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did you use the readers too? I am currently using the Abeka K5 phonics and reading curriculum with my DD. I have the K4, K5, 1st and 2nd grade curriculum and readers for this. We started the k5 curriculum midyear this year (DD is in her 2nd trip through LHTH). We will finish up about mid way through LHFHG next school year, and I'll move right into the 1st grade Abeka phonics and reading program. I scanned through the lesson plans, and it does include comprehension questions about the readers, but I don't know how those questions compare to HOD's emerging readers and comprehension questions in Beyond. So, I wonder if when we get to Beyond should I only use the Abeka phonics and reading (I already have all the readers, etc.) or should I nix Abeka and use the ERS and HOD's comp. questions to prepare DD for how HOD is set up in later guides?

I should also add that I have thought about doing LHFHG full speed and then filling in for a bit with other things before jumping into Beyond so that DD would be on the higher end of the age ranges for the rest of the guides. So, I could maybe then do Abeka 2nd grade phonics and reading, math, and some other odds and ends alone and then start up with Beyond with the Emerging readers?

Hmmm...

I used abeka phonics and readers with my first son. It worked for him - but we could barely tolerate the readers. They were so dry and uninteresting. So, I mostly ignored the readers and had him read other books that kept his interest. Then, we moved to the Rod and Staff Reading program. The workbooks were just too much work, so I eventually dropped the workbooks and just had him read the stories while answering some of the workbook questions orally.
Once we finally found HOD - we read through the emerging readers. Even though they were a little bit too easy for him, I am not sorry we went through them.
With my 2nd son, I have done a little bit with abeka phonics, but did not revisit the abeka readers at all. He has been reading through the emerging readers this year(1st grade) and has really enjoyed them. For my 3rd son, I will not do abeka at all. I plan on taking him through The Reading Lesson instead, and when he's ready he'll move on the the emerging readers.

If it were me, I would do the emerging reader set. I can't really speak to how the comprehension questions compare to HOD - but I can speak to how much my son did not enjoy them. They both have loved the emerging readers, though!

Personally, I would use the Emerging Reader's Set. The set includes a wide array of genres, which lends itself well as an introduction to skills needed for doing "Drawn into the Heart of Reading 2/3" (plus they are great fun!) . The comprehension questions require higher level thinking, and were carefully chosen to fit in the upper level of Bloom's Taxonomy (i.e. synthesis, analysis, etc.). They also teach dc to begin to develop oral narration skills, which is of benefit before doing the oral narrations in Beyond Little Hearts. Finally, they are all living books, that fit right in with the type of books dc will be enjoying in HOD for years to come. We actually started the Emerging Reader's Set with our second ds in the middle of LHFHG, because he was ready for them. We used both Bibles to extend the set, and we loved it! However, these are just my thoughts, you will know what fits your goals best. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie