New to HOD but not to homeschooling...

[Michelle My Bell]

Hello,

I wanted to introduce myself since I am new here. I am new to HOD but not homeschooling. I have 5 children, ages 15dd, 12dd, 9dd, 6dd and 3ds. We have always homeschooled and for the most part have been Charlotte Mason type homeschoolers. I have used a lot of curriculums over the years but I have streamlined it down a lot and know what works for our family, and what doesn't work. I like to keep my two oldest daughters combined and my two youngest daughters combined as well so I was looking for something that would help me to make the younger girls curriculum profitable and age appropriate. I searched for months until I found HOD.

That's not to say that I didn't know of HOD before, I just didn't really understand HOD philosophy was Charlotte Mason or that it was a simple, but rich curriculum. I had to do a lot of prayer and tons of reading to discover all of this. Finally I decided to order Bigger Hearts. We test drove week 1 and it is all systems go for next year. I am very excited.

Now here is what I am nervous to talk about. I have decided to use HOD CTC program next year for my oldest daughter who will be a freshman and my 2nd daughter who will be 7th grade. I know that CTC was not designed to be pulled up quite so high and I am nervous that I will be told NOT to use it for those ages, but I feel my situation is unique. First of all, we have always studied a lot of history. In fact every year I host a huge History Night for area homeschoolers and we take a month off of regular school just to study and put together our projects. Secondly my daughters are really self motivated in their learning so I like to allow flexibility in their programs so that they have time for additional study on areas that really interest them. Finally, my oldest daughter is a gifted writer and we are encouraging this talent in her by having her write a novel next year as part of her curriculum. I don't want a curriculum that is going to overwhelm her in time or intensity so she has nothing left for her writing. All that said, I feel really confident about our choice for next school year.

So I am looking forward to next year and I want to thank Carrie for producing this fine curriculum.

God Bless,
Michelle

[Jessi]

Welcome Michelle! I hope it all works out well for you using CTC. Glad you found a good fit for your family.

[inHistiming]

I personally think that the history readings, story times, bible, poetry, geography, even science, can be beneficial to even older children. Just because your dd is above the age range for the guides doesn't mean she can't enjoy learning from them. My ds has a high school reading level (according to those tests you can do on line...who knows how accurate they are) and he still loves to read Junie B. Jones books for fun, yet is very capable of reading and understanding material well above that level of reading. I'm sure you'll have your dd working in her own appropriate level of English, Spelling, and Math so I don't think it's that much of a concern. I'm sure you'll get other opinions, more encouragement, and probably some advice from Carrie (the author). The main thing to remember is that all of us are just women. We can tell you what we think, but you will need to do what works for your family and what you feel God is leading you to do. It sounds to me like you have a great plan in place, so I say go for it! And welcome to HOD.

[Carrie]

Michelle,

I just wanted to pop-in and welcome you to the board. We're glad to have you here! Since you have been a CM-style educator in the past, I completely understand when you are sharing that the education your kiddos have had up to this point has been rich in literature and history content. This would be true of my oldest son's education as well. He is currently going into 8th grade.

Yet, even with my oldest son's past in-depth literature experiences and high academic capabilities, I still had him do much of CTC last year because I deeply desired for him to have the strong Biblical content and focus that is woven throughout CTC for his study of the ancient time period. He enjoyed his readings last year, and I could see a progression in his faith as the year went on. Many of the books within CTC can stretch for a higher audience and have much depth in them that a more mature reader will get, while a younger reader will most likely gloss over within the story (which is fine for their level). Even as an adult, I found the readings within CTC to be fascinating and eye-opening. So, I do think with the goals that you've outlined for your daughter's high school year, the history in CTC (with any additions you may add as a CM-style educator) will be a worhwhile year for your girls. The Genesis study alone has so much meat!

For your oldest daughter, I'm assuming that you'll have her own math, grammar, dictation, and science on her level. If you do use the science in CTC, you'll need to add something like the Biology 101 DVD and some labs (possibly from Castle Heights Press). As far as literature goes, you can use DITHR Level 6/7/8 as a credit for Introduction to Literature as a freshman or cover your lit. study some other way. It sounds as if you're being mindful of the needed requirements for high school and also making sure to consider your daughter's individual strengths and workload as well.

We look forward to getting to know you better. I'm excited that you'll have a chance to use Bigger Hearts and CTC.

Blessings,
Carrie

[Michelle My Bell]

Carrie,

Thank you so much for the nice welcome and encouragement. After a lot of prayer and looking into various curricula, I really was drawn to CTC for my two oldest daughters and really felt your book choices could very well indeed work for a high school student. I am encouraged you feel that it could work out fine for us as well.

Some of the things I am most excited about are the Bible study portions "built in", History Readings and even Science. I do intend to have my daughter work through CTC's Science program, but as you suggested she will be doing an additional Science course of Fridays. She will also have her own Language Arts & she is currently working through Life of Fred Math which we will continue. One of the things I love best about your programs is that I can get a full curriculum and still choose my own Language Arts, Math if I want to without taking anything important away from the program.

I LOVE that you include poetry study and I am very excited about DITHOR as well. I was planning on getting the 4/5 workbook for my oldest daughters because I thought that is where your supposed to start with older students, but I will get 6/7/8 since that is your suggestion. Once again, I am excited to use CTC next year and thank you so much for the encouragement.

God Bless,
Michelle

[my3sons]

I just wanted to welcome you to the HOD board, Michelle! You have a wonderful plan in place for your dc. I am very excited to be doing CTC next year as well. We'll be doing the second half of Beyond and starting Bigger half-speed after that, so we'll be doing something similar next year. It will be fun to share our year with each other!

In Christ,
Julie

[netpea]

Welcome to the boards.

[3musketeers]

Michelle,
I just wanted to welcome you. I too feel that I have had a similar journey to finding HOD. I'm joining in on your excitement !

Blessings,
3musketeers

[water2wine]

Welcome Michelle! I think your plan sounds wonderful. I picture high school as the beginning of career training and a chance to help my kids find their call from God. I really love your plan. I think it sounds great. Can't wait to hear how it goes for you. Glad you are here, welcome!

[momontheprairie]

I just wanted to add that I was in the same boat as you. I had NO idea that HOD was so CM. I don't know why, but I guess I must have not understood the program or else I would have jumped on board years ago. I have been doing my own CM thing forever and this is such a relief! We are only in our second week of Preparing Hearts, but already I can see we are going to have no trouble staying the course. It is just perfect. I find it a real relief to have a curriculum that understands CM and her methods. Our days are very full, but we are still done around noon. I NEVER had art lessons and poetry covered by noon.

Anyway, I hope you are as blessed by HOD as we are.

[my3sons]

...We are only in our second week of Preparing Hearts, but already I can see we are going to have no trouble staying the course. It is just perfect. I find it a real relief to have a curriculum that understands CM and her methods. Our days are very full, but we are still done around noon. I NEVER had art lessons and poetry covered by noon.

Anyway, I hope you are as blessed by HOD as we are.

I soooooo understand what you are saying here! I read so many Charlotte Mason books and found myself so inspired every time, yet unable to truly figure out how to get it all implemented in the day to day. I find it such a relief to be happily and correctly doing CM style of learning in the day to day. I loved teaching PHFHG last year - each week was just like opening a little gift with my ds. I'm so glad you are enjoying it as well!

In Christ,
Julie

[Michelle My Bell]

Thank you all so much for the kind welcome. I am excited!!! I can't wait for next school year to begin and to start our new journey.

God Bless!
Michelle