Help please! Placement for my 5 1/2 girl

[Tifnydale]

I have been looking at switching our curriculum this semester. Neither one of us are happy with it. One of my biggest concerns is it is throwing an awful lot at one time and she is not spending enough time on learning her letters and sounds. I would like to spend more time on the basics. Even though she is reading some I'm not sure She is truly ready. It is a constant battle.
I just want us to enjoy these learning times together. My question is should we start with the preschool or the kindergarten in order to get the basics down. I don't want to get into something else that is really too advanced. I should add she is great on math and counting to 50 and beautiful writing. She just can't get her letters, sounds and numbers down by sight. I really don't want to move on until she has them down. Also, if we did the little hands would it be possible to do two lessons in one day in order to finish it this semester. We have to test in my state and I don't want her too far behind. She is extremely smart but so far shows no interest in school bc it is boring to her. And honestly the curriculum we are using now is boring to me also! I did look at the placement guide but she is pretty much half and half so I'm unsure which direction to go. Thanks!

[Nealewill]

Little Hearts for His Glory is the level where kids will learn to read and write. Little Hands for Heaven is where kids will learn the names of letters and names of numbers.

When do you actually have to test? In Ohio, you only need to start doing formalized testing or assessments when kids are 6 at the start date of school. So kids are not assessed or tested until they are 7 or almost 7.

I must say up front that I may not be the best person to answer your question. Others will hopefully chime in who have been in your same situation. I will say this - every one of my kids learned the sound that the letter made prior to memorizing the name of the letter. I also did not come from HOD originally (I wish I had.....) and I was not meticulous about making them learn the letter name. Eventually it all worked out just fine. I am familiar with the levels Little Hearts for His Glory all the way up through Creation to Christ. But another thought I just had now - as my children started to write more (handwriting practice), that in turned helped tremendously with letter name and number recognition. Can she write letters or numbers at all? If so, then I would probably go with Little Hearts for His Glory. Even my youngest was doing lots of math concepts prior to being able to write numbers. Even now, my youngest is very smart but still constantly flips numbers. I previously had read that flip-flopping numbers and letters is very common when kids are younger and it typically dissipates entirely by 8 or 9. I have found this to be very true in my kids already. So if she writes letters and numbers and still flips them around, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Practice makes perfect and you will get that with Little Hearts and even Beyond Little Hearts. However, if she can't write any letters or numbers, then I would definitely go with Little Hands to Heaven.

[Tifnydale]

Thank you for the Info. She writes very well. All her number up to 20. And probably half of her letters. My one concern is she doesn't know all of the sounds yet either. Her curriculum now had her Lear two sounds and then she was already trying to read. I feel like it is just so much for her bc she's trying to learn the letters, sounds and they are throwing 4 or 5 family words out every day that she has to learn and a bunch of sight words. She cannot stand it. I feel like what we r using is just all over the place.

[Jennymommy]

I'm thinking LHFHG would be a great fit. If she is artistic, the Reason for Handwriting books could be fun, and the thinking skills books are so much fun:-) We loved History for Little Pilgrims. The math activities will strengthen her understanding of numbers as she is learning to recognize them. And the Reading Lesson is easy to fit to her pace, remembering to not go too long each day. Many families are not using a "guide per year" pace, so just start in and enjoy

[mommybelle]

She sounds like she may be ready for LHFHG, but I may would go half-speed at first since she is on the young end of the guide and also since you mentioned it being a constant battle (maybe even for just a few weeks until you feel like her attitude about doing school has improved). I would certainly give The Reading Lesson a try (this is one of the ones recommended by HOD), but I would keep lessons very short (10-15 minutes).

Also, do you have any of the Leapfrog DVD's? I did not use these with my oldest child, but I wish I had. My 4.5 yo knows most of her letter sounds from watching the Leapfrog Letter Factory.

And, also, I would encourage you to just follow the guide. There is no need to add anything to it (besides some outdoor play)! HOD is complete as it is written.

[Tifnydale]

Yes we have those on netflix. So you all think it would be better to go through the little hearts slowly instead of trying to do a full year in little hands this semester and starting the little hearts this August when she's six? Just curious...I want to make the right decision. This curriculum we have been on has really put a bad taste in her mouth so much so that I have just quit it and making my own from other resources until we make a decision and get this in. I just want it to be a good experience for her and me.

