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I'm looking into starting HOD with my younger children. I have previously used sonlight with my oldest k-5th (11 years), but now with my younger children I need something else.... Something with less read aloud time! I still want to continue reading to my children but hopefully combining something! Yet what also draws me to HOD is the specific skill level of the programs...

so what would work for my 6 year old daughter(birthday in dec)- who has started reading the beginners bible, can do copywork, simple spelling, is almost through singapore 1a. We have mostly finished sonlight k books, so she is good listener. I think placement wise beyond is a good fit for her... and I think her younger brother who turned 4 in september could do the left side of beyond with her.... but I am not planning on starting math with him for a while and probably start a reading program this fall when he turns 5. He is just learning his sounds and how to write numbers, together they are doing sonlight science k and he can listen to 5-10 or so colorful pages being read but thats about it..... but looking ahead what will I do for the next year? At that point will the left side of bigger (the history, bible and science) be too much for my 6 year old son?? I also have a 2 year old dd birthday in feb.

Ive thought maybe just doing LHFHG for my 6 and 4 year old but I won't be using the right side for either. and does LHFHG include spelling words for my 6 year old or dictation?? Or maybe just do beyond with my 6 dd and later on combine my 2 and 4 year olds when they are both ready for LHFHG??

Yikes this seems so complicated when I look ahead!

Hi big sky, and welcome to the HOD Board! Thanks for telling about your 2 dc, and I think you will find HOD has a wonderful balance of varied skill-based lessons. Read alouds are truly kept in balance with the rest of the learning, so I promise you will not grow hoarse over this! I think your 6 yo dd fits perfectly in Beyond, and your 4 yo does not place as near to her as he would with his 2 yo sister. It sounds like your 2 and 4 yo could enjoy leisurely going through LHTH together over the next few years half-speed, and you can very easily add the right side K options of LHFHG the second year for your 5 yo ds. Then, that pair of dc would probably be able to begin LHFHG together. I think the pairing of an older ds with a younger dd is often a good one, as dd seem to generally do quite well in the fine motor skills area earlier on, while boys sometimes develop that skill later (or at least develop the will to do that skill, later ). I think your dd would fit squarely in Beyond and flourish, and I think your 2 younger dc would be well paired in LHTH together. Those are just a few thoughts I had, but you will know best. HOD has been a good fit for each of our dc, and they are placed in different guides. It has been oh-so-easy and enjoyable to teach them each year as they are each well placed and can cheerfully progress and do the work asked of them each year. I think you'd find the same to be true for your dc! HTH!

In Christ,
Julie