I need help!!

[eandg81]

Ok so I need help with my 4 year old. He cannot remember his letters at all. We are on unit 4 and the only letter he knows is 'A' no matter how many times we go over the others he can't get it. He can do math problems in his head, loves to do handwriting pages and memorizes every Bible verse that his older brother is learning in LHFHG and all the ones we have done in LHTH. As of right now I know that we will have to do something half speed or do a 3 day school week or he will be way too young when we get to Beyond but I'm really wondering if we should just shelve LHTH for now and just concentrate on his letters. As of right now we read all the LHTH and LHFHG history and BIble things together. We also do all the dramatic play and science together. Zeke really loves to tag along in LHFHG with his older brother so would it make sense to start LHTH with him for K and right now just go over his letters and let him do all the other lessons in LHFHG with us. Or should I just press on and hope that he starts picking it up? I feel really sorry for him because he gets discouraged that he can't remember the sounds even with the fingerplay and all the letter activities.

[leimarie]

Hang in there!

We used the Leap Frog DVD (Letter Factory) borrowed from the library to help when I was trying to do the basic letters/sounds with my daughter at the beginning of the year. It was engaging for her, even the bigger (and littler) ones couldn't help but sing along.

[KTLM6]

I wouldn't stress. He's 4. My dd is 4. We are taking LHTH slowly, and will repeat it before we begin Kindergarten. I also use educational videos to help sometimes, like leap frog. My dd can count to ten in spanish, but her fine motor skills are weak. All kids develop at their own pace. Sometimes just coming at something from multiple ways and several times does the trick. Read a lot to your son, and let him play with those magnet or foam letters. Do the lessons, review the lessons, and if he doesn't get it yet, redo it later. Look at LHTH as exposing your son to letters without the pressure of learning them. He's also getting all the wonderful Bible stories and other activities too. If your son can do all those other things, such as mental math and memorization, then don't worry about the letters. They'll come in time. Instead, just have fun doing all the stuff with him.

[my3sons]

How about half-speed LHTH with a little Leap Frog DVD's mixed in? Ds can review all of the flashcards he's done thus far each day. If he doesn't know them, you can have him trace the letter on the flashcard with his finger and say the sound as he does so. This helped my tactile learner! If he doesn't remember a sound, I'd just cheerfully say it for him, have him repeat it, and move on, so as not to draw it out. He will get it given time. Just be sure to do all of the boxes of plans in LHTH if you spread it out to half-speed, as they work together so nicely to help dc retain things better. I think if you've identified this is going to be a tougher area for him, it makes sense to do the plans half-speed and keep inching along with them so he has some real time to retain them and enjoy LHTH. I'd probably have him focus on his LHTH rather than tag along with big brother in LHFHG as much as possible, as this will help him concentrate fully on his LHTH and grow in his skills day by day. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[kzacarkim]

Hi, I used starfall.com to help my kids with their letters.... I just did a few letters a day, and they did great. Plus it's free!!!

[Carrie]

I'm chiming in late here, but I wanted to let you know that my third little guy was absolutely like this. We persevered on with LHTH, and by the time he finished it he knew almost all of his sounds. I didn't drill him or do anything outside of what was in the LHTH guide except for him occasionally watching the LeapFrog DVD. So, I want to encourage you that while your 4 year old can listen in to what the older sibling is doing, it is important that he have his own skills being addressed daily in short bursts too. The skills do come with maturity, but are still on a continuum.

I'll give you this example to let you know what I mean. At one of our conventions this year, a very stressed out mother came to our booth. She had been to quite a few different speakers that day and was at a loss as to know which "method" of education was the right one for her. She told me that one speaker she'd heard really advocated early learning and getting going with a more structured program when her little one was 5. She told me the next speaker she'd heard had said to wait until her child was older to do anything much beyond learning to read and write, and maybe dabble in some math. She said to me, "Both speakers seemed so sure that their 'way' is right, but their two ways are so different that one of them must be lying. So, who is it?"

I told her that the speakers were actually both right. You can truly do a child's early education either way! But, something to consider is that there are skills that a child needs along the way that are on a continuum. So,I told her... if you do choose to do reading, writing, and dabble in math for your child's 'K' year, then when you return to our booth next year and ask where your child should be placed, it is likely that we will end up placing her in LHFHG. On the other hand, if you ask me right now where to place your 5 year old, I will also likely say LHFHG. The reason that the placement will probably be the same a year from now is that by waiting and doing the 3R's only, there are other skills that your child will need before advancing in HOD, and your child will still need those skills prior to moving on. Either philosophy will work and either path is fine, but the skills are still there waiting to be learned.

I share this, so you can see that while you could shelve LHTH until next year, your little honey will still need to learn the skills within LHTH next year then. So, with little ones who aren't catching on quickly to the skills, it is often better to do a little every day, like LHTH, giving them plenty of time to mature as you journey.

Blessings,
Carrie