enjoyed, but he wasn't quite ready for the next guide yet when we finished, so we've been in a bit of a holding pattern in some areas as he develops more. Have you checked out the placement chart? It's very helpful:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php
If she fits well, I'd start her in LHFHG but slowly, often referred to as "half-speed" on this board. It can be done however fits your family, but the general idea is to take two days to cover one day's worth in the guide, but keep whatever pace you need to for phonics, math, fine motor skills. The first half covers the Bible, and the second half introduces the growth of the church and various figures through history to present day. The second half is definitely more abstract, because there aren't beautiful pictures for every day's history story . The storytime books are great, but they can take some kids a bit to get used to listening to stories without pictures. The readings are very bite-size, though, and teach those listening skills well over time, IMO. It would be easy to do LHTH slowly as well, and both dc could enjoy the songs. I'm doing LHTH with my dd who's almost 4, and big brother always stops whatever he's doing to join us for the song, and acting out the story when we do that You're going to love HOD! I'm glad to be doing LHTH but I am chomping at the bit to return to using HOD for ds6... I love having Carrie's plans, because (so far ) it's just what I was trying to pull together on my own, but I just didn't have the energy to follow through with my own plans HTH!

Thanks, Kristen. Yes, a few months back I had checked the placement chart and she does place well into LHFHG. That's a good idea to go at half-pace. I'm sure she'll love to sing along with little brother, too; she is that kind of girl. Thanks for the insight!!!

Happy New Year!!!

If it were me i would probably do LHFHG in two years. Sounds like ready for phonics side and then the next year you could add in the histroy side and the whatever level of phonics, math, etc she is at. Then when you get to the next guide she will be ready for it.
I have taken breaks or done the 2yr thing so far with my kids. There does seem to be a little gap btwn LHTH and LHFHG. So do what you need to do. Always easier to make it harder than to start and find you have to back down some. That is my opinion, anyway.
Welcome to HOD!
JEnn D

We just finished LHTH with my 4.5 in late November. We kicked off LHFHG today I did both sides. This is what I observed: My daughter is not ready for the history reading ,reading selection, nor the Devotional. This is my plan work independently on Social Studies using corresponding letters to the country ex..A is for Argentina. The reading I am using is an illustrated version of Beatrix Potter's collection very similar to the Burgess stories but illustrated. I will repeat using our ABC Devotional and Bible from LHTH. Once she completes K we will repeat LHFHG for 1st grade in its entirety using all reading books,workbooks, Bible and devotional as recommended. She will be 5.5 when we begin the first grade. I hope this helps.

Christina

Christina, your post is extremely helpful. While I think DD is ready for something beyond LHTH, I don't think she's ready for a full-fledged LHFHG. She has an attention span that's decent, but she really wants to intersperse "workbook" time (she's a "Perfect Paula" or a "performer" using Cathy Duffy's learning style definitions) and I just don't think she's ready for a full-fledged 1st grade program; she's got to get through K and study phonics and learn handwriting!

So I love your suggestions; thank you!!!

You're very welcome . I pray we both have success in this Kindergarten venture.

Christina

Heidi,

Another thought to ponder would be to use LHTH for your daughter as written to get all of the Biblical foundation and hone her skills in all areas, but then add any of the 3R's from Little Hearts that she is ready to do too. She could use one of the phonics programs from Little Hearts, the K handwriting workbook, the Rod and Staff workbooks, and even the Earlybird K math from LHFHG is she seems ready. You'd in essence teach all of LHTH and teach most of the right side of LHFHG each day. This will make LHTH more of a K program but will leave the meat of the LHFHG guide for the following year when you'd use the grade 1 resources. It would also give you a plan focused on God's word through the Bible stories and give you great coverage of all kindergarten readiness skills without all of the prep and planning. I did something very similar to this with my own second son who was 4 turning 5 doing LHTH (even though he could write and read quite a bit already). We have terrific memories of that time, and he continues to excel now in grade 6!

Blessings,
Carrie

Carrie, I don't know how I missed your response. What a good idea. Would it matter, though, if for Biblical foundations we have read through the Beginner's Bible (which I notice is a reader for one of the later guides, right?) several times? We've also read through the Usborne Children's Bible several times. Would that change your response, or do you still recommend LHTH for my dd4.5 (this summer, when she begins K).

Heidi,

From my perspective, you can never have too much Bible of any kind and LHTH allows you to choose which Bible you use or read right from the Scripture itself. So, if your needs have not changed in a big way by summer, I would still lean in this direction.

Blessings,
Carrie