New- w/ 3 kids- suggestions please?
New- w/ 3 kids- suggestions please?
I'm looking at HOD for next year. Problem- DD age 5 looks like a good fit for Little Hearts. DS, age 7, fits Beyond or Bigger, depending on where he's at by the end of this year. DD, age 10, looks like a good fit for Preparing. Will I lose my mind trying to do all three? It looks like quite a bit of teacher-student interaction. I've thought of using Bigger for the two oldest, using the extensions for dd, who will be in Grade 5 next year. Are there separate spelling or dictation lists for older kids? The spelling looks very low level to me. (Like what DS is doing this year, would probably focus on dication with him) My DD is also hooked on LLATL, and not big on change. Could I use that for LA for her? Are the Rod and Staff English "advanced". Not sure where to start with my DS, 7. Any help would be appreciated. I really love the idea of HOD, just not sure if I can pull it off with three levels at once.
Hi Julien,
You are going to get a LOT of great suggestions and advice from the moms here. I recently was asking very similar questions. Three of my boys fit Carrie's programs, but they each tested out perfectly for a different one.
Though, some people can do 3 programs, the goal is to condense where you can. Many people do two and feel as though it is wonderfully FULL, but that they still have a life outside of school. Here is what we are going to do:
5&7 year old combined w/ Little Hearts (5 yo all subjects, 7yo hx/science/bible)
7 year- Purchase the Beyond manuel just for the math and LA. (however, will do hx/science/bible from little hearts w/ brother)
Bigger for my 11 year old special needs son for everything.
Drawn into the heart of reading for my reluctant reading 10th grader.
I hope this information helps and look forward to what others have to share
You are going to get a LOT of great suggestions and advice from the moms here. I recently was asking very similar questions. Three of my boys fit Carrie's programs, but they each tested out perfectly for a different one.
Though, some people can do 3 programs, the goal is to condense where you can. Many people do two and feel as though it is wonderfully FULL, but that they still have a life outside of school. Here is what we are going to do:
5&7 year old combined w/ Little Hearts (5 yo all subjects, 7yo hx/science/bible)
7 year- Purchase the Beyond manuel just for the math and LA. (however, will do hx/science/bible from little hearts w/ brother)
Bigger for my 11 year old special needs son for everything.
Drawn into the heart of reading for my reluctant reading 10th grader.
I hope this information helps and look forward to what others have to share
Mary, Mama to 4 amazing sons and wife to one incredible husband! Come check us out on the blog: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MamaMary/
Hi Julien!
I think lots of us are pondering your situation, and trying to think this all through to figure out what the best combinations for your children would be. I'm having a hard time coming to a conclusion, just like you are. In general, I think you should only teach 2 HOD curriculums to begin with. Then, the next year, you could go into 3 of them and probably be fine. I think it's a good idea to look down the road too, so while I want to say do Little Hearts... with your 5 yo, and Bigger... with your other 2, I don't think your 7 yo (who would then be 8 the next year) could do Preparing... the following year. Does that make sense?
Could you please answer these few questions, and then I'll get right back to you, and I know others will too? We've all sorted through placement questions together with each other many times before, so I know you'll get more feedback.
Could you tell about your 7 year old's...:
Reading: Emerging Reader? Or, reading independently yet?
Writing: Can she write easily? If so, how much is she used to?
Math: Will she be using HOD's math?
Could you tell about your 10 year old's...:
Writing?
Math: Will she be using HOD's math?
History and Science: Anything specific here, or pretty flexible?
For your 5 year old, would Little Hands to Heaven be a possibility, or only Little Hearts?
For reading, the 10 year old can easily do LLATL yet, and any HOD curriculum will still fit just fine. If that's going great, by all means keep it!
Could you please give a little info. about the above questions, and then I will feel so much better about giving advice... I don't want to steer you in the wrong direction. We will all work through this together, so don't worry about that. That is the kind of board we have here, so please hang in there and it'll get "talked out" til you're smiling and peaceful in the end! Other gals can attest to that! I'll be watching for your posts and be sure to give you my 2 cents!
