I'd like to hear some "you can do its," from peopl

momof2n2 · Post by **momof2n2** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 5:05 pm

two programs!

I am praying about doing LHFHG for my will-be-first-grader and
BiggerLHFHG for my will-be-third-grader.

Could I theoretically do the same storytime with both? The Bigger? This year the Kindergartener listens to all the Beyond. He also has been doing most of the Bible and many of the Science and Geography.......

I also have a will-be-four-year-old and will-be-two-year-old.

inHistiming · Post by **inHistiming** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 5:12 pm

I think you can do two programs; some of the ladies here do just that. I will be doing it next year with BHFHG and LHFHG. Since the programs only take 2-3 hours, it's supposed to be possible to be done by lunch?... if you start early enough. I know when we did Beyond it only took a couple of hours, so Bigger, even with the greater degree of difficulty, shouldn't take too much longer. And I plan to try to work with my younger in LHFHG while olders do independent work to still meet my goal of 3.5 hours for everyone. Of course, I still have to try this when we begin mid-summer. I'm sure those who have tried it already will chime right in!

granolamom6 · Post by **granolamom6** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 5:55 pm

I think you can!

I am currently using LHTH and LHFHG at the same time and am seriously considering getting Bigger to use with my older two kids. Also, I know that MamaMary is using three different programs, too. (I think she is using LHTH, Beyond and Bigger.)

my3sons · Post by **my3sons** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:32 pm

I KNOW you can do it - I'm doing LHFHG and Bigger... right now, and I am no superwoman!!! It's very easy to do!!! Say it with me now, I think I can..., I think I can..., I think I can... You CAN!
In Christ,
Julie

Post by **Carrie** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:24 pm

You CAN do it! I am doing it this year with my boys (plus a separate program for my oldest son!). Not only can you do it, but you can actually enjoy it!

Blessings,
Carrie (who is terribly biased but loves to encourage you anyway)

momof2n2 · Post by **momof2n2** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 6:27 am

It isn't that I don't want to read more to my kids... but in our house about 50% of the instruction takes place between 8:30AM-11:00AM. Then I really have to give some attention to the girls and my house. That goes until lunch prep. After lunch the girls go to their quiet times and we do "afternoon" school which is when we enjoy our storytime, reading and follow-up from our Friday Co-Op. Doing two storytimes is NOT impossible... but I am wondering about combining storytime? Is BEYOND Storytime just too advanced for first grade? Or could I read the same book [are the genres in the same order] but do the Storytime Follow-up appropriate for each child?

THANKS in ADVANCE!! ♥

Post by **Carrie** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 2:13 pm

momof2n2,

You could read-aloud the same book for storytime to all of your kiddos depending on what books you choose. The genres do go in the same order in both "Beyond..." and "Bigger...." for storytime.

I read-aloud to everyone while my kiddos are eating lunch from "Beyond...." storytime (last year) and "Bigger..." storytime (this year). My kids range from 6th grade down to my 2 year old (who doesn't listen with us though).

You could use any combination of the the read-alouds from "Beyond...." (or "Bigger....") that you think will meet your kiddos interest levels best. Then, I would follow up with the discussion of the books from "Bigger..." or "Beyond..." but not both. You don't want overkill with your read-alouds. You want your kiddos to enjoy it.

You are right that this is an easy way to combine kiddos in an enjoyable way. However, if you're doing "Little Hearts..." you'll want to keep that storytime too for your little one. It has many skills on listening and narrating that those little ones need (and only takes about 5 min. to read aloud).

Blessings,
Carrie

Post by **Carrie** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:56 am

I'm going to bump this one to the top of the board to give other moms who use 2 or more programs a chance to respond!

Blessings,
Carrie

water2wine · Post by **water2wine** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:15 pm

Ok this is a hard one for me to answer. I have two kids that are age wise the same as yours and do combine them so I trip over that a bit. But I think for us they are not exactly two years apart in ability. And by looking at the chart they are not falling exactly apart from each other yet to warrant running separate programs. So we are seeing how it goes keeping them together. I think the reading levels and LA are key issues to watch. What I am seeing is age wise for my kids they are two years apart but ability wise they are not, so for as long as that holds true I will keep them together. Ok so that is my disclaimer.

