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Hi Ladies,
I haven't posted or been on the boards for quite a while, but I'm here to ask for some advice.

This year I've been doing LHTH with my 4 and 5 year olds. My 5 year old hasn't been challenged by it and I've added in phonics, math-u-see, rod and staff workbooks, A reason for Handwriting K and some unit studies from download n go.

I was planning on moving them together to LHFHG next September. I know that my 4 year old will be ready for it (she'll turn 5 around the time we start) but I'm worried that it won't be challenging enough for my 5 year old (he'll be 6 when we start). Looking at the placement chart he places in Beyond more than LHFHG. I would really rather not have two guides going, but I'm realizing that I am essentially running an extra program for him anyways with adding on to LHTH. I'm wondering what you would do? Is there some way to combine the two of them for at least part of each day? As I understand it, I will need to buy both guides for next year in order to have the emerging reader schedule, so assuming I buy both guides would I be better off combining the kids or just having each do their own work? My hearts desire is to have them doing work together, but I'm not so confident that's an option. Maybe one of you ladies will have a suggestion?

Thanks so much for your time!
Nancy

One thought would be that you could still combine them into Little Hearts, like you mentioned before, for the left side of the guide. Then for the 3 r's you could up the level for your older child. This way they could still enjoy learning together, you older wouldn't miss the great program that Little Hearts is, and they would each have the 3 r's at each of their levels. Again, this is just my observation! You'll know what will work best with your sweet little ones!

In Christ,

Lisa

I agree with the pp, by combining them in LHFHG for their core program, you can have them together for all but the 3 R's, which they'll need to be separate for anyway. LHFHG is more challenging than LHTH. By adding in the right side of Beyond, your ds will have the Emerging Readers books and comprehension questions, 1 x a week grammar introduction to parts of speech, spelling activities and instruction. I would also do Beyond's Boy Interest Storytime with him. This will take maybe 10 extra minutes, and it teaches these important skills:

*Day 1: introduce and study different types of literature
*Day 2: model narration to foster comprehension
*Day 3: identify and analyze a different story element for each genre
*Day 4: relate personally to one Godly character trait, compare
Biblical and book characters, and select one area to improve
*Day 5: practice narration by retelling the story in a variety of ways


The following year when you use Beyond as your core guide, you can just choose the Classic (or Girl Interest) Storytime and have all new books to read with the 2 of them. LHFHG's Storytime will be important to do with the 4 yo, but it takes 5-10 minutes, so not hard to do both. (Plus, it's fun - they're wonderful books!)

I would also have ds do "A Reason for Handwriting A" or something comparable. You could have him copy his Bible verse each week from LHFHG for beginning copywork too. This would be an easy way to keep the 2 of them together while still moving ds forward. Once your dc get to BHFHG, there will be more work and ds will definitely be challenged enough (if not, of course there is always the extension package). I love HOD's concept of hitting the 3 R's hard first and then gradually adding much more difficulty and length to the plans as dc mature and are prepared for it. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

Julie, your wisdom is awesome!!!

Thank you so much for your replies!

Julie, thank you especially for taking the time to spell out how I could use both guides while still combining the kids as much as possible. I found it so encouraging! Something manageable rather than what I'm doing now which can be overwhelming and scattered at times.

Lisa, thank you for saying that I will know what's best - I sometimes forget that I can be confident in the decisions I've (prayerfully) made. That was really encouraging and blessed me today.

Nancy