I think lots of us are pondering your situation, and trying to think this all through to figure out what the best combinations for your children would be. I'm having a hard time coming to a conclusion, just like you are. In general, I think you should only teach 2 HOD curriculums to begin with. Then, the next year, you could go into 3 of them and probably be fine. I think it's a good idea to look down the road too, so while I want to say do Little Hearts... with your 5 yo, and Bigger... with your other 2, I don't think your 7 yo (who would then be 8 the next year) could do Preparing... the following year. Does that make sense?
Could you please answer these few questions, and then I'll get right back to you, and I know others will too? We've all sorted through placement questions together with each other many times before, so I know you'll get more feedback.
Could you tell about your 7 year old's...:
Reading: Emerging Reader? Or, reading independently yet?
Writing: Can she write easily? If so, how much is she used to?
Math: Will she be using HOD's math?
Could you tell about your 10 year old's...:
Writing?
Math: Will she be using HOD's math?
History and Science: Anything specific here, or pretty flexible?
For your 5 year old, would Little Hands to Heaven be a possibility, or only Little Hearts?
For reading, the 10 year old can easily do LLATL yet, and any HOD curriculum will still fit just fine. If that's going great, by all means keep it!
Could you please give a little info. about the above questions, and then I will feel so much better about giving advice... I don't want to steer you in the wrong direction. We will all work through this together, so don't worry about that. That is the kind of board we have here, so please hang in there and it'll get "talked out" til you're smiling and peaceful in the end! Other gals can attest to that! I'll be watching for your posts and be sure to give you my 2 cents!
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
Thanks for your replies. Here's the lowdown on my kids:
DD, age 5:
Reading: Knows all letter sounds, starting to blend cvc words. Ready for
phonics instruction.
Writing: Can copy all letters. Can write most letters from memory.
Writes first and last name correctly.
Math: Using MUS Primer. Will probably use Alpha next year.
History/Science: Not much experience, other than listening in on siblings.
DS, age 7:
Reading: Has known letters sounds and how to blend for 1+ years.
Reading seems to be just clicking in the past few months.
So, Emerging Reader, I'd say.
Writing: Reisistant writer, with fine motor issues. Our main focus for the
next few months, will be to work on this. Can write long and
short vowels words, and sentences with HIgh-Freq. words
and/or easily encodable from dictation. But he doesn't like it!
Math: Mus Beta this year. MUS Gamma next year.
History/ Science: Likes these subjects. Great recall. Can handle "higher level" in these areas.
DD, age 10:
Reading: On level for her grade. (4 this year.)
Writing: Has issues with spelling. Does well with mechanics. Uses the computer for some writing. Using LLATL this year, with supplements. She would like to continue with it, but I also like the idea of the Rod and Staff books.
Math: MUS Delta this year. MUS Epsilon next.
History/Science: Likes these subjects.
We'll likely continue with MUS for math. I wondered how "advanced" the Rod and Staff are. If I go with those instead of LLATL, would DD (10) be better with starting in book 3 or 4? If I keep LLATL, I probably wouldn't do the book studies, and use DITHR instead. Ds son 7, has had very light grammar/mechanics so far. He'll technically be in grade 3 next year. Would he be better with the English 2? Also should mention that DD age 5, has Nov. birthday. And DS, 7, has an Oct. birthday, so they're on the young side for thier "grade". Thanks for your help.
Julie
DD, age 5:
Reading: Knows all letter sounds, starting to blend cvc words. Ready for
phonics instruction.
Writing: Can copy all letters. Can write most letters from memory.
Writes first and last name correctly.
Math: Using MUS Primer. Will probably use Alpha next year.
History/Science: Not much experience, other than listening in on siblings.
DS, age 7:
Reading: Has known letters sounds and how to blend for 1+ years.
Reading seems to be just clicking in the past few months.
