Cautiously optimistic!

amyw33 · Post by **amyw33** » Wed May 21, 2008 4:12 pm

I just got LHFHG in the mail, and I'm pleased with it(SHHHHHH, don't tell anyone, I don't want to jinx it!). I had a couple of lovely conversations over at HSR with W2W and some others (RE my first botched attempt at K curriculum! Nearly had me sending DD to PS, LOL!). Thanks for your input ladies, and encouraging me to try out HOD.

DD will be 5 in July, and we'll start after that. Does anyone have any advice? Anything you wished you known before starting LHFHG? Also, has anyone used Alphaphonics as the phonics choice(and how did it go, any advice there?)? I own an old copy, and didn't really want to put any more money into K.

Melanie · Post by **Melanie** » Wed May 21, 2008 4:38 pm

Yeah!!! Isn't it so much better than you imagined? We are almost finished with Little Hearts and have absolutely loved it. I had to think for a minute about your question.....I guess my only regret was that in the beginning I kept thinking that since it didn't take very long, I needed to add more to it.

I soon learned better.

I think AlpaPhonics would be fine and I'm a big proponent of using what you've got. It will get the job done just as well as any program.

Look forward to hearing how it goes aften you get started!

Mel

netpea · Post by **netpea** » Wed May 21, 2008 5:11 pm

We loved LHFHG the first time around and I am so excited to do it again this fall. It's so easy to check off the boxes as we do the activities. I don't know about my 5yo, but I can't wait.

crlacey · Post by **crlacey** » Wed May 21, 2008 5:22 pm

I have to agree with Melanie. At first I thought it wasn't enough so I tried adding more. Once I realized what the whining was really about, we cut back the extras and just did the program as written and now DD is happy.

I'm sure you'll enjoy your DD's K year!

netpea · Post by **netpea** » Wed May 21, 2008 5:29 pm

The only thing I would reccomend is if your child loves to color, get the coloring book that goes along with History for Little Pilgrims. I don't think Carrie sells it but you can get it online. My children loved coloring along as I read the story.

Now my dd listened in and had a coloring book when her older brother was doing LHFHG and she is going into LHFHG herself in the fall. She asked me to please buy her a new coloring book to color along with the stories again for her school year.

Melanie · Post by **Melanie** » Wed May 21, 2008 5:32 pm

I forgot about that! Lee Ann is right....get the coloring book. My kids are enjoying it as well!

my3sons · Post by **my3sons** » Wed May 21, 2008 6:06 pm

I'm another one that added in more to LHFHG the first time around, which I guess was 3 years ago now. It was not necessary, and this year, when I did LHFHG a second time with my next son, I didn't add in anything more, and it went so much better!!! It is every bit as great as you think it is by your first impression - so get ready for a happy, full of learning year! And as far as the phonics, Carrie wrote it with the intention to give flexibility in phonics choice. So, if you've got a phonics program already and are happy with it, certainly go with that! However, just know in the back of your mind that there are 2 other great phonics choices on the HOD website waiting in the wings if you are not happy with the way the phonics you have is going. Welcome to the boards - you will love it here!

In Christ,
Julie

Jen in Va · Post by **Jen in Va** » Wed May 21, 2008 6:11 pm

Coloring book? Did someone say coloring book? Must find that!

Melanie · Post by **Melanie** » Wed May 21, 2008 6:25 pm

Jen - I got mine from Christianbook. I think Rainbow Resource sells the as well. My kids often work on theirs even when school is over....mainly my girls who are way more into detailed coloring than my little guy!

water2wine · Post by **water2wine** » Wed May 21, 2008 7:57 pm

I have practically every phonics program ever made.

Not really but I have a couple. Alpha phonics is one and it is a good program. It is similar in a way to The Reading Lesson in how it works. It teaches phonograms. I use it with my older reading delayed child. I actually got The Reading Lesson to just be using something different with my little kids than my older child. It is a good program and you can teach your child to read just fine with that if you have it. You may need a little more practice reading than is in the program. If you have Bobs Books it goes great with those for more reading practice. HTH!

BTW- I think you are going to love LHFHG!

netpea · Post by **netpea** » Wed May 21, 2008 9:11 pm

Jen in Va wrote:Coloring book? Did someone say coloring book? Must find that!

You can find it easily by typing History for little pilgrims coloring book into google. I just found one on the old schoolhouse website. I don't know if there is a minimum order amount, but the banner at the top of the page says free shipping:

http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/i ... cts_id=723

I've been lucky enough to have a homeschool store in town so I could just go in and buy it, but it is closing this month.

That's where I found HOD when my son was 4 and I was looking for a preschool program.

I will miss it as I like to touch and hold books before buying.

amyw33 · Post by **amyw33** » Thu May 22, 2008 4:10 pm

Sounds like good advice. I had thoughts of adding things, but this just seems so thorough. I feel in my heart that this is enough, but thanks for agreeing!

We're using Queen's LLFLO vl 2 right now, but on the advice of some of the ladies here we're going to try a more thorough phonics after we complete Queen. I like the Queen stuff, I'm just not sure it's enough. I don't really understand Alphaphonics, I think it's just so simple I feel like I am missing something

We have the Bob books, so we should be all set.

I am looking forward to this year...and the thought that we may be with HOD for awhile makes me very, very, afraid....whatever will I do with the 14 hours a day I used to spend on curriculum browsing?????

Now my husband is going to expect me to cook.

Post by **Carrie** » Sun May 25, 2008 3:09 pm

amyw33,

I'm so glad that you are liking what you see in "Little Hearts..". We'll be continuing on with it next year with my third son (as we only did it half speed this year, since he was barely 5)! We pray you will enjoy it is as much as we have!

You made me smile when you said...

I am looking forward to this year...and the thought that we may be with HOD for awhile makes me very, very, afraid....whatever will I do with the 14 hours a day I used to spend on curriculum browsing?????

Blessings,
Carrie