The gap between LHTH and LHFHG

[themrsslh]

I know I've seen this posted and I'm probably going to get the same or similar responses. I have a very bright 2.5 year old girl, with whom I've been doing LHTH since her 2nd birthday in October. I'll give a rundown of our progress:

Verbal and Math: She has complete upper and lowercase recognition at this point and recalls all the letter sounds we've worked through. Number recognition beyond 10, and counting skills mostly solid to 10. I went ahead and bought the singapore K in case she showed proficiency, but even the first pages of same/different she is not ready to do. We work on the concepts as well but it's about 50/50.

Bible: this is probably my fault, but she seems only slightly interested at all. Obviously we discuss character traits throughout the day, but my own spiritual state is somewhat dry at this point -backsliding husband, it is what it is -so I know this could be better on my end.

Dramatic play: no way, she has zero interest. She would rather do workbooks and "school" activities.

Motor skills: she gets physical activity regularly and her fine motor skills seem above average (based on other people's reactions to her abilities). She is able to color in lines in pictures and trace shapes and letters in workbooks.

So, she seems to prefer "traditional" educational practices, and I feel like there is definite asynchronous development in her verbal skills (she can have an adult conversation no problem). I"m trying to plan for her 3rd year starting in October. I've pored over LHFHG and I feel like she is definitely ready for the Reading Lesson, Handwriting K, and the story books. My concern is the time requirement and outpacing her maturity level. I'm leaning towards doing LHFGH at half speed (left side/right side) and stretching it 2 years. I know a lot of people are going to say to repeat LHTH, but I just don't feel good with it again for her. It may be personal in that I don't want to be teaching one child from 2 guides because it seems too overwhelming.

As an aside: my husband and I both have near genius IQ's and ascended through the public school system at an accelerated pace, so I don't feel that kids should be kept at any level "just because." I love HOD so much and I'm excited to keep her going through. The only other option I'm really considering is one of the MFW programs to fill the gap and returning to HOD LHFHG when she turns 4.

Thanks!!

Note: I also have 10 month old boy and 3rd baby due February 2017 so the ideas of multiple guides in the future is also in the back of my head. I know the recommendation is to avoid the early elementary guides back to back because of burnout, so I'm also hoping to get ahead of that a little.

[StephanieU]

Have you looked at the Roof and Staff workbooks in LHFHG? Hod carries for if then, but there are many more out there (each one starts with a different letter, and I think the last of K or L). You could easily add those to LHTH. LHTH would give you the Bible lessons and character study (from the devotional) while the Rod and Staff books would give you the academic nature she likes. I would not do the main part of LHFHG until she is almost 5. You can start phonics and math, but really there isn't a hurry. I pushed my oldest, and I realized it didn't matter in the long run. Her friend that didn't start early are caught up to here overall now. It is like walking. Some babies start earlier, but by 2 or 3, you can't tell which ones started walking at 9 months and which didn't start until 18m.

[my3sons]

Thanks for sharing about your dd! She is doing well in many areas for her age! Children who complete LHTH at the youngest target age range from 2-3 years old usually repeat it again with the 3-4 or 4-5 yo resources, choosing the 'older' math options, the higher skip counting, etc. This makes the transition smoother between these guides. I always think of LHTH as a mini LHFHG because it includes a balance of subject areas found in kindergarten programs, as opposed to other preK programs which focus solely on the alphabet and counting, etc. The Bible portion, for example, is used for the subject of history in LHTH. It is chronological and covers from creation to Paul's missionary journeys. It also includes oral comprehension questions to ask after the readings, which builds listening and reading comprehension nicely. The "New Bible in Picture's for Little Eyes" has about 2-3 oral comprehension questions each reading. Subject areas such as science/health, art projects, history activities, music, Bible/devotions, music, large gross motor skills/ left/right movement are included in the finger plays, etc. So, this is why I think of LHTH as a mini- LHFHG!

My now almost 17 yo was testing off the charts on standardized testing early on, reading extremely young, and writing just as young (though his spelling took some refining , which I am happy to say HOD's dictation accomplished nicely). He started LHFHG at a little over 4 yo and did fine. He's always been on track to graduate early, but we slowed it down his last few years of high school to savor this time together - his choice - not that he couldn't have kept going and graduated early. I'm so glad we did! He is growing in so many ways I want to still be a part of - academically, but also spiritually. What a blessing that has been! If it were me, with your sweet dd, I'd do all of LHTH with the harder resources, and I'd add the K fine motor skills workbooks from LHFHG as well as the phonics, if you feel your dd is ready for that. I'd probably wait on the LHFHG Storytime, as the follow-ups are beginning narration skills and more difficult listening/reading comprehension skills best done after a year of daily answering the questions in the history of LHTH. The math skills go much further than one would think in LHTH and are listed in the Introduction here...

http://www.heartofdakota.com/pdf/little-hands-intro.pdf

I'd probably go through all of those and then begin the K Essentials Math next, as the skills in LHTH prepare a child nicely for the K Essentials. I hope this helps as you ponder what to do! I think this plan would keep your daughter's day nicely balanced, but recognize the areas she is more advanced in by extending those areas. It's a celebration of all she is! On a side note, I have often found in dryer years of faith for me (and there have been some), often times the devotions I am doing with my children or the Bible stories or verses we are discussing, take me back to the roots of my faith in God. They remind me of that childlike faith I had once, and they are like water my soul soaks up! I just wanted to encourage you in this dryer season you mentioned, that the devotions and Bible readings in LHTH may do just that, and I pray the Lord just fills you up with His kind of 'rain.' Do pray it for me as well, would you? I have some dry days here too.

In Christ,
Julie

[MelInKansas]

Welcome to this board. It is so fun to hear about people starting on their homeschool journey. There is just so much to figure out! I think it's especially interesting with our first born children, because they are the trailblazer and you start working through all of the issues.

I agree with Julie. You don't want to jump into LHFHG too early, and it sounds like your daughter isn't ready for it yet in all areas. Repeating or slowing down LHTH I think would be the best thing to do. It's good to push her a little in the areas she doesn't like as well, but I would not make a big deal about it at this age. In so many cases, age and maturity fix the problems and trying to push ahead in things before the age and maturity come is like beating your head on a brick wall. If she's not yet ready to do something that her age would indicate she shouldn't really be doing yet anyway, then definitely don't push it.

As to her lack of interest in Bible and your own dry place, prayer is key. The Lord changes hearts and he brings springs of living water to those who need it.

The Rod and Staff workbooks are great. There are two included with LHFHG, and the whole set is 5. I have bought those before and used them with a child who loved fine motor workbooks at an early age. Then if she progresses well through those you could use the 1st grade workbooks with LHFHG whenever you get to that. I still think though, you should push LHFHG off until she is 5. Yes you have some other ones coming up close behind her, it sounds like, but I would guess you could probably combine them together, or maybe even combine the 2nd born with the 1st born at some point. I think combining some of them will be a lot easier for you than trying to have them separate and have 2 guides in between. But only the Lord see the future, we just have to pray for wisdom and take the next step we know we should take.

Many blessings to you as you homeschool your little ones!