[Nealewill]

HOD has a lot of and interesting things to do. It is definitely packed full of skill building but it is all packed full of enjoyable activities. I think doing LHFHG will be great and definitely less stressful than trying to squeeze LHTH in double time. I am not sure how long of a break you have taken but I would probably take a few weeks off of learning all together while you await the curriculum to come in. And then once you start I would just tell your dd that you are starting over. I would read all of the instructions in the guide. Read all of the instructions in the various resources that HOD sells and that you are ordering in. This will help tremendously in giving her a great start at a new product. If it were me, this is how I would approach it.

[bethelmommy]

It looks like you have several options here to consider:

1. You can start LHFHG at full speed. This is probably my least recommended option based on what you have shared. If your dd is already struggling with school desire/interest, this might seem a little overwhelming.

2. You can start LHFHG at 1/2 speed and remediate where needed for letter recognition, sounds, and math with Leap Frog videos, math manipulatives, etc... If your state requires you to be working at this level of curriculum, then I would consider this option.

3. Do LHTH as scheduled or 2 lessons a day if dd is interested and then add where and when she is ready for more. For example, if you want more math, you start the SM scheduled in the LHFHG guide in addition to or as replacement for the LHTH math activities. Once you feel she is rolling along with letter recognition and sounds, you can add The Reading Lesson or RME. If she likes writing, it is fine to add in the Kindegarten Handwriting Book and/or Fine Motor Skills books. This option would probably be my first choice to make sure that any learning gaps are filled in and to reduce frustration in moving forward. As scheduled, LHTH is only about 20-25 min. a day and therefore easy to ramp up to 2 lessons a day with a break in between each lesson, OR to stay at 1 lesson a day, but add in 1 or more of the three R's mentioned above as she is ready. When you get to LHFHG, you would just move on to the 1st grade option for anything she has already completed in the three R's at the K level.

I hope this helps. Sometimes it takes some trial and error to figure out what works best for your child's learning style and your teaching style. You are a smart and caring Momma to be so attentive early on to what is and isn't working. I am praying that God will fill you with wisdom, clarity, and peace as you consider the best course to take.

[mommybelle]

One of my biggest concerns is it is throwing an awful lot at one time and she is not spending enough time on learning her letters and sounds. I would like to spend more time on the basics. Even though she is reading some I'm not sure She is truly ready. It is a constant battle.

After reading your last comment, I sensed some hesitation on going with LHFHG. So I read back over your comments, and the above comment from your original post really stood out the second time I read it. If you truly want to focus on the basics, then LHTH may be the best fit for your daughter. When my oldest daughter turned 5 yo, I actually started her on LHTH though I felt she was ready for LHFHG. I pushed her to do more than what was written in the guide, so we struggled getting through even those lessons with our busy schedule at the time. My daughter is a little bit of a free spirit and very easily distracted at times. She comes by it honestly!

So then I jumped ship and switched to LHFHG when she was 5.5 yo. I actually started her on The Reading Lesson a few months before she turned 5.5 yo. I am now working through LHTH with my now 4 yo (who will be 5 yo in April). We are currently on Unit 2. Looking back, I wish I had continued on with LHTH with my oldest until she was finished. Instead, I pushed her to begin reading when I honestly do not believe she was developmentally ready. But, oddly enough, she STILL remembers with a lot of joy the few lessons we completed using LHTH when she was 5 yo and has asked to sit in on those specific lessons with her younger sister. I thought she was bored with LHTH, and that is why I switched her to LHFHG.

I should add she is great on math and counting to 50 and beautiful writing.

Now your above comment is why I thought LHFHG might be more appropriate. Handwriting was a daily battle for us (along with reading). I do think my daughter was ready for the Singapore K math at 5 yo, but 5 yo is still pretty young for Singapore. But some children are definitely ready for Singapore at 5 yo.

