rough schedule...

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MomtoJGJE
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rough schedule...

Post by MomtoJGJE » Tue Feb 02, 2010 6:14 am

I'm trying to figure out a rough schedule for the next couple of years that will work for me to not get overwhelmed so that it'll actually happen :) We have been schooling for a couple of years now, but we are just now officially starting. I want to keep them every two years in school just so we won't be doing a manual back to back... I don't want to combine anyone, and I don't really think I could anyway based off of their abilities.

DD1 is doing Beyond this year... we'll continue and start Bigger in the late summer... she's pretty much set and she's the one who is official as soon as I get the paperwork sent in.

DD2 we started the year doing LHFHG, but I got tired and worn out and just have been doing basically the right side with her this year. We did the left side for about 5 or 6 weeks... DD3 started out doing LHTH with the youngers stuff without the music. but I basically stopped doing that early on too.... she was doing great with it, but I wasn't.... I was slacking off and just letting her do the fun stuff with her sisters.

So here are my ideas...

DD1 Beyond until May-ish and then start with Bigger in the late summer... a couple of weeks half speed to get back into doing a curriculum, but it won't take long. Will finish Bigger roughly May 2011

DD2 finish out the right side basics like we've been doing, then start LHFHG half speed with 1st grade right side options for 6-10 weeks, then full speed until we finish... should get done roughly May 2011

so to keep them skipping a guide DD1 will be preparing, DD2 will be Beyond, and DD3 will need to be LHTH.... but she'll be way past that by then. DD3 is where I don't really know what to do.... how can I work it out that she's doing the level of school she needs, but then keep them separated... Or is it just a pipe dream with what she knows that I can keep DD2 and DD3 separated by more than one year of school?

MomtoJGJE
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Re: rough schedule...

Post by MomtoJGJE » Tue Feb 02, 2010 6:35 am

ok... I just did it out on paper... I need DD3 to start Beyond in 2013... so if I start in the fall of 2010, and need to finish in the spring of 2012, I could just do LHTH starting fall 2010 and then do LHFHG half speed starting fall of 2011 to finish in spring 2013. right?

I know it doesn't matter in the long run, but this is the point of the year I try to do my planning, and since I know what curriculum I'll be using, I have to play SOMETHING right??

Samuel'sMommy
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Re: rough schedule...

Post by Samuel'sMommy » Tue Feb 02, 2010 11:33 am

I'm a huge planner to so I know where you're coming from :) If you're worried about LHTH being too easy for your DD, you could do the Bible readings, art, music, rhymes, etc and just add a phonics program and maybe math to bring it up to her level. You could actually do LHTH with the Kindergarten options from Little Hearts, and then when you get to Little Hearts, have her do the 1st grade options. Does that make sense?
Stephanie
Wife to Adam for 27 years
Mom to Samuel (20), Isaiah (10), and Judah (5) through the miracle of adoption

Loved using LHTH, LHFHG, BLHFHG, BHFHG, PHFHG, CTC, & RTR!

MomtoJGJE
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Re: rough schedule...

Post by MomtoJGJE » Tue Feb 02, 2010 12:21 pm

That makes sense yes :) But right now (and a lot can change in 6 months) she's not ready for phonics... she's at a tough spot because she's not got the fine motor skills for the K stuff in LHFHG, but it won't be long before she does. I'm thinking at 4.5 she'll be ready... that's why I was thinking to do LHTH this next year with the olders options and then do LHFHG half speed... maybe even do the left side half speed, but the right side every day and cover K and 1st in two years... I don't know... She's the hard one... :) Everyone else is easy to place... but she's not...

I guess I should add that... she has the head knowledge, but her motor skills do not allow her to be able to do the work yet. She still holds a pencil/pen/crayon in her fist.

my3sons
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Re: rough schedule...

Post by my3sons » Tue Feb 02, 2010 4:24 pm

I am a born planner too, Lora Beth! I do think it is important to have a rough plan so that we don't all of a sudden let too much go or get too far ahead, and find we've thrown a wrench into the pacing that's hard to fix. So, I am unsure of your dc's ages, but if they are roughly in the target age ranges for the guides, I think what you said here all makes sense:

DD1 Beyond until May-ish and then start with Bigger in the late summer... a couple of weeks half speed to get back into doing a curriculum, but it won't take long. Will finish Bigger roughly May 2011

DD2 finish out the right side basics like we've been doing, then start LHFHG half speed with 1st grade right side options for 6-10 weeks, then full speed until we finish... should get done roughly May 2011

I need DD3 to start Beyond in 2013... so if I start in the fall of 2010, and need to finish in the spring of 2012, I could just do LHTH starting fall 2010 and then do LHFHG half speed starting fall of 2011 to finish in spring 2013.


I do think it is very worthwhile to take time to work on writing/reading, as these skills become more and more important. So, for DD3, I think you can just do the above plan, focus on working over time to strengthen her writing skills and begin phonics when she's ready and hit that hard.

