HELP - I'm new - need help figuring out what to order

[jjsmama21]

Hi everyone! I'm Suzie, and I am homeschooling mama to ds, 9 1/2.

I am trying to figure out what the total dollar amount is to order Bigger Hearts.....

Can anyone help me here?

For some reason, I'm really confused, looking at all the options, and trying to figure out what to do.

HELP!!!!!

Just to give you a quick background - my son loves history (we want to study U.S. History this year), and loves science and geography, and loves to read, and to be read to. He is doing basic multiplication, but has not tackled division yet, and is still memorizing his multiplication tables. He has barely started cursive writing. That has been a real toughie for him, writing.

We do want to implement doing Unit Studies as well, so maybe the Economy package woul suffice? The only problem is the books in the deluxe look GREAT too!

If someone can explain the pricing, and packages and what comes with them, or what you ordered, that would help me a lot. I have "mommy brain freeze" on this, and hubby is wanting an answer on dollar amount so we can get this ordered soon.

Thank you so much in advance ladies! I appreciate your help so much!

God Bless You All!

Suzie

[netpea]

Hi Suzie,
If money is tight, you could try to find the storytime books (that's what the deluxe set is) at the library. The Extension set is for older kids to read independently or optionally you can get them and read them aloud to your child (again the library might have some of these), or you can just skip them as they were intended for older students.

I'm guessing you would want the economy package, the science add-on, the basic package, a handwriting choice, and a reading program. Is you son an emerging reader or done with phonics?

[jjsmama21]

Hi Leann - thanks so much for writing back!

Yes, my son is pretty much done with phonics, with the exception of probably wanting to do a bit of review at the first part of the year after having summer over with!

He does read quite well actually.

I am still praying about what to do on this..........so I was trying to figure out the total dollar amount like what you suggested is.........it's too late right now, so I'll look again at it all in the a.m,, after time with the Lord, and coffee of course! Need the Lord to start my day, and a cup of java to wake up my mind!

So, what did you order then Leann?

Thanks so much, and I hope to hear from others on here as well. I could really use the support right now, It's been a really tough summer for us.

Suzie

[Natreez]

Hi there and welcome!

Netpea did an awesome job telling you what you'll need. I just wanted to explain something that I found "very" confusing while I was trying to determine what we needed. At first glance, I thought the various packages, (Economy, Deluxe, Basic, etc) meant each was a complete curriculum. It took me awhile to figure out that in addition to the Economy package, I still would need to add in writing, grammar, math, science, etc.

So here's what you'll need:
Economy package which includes your teacher's manual and history books
Science add-on which includes six science books (unless you have another program you prefer).
Basic Package which includes Math, Grammar, and Bible (unless you have another program you prefer).
Your choice of one of the two cursive programs. (Unless you have another program you prefer.)
Reading program- Here you'll first have to decide if your child is an emergent reader or does your child read independently? If he is an emergent reader, order or utilize the library for the emergent reader books. If he is an independent reader, you would be ready to use the Drawn Into the Heart Of Reading (DITHOR) Program. In which case you'd need the DITHOR teachers manual and student book. I've also heard many positive things about the book list and project book that goes along with this program. Also if you decide to go with the DITHOR, you'll need to decide if you want to purchase the DITHOR book packs for your child to read independently. These area listed as level 2 or level 3 book packs. Or you can use your own books and/or the library with this program as well. You would simply need to choose the books for each genre.

Deluxe Package- These are for the storytime/read alouds that you would be reading to your child and as Netpea suggested, you could try the library for these or if you wish to just have them on hand, purchase the packs.

For us, we decided to order the Economy, science, basic, and cheerful cursive. Money is a factor at the moment, so I made a list of all the genres as well as the suggested books. Then after checking my bookshelf whatever I don't have we will get from the library with the exception of a few I know the library doesn't have. My son is a great reader however we are opting out of the DITHOR at least for now. However I made a list of the suggested books for each genre and am going to get what I can from the library for him to read independently. From what I can see, it looks as though Bigger does have some discussion of character, setting, etc in the Bigger teacher manual. We're doing this for now and then if I think he needs more we'll possibly add DITHOR later.

It took me quite awhile to figure out what I needed as well. I hope I've helped clarify it a bit better for you.

Good luck and God Bless!
Natreez
mom to 8yr old ds and joining the "Bigger Buddies" in the Fall!!
mom to 14yr old ds going into public high school in the Fall!!

Whew! It's getting late so forgive me for any spelling/grammar errors.

