Please help me decide if HOD is a good fit for us

[4froggies]

Hi all! I was on the boards for a while back in the spring, and thought I had decided to go with CTC and LHFHG for my 10yo and 6yo. ( I also have a 3 1/2 yo ds and 6mo ds) However, I was afraid that I might be taking on too much with such a full curriculum and thought it would be best to SIMPLIFY! I decided to do Rod and Staff for phonics, english, reading, and bible. The idea of doing workbooks is not what I envisioned for our homeschooling, but I wanted something independent (for the 10yo) and doable! (BTW, we are doing Singapore math with 6yo and Teaching Textbooks with 10yo and a separate spelling program)

I had not decided on what to do for history, though, which has now led me back to HOD. Now I am questioning my decision to use textbooks/workbooks. I love, love , love what I see, but am intimidated. I am not a naturally organized person- rather "right-brained". Has anyone used HOD successfully (at least a year) who is not naturally organized? I want a curriculum that we can actually FINISH instead of getting overwhelmed with it halfway through the schoolyear when things get busy.

Sorry to ramble- just hoping I can get some encouragement.

Beth

[Tree House Academy]

Don't be afraid. If I were in your position and not ready to commit to both HOD manauls, I would buy one or the other and give it a test drive with that child. I did this and found myself feeling like I was doing the other one and injustice! HOD is so nice and the manuals are laid out so well that doing two manuals at one time should not be an issue. We are ready to formally start and both of the kids are so excited.

The things you are doing yourself are the "optional" things in HOD. It sounds like you want to do the left side of the plans only and many people do that. We are mixing and matching. Some of the things on the right side, I use in spite of doing a different English program. For instance, my younger son is finishing Phonics Pathways, we are doing the emerging readers (which he loves and was ready for), but I am also having him do ETC because he needs the extra phonics practice (he is not even 6 yet). I use CLE LA with him, but I use HOD spelling and copywork. It marries beautifully with a little panning on my part.

Best of luck to you in whatever you choose.

[water2wine]

Welcome! While I think naturally organized people like HOD because it is organized and that pleases them I think it is a life line for those who are not. I have organization but I also am the type that has lots of great ideas that tend to go to the wayside. I find HOD organizes me well. I am not the type that makes or really likes big systems to get me organized I like plain and simple for that and in all honesty I find HOD provides that. It is open and go and for me that works great. I think if you struggle with organization HOD would be perfect. Just do it as written and you will have no problem. There is nothing complicated about it. I see people who love having organization systems and that is fine if it is how you like to work but I want you to know it is completely not necessary. I do none of that just have my basic books organized so we can find them really is all and we have no problems using and completing HOD throughout the day. It works just as it is. So don't worry about it. BTW I find it easier to accomplish a day of HOD than I do a day of textbooks. That is just my experinece and I do have a few kids to teach but HOD has been far easier than anything I have tried or used. I'd say pray about it and if you feel led give it a try. I do not think you will be disappointed.

[Kathleen]

Beth,

For me, this past year of using HOD has been the easiest to implement of anything we've tried before (textbooks, Sonlight pre-k). The little boxes in the guide lay out exactly what needs done for the day...and they just work with my brain. I am thoroughly enjoying my time teaching my kids with HOD, which is something that I couldn't say about the other things we'd tried. We're making wonderful memories every day with our time reading together and doing the activities in the guide.

I think that the way the HOD guides are laid out that it would make it easy for you to get done in the day-to-day, especially if you aren't naturally organized. You won't have to worry about planning ahead of time because it's all done for you. The activities use things that are around the house, so you don't need to look ahead and collect things. I literally used the open-and-go method all year last year, and it worked like a charm.

For me, HOD is a great fit. Only you can know if it will be for you, so hopefully you can see from what I've shared about why it works for me if it will for you, too. I know that one mom here (MamaMary) posted quite a while ago about a workshop she had done on different styles/personalities in homeschooling. Here's the link to that. viewtopic.php?f=6&t=184 If you read through it, you can see how HOD works with different personalities in us moms. I'm an Olive, so I love the creativity that's all laid out for me. But there are a lot of "Betty" moms who love HOD because it's strctured enough to keep them at it.

Kathleen

[gotpeace91]

For us, HOD is FUN!! Therefore we are more likely to follow through with it. I know exactly what you mean about the the textbook type of school getting overwhelming and not finishing it. Been there done that!

What I like about HOD is the Variety! It doesn't get boring. You are always moving from one book to another. It is not just ONE History book and ONE Science book for the whole year that loses it's attraction half way through the year (or sooner). It is so refreshing to finish a book and move on excitedly to the next one and it happens so fast.

It not only keeps the kids interest but mine as well. This is important! I am not just going on about my day nagging the kids to "Finish that page!" I am involved and this makes school fun for all of us.

I know that some people on this board think I am an organized person because I like to keep my supplies organized and make charts and lists. Truthfully, this is the only area in which I am organized. I am not very disciplined most of the time and HOD gently keeps me on track. The way it is layed out really works for me to keep me from feeling overwhelmed.

I like the pp's idea for you to choose one guide to try for this year and have the other child in textbooks. Or perhaps you could keep their Math, English, Spelling, and Phonics from R&S on their individual levels and then choose one of the guides to combine them in for the left side of the guide. I am no expert on combining though so you would have to ask some of the more experienced people to help with that.

HTH,
Leah

[4froggies]

Thank you all for your responses! I appreciate everyone's input.

Kathleen, thank you so much for the thread you suggested viewtopic.php?f=6&t=184 I was actually in tears reading it. I think I have been so hard on myself, expecting myself to be an Olive and being frustrated and disappointed when I don't measure up. I need to be content and thankful to the Lord for making me a Betty- there are lots of great things about being a Betty! And, he knows that my children need me just the way I am.

The thread also confirmed to me that I need a curriculum that is structured enough to keep me on track, but not so rigid or repetitive as to get boring to my Betty ways! I love the way Water2wine described HOD :" You can fly by the seat of your pants but actually get somewhere in the process." That's what I need!

[Carrie]

Beth,

I just wanted to encourage you that we have moms of all different personality types and organizational levels that use HOD successfully. The HOD guides give you structured flexibility, so you know what to do each day but are not a slave to the plans. The guide just organizes for you, so you can open up and teach. I need that so much in the day-to-day (as I love to plan but tend to overdo it and then bog down). The guides keep me sane!

Blessings,
Carrie