So, Emerging Reader, I'd say.
Writing: Reisistant writer, with fine motor issues. Our main focus for the
next few months, will be to work on this. Can write long and
short vowels words, and sentences with HIgh-Freq. words
and/or easily encodable from dictation. But he doesn't like it!
Math: Mus Beta this year. MUS Gamma next year.
History/ Science: Likes these subjects. Great recall. Can handle "higher level" in these areas.
DD, age 10:
Reading: On level for her grade. (4 this year.)
Writing: Has issues with spelling. Does well with mechanics. Uses the computer for some writing. Using LLATL this year, with supplements. She would like to continue with it, but I also like the idea of the Rod and Staff books.
Math: MUS Delta this year. MUS Epsilon next.
History/Science: Likes these subjects.
We'll likely continue with MUS for math. I wondered how "advanced" the Rod and Staff are. If I go with those instead of LLATL, would DD (10) be better with starting in book 3 or 4? If I keep LLATL, I probably wouldn't do the book studies, and use DITHR instead. Ds son 7, has had very light grammar/mechanics so far. He'll technically be in grade 3 next year. Would he be better with the English 2? Also should mention that DD age 5, has Nov. birthday. And DS, 7, has an Oct. birthday, so they're on the young side for thier "grade". Thanks for your help.
Julie
Thanks for the info., Julien! I should let you know that I am using Little Hearts..., Bigger.... and Drawn into the Heart of Reading right now. Our year is going great, and we are loving our homeschool days! I think doing 2 HOD curriculums is easily manageable. I have done all of the HOD curriculums through the years, and they are all open and go, so Preparing... is the only one I'm hesitant to give too much advice about - Carrie would be better at that, since it's just being released. That being said, I still have 4 (Yes, 4!!!) scenarios going around in my head for your situation.
So, other HOD Ladies out there, give Julien and I some help processing this please!
Scenario 1:
Put your 5 yo in Little Hearts..., your 7 yo in Beyond..., and your 10 yo in Preparing...
Drawback: 3 programs is a bit much to start with, but then I'm not sure how long your current teaching time and school day are - for some moms, I know 3 HOD curriculums add up to a lot less time than whatever they were previously doing.
Scenario 2:
5 yo and 7 yo in Little Hearts... together, with separate LA and Math
Phonics for the 5 yo. The Emerging Reader's schedule in the back of Beyond... for your 7 yo. You'd need to get the Beyond... guide then, as it has the Emerging Reader's schedule and discussion questions. Also, I think spelling list 1 in Beyond..., could be used as well as the spelling activities to go along with it in the Beyond... LA's box with your 7 yo. You could also have your 7 yo. do upper level Handwriting A and Fine Motor Skills Thinking Skills within Little Hearts..., and your 5 yo do Handwriting K and Rod and Staff Workbooks for Fine motor skills in Little Hearts... For math, you'd do your MUS for DS, and that would work just fine.
10 yo would do Preparing... Probably start with English 3; English 4 is a JUMP! Probably DITHR's Level 2/3 or Level 4/5, check out the sample pages and DITHR guide pages to determine placement there.
Scenario 3:
5 yo in Little Hearts...
7 and 10 year old in Bigger..., with LA and Math separate
I hesitate with this one because the writing in Bigger... is more than in Beyond..., and I think your DS would be more ready for Bigger in another year. The notebooking and copywork would be harder in Bigger... I still think using Beyond... for spelling list 1 and the Emerging Readers would be best for DS in this scenario.
Scenario 4:
5 yo EITHER do Little Hands... with a phonics program and handwriting added in, OR do only one side of the Little Hearts plan a day, taking 2 years to finish Little Hearts...
7 yo in Beyond... (you could do just one side of the plans here too, taking 2 years to finish Beyond...)
10 yo in Preparing...
My thought here is that you'd free up some time with your 5 yo to use with DS and 10 yo., and it'd be easier to do 3 curriculums.