[Samuel'sMommy]

The other ladies have explained it pretty well. I just wanted to add if you don't have a printed catalog, you should request one. To me it is a whole lot clearer than the website about what the different packages are and what is needed.

[netpea]

Yes, my son is pretty much done with phonics, with the exception of probably wanting to do a bit of review at the first part of the year after having summer over with!
------
So, what did you order then Leann?

Well to save some money, I made a list of the storytime books and the extension pack books and went yard saling this summer, I found some of the books for .25 to $1. Then when I finally placed my order, I made sure I covered all the basics and then I bought the storytime / extension books I still wanted.
I already had the books from the economy package. But you absolutely must buy the economy package!
I Bought:
Science Add-On
Basic Package with Math 3A/3B
Cheerful Cursive
DITHOR 2/3 pack
and the rest of the deluxe / extension books I didn't have already.

You will need to see where your son falls on the singapore placement test to pick the right math. The math activities in the Bigger Manual correspond with Singapore math 2A/2B. My son is halfway through 2B already, but there are schedules in the Bigger manual for 3A/3B. There are no hands-on math activities once you finish 2A/2B, so you just use the textbooks and workbooks and follow the chart. See the placement for Singapore math here:
http://www.singaporemath.com/Placement_Test_s/86.htm

If your son can read the emerging readers found here:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/emerging-reader.php
without any problem, he is ready to move into DITHOR 2/3. There is a package set for that Here:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/drawn-into-packages.php
Don't forget to get a copy of the sample booklist for DITHOR. One Booklist covers all levels of DITHOR. You may also wish to purchase the project book. I meant to but I forgot to order it.

does that help or did I confuse you?

[Kathleen]

Hi Suzie! Welcome to HOD!

I'm new to HOD, too. I started with LHTH with my little girl last year and LOVED it. I didn't love what my 7 yr old son was doing and came to check out HOD's programs for older kids...and we're eagerly anticipating starting Bigger next week.

I'd say that what you want to order depends on what you're using HOD's reccommendations for. Carrie has written the guides so that you don't have to use Singapore math or R&S English or Drawn Into The Heart of Reading, etc. SO...are you just wanting to use the history part, history and science, the whole sha-bang?!?

After looking it through last spring and asking lots of questions, I decided to go with everything Carrie reccommends. I spent about $400 and that got everything I wanted. The DITHOR teacher's guide is probably something I'll be using for the next 15-20 years as I can use it for my oldest through 8th grade and still have little ones coming up. I bought the economy package, the science adder, the things that I still needed from the basic package (had some of them), Cheerful Cursive, DITHOR 2/3 package, Boy Interest Storytime books, Level 2 DITHOR books. (I think that's all!) Anyway, I know that when my dd is ready for Bigger in a few years all I'll need to replace is the Cheerful Cursive and Math books (about $30). I love that!

So, you could spend anywhere from $82.50 - $400 depending on how much of the program you're doing and what you already have that HOD reccommends or how much you can use the library.

(Oh, if you are using your own stuff for math or LA, I'm sure that it could be more expensive by the time you get everything you need as I think Singapore and Rod & Staff are some of the less expensive choices I've come across.)

Is this what you wanted to know?
Kathleen

[jjsmama21]

Hi Ladies! WOW! I'm just OVERWHELMED with JOY over all the responses and help on this! I'm SO glad to hear I wasn't the only one who was having a hard time figuring out what to order! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! I appreciate everyone taking the time out of their busy lives and day to respond, and to help me and encourage me!

Yes, you ALL helped me so much and I am forever grateful!

Where it stands is I need to check Math placement for my ds, and then I am going to look at those book lists. He would do the Drawn Into the Heart of Reading if we go with those books, as he is a pretty great reader for 9! He really does love to read, although we have been taking it pretty easy this summer! We both NEEDED the break, as we both got burned out so bad last year! Money is a factor for us, so I am praying over what to do.

I sure do appreciate the support on here! I am going to look over everyone's posts again, and then go to the website, and the idea of ordering a catalog was GREAT! Thanks so much to everyone! You ladies are GREAT!

From a very grateful christian mama, God Bless You!

Suzie

[Carrie]

Suzie,

Aren't the ladies on the board wonderful! I just wanted to welcome you to HOD! We're glad you're here!

Blessings,
Carrie

[Jennifer-Anne]

I just found all of this post so helpful. I was having trouble figuring out what I needed to order also. I cannot wait to get my printed catalog in the mail