Older Kids

[47kids]

Hello,
I have been obsessed with learning as much as I can about HOD and would really like to try it with our children. My question is, is it possible to use with High School? We have 7 kids at home, I have homeschooled ecclectically for 10+ years and the kids are currently using ACE in a Christian school for the past 2 years. I go 5 days a week with our 3 year old in tow and teach until lunch break and I am exhaused. I can't imagine another year like this. I want my kids back and I want to know what's going on. Our children are 3,8,8,10,12,13,15. Five boys and 2 girls. I feel like we are going too many directions and I want to streamline as much as possible. I can imagine doing Little Hands with Gabriel (3 yr. old) and doing another with the rest of the kids but it is quite a range. I kind of wanted to try Bigger and just wing it with Elijah (15 yr. old) with giving him grade level LA and Math. Maybe I could figure out extension books on my own or maybe it will be enough on its own? Please advise and encourage me!

In Christ,
Angela

[Kathleen]

Hi Angela! Welcome to the HOD board! I just love meeting all the moms that God leads this way. I'm still pretty new in my homeschool journey, and it's so encouraging for me to learn from the moms that have more seasoned, wise advice. (And the thing I love about the ladies here is that HOD seems to attract moms that really want the Lord to be the center of their time with their children. These moms LOVE the Lord, and it's just refreshing to be around.)

I'm sure that you will love having your kids back at home with you. My mother-in-law did this same kind of thing with my husband and his brother (dragging 2 little ones along) when they were younger, and loved being able to have them at home again and the freedom to follow a schedule that worked for them and not be on the go as much. They had a dairy farm...so it's not like they weren't "on the go", but they were busy at home.

I can tell you that you'll love doing LHTH with your little guy! I'm having so much fun with my little 2 this year. I'm sure that Carrie (author) or Julie (editor, and sister to Carrie) will be able to give you some better advice about placement with you older ones. I just wanted to welcome you. But, I will tell you that the first thought that popped into my head was to split them into 2 groups. Then you could do Bigger (or maybe Preparing if that looked like a better fit) with the 8, 8, and 10 yo. You'd want to use the extensions for the 10 yo most likely. And, you could do the newest guide that Carrie is currently writing, Hearts for Him Through Time:Creation to Christ, with your older 3. It's not being written for high school, so I guess you'd have to see what you would need to add to it if you were wanting to use it that way. (I haven't even begun to think high school , so no help there! But Carrie has. ) You'd probably need extensions to use with that new guide for your kids, too.

Kathleen

[6timeboymom]

Hi there!! welcome to the boards and the the HOD "family"
I have 6 boys-ages 14 (five weeks from 15) 13, 10, 8, 5, and 2. We do Bigger with the extensions for #2 and 3, and Bigger for the emerging reader for #4, Little Hearts for #5, and Little Hands to Heaven for #6. #1 uses Drawn into the heart of reading, and lately I've had him doing the history and science reading with Bigger. They each have their own levels of math and language arts, too. For my oldest, I add various expectations for him that are more age appropriate; his dictaiton, copywork, science, etc. are at the 9th grade level but tied into the historical period or science topic that we are in with Bigger.
For us it's perfect; I am also a WOHM and have to leave the house by 1 pm every day. We are done with ALL school, lunch, and chores by 12:30, and that's a wonderful feeling!

[Carrie]

Angela,

I just wanted to welcome you to the board! Kathleen and 6timeboymom have done a great job already of starting to talk through some options with you. I know more ladies will be along with their wisdom too!

I did want to link you to the placement chart (which will really help you pin down where your kiddos fall in the areas of reading, writing, and math and listening to read alouds): http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php

Off the top of my head, without more information, I'm leaning toward you combining the bulk of your kiddos in Preparing Hearts. If you get a chance to pop back in and mention where your kiddos are at on the chart that would help so much (especially your 8 year olds).

Blessings,
Carrie

[47kids]

Thank you all,
I have been checking out the Placement Chart yet again and I think the 8 year olds are kind of confusing me... They are both pretty good readers and have begun doing cursive handwriting. One is a bit more advanced than the other but both are pretty solid third graders. I was kind of leaning towards Bigger because I don't want to miss out on anything but Preparing might be better for the older kids. As far as math, I can figure out the levels one is a little lower again. Does this help?
I suppose I could do whatever and it would still be ok, but I don't want to mess up. Ha Ha! But by the grace of God I flail through this life with a mouth full of toe jam. Nothing works without Him!
Sometimes I really feel a lot of pressure, God has entrusted me with these wonderful lives and it is my greatest desire not to let Him down. Trying to keep my focus on Him and not over analyzing again!