O.k. What do you think gals? Weigh in here please, and let's hash this out. Julien, is this totally not helping you and overwhelming you? If so, than just wait for someone else to jump in! I'm just trying to show you the options circling around in my head, and hoping you can rule out some of them on your end. I know that is about as clear as mud, but please, keep chatting here and we'll work through it til you're set!
So, other HOD Ladies out there, give Julien and I some help processing this please!
Scenario 1:
Put your 5 yo in Little Hearts..., your 7 yo in Beyond..., and your 10 yo in Preparing...
Drawback: 3 programs is a bit much to start with, but then I'm not sure how long your current teaching time and school day are - for some moms, I know 3 HOD curriculums add up to a lot less time than whatever they were previously doing.
Scenario 2:
5 yo and 7 yo in Little Hearts... together, with separate LA and Math
Phonics for the 5 yo. The Emerging Reader's schedule in the back of Beyond... for your 7 yo. You'd need to get the Beyond... guide then, as it has the Emerging Reader's schedule and discussion questions. Also, I think spelling list 1 in Beyond..., could be used as well as the spelling activities to go along with it in the Beyond... LA's box with your 7 yo. You could also have your 7 yo. do upper level Handwriting A and Fine Motor Skills Thinking Skills within Little Hearts..., and your 5 yo do Handwriting K and Rod and Staff Workbooks for Fine motor skills in Little Hearts... For math, you'd do your MUS for DS, and that would work just fine.
10 yo would do Preparing... Probably start with English 3; English 4 is a JUMP! Probably DITHR's Level 2/3 or Level 4/5, check out the sample pages and DITHR guide pages to determine placement there.
Scenario 3:
5 yo in Little Hearts...
7 and 10 year old in Bigger..., with LA and Math separate
I hesitate with this one because the writing in Bigger... is more than in Beyond..., and I think your DS would be more ready for Bigger in another year. The notebooking and copywork would be harder in Bigger... I still think using Beyond... for spelling list 1 and the Emerging Readers would be best for DS in this scenario.
Scenario 4:
5 yo EITHER do Little Hands... with a phonics program and handwriting added in, OR do only one side of the Little Hearts plan a day, taking 2 years to finish Little Hearts...
7 yo in Beyond... (you could do just one side of the plans here too, taking 2 years to finish Beyond...)
10 yo in Preparing...
My thought here is that you'd free up some time with your 5 yo to use with DS and 10 yo., and it'd be easier to do 3 curriculums.
O.k. What do you think gals? Weigh in here please, and let's hash this out. Julien, is this totally not helping you and overwhelming you? If so, than just wait for someone else to jump in! I'm just trying to show you the options circling around in my head, and hoping you can rule out some of them on your end. I know that is about as clear as mud, but please, keep chatting here and we'll work through it til you're set!
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
I'm liking #2 and #4, with #2 in the lead. I definately think 10yo should be in Preparing and I think Little Hearts would go with that...ya know same history overview.
I'm using Little Hearts as my main curriculum this year (dd5, dd7 and ds7 but they just turned 7 in Dec.), but I'm using some of the LA suggestions and the literature studies out of Beyond for my 7yo's. They are not quite ready for the emerging readers, but whenever they are, we'll start that.
I guess some of your decision could be based on how much you think your 10 could do independently, freeing up time for your other two. If your 10 yo is fairly ind. you might could swing 3 curriculums, but I'd go with the #4 in the beginning to get into the "groove".
OK...I feel like I'm at McD's ordering combo meals...
I'm using Little Hearts as my main curriculum this year (dd5, dd7 and ds7 but they just turned 7 in Dec.), but I'm using some of the LA suggestions and the literature studies out of Beyond for my 7yo's. They are not quite ready for the emerging readers, but whenever they are, we'll start that.
I guess some of your decision could be based on how much you think your 10 could do independently, freeing up time for your other two. If your 10 yo is fairly ind. you might could swing 3 curriculums, but I'd go with the #4 in the beginning to get into the "groove".
