Need to Split, Can You Help?

[glperky]

Or give me some ideas? A couple of weeks ago I ask for your opinions about splitting my 5 and 7 yo that are now in LHFHG because I didn't think my 5 yo would be ready to move on. (He just turned 5 in Nov.). Due to recent DX long term health issues, I am more than certain he will not be ready for the fine motor skills in the higher guides. So I feel like I should just go ahead and split them. We are on week 11 on LHFHG, should I put him in LHTH or just let him do what he can with us in LHFHG and have him go through it twice? He is doing Singapore K Math, Ready Set Go Explode the Code books, and all the R&S fine motor skill books A-I, we are on book G. He wants and needs more than this but I am not sure what to do. Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated. I feel kind of lost over all of this.

[lissiejo]

It sounds like moving him down to LHTH might be a good plan. We did the K options from LHFHG before going through the guide and are using the 1st grade options with it now. I really don't think going through the guide twice would be fun for either of you and you don't want to push too fast to the older guides. Even though LHTH is much lighter on history and science there are some great activities that will help build his fine motor skills. He can always join in for the science in LHFHG. Another option would be to start going half speed, but I know that would be hard for your older student unless you want to push them up to Beyond.

[Motherjoy]

You have math, phonics and skills covered with Singapore, ETC, and R&S. He can listen in on history, science, bible, and storytime with no trouble, right? Plus you can add The Reading Lesson at a slow pace if he's inclined to do that.

My 8,7, and 6yo are all in the same guide, and I just tailor their math and reading. They do the same bible, science, history and storytime. Its really the basic skills work that requires such individualization.

I guess my advice is that you can split now, or you can wait until later. I'd be inclined to wait until later. Next year, he can the right side of LHFHG and the left side of Beyond with his brother. Does that make sense?

[glperky]

You have math, phonics and skills covered with Singapore, ETC, and R&S. He can listen in on history, science, bible, and storytime with no trouble, right? Plus you can add The Reading Lesson at a slow pace if he's inclined to do that.

My 8,7, and 6yo are all in the same guide, and I just tailor their math and reading. They do the same bible, science, history and storytime. Its really the basic skills work that requires such individualization.

I guess my advice is that you can split now, or you can wait until later. I'd be inclined to wait until later. Next year, he can the right side of LHFHG and the left side of Beyond with his brother. Does that make sense?

Yes, he listens in on history, science, Bible, and storytime with no trouble.

So, if next year he did the right side of LHFHG and the left side of Beyond would we just keep him behind on the right side each year until/unless he finally caught up? Does that make sense?

I would really love to put him in LHTH because like Melissa said, I think it would help his fine motor skills, but it's jus not in the budget now and when it is I am afraid he will be way beyond it.

Any other ideas? Please keep them coming!

[amysconfections]

I would do what Mother Joy suggested. Keep him at his level for math, copy work, etc. Then keep them together for History, Bible and Science. You can always pull him out and read books if he needs to mature on listening and attention skills. He won't necessarily always do the right side of the guide behind but more at his level. Little hands just has fine motor skill activities. These are easy to add to what you are doing now. Fill a bag with soap, or paint. Zip it closed without air and let him write letters on the outside. Have him fingerpaint. Use play dough. Piano helps with fine motor skills. Small Legos help fine motor skills.

[glperky]

Thanks Amy.

[glperky]

I just thought of an other way to split them and want your input please. I have all I need for Beyond and my 7 yr. places easily in beyond. So instead of leaving them together or moving my younger one down to LHTH, I could move my oldest up. Would that work?

[psreit]

It should be okay. That way you can do LHFHG at a slower pace with your 5yo if need be.

[lissiejo]

That sounds good, then cut LHFHG to half speed or slower to meet his needs

[glperky]

I just read in the thread "What would YOU do?" where Amysue has close to the same situation with her two DSs, that Carrie suggested not skipping LHFHG with her oldest. Oh my, what to do.

[raindrops]

Hmm...

I like to keep things simple (ie, follow the guide as written) and the idea of doing a bit out of this guide and a little of that makes my head spin.

What about doing LHFHG with oldest child full speed...
And then doing LHFHG half speed with the youngest? You could add in a little extra cutting, pasting type stuff each day.

Just 'cause they're both in the same guide doesn't mean they HAVE to work together at the same time and the same pace, right?

Just another thought to confuse the issue. Hehe.

[glperky]

Hmm...

I like to keep things simple (ie, follow the guide as written) and the idea of doing a bit out of this guide and a little of that makes my head spin.

What about doing LHFHG with oldest child full speed...
And then doing LHFHG half speed with the youngest? You could add in a little extra cutting, pasting type stuff each day.

Just 'cause they're both in the same guide doesn't mean they HAVE to work together at the same time and the same pace, right?

Just another thought to confuse the issue. Hehe.

That's a thought!

I was looking at my Beyond guide today and just image them not doing it together. If yours do two different guides when they are this close in age and connected at the hip like mine are, do you let the younger ones join in on the fun activities like making a shield, for example? And then if they do the fun activities this year do they do them again next year when they are in that guide? Does that make sense?

[lissiejo]

Yes! My girls quite often join in and all do the LHTH activities with my youngest even though they are way beyond that. They all do each other's science experiments and sometimes art activities. This doesn't always happen, but quite often it does, especially in the early guides up through Beyond.

[8arrows]

We are on week 11 on LHFHG, should I put him in LHTH or just let him do what he can with us in LHFHG and have him go through it twice? He is doing Singapore K Math, Ready Set Go Explode the Code books, and all the R&S fine motor skill books A-I, we are on book G. He wants and needs more than this but I am not sure what to do.

Are you talking about the K child in the above statement? If so, and I think so, it sounds like he will do well in LHFHG. I would just be thrilled to have 2 in the same guide and keep going. I keep them in the same guide until there is an issue. So far, both my groups have just stayed together. They would always want to know what the others were doing and how long until they got to do it, etc.

[glperky]

We are on week 11 on LHFHG, should I put him in LHTH or just let him do what he can with us in LHFHG and have him go through it twice? He is doing Singapore K Math, Ready Set Go Explode the Code books, and all the R&S fine motor skill books A-I, we are on book G. He wants and needs more than this but I am not sure what to do.

Are you talking about the K child in the above statement? If so, and I think so, it sounds like he will do well in LHFHG. I would just be thrilled to have 2 in the same guide and keep going. I keep them in the same guide until there is an issue. So far, both my groups have just stayed together. They would always want to know what the others were doing and how long until they got to do it, etc.

Melissa,
Sorry for the confusion. Yes, I am wondering about my K child. We are doing LHFHG and he is doing well. However he has health issues that are effecting his fine motor skills and he is already behind in them, so at this rate I know that he won't be ready for all the writing that comes I the guides to follow. And as easy as it is on me and since him and his big bro. are glued together it makes sense to leave them together. It just seems like, in my mind that it would be easier in the long run to seperate them now since we just got started on this journey instead of trying to figure out later had to split them or change so much to make it easier for him. I have only been at this for 10-11 weeks, so I really don't know.