Thank you,
Angela

[water2wine]

I do not have advice but just wanted to say welcome! You will get the fit figured out with Carries help and the ladies here and that is always the hardest part. But it is so worth it. Welcome to HOD!

[Carrie]

Angela,

I just wanted to encouarge you that you can enjoy your life by slowing down sometimes. For help with math placement, you'll want to give your kiddos the Singapore math placement test found here: http://www.singaporemath.com/Placement_Test_s/86.htm

Start by giving your 8 year olds the level 2A test and then keep going until they no longer pass. Give the test for the U.S. version. For the olders begin testing at 3A and move forward with each one until they no longer pass. Expect the kiddos to have to back up a semester or year to be correctly placed in math.

I see several options for the ages of your kiddos. Your little ones can do LHTH as you have time. With your 8, 8, and 10 you could do Bigger Hearts for His Glory. Then, you could do our new ancients guide with your 12 and 13, extending the material for a 15 year old by adding in a geography course (like ABeka or Runkle's Physical Geography). You would also need to do DITHR with your 15 year old or add in something else for literature study for that child. Either Igniting Your Writing Vol. 2 or Write with the Best Vol. 2 could be added for writing instruction.

You'd need to add in a separate science for your 15 year old, most likely Biology. We are liking the look of the Biology and Anatomy program at www.pacworks.com, so you may wish to check that out. For the Biology program at pacworks, I have calculated that students can get through all 6 Biology Chapters and the 2 Anatomy Chapters in a year doing a section a day. That leaves the 5th day of most weeks for a Biology Lab. The Biology does need a lab manual added to it (possibly adding something like the Biology Lab Manual from Castle Heights Press). The new version of this manual is out within the next month.

If you'd rather not do 2 separate programs, then you could combine all the kiddos within Preparing Hearts for His Glory, just doing the Deluxe Package for the younger students and the Extension Package for the 12 and 13 year olds. Depending on how much English grammar instruction your 8 year olds have had, you may have to use the right side from the Bigger Hearts guide to downsize to better meet their needs for language arts and math. You'll have to see where they fall on the placement chart. Either way, your 15 year old would still need the additional subjects I mentioned above.

If you have other questions ask away.

Blessings,
Carrie

[47kids]

Oh Carrie,
Thank you so much, I am so busy. I am working so hard to keep up with it all. I feel like the best of me is being used up on other people's children and right now my own need me too. Sometimes it seems like the Christian schools get a lot of troubled children which is a wonderful ministry for some folks. Personally I am really feeling pulled home, maybe I am selfish and lazy but I miss my kids.
I am anxious to take the time to research your advice for my 15 year old, I am encouraged and I know it can be done. I am praying for a gracious release from the school and the patience to wait for the right timing. Thank you so much for taking the time to bless me.
It can feel like a desert and just to read the words that maybe to slow down would help a lot, it is a wonderful thing to think about.
Thank you!!
Angela

[Carrie]

Angela,

I know what you mean about slowing down! I needed it SO much in my life after my frantic 11 years of working (before coming home full-time). I often do not leave the house from Sunday to Sunday (except for my one night out with my sister and my one date with my hubby). The kids and I are just home every day. It is a HUGE relief to me! I'd be glad to talk high school with you if needed to help clear the fog.

Blessings,
Carrie

[47kids]

Thank you Carrie,
I am looking so forward to staying home. As far as High School, I know I need some stuff but then again I still have a lot from my previous years of Home Schooling, I just need to know when I am going to start and start pulling it out. I was in the attic today trying to find more. I have graduated 3 of my older kiddos and then took this "break" at the Christian school. I really like what I hear about your guides, it would be nice to be able to trust someone with more of the planning. I have held back from similar curriculums because they seem overwhelming and I know I have limits. I want to have fun learning together and still feel like we accomplished something. Do you have a fav Math for HS? I used to use Saxon but I am missing the level I think I need for him so I may need something new anyhow. Did you say FOG! No kidding!

[MainelyJen]

I'm not a HOD user (yet! Still here checking out info on the new program!), but I just wanted to suggest that maybe you consider leaving your 15yr in ACE materials at home. If he's been using it for 2 years, he might be able to just keep going independently, freeing you up to make the transition into one or more HOD programs for the rest.

Jen