OK...I feel like I'm at McD's ordering combo meals...
Using LHFHG with
ds - '00
dd - '00
dd - '02
ds - '00
dd - '00
dd - '02
-
water2wine
- Posts: 2743
- Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2007 7:24 pm
- Location: GA
After reading my3sons ideas actually and thinking about what I am doing and that I have a ten year old that is really on a 7 year old reading level, on of the things that is great about BHFG is that the emerging reading schedule is in there. And actually so is list 2 of the spelling list in Beyond. So I am thinking she would not at all need the beyond book (correct me if I am way off here because you all are way more experienced) And actually R&S second grade is very gentle (well compared to third and fourth) but they probably would not be ready for that just yet if they truly are emerging readers so I would substitute it with the R&S second grade phonics maybe unit 1 and unit 2,3 only and stretch that over the year OR maybe the Reading Lesson and skip what you already know (I love that program for teaching reading) and maybe hit the Second grade English next year and use the Bigger guide for that part only next year.
So all that to say I am thinking BHFG (because it has the emerging reading schedule, spelling, and it gives your 7 year old another year) and the extension pack for that either done independently with your oldest or as I am doing read aloud to all the kids in BHFG with LHFG for your younger one because the level seems good and I am loving the way the two programs correlate. It is the perfect big kid little kid combo.
When I thought about it you have a very similar situation because one of my ten year olds has moderate special needs and really is on about a 7 year olds level reading wise. So I am doing...
LHFG almost 4, and almost 6
BHFG 8 almost 9, 9, and 10 PLUS a 10 year old on really about a 7 year old emerging reading level. She will be doing exactly what I have above and I think it will be perfect. I still have her do some of the copywork, I will have her memorize the verses and I do all the reading in the program read aloud. (Disclaimer we just started but I can see it is a winner having fit her into situation like this for a while and having been doing LHFG)
I think everything that I said is on target but if I am off I hope others will step in and please forgive me for confusing you if that is the case
So all that to say I am thinking BHFG (because it has the emerging reading schedule, spelling, and it gives your 7 year old another year) and the extension pack for that either done independently with your oldest or as I am doing read aloud to all the kids in BHFG with LHFG for your younger one because the level seems good and I am loving the way the two programs correlate. It is the perfect big kid little kid combo.
When I thought about it you have a very similar situation because one of my ten year olds has moderate special needs and really is on about a 7 year olds level reading wise. So I am doing...
LHFG almost 4, and almost 6
BHFG 8 almost 9, 9, and 10 PLUS a 10 year old on really about a 7 year old emerging reading level. She will be doing exactly what I have above and I think it will be perfect. I still have her do some of the copywork, I will have her memorize the verses and I do all the reading in the program read aloud. (Disclaimer we just started but I can see it is a winner having fit her into situation like this for a while and having been doing LHFG)
I think everything that I said is on target but if I am off I hope others will step in and please forgive me for confusing you if that is the case
All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. Isaiah 54:13
~Six lovies from God~4 by blessing of adoption
-MTMM (HS), Rev to Rev, CTC, DITHR
We LOVED LHFHG/Beyond/Bigger/Preparing/CTC/RTR/Rev to Rev (HS)
~Six lovies from God~4 by blessing of adoption
-MTMM (HS), Rev to Rev, CTC, DITHR
We LOVED LHFHG/Beyond/Bigger/Preparing/CTC/RTR/Rev to Rev (HS)
julien,
Welcome to the boards!
As you can tell the ladies and I are still sorting through your situation in our minds and trying to come to a conclusion about the best scenario for your kiddos. Placement is such an important consideration. Luckily, that is the hardest part of using a Heart of Dakota program. The teaching is the easier part!
Thank you so much for taking the time to post the additional information that my3sons asked you for! I was needing more information too! One additional piece of information I need is whether you are planning to use our program for the science portion for your 7 and 10 year olds? And.... if I may ask what program you are coming from in your study of American history? (That will help me know how much overlap Beyond..." would have with your current study, so we know whether to rule that particular guide out or not).
