Adding more writing to LHfHG?

[leimarie]

Because of a year that was derailed because of loss, my children are still working through the guides we started last year. We feel good about that because we don't want them to miss completing what they started so that they can also be successful in later guides. For my 5th grader this is fine, he's in Preparing and plugging along. My 3rd grader is in Beyond which works because we can spend the extra time solidifying his reading foundation and I've added a little bit of notebooking for science and history. My challenge is with my 7yo 2nd grade daughter. I am using LHfHG for her but I need to beef it up a bit. I want to keep her in a separate guide from her brother for character building (for both of them). She is a (mostly) highly motivated student and can handle a little more. Has anyone added more written activities to LHfHG? Since she is technically a 2nd grader I need to have more recorded work for her.

Your suggestions are greatly appreciated!

[Robbi]

Have you added the spelling list 1 from Beyond? I would definitely start that. Then in Beyond she can do list 2 and be ready for dictation in Bigger.
Depending on her reading, you could also add Dithor, as the notebook would have some writing assignments.

Also if there's discussion after the history or storytime she could write a sentence or so of those.

HTH

[leimarie]

Thanks Robbi, I was thinking I could ask her to notebook the discussion questions. For spelling we use a different program, Tracey Tutor (it wraps our phonics/reading/spelling together). Adding writing pages for science and history will be very helpful.

[my3sons]

Copywork at this young age is the best format for writing as it helps dc see a correct model of writing - both for proper spelling and for correct grammar. Creative writing with no model tends to form poor writing/spelling habits. So, I'd suggest trying to have dd do copywork of a sentence each day. My oldest ds was writing well during LHFHG, so we had him copy his Bible verses on index cards and put them in a special little photo album. It is so fun to look back at it now that he is almost 13 yo! So one of the days, you could have her begin copywork of the BIble verse she is memorizing each week - like maybe Day 5. You could also have her do "A Reason for Handwriting A" or something comparable, as this will have her writing sentences, and that would be as scheduled in the guide on 2 days. For another day, you could have dd copy a caption that is pertinent to the history key idea at the bottom of her weekly art projects. Just writing a sentence on a markerboard for her to copy (using the key idea for ideas) would be an easy way to accomplish this. Day 4 of the Storytime already has a writing focus, and you can always extend this to be a sentence in length quite easily. Between all of these options, I think you would have more than enough writing for dd without adding unneeded extra time to your day or her day. I hope this helps, and I am so sorry for your loss. May the Lord be with you and continue to uphold you through your year - God bless!

In Christ,
Julie

[leimarie]

Thanks Julie, those are excellent recommendations and just the nudge and direction I need. She loves writing, I find her stories all around the house, but I am not wanting to push her into creative writing (I love that it's just fun for her right now). Using copywork as a way for her to build her portfolio in an age and grade appropriate manner is perfect. I can do that easily for history and science, but for some reason just wasn't seeing that on my own! She does use 'A Reason for Handwriting A' currently. I will let her write and illustrate her weekly verses too, that will give her a little more quiet work to keep her from distracting the older boys during their instruction. I know she could place in Beyond, but I'm just not ready to have her 'catch up' to her older brother, he needs this time ahead of her. I knew I could continue to make LHfHG work for her, just needed a little more direction for how to have that work for us. Thanks so much!

[my3sons]

Thanks for your response here, and I am so glad this helped! I think you are one wise mama to let ds develop on his own in Beyond from what you have shared, and this will give dd time to soar on her own too. Have a great night!

In Christ,
Julie