However I do run at the moment two programs and hold the option to run three. It is very doable with two and I can see three would be doable as well. I would really recommend doing two unless you find they really are falling the same place in the placement chart. http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php

I am looking at your time for school and I am thinking you are wanting those 2 1/2 hours to be your read aloud and teacher intensive time but I am not sure how you are meaning that. At any rate I have a really easy time getting all my read aloud and I have to explain it stuff done pretty early on in the day then the older children do their independent stuff while I do phonics etc with the younger kids. I give my younger children the option to listen in on the read alouds or to play on their own. I actually read aloud the extension program for the benefit of my older child with special needs and honestly it is still very easy time wise. Not saying you necessarily want to be doing that but just point out that we do that in addition to two programs and it is no big deal.

So unless they fall on the same path I really want to encourage you that your kids are missing out on a lot of fun skipping programs. I wish we had started with LHTH but we jumped on HOD too late for that. I still look at it and wish my kids got to do it.

But they do absolutely love LHFHG and my older kids love BHFHG. I won't even go into how bad I feel about how much HOD they missed.

I know what it looks like from the outside that it might be too much but when you do it you will be amazed at really how easy it is to do the program as it is on two levels.

You will still have your life and have a blast doing school as well. I was actually just saying that HOD gives two things to my family. The first is the confidence to know we really do have it all covered and from the Christian perspective I want for my children's hearts and minds. And in that I am confident of HOD's biblical teaching as well as academics being thorough and enough. The second is contentment to know we have found something that works no matter what level our kids are on, how many we have and what changes in the future. I do HOD and know that for as long as they write them, that is as long as I will do them. I might look at a character curriculum here or a math program there but I am completely content and settled on HOD for my kids. Because I know that I can give the best to all my kids no matter what level they are on and still be the best mom because I am content in what we are using and also not warn out in teaching it. And can I just say how good and fun I look to my kids using HOD with them.

Gotta love that! It not only covers what I know my kids need and feel God calling me to teach but it allows me to actually be able to teach it to six kids and do the best for all of them even when you throw in the extra teaching needed for my child with special learning issues. What more can you want.

So I want to encourage you. Jump in the water is great! You can teach all your kids on the level that is best for them even if that means running two or even three programs. And you can still be a happy great mom and have time to clean your house, do the fun stuff you like to do and most important enjoy the brief period in life when we actually have our kids with us to enjoy them completely.

That is the long answer, the short is yes you can do it and YES you WILL LOVE IT!

MamaMary · Post by **MamaMary** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 4:42 pm

YOU CAN DO IT!

I am using three programs and having FUN! We are learning so much and I am done almost everyday by 1pm.

I am using Little hands, Bigger and Beyond! The lessons are so well laid out that I just open and go! Even on project days, it's not difficult. Now I am a relaxed homeschooler and so if I think we need two days to do a one day spread because I really want to throw myself into it, that's what we do.

I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is. One suggestion I have is to start one program ahead of the other and get it going before starting the second one. For instance, I did "Bigger" for two weeks and then added in my next program and then two weeks after that added in my 3rd program. It makes getting off the ground so much easier

my3sons · Post by **my3sons** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:48 pm

Do we have great moms on this board, or what?!? I loved reading what w2w had to say - w2w - your words are almost like poetry to read - they are just beautiful! The result of having a beautiful Christ-filled spirit, to be sure. And also, Mary - you gave some wonderful advice about starting programs in a staggered fashion. I didn't do it that way on purpose, but we began last school year finishing LHTH and beginning Beyond...; and we began this school year finishing LHFHG, and beginning Bigger... I really enjoyed this. I was excited to start the new program, and happily familiar with finishing the old program. I think I'll do this always. Great advice ladies!
In Christ,
Julie

I'd like to hear some "you can do its," from peopl

I'd like to hear some "you can do its," from peopl

Could I do the same storytime with both?