What do you use for your DC who are beyond HOD?

[lovetobehome]

Just wondering about what other like-minded families are using or would use for a child who is just beyond HOD. We'll be learning about Middle Ages/Renaissance etc this coming year. We just completed the history matter in Carrie's newest curriculum (using another curriculum). I am not going to cover that time period again next year (I have done it about 3 times already in the past 5 years). So,if your child were just beyond that, what would you use?? We're starting immediately, or asap. I love what we are using for history, but I also really love how Carrie ties all subjects together beginning with God's word....is there anything like it, for the time period I need? THANKS!!
Thought I would add: I tried using HOD Bigger and Preparing, I LOVE them, but I ended up moving to another curriculum because I really felt strongly about moving on through time...we had already done the creation to Christ time period several times and had done American history too...so it is important to me to continue on chronologically where we are now...

[Carrie]

Meg,

I can feel for what you're saying, as I used to be on the same page with you as far as the history cycle goes! However, as the years passed my philosophy changed, and we discovered that age-appropriate Bible study and skills within the 3R's drove the choice of content in our history and science programs too.

So, at HOD we lean toward placing kiddos based first on the 3 R's and then upon their ages, making our placement advice different from other companies where the history cycle drives everything. Typically with the ages of your kiddos (I'm noticing ages 7 and 9.5 in your tag line), we'd recommend Bigger or Preparing Hearts. This is because the level of assignments within those programs would be designed to work best for your kiddos regaurdless of the history cycle of the guide. I'm blessed that you liked the design of our guides and realize that you mentioned that those programs don't match up with your current history cycle plans, but I just wanted to clarify for any other readers of the thread how our placement differs at HOD from other companies.

As you noted, we don't have a guide for the medieval/renaissance/reformation time period out yet, which makes it tough to help you with that time period on the HOD board. I dearly wish we had our guide done, as I'd love to talk about it with you then.

Only you can know what is best for your family and how best to accomplish that, however my advice would still be to do either Bigger Hearts or Preparing Hearts with your 7 and 9 year old. If that isn't where the Lord leads you, then maybe someday you'll be able to join us when our future guides are written.

Blessings,
Carrie

[lovetobehome]

Carrie, thanks so much for your thoughtful response! I am reminded anew of one of the reasons I so loved HOD....your personal encouragement and wisdom, the positive 'atmosphere' on this board, and the gentle and loving approach to raising up families who love the Lord while educating children that shines in your guides. There truly is nothing else out there like HOD. I have looked at and used so many different things, and they each have their strengths, but I am drawn back to HOD because it is like a lighthouse out there in the curriculum world, shining brightly and uniquely, helping us to steer our families to a calm and peaceful Safe Harbor, Christ, in a world of turmoil and confusion!
So, maybe I have to reconsider my priorities again....today, we're picking up Preparing where we left off....maybe some of you can pray for me that I will be able to let go of my desire for conquering the history cycle, and rest in HOD....

[angela&4boys]

Meg,

How beautifully said. I'm pm'ing you at the WTM boards...

Praying for you as well...

[Carrie]

Meg,

I know exactly what you mean! With my oldest son when we made a switch from Sonlight at the end of his third grade year, I could hardly let go of the history cycle mentality. In switching, we had to repeat an entire year of the history cycle that I'd just done the year before, and I cannot even begin to tell you how tough that was for me to do. He, on the other hand, just rolled right along with it and never seemed bothered a bit. In switching, our fit for the 3 R's was better, and the content and level of the history readings and science assignments fit our goals better too. That made our whole day flow better and made for less tweaking on my part.

I'll pray for you to find the fit that you are seeking and that you'll have the Lord's peace over whatever you decide.

Blessings,
Carrie

[Lynnw]

Hi Meg! I had to fight that internal battle over the history cycle a bit too. This was supposed to be my oldest ds's "modern year" but I didn't want to fold my 1st and Ker into modern history. I had thoughts about starting them in ancients on their own, or "treading water" a year and starting everyone in ancients together the next. As a result, I changed my mind about 10 weeks into the school year, and then several weeks later I was ready to change it again . I knew I needed a better plan for the following school year, so around Christmas break I began researching. I looked at some other curricula known for ease of combining and either ran away screaming and crying at the amount of work it would be for me, or else feeling resigned at all the tweaking I would do and would it still be dry as a dessert? Then I found HOD - rather I was in need of HOD to the point that I looked at it seriously which I hadn't done before. By this time I was craving a way to help my oldest with skills in the context of his other subjects and I needed something to capture the heart and mind of my 1st grader and something that just let me have time to ever get around to my Ker, LOL (not to mention my darling baby and preschooler!) So, it took being in need of help before I was willing to give up the history cycle in its strictest sense and some other curricula choices I thought I had to use trying to keep up with the Jones!

I don't tell you all this to impact your choice, but just to tell you you are not alone! I agree with you - there is something special about HOD!

Blessings,
Lynn