Start LHFHG or Wait

[glperky]

I have a 5 yo DS (6 in Nov.) who is ready for LHFHG 1st grade except for Math and handwriting. I also have a 7 yo (8 in Dec.) who will be staring Beyond. I have read that it is best not to do guides back to back. With that in mind, should I hold off on starting the 5 yo in LHFHG until the Fall of 2014? Or is there an other option to spread them out? I have also thought of and Julie suggested maybe doing Bigger at half spread with my 7 yo and that would space them out. However, my 7 yo doesn't really like school (he rafher be playing) and I think maybe doing Beyond might help that issue. I would love any help you can offer. Thank you!

[StephanieU]

What about half speed? Maybe do the fine motor skills and math as scheduled, starting with where he is in K? Then split the rest of the boxes over two days. You could keep going with reading everyday too, as it is never bad to have them ahead on reading skills. If at some point you wanted to go more full speed through LHFHG, then you could slow down a little in Beyond when you start that to spread them out, so LHFHG and Beyond together take 3+ years.

[MelInKansas]

What is your sense with this LO? Do you think he will be bored and not challenged if you hold off or just stick to a few things with him instead of doing a whole guide? How do you feel about doing LHFHG with him along with Beyond? Those are some things I would consider when making that decision. You can certainly wait and use LHFHG with 1st grade options for next year instead of using LHFHG this year.

I believe there are two reasons for not doing back-to-back guides. One is teacher burnout. You end up doing the guide 2 years in a row. The other is that Bigger Hearts and Preparing Hearts are both very teacher-intensive guides and take a lot of your time. So that year would be a hard one for you. You are training the child to become independent, plus the work expected of them is just a lot greater by then.

BUT then there's the possibility that you could combine them later on if the younger one progresses, or if you figure out how to fill in a year or even 1/2 a year to let the younger one catch up. Use extensions with the older one. So maybe proceeding is the best thing to do. I think, the Lord obviously knows where your kids are at and where they will be, and He says He gives us wisdom when we ask, so you should ask! I have seen God answer many prayers for wisdom as I have asked Him.

[mom23]

I think the biggest thing with back to back guides is the time factor later down the road-when you're doing Bigger and Preparing, for instance...or even Beyond and Bigger is a chunk of time committment for you. Often if the kids place best in back to back guides it can work well to combine them together. Would it be a possibility to put your kids together in LHFHG? You can pull in the right side options from Beyond so that he's challenged enough in LA and Math areas. If this is not a workable option for your family I do like the idea of beginning LHFHG half speed with your youngest-I did that this past year with my 5yo in Kindergarten, and it was a perfect pacing for him. Another thing you might consider is to move forward with both guides full speed for this year, and then next year to put one of the kids half speed (with the older one half pace it would work toward eventually combining them or with the younger one half pace it would work toward spacing the kids/guides apart further.)

I don't think I would personally hold off on your 5 yo, though, just to avoid running back to back guides. Give them what they each need now, and if the problem arises (of you not being able to keep up) you'll probably be able to better gague how to best correct it.

[glperky]

I think the biggest thing with back to back guides is the time factor later down the road-when you're doing Bigger and Preparing, for instance...or even Beyond and Bigger is a chunk of time committment for you. Often if the kids place best in back to back guides it can work well to combine them together. Would it be a possibility to put your kids together in LHFHG? You can pull in the right side options from Beyond so that he's challenged enough in LA and Math areas. If this is not a workable option for your family I do like the idea of beginning LHFHG half speed with your youngest-I did that this past year with my 5yo in Kindergarten, and it was a perfect pacing for him. Another thing you might consider is to move forward with both guides full speed for this year, and then next year to put one of the kids half speed (with the older one half pace it would work toward eventually combining them or with the younger one half pace it would work toward spacing the kids/guides apart further.)

I don't think I would personally hold off on your 5 yo, though, just to avoid running back to back guides. Give them what they each need now, and if the problem arises (of you not being able to keep up) you'll probably be able to better gague how to best correct it.

Thank you for thanks for the input ladies. I'll take more if anyone has any.

Becky- I would like to combind them but my 7 yr. has done most of LHFHG.