Placement questions

[mjstadler]

Hi

I am new and I know this is not a new topic, but I am figuring this all out today! I will be a new homeschool mom this fall and I was directed towards HOD by a friend, and I love it! However, I am torn on which curriculum to start. My son will be five in August and he would be starting traditional kindergarten. I have not had him in preschool and I have been working with him at home. He knows colors, can count and recognize numbers 1-10, but we are still working on his alphabet. We know and recognize maybe 1/2 of the letters, but need more work on sounds and order. My question is should I place him in the preschool or kindergarten curriculum and would he then be behind if I did the preschool part of it? I am so new to this and any input would be great. So nervous and excited for our new adventure!

[StephanieU]

I would go with LHTH. I personally love LHFHG for 1st grade. And it works out well to do LHFHG for 1st, as there are 11 guides after it. So, you will do one guide a year that way. If you think he is ready for some K things, you could easily do the 3Rs from LHFHG with LHTH at his pace. That would be phonics, math, and fine motor skills (handwriting, coloring, cutting, and pasting).

[mjstadler]

Thank You! That was my initial thought and then I questioned myself. We will start there:)

[mjstadler]

Would that be the basic package from LHFHG that I would add to LHFG if I decided to go that route and add to it a little bit or how does that work?

[Rice]

If you go with that plan. . .
For LHTH (K) you'll want:
~the 2/3, 3/4 or 4/5 package that will have your guide, the books you need and the CD.
http://www.heartofdakota.com/little-hands-packages.php

and to beef it up and add the things that Stephanie mentioned from LHFHG you'll want some or all of:
~just the guide and possibly the fine motor skills from the K Economy Package (If you buy the rest of the package next year for 1st, remind them at HOD and they'll honor the package pricing!)
~phonics
~math from the Basic Package (again, you can get package pricing next year if you buy the remainder - although you may want to get 1st grade math then, as part of the package)
http://www.heartofdakota.com/little-hearts-packages.php

Blessings,

[hs.mama07]

Just to share, that is exactly what we're doing with our son who just turned 5. We're going to do LHTH and slowly add K stuff as he's ready. Doubt we'll start all K stuff at the same time. He's a wiggly little guy and has zero interest in writing letters (or anything fine motor related, lol). But he will probably be ready for some math and maybe phonics...we'll see! Have fun!!!

[Rice]

Now that you mention it, I'm doing that, too! LOL!
But adding things in will depend more on my time available or who I can get to work with him than whether or not he's ready! (see my signature!)
Blessings,

[mjstadler]

Thanks for the input! I will only add if I feel he is ready and if he is not, that is ok too! I feel much more definite in my decision now!