Having a little roadblock with ds almost 5.....

[striving2Bprov31]

I need to pray for answers with this situation, and would love wisdom from this board for now!

My son who is getting ready to turn 5 seems stuck between two worlds. Those two worlds are LHTH and LHFHG! He is ready for more with having done much of LHTH. He is just ready to take on more. But he is just not yet ready for some of the elements of LHFHG. Maybe he will be by this fall-he'll be almost 5 and a half.

One of my ideas was to put some activity ideas of my own on paper for me to do everyday with him until he is ready for Little Hearts. While this seems fine (and like its not a big deal) I am finding that with four busy busy kids I just don't have the extra time and mental energy. I want to give to my son in this way, but I just need the help and consistency of my HOD!

Here are some specifics.....he is not yet ready for the history readings (i think, I don't know that for sure because i haven't tried yet), he is not yet ready to follow a more "formal" instruction from me--this is because I have kept his "schooling" very informal and relaxed up to this point, and somewhat delight directed (springboarding our activities off of what I see he is interested in). I also kept LHTH very relaxed. Even if I begin Little Heart anytime soon, I am going to delay formal reading instruction for another 6-8 months. Also, his interest in read aloud time with me has been lacking a little. He is not hyper, but extremely athletic and active. He is a very good listener, and loves a great book, but sometimes seems to "busy" to sit down to longer readings. Does this make sense?

I hope this gives a little picture of things....

The positives.....I think he will do well with the boxes broken up throughout the day. Like I said, in many ways he really is ready for more. He is very smart. He enjoys being at the table and doing cutting and pasting type activities and "writing". He does love books such as the Burgess books. Our reading together of late has been Beatrix Potter and he adores it. He loves to say, "I am affronted!"

Anyway, sorry this is long!
Suggestions or similar experience anyone? I don't want to push him into anything for sure, but I just have to have a plan everyday on paper for my time with him. Otherwise, the clock ticks away and I find that my time with him was not very well spent. I hope that makes sense. That is really my main reason for the question at hand!

Thanks to you!

[Mom2Monkeys]

I am currently in the exact same predicament!! I will PM you what we've been doing that is using LHTH but adds in what I'd call a "transition" time before starting LHFHG.

[my3sons]

What unit of LHTH is he in? What Bible are you using? Also, does he know his letters and at least 1 sound for each? And what are his fine motor skills like - i.e. can he start writing letters, cutting, pasting, tracing, gluing - etc.? Thanks!
In Christ,
Julie

[Motherjoy]

Have you thought about starting him on The Reading Lesson? You can add that in at a slow pace. While The Reading Lesson is listed in the LHFHG guide, its not scheduled by page, so starting it now won't mess with anything.

Also, what about Explode the Code. My boys love those books. They aren't CM, but they are fun and easy. We don't stress them or take them too seriously, but they provide a good 15 minutes of 'school' for my little boys.

[striving2Bprov31]

Julie--he has done LHTH up to unit 21. He does not yet quite know by heart all of the letter sounds as I have not "pushed" that. We are using The New Bible in Pictures. As far as his fine motor skills---he is left-handed for sure. He holds a pencil correctly. He loves to make stick figures with pencil and paper. He uses scissors really well-loves to cut and glue. He seems to enjoy "trying" to make letters although I haven't pushed it. He does pretty well with it. His letters are just messy and look like a child who has not written words yet! He `does really well with tracing. Does this explanation help?

I guess I could always try it half speed and just see what happens.

Just an FYI....I won't be using either of the phonics suggestions in the plans. The phonics reading instruction I will be using begins the child with learning all the individual letter sounds first, so I am not too worried as to whether or not he knows all of the sounds right now.

Hope this helps a little!
thanks!

[striving2Bprov31]

I forgot to mention something....earlier today I sat down with the Little Hearts guide and all of it's resources and did a "trial run". I went through all of the assignments just as if I were doing Day1 with my son. Then, I did a few of the other days as well. After doing that, I think he may be more ready than I thought he would be. Now I really think he might do fine with the history and science readings. The history readings really are nice and short. I don't yet own the Earlybird math books, but I've heard that they are very hands on which would be great. I know he would love the rhymes in motion.

This may just work, but I would love to hear thoughts on this!
Thank you all!

[moedertje]

My oldest son was more of a busy child, that did not sit still longer than necessary. He was and still is very gross motor oriented and got his athletic gifting NOT from me! We started LHFHG shortly after he turned 5. He had gone through LHTH and used ETC books, which worked well for him! He did know the sounds and recognized his alphabet even before he started LHTH. You will be surprised at how a few months will make a huge difference. He did extremely well with LHFHG sitting and listening and remembering the stories in the Burgess books and participating with the activities given. He enjoyed it and has turned into a lover of books.
You can always start your little one at half pace or only do the 3 R's this K-year (Math, Handwriting, Fine Motor, Reading). Than when he starts first grade he would do LHFHG with all the 1st grade options for the 3 R's. This would relieve you of the stress of coming up with something and would help you to focus on him learning the 3 R's.
Success with the planning and may the Lord guide you in your decisions.

[MomtoJGJE]

What I'm doing with DD3 is doing LHTH with the fine motor skills workbook from LHFHG (whatever the first one of the K options is, I can't remember right now) along with an easy alphabet writing workbook and a math workbook that is similar to Earlybird K, but a little easier.

We'll be starting LHFHG half speed in the fall with her, maybe with full speed 3Rs, we'll see... and we'll just not add in the fine motor skills workbooks until we get to the point where we have finished in the one we are currently using.

[my3sons]

I think he probably could benefit from finishing out LHTH as he is just on the verge of being ready for LHFHG. I would probably do 2 lessons a day in LHTH and finish it out, and then begin LHFHG half-speed, so that you can just begin the guide and enjoy the simplicity of that, especially considering you are a busy homeschooling mom doing 2 other programs with dc too. Could he begin LHFHG now? Maybe, but is it very necessary, and is it the best for the day to day flow for all considered? Only you can answer those questions, but I think I'd opt to fast forward 2 lessons a day through LHTH, as when he finishes, he'll probably close the gap to be totally ready for LHFHG, and then no tweaking, other than half-speed would be required. You will know best though!

In Christ,
Julie