How to juggle three levels?

[blessedmomof3girls]

Hi all. We are finally going to get to use our HOD curriculum. I bought it 2 years ago to do with my oldest dd. She was just about to turn 7 when I ordered it. (Bigger Hearts for His Glory) My third dd had a lot of medical stuff going on and it had me travelling from Japan to Hawaii every 6 months, and then we evacuated from Japan after the earthquake, and so we had to stop using it and do an online program for that year. Then last year, we moved and life was still crazy, and so we used a more workbook curriculum. And so this year, we are in the same country as my 2 year old's doctors and therapists and so yeah, we can finally do this and I am so looking forward to it. We had so much fun with it for the 6 weeks we were able to complete.

So, my oldest dd will be just about to turn 9 when we start school. Then my second dd will be 5, and then I have a 2 year old autistic dd and my newborn. I plan to do Little Hands to Heaven with my 2 year old, Little Hearts for His Glory with my 5 year old, and then Bigger Hearts for His Glory for my 8 year old.

How do you juggle 3 different levels?

I plan to do Little Hands to Heaven with all 3 of them as kind of like a circle time thing right away in the morning, then sending my oldest to do her independent work, while doing the read alouds from Little Hearts for His Glory with my 5 and 2 year olds. Then during my 2 year old's nap time and therapy time, do the read alouds for Bigger Hearts for His Glory with both my 5 year old and my 8 year old, and working with my 5 year old and helping my 8 year old with whatever she needs help with.

It sounds good on paper, but I am just hoping it works in reality.

I would like to see a schedule of your days.

Thank you

[farmfamily]

Wow, it sounds like you have had a lot going on in the past few years. Glad to hear that life is beginning to get a little more "normal" for you!

I would suggest that you hold off on starting Little Hands with the 2 year old until things are going smoothly with the older two. All my kids didn't start Little Hands until they were 3 to 3 1/2 and it has worked great for all of them - just my 2 cents. Also when you do it you could consider separating them up. We started out this past year trying to do the three guides that you are planning on, and I did something similar to what you are describing. Later we switched to a schedule where two kids play together for half an hour while I work with the third, and each kid also plays alone in their room for half an hour at some point during the schedule. Also the younger two do an educational computer game for half an hour each. This adds up to time alone with each child. My middle child especially loved the change - she kept exclaiming how much shorter and easier school was now. She had gone from doing essentially all of Little Hands, all of LHFHG, and the read alouds from Bigger - to just doing LHFHG. Also my time with the youngest in Little Hands was more focused and pleasant without the older ones making suggestions, asking questions, goofing off and otherwise being distracting (and the older two LOVE having their play together time). Eventually my oldest stopped doing Bigger (which we were doing half speed) to be combined with her sister - which is a much better fit for her. But that is another story...

These are just some thoughts I had - I'm sure there are many different ways to make it work. I wish you the best!

[mrsrandolph]

I agree on waiting for your youngest. You may find yourself stuck with nothing for them to do as they get older. I like LHFHG for a 6 year old, personally.

I would also think about *not* letting your younger child listen in to read alouds and lessons that they will be doing when they are older.

I am doing 3 guides and DITHOR and find it manageable. Like you, I have a child with special medical needs, and we have a big therapy schedule each week. This is one reason we school in the summer as well (though a lighter summer schedule). I just pick up on Tuesday where I left off on Monday. So if we didn't get to math Monday for the oldest, I make sure that is covered first on Tuesday. I have a little spreadsheet with each of the 3 Rs and HOD content listed. I check off each subject as it is completed and just try to make sure 2 days don't go by without covering a subject.

Our day starts at 8:30. I pull my 9 & 8 year olds for HOD Preparing. Then I do spelling with each of them spearately. Then I pull my 6 year old for LHFHG. Then I do her reading. Then I pull my 4 year old for LHTH. Then back to the older 2 for math and reading on their separate levels. Then math for the 6 year old. Typically we will be done no later than 2:00 with a 40 minute lunch break and a load of laundry thrown in. This is on a perfect day. : )

HTH!

[blessedmomof3girls]

For Little Hands to Heaven, I had planned on only doing the finger plays, and the Bible story to go along with calendar time and other large motor activities for my 2 year old.

I like the suggestion of having kids play together, but I am honestly not sure it would work with my 2 year old and either of the older two. They get very frustrated with her easily and they need constant supervision when playing together with her.

Adding a computer game is a great idea. That would allow for me to work on the read alouds with my oldest while my middle does a computer game.

I have not looked at the Little Hands For His Glory. My 5 year knows most of the letter sounds, recognizes all the letters, and has been able to sound out rhyming 3 letter words. I have thought about waiting until next year in firsts grade to do LHFHG, but I was also a little worried that she'd be frustrated because she really wants to learn to read. Maybe I will wait until next year for LHFHG, and just do LHTH with her this year to be sure she is really ready to learn to read. I will have to think on this more and study the scope and sequence again. (and really I think I might be over thinking all this)

Thank you for your input.

[mrsrandolph]

There is no reason you can't go ahead and start a phonics program with her.
Edited by board moderator per board rules.

[lissiejo]

I plan to do those exact three guides this year with my three little ladies although my oldest will be 7.

I will be doing a staggered start. I'm actually starting Bigger next week with my oldest at a very slow pace to teach her some of the basic skills in the beginning of the guide since she is on the young end of the guide. She's definitely ready for it, I just need to adjust her pacing.

My soon-to-be 5-year-old will start Little Hearts next. I'm planning on August if not before. It sort of depends on how smoothly things are going with my oldest. I personally really like Little Hearts for Kindergarten, but everyone has a different preference. She has already completed her phonics work and is using the 1st grade options for thinking skills. I love that I can give my girls the pace they need, be it faster or slower than traditional school.

Then will come Little Hands with my 2-year-old (will be three in October). She surprised me this week by already knowing about 10 of her letters by sight and the sounds of a few as well! I'm only going to be doing this 2-3 days a week, so it will basically be half speed. She's still young, but BEGGING to do lessons every day Since she desires something and already sits well during lessons if I give her something to do, I want to give her the structure.

I've used both of the younger two programs before and they don't take long at all in the scheme of a homeschooling day. I'm also planning on allowing my oldest to do some of the Little Hands things with my two-year-old. She shows great ability in teaching and leadership, so I'm wanting to let her try it out. I think I'll allow her to do the Bible Story and questions (I LOVE the New Bible in Pictures for this age!) and also teach her the memory verses from the ABC memory verse book.

I hope your year runs smoothly!