3. Do LHTH as scheduled or 2 lessons a day if dd is interested and then add where and when she is ready for more. For example, if you want more math, you start the SM scheduled in the LHFHG guide in addition to or as replacement for the LHTH math activities. Once you feel she is rolling along with letter recognition and sounds, you can add The Reading Lesson or RME. If she likes writing, it is fine to add in the Kindegarten Handwriting Book and/or Fine Motor Skills books. This option would probably be my first choice to make sure that any learning gaps are filled in and to reduce frustration in moving forward. As scheduled, LHTH is only about 20-25 min. a day and therefore easy to ramp up to 2 lessons a day with a break in between each lesson, OR to stay at 1 lesson a day, but add in 1 or more of the three R's mentioned above as she is ready. When you get to LHFHG, you would just move on to the 1st grade option for anything she has already completed in the three R's at the K level.

I really like this idea. This way you can meet your daughter where she is. If she excels at math and handwriting, then you can meet her where she is by using the K options for the math and handwriting (FMS) from LHFHG alongside LHTH. Then for the next year, you would just complete LHFHG with the 1st grade options. If you do decide to use the Singapore K math alongside LHTH, I would recommend ordering the LHFHG guide as well if you are able so that you have the math activities to go along with the workbook. Carrie's math activities make it fun, and I think they really help to cement those math ideas. If I had it to do over again with my oldest, this is the option I would have chosen (except I would have backed off on handwriting for my daughter). The LHFHG Kindergarten FMS books are wonderful, and they are very appropriate for a 5 yo!

Just a few questions... When does your daughter turn 6 yo? And have you looked at the 1st week of lesson plans for both LHTH and LHFHG?

[Tifnydale]

Thank you all so much for your comments. Everyone has been so helpful with their suggestions. I have looked at both first week samples. Which confused me even more because there seemed like they were both so wonderful :0). Honestly, they could probably both fit for us this year. I liked the LHTH had so much focus on the letter you were learning which is something she has lacked this year. I am very torn though because I certainly do want to challenge her. Because I know everyone says their child is smart and I think mine Is but you would not believe the vocabulary on this child. Everyone comments on it. Is it horribly of me after what we have experienced with this first semester to just want a relaxed and sweet time these last few months? Bc I feel bad but I think that's what I hesitate for not being able to see the full year of both grades. Because the first few weeks of what we have now seemed a good fit for her but then it quickly became very over complicated in my opinion. There were tears and me constantly on her. I thought this is not right. I didn't even like teaching it how could she like learning it? I am very torn :0). She will be 6 the end of April. She went to a Christian day prep Academy for preschool from January to May last year. They did not feel she was truly ready to move on to Kindergarten and honestly seeing the maturity difference between her and her classmates I had to agree, by that point we had already decided to homeschool anyway. She would beg me everyday to let her learn at home. After much prayer we came back to homeschool, my sister and I were up until high school and I felt it was a calling on our family. Most of her preschool classmates were already 5 going on 6 that year in preschool. She was still only four. Maybe that's also why I hesitate. Should I just have made this year a full year of preschool after all? I put her in the K level with what we have now bc after talking to their advisor at a convention it seemed it was right. I was wrong :0). I also had no idea at the time the choices and wonderful things that are available now for homeschoolers. I wish we would have known about HOD then :0). We have to do testing the first of April because that same school is our umbrella school. I just don't want her so far behind either but then I already know that they all learn at a different pace and I don't want to push her if she isn't ready. Maybe with the different type of learning she would be fine with LHFHG. I keep coming back to LHTH though because I just don't want there to be any gaps. Which is why I believe I am hesitant. It's hard because I don't want to hold her back either :0).

[Nealewill]

Have you called HOD on the phone? You do sound torn! They would probably be the place to start with you question and they are very helpful in placing kids.

[Nealewill]

Have you called HOD on the phone? You do sound torn! They would probably be the place to start with you question and they are very helpful in placing kids.

[Tifnydale]

I have not yet. I plan to do that today. It's usually late at night before I am able to do any of my mommy stuff :0). So I was trying to get some insight on here Saturday night and last night.

[sweetgrace]

I agree with bethelmommy. Also, if it were me I would choose LHTH (choice #3). LHTH has the basics, is gentle, quick to accomplish during the day, super short lessons, and if you felt like you wanted to add math or writing it would be really easy to do. If your daughter is hesitant to do school LHTH is where I would start.