New to Homeschooling and need some help

[Gracefuldayz]

I am very very new to homeschooling. I am hoping and planning to pull my children out of public school and start homeschooling them by November 1, 2013. I have friends who use HOD and highly recommend it. I have a few questions that I would love some help with.
I have a 3rd grade daughter who is advanced in reading, but struggles with math. I have a 5th grade son who is advanced in math and is struggling with reading and reading comprehension. I would love something that we could do together as a family for most of the school day. My question and concern is that if I do “Preparing Hearts for His Glory” would it be boring for my 5th grader as far as the History and Science goes? Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated and welcomed.

[MomtoJGJE]

Without knowing anything else, I'd be more inclined to say that Preparing would be too much for the 3rd grader as opposed to boring/too little for the 5th grader.

Have you looked at the placement chart?

[StephanieU]

Have you looked at the books that HOD uses for history and science in Preparing? I would think the history would be okay, and the science just depends on what your son is used to. If the history is fine but the science seems light, you could always add something to HOD since he would be at the high end in terms of age (as an extension basically).
Preparing might work for combining them, but I would make sure your 3rd grader would place into Preparing on the placement chart first. If she doesn't, they I wouldn't push her into a guide she isn't ready for. Often having to modify things for two kids takes more work than just doing 2 guides kids place well into.

[my3sons]

Hi Gracefuldayz, and welcome to the HOD Board! The ladies gave some good thoughts here. I am wondering if you have had a chance to use the placement chart? It is really helpful in placing dc well, and it also makes clearer whether combining will be a good fit or whether separating will be a good fit. HOD is super flexible, which is why there are age ranges for each guide. It could very well be that PHFHG is a good fit for both of your dc, or when looking at the placement chart, you may find your fifth grader is needing more. I'd look especially closely at the first page of the placement chart - reading, writing, grammar, and math - as this will give insight as to what's best for each of your dc. Sometimes dc fit in the same guide, though they are different ages, and sometimes they can meet in the middle of their placements to do the same guide quite happily, but other times, it becomes evident doing separate guides would just be a better fit all around. I'd love to hear more about each of your dc's reading, writing, math, and grammar, with the placement chart in mind. I'd also like to know about how much each is used to writing each day (comfortably), and a few titles of books they are happily independently reading these days. Then, we'd all get back to you with details best fitting your dc's placement! Looking forward to getting to know you here!

In Christ,
Julie