Blessings,
Carrie
Welcome to the boards!
As you can tell the ladies and I are still sorting through your situation in our minds and trying to come to a conclusion about the best scenario for your kiddos. Placement is such an important consideration. Luckily, that is the hardest part of using a Heart of Dakota program. The teaching is the easier part! Thank you so much for taking the time to post the additional information that my3sons asked you for! I was needing more information too! One additional piece of information I need is whether you are planning to use our program for the science portion for your 7 and 10 year olds? And.... if I may ask what program you are coming from in your study of American history? (That will help me know how much overlap Beyond..." would have with your current study, so we know whether to rule that particular guide out or not).
Blessings,
Carrie
Hi,
Thanks for all the suggestions. My head is hurting a little from trying to process it all! I plan to use the Science. I think besides Math, and maybe Lang. Arts for my older daughter, I'll be using HOD exclusively. My youngest daughter just started The Reading Lesson this week. For History this year we're using Biblioplan for Familes, in theory. I haven't followed it too strictly. We spent way more time on RI colonial history than most people do. (because we live here). There aren't any activities, so I've started to stray quite a bit, using it mainly for book suggestions at this point, but not following the reading plan. We use Library books, videos, internet and other activities (crafts etc.). Were going to cover the Revolutionary War in the next month. I'm hoping to cover New Nation/ Westward Expansion before the end of the year. Right now I do History and Science together with the two oldest. My younger daughter listens in for some. Also, DD, 5, is just finishing up the K Handwriting book. DS, 7, is finishing Book A. When he finishes, I'll use Let's Write Right from AVKO for the rest of the year, and see where he's at in the Spring. Hope that helps.
Julie
Thanks for all the suggestions. My head is hurting a little from trying to process it all! I plan to use the Science. I think besides Math, and maybe Lang. Arts for my older daughter, I'll be using HOD exclusively. My youngest daughter just started The Reading Lesson this week. For History this year we're using Biblioplan for Familes, in theory. I haven't followed it too strictly. We spent way more time on RI colonial history than most people do. (because we live here). There aren't any activities, so I've started to stray quite a bit, using it mainly for book suggestions at this point, but not following the reading plan. We use Library books, videos, internet and other activities (crafts etc.). Were going to cover the Revolutionary War in the next month. I'm hoping to cover New Nation/ Westward Expansion before the end of the year. Right now I do History and Science together with the two oldest. My younger daughter listens in for some. Also, DD, 5, is just finishing up the K Handwriting book. DS, 7, is finishing Book A. When he finishes, I'll use Let's Write Right from AVKO for the rest of the year, and see where he's at in the Spring. Hope that helps.
Julie
Julie,
Thanks so much for being willing to share about your family with us. It helps so much to have some background on where you're coming from.
It is easy to see that your 5 year old belongs in "Little Hearts...". In order to balance out her teaching time with that of your other kiddos, it may be worth considering taking more than one year to do "Little Hearts..." with her by teaching the left side of the plans one day and the right side the next. That would reduce your teaching time to about 45 min. or less per day for your 5 year old. You could always pick up the pace if you wanted to after you'd eased into it.
As far as your 7 and 10 year old go, I think you have 2 options. This is the narrowed down version from the previous options discussed by the moms on the board!
Option 1. You could put them both in "Bigger Hearts..." knowing it will be somewhat of a review of the American history you've had so far, but also a different angle because it is all done biographically. You would use the Extension Pack for your 5th grader also knowing the science might be a little light for a 5th grader (However "Exploring Planet Earth" in the Extension Package does up the science level there).
You would have to do most of the writing for your 7 year old or omit that part for him as far as vocabulary, science experiments, etc. You could use spelling list 2 or the dictation passages, Rod and Staff English 2, and the Emerging Reader schedule for your 7 year old's language arts in "Bigger...". You could also weigh whether the 7 year old is ready to start cursive or not.