I totally understand enjoying having the guides spaced out as you've described. It is what we are doing, and I love it. It helps keep me on track with all of the kiddos, even the littles, because as my older(s) get more independent, my youngers need me more for their 3R's in the early years. HTH! :D

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

MomtoJGJE
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Re: rough schedule...

Post by MomtoJGJE » Tue Feb 02, 2010 5:52 pm

The ages are pretty good in the guides... From May to November they are all 2 years apart, so at the beginning of the school year this year they'll be 7, 5, 3, 1.... it's obviously the 3yo who's the difficult one, and she'll be 4 in October... DD2 will be 6 in January. they are all in the age ranges for their curriculum DD1 is at the younger, DD2 is right in the middle, and DD3 will be an older... then we'll cycle back to DD4 being a younger.

Samuel'sMommy
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Re: rough schedule...

Post by Samuel'sMommy » Tue Feb 02, 2010 5:55 pm

MomtoJGJE wrote:That makes sense yes :) But right now (and a lot can change in 6 months) she's not ready for phonics... she's at a tough spot because she's not got the fine motor skills for the K stuff in LHFHG, but it won't be long before she does. I'm thinking at 4.5 she'll be ready... that's why I was thinking to do LHTH this next year with the olders options and then do LHFHG half speed... maybe even do the left side half speed, but the right side every day and cover K and 1st in two years... I don't know... She's the hard one... :) Everyone else is easy to place... but she's not...

I guess I should add that... she has the head knowledge, but her motor skills do not allow her to be able to do the work yet. She still holds a pencil/pen/crayon in her fist.
Sorry, I misread the age of your DD. If you think she's ready for the fine motor stuff, you could do that and just wait to do phonics until she starts LHFHG. Also, did you know that Rod & Staff has a younger set of preschool workbooks? I used them with my son and he loved them. There are 4 in the set and they are a little easier than the ones Carrie uses with LHFHG. Maybe you could get them to help her develop her fine motor skills while she does LHTH.
Stephanie
Wife to Adam for 27 years
Mom to Samuel (20), Isaiah (10), and Judah (5) through the miracle of adoption

Loved using LHTH, LHFHG, BLHFHG, BHFHG, PHFHG, CTC, & RTR!

MomtoJGJE
Posts: 1534
Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:20 pm
Location: Gastonia, NC

Re: rough schedule...

Post by MomtoJGJE » Wed Feb 03, 2010 6:31 am

I did NOT know they have books for youngers! I'm off to look at that now :) That would be awesome.... she really does need help with fine motor skills... Thanks for that! I'm also going to look at the pk books at walmart or the like.... we don't have any for really young kids.

Carrie
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Re: rough schedule...

Post by Carrie » Thu Feb 04, 2010 8:02 pm

Lora Beth,

Here's an idea to ponder. What about doing LHTH with both the 3 and 5 year old now, and just keeping going whatever you're currently doing from the right side of the guide for your 5 year old as you have been doing. In this way the two of them could be together as they go through the guides, but you wouldn't be holding your 5 year old back as she'd be on track with her 3R's. :D

In this plan, you'd do LHTH now and end some time next year. Then, the 4 year old and 6 year old could head into LHFHG together half-speed, picking up speed when they're ready to go forward. In the meantime, you'd be doing full-speed first grade options for your then 6 year old. With your kiddos being so close in age it's a good idea to consider combining some of them where it would work. :D

By doing this, you really won't be deviating much from what you're doing now, and you'll be preparing your 3 year old with the skills she needs to head into LHFHG. Just a thought. :D

Blessings,
Carrie

MomtoJGJE
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Re: rough schedule...

Post by MomtoJGJE » Fri Feb 05, 2010 6:24 am

The 5yo is beyond LHTH... It's ME who isn't doing LHFHG with her right now. She's perfectly capable of even doing the first grade stuff now, but I got the K level just in case I got overwhelmed with teaching 3 so that she could do the right side with no issues whatsoever. But I could have her sit in while I actually DO LHTH with the 3yo instead of not doing it at all, haha. So I might do that.... that could work.

But then the question would be, what do I do if the 3yo isn't capable of the fine motor skills then? I know I could go back to that question if that happens, but she really is "behind" from where DD1 and DD2 were at 3... I simply do not see her being able to do LHFHG physically in a year.

MomtoJGJE
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Re: rough schedule...

Post by MomtoJGJE » Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:28 am

I did LHTH with both this morning. It worked out well, except I have to figure out a better schedule for it :) I have to redo the whole way I was doing mornings if I'm going to do that. Which is not really a big deal I just have to actually figure it out and what order will work best and how to rotate it. It should be pretty easy once I write down what everyone needs me to help with and how much time that takes. The biggest problem is losing everyone when DD4 needs my attention. :)

off I go to redo the schedule MOTH style :)

Thanks Carrie for the idea! It works great for now and I'll revisit what to do with DD3 when the time comes.

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