Good News / Bad News

[aprilmd]

I have good news and bad news concerning Heart of Dakota.

First the good news – I purchased the first eight weeks of Bigger Hearts to use for my DD7 and she loves it! This program is a hit!

Now the bad news…my DD9 and DD10 also love the program! They are listening in on the read alouds and begging me to participate in the science and arts projects. We are not getting done with their school work until 4:30. And we start early in the morning!

So this is my dilemma – next year do I use one core or two? If I use two cores, I may be working a longer school day, not counting outside activities, mothering and wifing. If I use one core, there are other concerns. My heart’s desire is to do two cores (Bigger and Hearts for Him) because I don’t like to “tweak” programs. I’m not sure how to make the two work for my family! Maybe one program is better.

The girls’ placement tests for next year and previous course work are reflected below:

DD11
English R&S 5
Singapore Math 5A & 5B
Writing: Enjoys writing and especially loves descriptive writing
Has had 4 years of American History
Fully independent learner

DD10
English R&S 5
Singapore Math 4A & 4B
Writing: loves to create stories and make believe worlds in her writing. Has done some narrative writing in her science book and doesn’t mind doing it.
Has had 3 years of American History
Semi-independent learner

DD8
English R&S 3
Singapore Math 3A & 3B
Writing: Has not done any narrative writing, but does enjoy writing stories and dictation.
Has had 3 years of World History
Semi-independent learner (need more assistance than DD10)

Your thoughts and ideas are much appreciated!

[Mom2Monkeys]

I'm running two programs right now and it's so much easier than tweaking! I'm doing Bigger and Little Hearts and sometimes even LHTH with the littlest. I'm expecting our 4th now so running multiple guides at once is in my future! In two years, I'll be running 3 programs, and in a few more years, looks like I'll be running 4! I think it will be fine though-- HOD is so easy to do and follow and yet so complete, it will be a pleasure! This year its Bigger and Little, next is LHTH, Beyond and Preparing, next is Little , Bigger, and CTC...etc...then next thing you know, #4 will be added to the mix. LOL...at least my olders will be independent by that point!

I'd place each child in whatever guide they place. Your oldest sounds like CTC would be perfect! And for your 8yo, sounds like Bigger would be perfect. I would think Preparing or CTC for your middle, although it would likely be easiest to do CTC would both olders. If you wanted to combine all 3, Preparing would likely be best...just add the extensions for the olders. There may be some other add-ons you need for the oldest, but Carrie would be best to answer that part.

HTH!

[sharonb]

I would do two programs. Once the older ones have their own program, they probably won't listen in as much to the younger one's program. You can get them set up with some independent work while you work with the younger one, and just go back and forth.