How to do it all? BLHFHG, LHFHG, LHTH w/ 4 kids

[mommajenny]

I am a homeschool newbie, and after lots of research, have decided on HOD for my four children. They are 7, 5, 3, 2. I am excited, but I could use some encouragement that it is possible to homeschool four children without losing your sanity. I really want this to be an extension of peace in our home, and I am not comfortable with combining them into the same programs, (2 and 2). Any tips, scheduling ideas, etc. would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Jenny

[sharonb]

I just re-read your post and DUH! You already said you don't want to combine! I'll edit again to add in some tips!

ETA: We are doing LHTH and BLHFHG right now. Each morning after breakfast (and getting dressed, etc), we do LHTH first thing. My older children enjoy the fingerplays and the Bible reading, so I actually do LHTH with everyone. When it comes to projects for LHTH, only the 2 and 4 year olds get to do those, so I save those for the end of our LHTH time (which is pretty short). While they start on their projects (for example, gluing beans to the letter A), the older two get out their phonics. Although they are on different levels of phonics, I like to have both on the same subject at the same time, and I go back and forth between them to help them (we are using R&S for phonics). If dd finishes before ds, then she does spelling (also R&S). Then we read our history/Bible/etc stuff from Beyond. (I usually try to do this once the baby is down for her morning nap). The 2 and 4 year olds are pretty good at entertaining themselves with coloring or other school-time toys. After the history/etc stuff, we do math (again, they are on different levels, so I just bounce between them). If my 4 year old is interested, he can do some R&S ABC workbooks, but usually he just wants to color. We have not been finishing everything before lunch; today dd still had her R&S English to do, plus she continued with her poetry copywork. Plus we did our piano lessons (I sit down with dd for about 5 minutes and then she can practice whenever she gets a chance) and our R&S Music worksheets (on other days we are doing Apologia Zoology 1 and a 50 states study). We usually try to do Reading during the baby's afternoon nap. That way we can sit together and I can really listen to them reading their books to me.

Anyway, the main tip I guess I have is to do the younger programs first. That way they've had your attention already and are probably more willing to let you work with the older children.

[Mom4Him]

Hi Jenny! I am also a homeschooling newbie:D . My children are a bit younger though, so we are just doing LHTH with K material added in from LHFHG for the olders... but thinking ahead to a couple of years has me feeling just the way you described (although combining for us is a necessity- especially with our twin girls ). I do want to encourage you!!! It can be done (& has been done)- God will give you the strength, energy, peace & time that you need for all that He wants you to accomplish I know there is a scheduling thread on here that is very helpful to others (hopefully someone else will chime in to help you find that, as I have not figured out how to do the "links" on my computer yet ). I am sure others who have "been-there-done-that" will be along soon to drop you some helpful hints & encouragement!
Have a blessed day!
Jessica

[jenntracy]

i don't know if this will help or not, but i wouldn't worry to much. my kids were 3 1/2 -4 before they even started LHTH and that program doesn't take that long.

i don't think i would combine 5 and 7 yr old either but wanted to encourage you to maybe consider it with the younger two since closer in age.

i have 3 kids. the two older are 16 1/2 months apart. they love doing things together but my daughter is at different level for phonics and math and not able to listen long enough to history, so she was doing LHTH this year and son was doing LHFHG half-paced. By January (after a little tweaking )they should be doing History, Bible, and Science together and at their own pace in math, reading, and language arts,etc.

They are currently 5 1/2 and 4yrs.

my biggest problem is that the 17month gets into EVERYTHING and she only naps for so long! your younger two are a little older and closer in age. i think that will help.

Enjoy your year! I am already!

[Carrie]

mommajenny,

I'm not sure if you have had a chance to check out the scheduling thread but that may be worth a peek! Here's that link:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2093

When working with LHTH, LHFHG or Beyond, I like to try to block out 30 minutes to do the left side of the daily plans in one sitting for each guide that I'm working with. During this 30 min. session, I start with the history (or Bible) reading first and then end with the box on the left side of the plans that looks like I could get the kiddos started and they could finish on their own. Often that is the bottom left-hand corner box. During that 30 min. time, I make sure I will not have interruptions. So, I don't answer the phone, or run to put in a load of laundry, or leave the child's side for any moment. Any kiddos who need me come to me, however they are NOT to interrupt unless it's a severe emergency. I makes sure the baby is happily playing with toys in his crib or playpen for that 30 min. I make sure the older kiddos are working independently. Often the middle kiddo is listening to a book on tape, their chores, or doing educational computer, etc.

I also try to make sure to get my 30 min. left side of the guide time in for each of my kiddos in the morning, which really takes the pressure off because I've already finished a big chunk of the day's plans by lunch then.

Since I'm not a morning person, I take that into account and have my kiddos start with something independent the first part of the day. That way, I have time to get the baby (and me) dressed and groomed, and check everyone's rooms, and make sure everyone has eaten before launching into my teaching for the day. Yet, my kiddos are already underway during that time doing their first subject pretty independently. I also like the kiddos to have at least one or more subjects out of the way before joining me for their 30 min. left side session.

I do have my 4-6 year olds play an extra 45 min.- 60 min. in their room after breakfast in the morning too, to give me time with my olders to quietly work on their tougher subjects before the little ones descend upon us for the day.

We all do still take a morning recess together for 45 min. every day. We typically go out around 11:00. We also all eat lunch together, which my oldest begins getting ready while I'm finishing with the youngers (as we keep it very simple following the weekly menu on the fridge).

It also helps to do the LHTH toddler/preschooler earlier in the day so that little one feels like he/she has had time with momma. Once he's been with me, he's more content to go play. Otherwise, that little one is begging for my time all day!

Blessings,
Carrie

[my3sons]

I am a homeschool newbie, and after lots of research, have decided on HOD for my four children. They are 7, 5, 3, 2. I am excited, but I could use some encouragement that it is possible to homeschool four children without losing your sanity. I really want this to be an extension of peace in our home, and I am not comfortable with combining them into the same programs, (2 and 2). Any tips, scheduling ideas, etc. would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Jenny

Welcome to the HOD Board, Jenni! I am glad you have found HOD. I have been doing several HOD programs for awhile, and I find it very enjoyable to school this way. If I were you, I would do the LHTH duo first, so they get in their mommy time right away. You can start your LHFHG and Beyond sweeties on their handwriting/fine motor skills first (this would be poetry copywork for the Beyond child), while you are with the LHTH dc. After that, it would work well to do the left Reading about History side of the plans with one of the dc, maybe the LHFHG child. Your Beyond child can do something independent at this time (like play with the littles, or book on tape, or educational computer game, etc.). This would take about 30 minutes. Next, you could have your LHFHG child play with the littles, or watch a video with them, etc. while you do the left side of Beyond with your 7 yo. After this, you can work through the rest of the right side of each of the guides with the LHFHG and Beyond dc, alternating your time between the 2 of them.

I think you can ease into this by either starting one program at a time, and adding a new guide each week, until you are doing all 3 of them at once - or by starting LHFHG and Beyond half-speed, doing the left side of the plans one day, and the right side of the plans the next day and adding LHTH last about a few weeks in.

HOD makes it manageable and enjoyable to teach multiple dc and multiple guides at once. Just give yourself time to grow into it, and you will be having a smooth-sailing year in no time!

In Christ,
Julie

[mommajenny]

Thank you Julie,
That reply was exactly what I needed. I will try your exact suggestion on the order I do them. Also, I live on a farm next to my grandparents who I am sure would love to listen to a child read etc., once a day. This may be a tremendous help. I got all our books last week and am anxious to start. Thanks again, Jenny