New to homeschooling

[Maddygirl1]

I am new to HOD and have so many questions. Where do I get the timeline that I see on so many sights. I have also seen lists of materials that you need to use each week, and other things that we could use to keep us organized. I am going to be using bhfhg. We have an 11yr. old boy, 8yr. old boy, 6yr. old girl 4yr. old boy and a 2yr. old boy. I use abc mouse right now for the little guys and the 4yr. old will be going to Christian Pre school in the fall for 3 days a week. I am doing that just so I can get a feel for homeschooling since this is my first year. I have already tried doing this over the summer and it is hard, the older three have adhd and I have so many reasons why I am taking them out of public school. I was just doing worksheets over the summer and it was really boring so after the first week or so they were complaining alot . I am glad that hod has a lot more hands on things for them to do, and I keep telling them that in the fall it will get better. I just hope it will get better. Thanks Connie

[MelInKansas]

Welcome to HOD and the message board! I don't know what timeline you have seen, so I can't answer your question on that, is it one you would buy, or the one the kids make during the year (your kids will make a timeline in Bigger)?

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5531

This is Julie's post about starting Bigger last fall. It has pictures and some helpful thoughts, though reading the introduction to the guide is really a great place to start. There are not a lot of specialized materials needed, sometimes one or two throw me for a loop but usually it is stuff I already have (though I have been HSing for 4 years now so admittedly my supply of craft supplies is probably better than a mom who has not been).

Rest assured, your kids will enjoy doing HOD. It is hard work, but it is very fun, interesting, and interactive. I don't know much about transitioning from school to home, maybe others can encourage you in that regard, but I can tell you that once your children are used to it and know what to do, they will grow a lot, and enjoy the learning in HOD. And you will see their characters be challenged and grow through their study.

[Maddygirl1]

Thanks MelInKansas, I don't think that the timeline, that I have seen is the one in Bigger, though I am not really sure. It is one that I have seen hanging on a wall and is quite large. You put little pictures of historical figures on it. I have seen it and I can't remember where. Thanks so much for your reply, I really hope that my grandchildren will like HOD, I am looking forward to starting it, the Lord has lead me to this homeschooling thing, and I know he will finish his good work in it.

[my3sons]

Hi Maddygirl1! Melissa did a great job of answering your question already, so I will just mention that I have seen some prefabricated timelines like the one you are probably thinking of. They don't teach any of the skills that the Bigger Hearts plans are intending to be taught within the timeline assignment. This post may help explain...

Carrie’s explanation of why we do timelines the way we do:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5887

I'd really encourage you to do the timeline as it is planned in the Bigger Hearts guide. Our dc still fondly take out their BHFHG's timelines and look at them and remember what they learned. I can't imagine they'd feel this way if they just stuck a sticker someone else made on a premade timeline, or if they just looked at an already constructed timeline. They may look prettier, but the skills of learning to truly keep at timeline (and to remember it) are lost. What a good question, and I hope something here helps! I think you are going to have a super year with HOD homeschooling! How exciting it is your first, and you truly picked a wonderful curriculum to enjoy your year with!

In Christ,
Julie

[Maddygirl1]

Thanks Julie, I have just been looking into homeschooling so much and have seen so many things. I just want to do what's best for my grandchildren. I am a little afraid, to take this plunge but I know in my heart it is what is best for them.

[mom23]

Thanks Julie, I have just been looking into homeschooling so much and have seen so many things. I just want to do what's best for my grandchildren. I am a little afraid, to take this plunge but I know in my heart it is what is best for them.

That's so neat that you're doing this for your grandkids! Try not to worry too much about it, take it one day at a time and keep it simple. HOD is such a great program-there are things in there that I would never think of on my own, but Carrie has well-thought out and well-planned purposes for everything in these guides! I know when I began I would think, "This seems too simple, what else should I be doing?" (Especially after so much research online and seeing flashy parts of other programs, or hearing how much time others spend on certain subjects each day, or what other kids my kids' age are learning, etc.) With a few years under my belt with HOD I've learned that they are getting everything they need without all that stress on my part. In fact, they're getting a much better education than I could give them if I were putting things together myself. They don't need the flash to learn, and I've come to believe that all that extra time can become counter-productive. With HOD, they're getting small chunks they can grasp each day in a few minutes, and then we can go on to the next thing. They'll keep thinking things through as the day goes on; one of my kids will often come to me outside of school time with a connection they've made between something from HOD and real life. While I don't expect that my kids will ever be the type to beg to do more school-they'd rather be playing- HOD makes learning as enjoyable as it can be for them.