New and need help with placement

[kimsclan]

Hi Ladies! I am so grateful to have found HOD. It seems to be exactly what I was looking for when I chose to start HS last year. I absolutely love the bible study and discussion in the curriculum. I have a 6 yo ds in MFWK and a 9 yo dd in MFW Adventures now.

I have decided to place my soon to be 10 yo dd in Preparing, but I am so confused about where to place my ds (7 in January) in the fall. He seems to place in either LHFHG or Beyond. He has completed Horizons K for math easily and we are using various recources for reading: Hooked on Phonics level 1(because I already had the whole HOP program), Explode the code book 2, we have just started some A Beka 1st grade readers (for some variety) and starfall. He seems to be reading very well to me for a K'er. All these things would lead me to believe he is ready for Beyond <BUT> He is resistant to starting school many days and really just wants to play. He loves the K projects but doesn't like the "school part" (workbooks) so much. He loves music and always pulls out his drum for music study. He likes to listen to picture books, but not listen to me read aloud with no pictures for long. He does not like to write or cut or color. We do about half of his math orally and skip some writing in his ETC workbooks, but surprisingly loves spelling "tests" on the white board when his sister is doing her spelling (and does very well with cvc words for spelling). He is also very good at memorizing scripture. These things may mean he should do LHFHG because it seems to me that it has more of a "playing" feel to it? He is also a very strong-willed child who is very bright , but not really wanting to go start "school" yet. He would much rather go to work with his dad. What would you experienced Moms recommend?


I have been lurking on these boards for a few months and wanted to say that all you ladies have been such an encouragement and I look forward to a fantastic year with all of you!

God's blessings to everyone,
Kim

[WigglesMom]

I have a ds6 who will be 7 in December who sounds a lot like your little boy. I would probably lean towards doing LHFHG with 1st grade options for your son. It is really a great program that doesn't take a lot of time to do. Yet, your ds would be getting a lot out of it. The readers even though they have no pictures are wonderful. You only read a few pages a day from it. My son loves them and has steadily gotten better at sitting and listening to the story. Since it has the option for you to choose your phonics and you have the whole set, I would continue with the hooked on phonics. Singapore math is really good and I found that it really helps them to understand math not just memorize it. They can apply it to things other than a workbook. We had done other math also, but since we plan to continue with HOD we went ahead and switched to Singapore.
My son also does not like to write, color, or cut. Yet, with the short lessons and fun and engaging methods used with LHFHG he has done so without complaint and enjoyed every minute of it. He also would rather play but once we get in the kitchen and start our day he really has the best time and learns so much.
Val

[kimsclan]

Thanks Val for your advice and encouragement.

I anxiously await the time when my son will also enjoy school. I have high hopes for HOD this fall.

Kim

[Mom2Monkeys]

I would lean to LHFHG for your ds. He sounds like a perfect fit! I would do first grade options-- but you might to take a look at the EarlyBird K math and the Primary 1A math to see where he falls in with Singapore. You might do well to start with EarlyBird 2B-- or Primary 1A might be the right fit. I know Horizons is advanced, but it "thinks" differently than Singapore. When my dd finished Horizons 2, she placed into Singapore 2A. We LOVE Singapore math here!

I'm also starting LHFHG with my ds, and I know you will love it! And it does have quite a playful feel to it

[Carrie]

kimsclan,

Welcome to the board and to HOD! We're glad to have you here.

I would also lean toward placing your little guy in LHFHG with the first grade options. It's so important to give little boys extra time to mature, so they're ready to handle their school time and are encouraged that they can do it!

If needed, as the year went on, you could always add only part of the right side of Beyond to include the Emerging Reader's Schedule in the Appendix, the spelling lists and lessons and gentle grammar lessons, and the hands-on activities for math 1A/1B.

Blessings,
Carrie

[my3sons]

Hi kimsclan, and welcome to the HOD board! I think LHFHG with the first grade options sounds like a super fit for your ds. I like Carrie's idea of adding in those portions of Beyond if needed. You could do that later in the year too - maybe starting with just LHFHG with the first grade options and adding in the Beyond parts if needed. I think you and your ds will LOVE LHFHG! It is such a great program. We actually had tears when we finished it around here. But, then Beyond has been just as great - so that's around the corner too. If you get a chance to share your thoughts now, that would be super - be sure to ask more questions as they arise. The ladies here are awesome!

In Christ,
Julie