For your 10 year old's language arts, you could use "Drawn into the Heart..." Level 4/5 and Rod and Staff Level 4. The dictation passages in "Bigger..." would not be hard enough, so you'd have to add in your own spelling or dictation.
Option 2: Your 10 year old would use "Preparing Hearts..." as is. You would use "Drawn into the Heart..." Level 4/5, Rod and Staff Level 4, and the dictation passages in "Preparing Hearts..." for her language arts as scheduled. Your 7 year old could listen in to the either the history/Bible from "Preparing Hearts..." with your 10 year old or to "Little Hearts..." with your 5 year old (which ever seemed most appropriate).
In this scenario the science for your 7 year old would be more of a problem than the history, as the science could either seem too easy or too hard. You could remedy that by adding additonal science readings to "Little Hearts..." or reading aloud the "Preparing Hearts..." science, rather than having it be independent.
Also, in this scenario you would still need the "Bigger Hearts... "guide to complete your 7 year old's language arts (Emerging Reader Schedule, Rod and Staff 2, dictation/spelling, and cursive).
I'm assuming in both these scenarios that math is not a consideration as you'll be using Math-U-See.
At least you're down to 2 scenarios now, both of which I think would work depending on what you think suits your family best. Let us know what you're thinking! We'll be praying for you to have peace in your decision.
Blessings,
Carrie
Thanks so much for being willing to share about your family with us. It helps so much to have some background on where you're coming from.
It is easy to see that your 5 year old belongs in "Little Hearts...". In order to balance out her teaching time with that of your other kiddos, it may be worth considering taking more than one year to do "Little Hearts..." with her by teaching the left side of the plans one day and the right side the next. That would reduce your teaching time to about 45 min. or less per day for your 5 year old. You could always pick up the pace if you wanted to after you'd eased into it.
As far as your 7 and 10 year old go, I think you have 2 options. This is the narrowed down version from the previous options discussed by the moms on the board!
Option 1. You could put them both in "Bigger Hearts..." knowing it will be somewhat of a review of the American history you've had so far, but also a different angle because it is all done biographically. You would use the Extension Pack for your 5th grader also knowing the science might be a little light for a 5th grader (However "Exploring Planet Earth" in the Extension Package does up the science level there). You would have to do most of the writing for your 7 year old or omit that part for him as far as vocabulary, science experiments, etc. You could use spelling list 2 or the dictation passages, Rod and Staff English 2, and the Emerging Reader schedule for your 7 year old's language arts in "Bigger...". You could also weigh whether the 7 year old is ready to start cursive or not.
For your 10 year old's language arts, you could use "Drawn into the Heart..." Level 4/5 and Rod and Staff Level 4. The dictation passages in "Bigger..." would not be hard enough, so you'd have to add in your own spelling or dictation.
Option 2: Your 10 year old would use "Preparing Hearts..." as is. You would use "Drawn into the Heart..." Level 4/5, Rod and Staff Level 4, and the dictation passages in "Preparing Hearts..." for her language arts as scheduled. Your 7 year old could listen in to the either the history/Bible from "Preparing Hearts..." with your 10 year old or to "Little Hearts..." with your 5 year old (which ever seemed most appropriate). In this scenario the science for your 7 year old would be more of a problem than the history, as the science could either seem too easy or too hard. You could remedy that by adding additonal science readings to "Little Hearts..." or reading aloud the "Preparing Hearts..." science, rather than having it be independent.
Also, in this scenario you would still need the "Bigger Hearts... "guide to complete your 7 year old's language arts (Emerging Reader Schedule, Rod and Staff 2, dictation/spelling, and cursive).
I'm assuming in both these scenarios that math is not a consideration as you'll be using Math-U-See.
At least you're down to 2 scenarios now, both of which I think would work depending on what you think suits your family best. Let us know what you're thinking! We'll be praying for you to have peace in your decision.
Blessings,
Carrie