Young 1st grader in Beyond or Little Hearts?

[sharonb]

We started Unit 3 of Beyond today. It's supposed to be for the 2nd and 1st graders, but my oldest is the only one paying any attention. She actually could have handled Bigger, but I got Beyond so that I could combine her with her brother. But he just doesn't sit still long enough to listen to the readings! I think he will probably grow into that more; he will turn 6 next week so he's still quite young. BUT, now I have another option. On another thread I was discussing my 4.5 year old, and how he was bored with LHTH, and he might actually be ready for LHFHG. I was able to find a used LHFHG set for a great deal, so I'm going to get it now rather than waiting as originally planned. I figured I could start it half-speed with my 4.5 year old. It occurred to me today that I could actually put my 6 year old in it too. Those 2 are only 16 months apart. The almost-6-year-old is the wiggly distracted one. The 4.5 year old is quiet and mellow. I'm thinking that longterm they are actually more combinable than the 7 and almost-6 year olds.

If I do this, and take 2 years to do LHFHG (since I'm starting it a bit early for the 4.5 year old), then that would put them starting Beyond when one is almost 8 and the other is 6.5. The older boy would technically be 3rd grade then; does that matter? We are doing language arts and math at the appropriate levels regardless. If we do LHFHG half-speed, I would still have the almost-6-year-old doing math and LA 4 days a week. I guess we could aim for 1.5 years in LHFHG, then they'd be 7.5 and 6 when they are ready for Beyond. That seems perfect. Maybe half-speed for a year and then pick it up full speed? That sounds really familiar; is that what you did, Julie?

Anyway, I guess I'm wondering if this sounds like a good idea, and if anyone has any specific advice for stretching LHFHG enough for the 4.5 year old, yet not going on too long for the almost-6 year old.

Thanks for letting me get all these thoughts down...

[jenntracy]

sharon,
I am actually going to do what you are talking about. i have had other posts but i can't remember the titles. maybe you could look up by my username, my other posts. anyway. my daughter will be 4.5 yr Sept 11. if all goes well i will be starting her in LHFHG the History side with her brother who will be 6 October 29. They are 16 1/2 months apart.

my daughter is doing LHTH right now while my son has been doing the basics side of LHFHG this past year(math, storytime, phonics, fine motor skills) . i have added in some bible study for son and both kids like doing Sid the Science Kid 2x a week (we just started that a few weeks ago,science) i also have an oceonagraphy unit planned (free from curclick.com) and solar system unit planned for fall. ...

when my daughter startsLHFHG, i plan on doing phonics slowly,maybe 2 or 3x a week.then just some math sheets and hands-on math as needed and handwriting. when she gets to BLHFHG i will do the Basics side of LHFHG along with History side of BLHFHG minus the poetry.

i am going to add in a few extra story-time books and do some other phonics, site word stuff with my son to fill in the gap when my son finishes his fine motor books and story-time in the LHFHG (Blinky Bill and more Thorton Burgess books) i am trying to keep him for the most part all in BLHFHG when we get there.i think by the time we get there he may be a curriculum guide ahead in math and reading. which is o.k. because i am using Math-U-See and i just have to have one guide ahead to do the reading.

i hope this helps in some way. PM me if you want, if you have other questions.
Jenn D.

[Kathleen]

Sharon,

I think your idea sounds great! I say go for it!

If it works to keep child #2 and 3 together for you, when you get to Bigger on up, there are always the extensions if you need them for the older of the 2.

Kathleen

[funkmomma71]

Your plan sounds like a good one, especially considering that your middle child doesn't seem quite ready for the extended listening in Beyond. One way you could stretch LHFHG is by using the book list in the Appendix, you could alternate the readings from those books with the History in the guide and maybe do Math and LA everyday. If you do math and LA daily for your middle child he'll be ready for 3rd grade work when you start Beyond and then you can use the Bigger guide for those subjects. Best wishes!

[Jen in Va]

I think it is a tremendous idea to start a young 6 yo in Little Hearts. I did this with my son (late 5 when we started in the summer, turned 6 in October) last year. He was in no way ready for the listening in Beyond, but was ready for Beyond in reading and math. Now we're slowing down Beyond and plan on slowing down Bigger so that he will be at the end of his 3rd grade year when we finish Bigger. I will have him doing reading and math, especially, each day to keep him moving along in that so that he will also be ready for Singapore 4a when he starts Preparing.

[Tree House Academy]

Hi there,

I really think it depends on your child. My son will be 6 in a month and a half and he is LOVING Beyond. He listens on the edge of his seat as we read history and Science. The read aloud is his favorite part of the day.

If your son is not paying attention, then yes, you should likely step down to LHFHG since you would be using it anyway with your younger child. Some kids just dont' like to be read to as much. I know it helps my little guy to crawl in my lap. We make reading time special and we snuggle while we read. I admit..it is my favorite time of the day too.

[sharonb]

Thanks for the replies! When my LHFHG gets here I'm going to go ahead and get started with both the 4.5 and 6 year olds. We school year-round, 4 days a week, so I'm going to try to get 2 days of LHFHG lessons done each week. My 6 year old will still do his math and language arts 4 days a week.

We'll see how it goes!