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I am new to this board. I have a 9 yo dd, a 7 yo dd, a 5 yo ds and a 4 month old dd. I am planning on starting PHFHG in January w/my 9 yo. I know that my 7 yo will not participate in PHFHG as she is a "reluctant" learner. I would like to combine my 5 and 7 yos. I am not sure which program to use with them. My 7 yo is still learning to read and my 5 yo is not ready for phonics instruction. Both are great at math and neither likes to sit still for very long. They also love crafts.
I have been very relaxed with their schoolwork up until now but feel like it is time for them to do SOMETHING especially my 7 yo. They operate as a team usually so if I can get something that one of them likes, the other will follow. Since many of you have used a few of the HOD programs and probably have children with similar temperaments, I just wanted to get some recommendations.
Any thoughts?
Shelley
Mama to dd 9, dd 7, ds 5, and dd 10 months and a new someone coming in November!
Using PHFHG, LHFHG and LHTH
I just wanted to welcome you here, nice to have you! I am not really any help in the areas needed, but I am certain you will get some good advice from the ladies here on the board.
Welcome. I have been thinking about your question and I think from your description if you want to combine them your best bet would be for LHFHG. You would need to look at the placement chart. http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php to get the best idea and see where they have the most overlap. I am now using it with a 6 year old who is doing well with reading and a 4 year old. We are finding that it has a lot of flexibility. I am stretching it out so that they will be 5 and 7 while using it probably. I would still look at the placement chart and see where they best fit individually then look at the overlap between the two. It sounds like your older child needs a little more time with their reading so this to me would be the best bet if I had to take a guess without knowing how they place on the chart. Hope that helps. Let us know where the chart places them individually.
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)
This is what I was thinking. If I can meet them in the middle that might be best for both. I think it is gentle enough that both of my "reluctant" learners should enjoy it.
I was going to suggest LHFHG too - great minds think alike ladies! Whenever your 7 yo is ready, he could start the Emerging Reader's Set. If it happens to be in the middle or near the end of your use of LHFHG, you can just order the BLHFHG guide and the set and follow that schedule (we did that). Or, you could just do it whenever you begin BLHFHG. I just wanted to mention that in case you feel he's ready for it sooner than the end of LHFHG.
In Christ ,
Julie
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
The ladies have done a great job of advising you! I agree that LHFHG would be the best placement for your 5 and 7 year old. If your 7 year old is ready for spelling lessons, a gentle introduction to grammar, and the emerging reader's set, then I would consider adding the right side of the plans from Beyond to cover those areas (along with the Emerging Reader's Set).
In that scenario, your 7 year old would do the left-side of LHFHG and the storytime box on the right side of the plans along with your 5 year old, and do the right side of Beyond for the rest. Your 5 year old would do all of LHFHG as is.
They also love crafts. 
Whenever your 7 yo is ready, he could start the Emerging Reader's Set. If it happens to be in the middle or near the end of your use of LHFHG, you can just order the BLHFHG guide and the set and follow that schedule (we did that). Or, you could just do it whenever you begin BLHFHG. I just wanted to mention that in case you feel he's ready for it sooner than the end of LHFHG.