Post
by Motherjoy » Thu Jul 17, 2014 6:18 am
HOD uses lots of CM methods, such as narration (starting written in Preparing, CM suggests waiting until 10, which is the upper age range of Preparing), copywork, poetry study, short lessons, varying what is studied so that one part of the child's brain isn't overused and tired. Living books are the backbone of HOD, even the science in the upper levels is chosen because its conversational. Notebooking is done from the early years. Picture study is done in RTR, though not focusing on one artists per term, as CM suggested. Composer study is done in Rev to Rev, though not focusing on one composer per term. Nature study is done in MTMM. The Book of Centuries is used in high school. CM suggested students beginning one at or after 10yo, when the child's handwriting has been solidified. Also, the way HOD teaches spelling is very CM, focusing on correctly seeing the word in the mind's eye and copying it from memory, instead of intensive phonics.
Some differences - arts & crafts projects are done throughout, which CM wouldn't have cared for. She preferred handicrafts with the end result being something of use. You can choose your reading instruction with HOD, but the options are not truly CM's way. She relied much more on sight reading and word building, which you can easily add in, but TRL doesn't have that written out for you. We've used TRL and enjoyed it, but it would probably be considered twaddle by CM, as she suggested using good poetry to help children begin to read. She was able to do this because she did teach sight words, and then later use those words as the basis for word building and basic phonics instruction.
HOD is, in my opinion, the best boxed curriculum that is based on CM methods. The planning is done for mom, the layout of the guide is easy to use and includes many helps and directions for mom (rather than just a grid of weekly pages to read). The guide walks mom through asking narration questions of varying degrees, which is something that CM used to change what type of narration the child gave (expository, narrative, etc..) HOD is also completely integrated. Instead of the subjects being separate, they all relate to one another. Carrie has added in dialogue prompts that help mom to center all the studies around God and show the student how they are interdependent. This is an important part of education, and something you will not find in many curricula.
MJ, mom to 8
2015-2016 plan
*17yo is dual-enrolled after using HOD for 7 years
*11yo, 10yo, 9yo, and 7yo - CTC with modifications
*5yo, 4yo - LHTH
*3yo - playschool
Accomplished: LHTH, LHFHG, BHFHG, Beyond, PHFHG, RTR, Rev to Rev, MTMM, WG, WH