Hello-1st time poster with a question....

[hsmomto1]

Hi Ladies,
I am waiting for my HOD catalog-just ordered it yesterday-and am guessing I will better understand how HOD works after I peruse it.
Until then, a question(or two!)....
Is HOD considered a literature-based curriculum?
How flexible are the lesson plans? I haven't had a whole lot of success in the past with programs that have all details for the day or week layed out for me. I like a general plan, but have chronic health issues, and these require I remain flexible-otherwise-I get behind in a schedule, or feel behind. Will this curriculum not be a good match for me in this case?

I'll have more questions after these are answered.

Thanks so much!

Christine

[crlacey]

Welcome!
I'm sure the catalog will help a lot, but until then maybe these links to the samples will help you get a feel for the lesson plans.

Little Hearts
http://www.heartofdakota.com/pdf/little ... t-week.pdf

Beyond Little Hearts
http://www.heartofdakota.com/pdf/beyond ... t-week.pdf

Bigger Hearts
http://www.heartofdakota.com/pdf/BHFHG-first-week.pdf

Preparing
http://www.heartofdakota.com/pdf/PHFHG-sample-week.pdf


Since I'm not afraid to scan the plans and drop or add to subjects, I feel it's flexible. We make the program work for us by using the parts that work for my DD.And I don't get hung up on skipping an activity if it's not working for our family. Though I try not to skip too many activities since most are fun for my DD.

[funkmomma71]

Hi Christine!
Welcome to HOD, I hope you find what you need with this cuuriculum. The guides are written in five day units rather than a Mon-Fri schedule, which means you can fit the days as they fit your family rather than get hung-up on the idea that the calendar says Friday and you're the Wednesday plans in the book. At first I strived to fit an entire unit into a week and would get frustrated when I couldn't, once I "allowed" myself the freedom to split the units up and not worry which day I was on life got a lot easier! We don't frequently skip stuff in the guides, BUT we don't do the science as it is written, we go through the science book as it is rather than match it to the history, though we do most of the activites Carrie has come up with, we just don't do them in order. So, yes, you can make the guide fit your life. My feeling is that any curriculum, where the parent is the teacher, can be made to fit your lifestyle as long as you are able to let go of the guilt that sometimes comes along with doing it your way rather than the "scripted" way. I see the guide as a GUIDE not a commandment.

And yes, HOD is a literature based curriculum.

HTH, best wishes!!

[creekmama]

Welcome! This is my first year with HOD, and we are loving it. I find it to be pretty flexible. Although I don't have chronic health problems, I've had more health problems than usual in the last few months, so we aren't doing school five days a week right now. If we have to take a day off unexpectedly, we just pick up where we left off the next day. No problem!

I hope HOD will work for you, too. It has been a real blessing to our family!

[hsmomto1]

Thanks, Ladies!

That answers my first questions!
Thanks for the links, too. I first read them when I found the website, but didn't see a whole week-just a day-so the peak at a week helped.

Next question-how hard would it be to start this mid-year. Say, after the holidays? Would it be possible to stop for the summer, then resume next school year?

Also...I have been using the workbox system-is this the type of curriculum that would go nicely with that?

Oh-my son is an 8 year old, in 2nd grade.

Many thanks!

Christine

[funkmomma71]

You can start HOD anytime, it is not tied to seasons or holidays. We use a modified workbox system, so yes you can use workboxes wiht this, lots of ladies do. You can enter workbox in the search to find more thrieads concerning this subject.

[hsmomto1]

Thanks, Nancy!

This is even more encouraging! I should finish up our current curriculum by the end of January (we are Christmas schooling right now), so hopefully I will have time to devour the catalog, talk with my hubby and make some decisions!

I'll direct further questions in another thread.

Christine

[Carrie]

Christine,

The ladies are doing a terrific job of answering your questions, so I'll just pop-in to welcome you! We're glad to have you here and pray HOD may be a blessing to your family.

If you have other questions, ask away. You'll find the ladies are very gracious about answering questions.

Blessings,
Carrie

[my3sons]

Hi Christine! We have actually started an HOD guide in January, taken the summer off and finished it in December before. Worked great! So, I can answer that question. I think the guide is very flexible, and love that it is not a Monday, Tuesday, etc. plan. I am doing 3 HOD guides right now, so it's nice not to feel "off" if I don't do the same number of days of school each week. The catalog will surely answer many questions, and you'll see right away that HOD is known for making excellent literature selections year after year. So, yes, it is a literature based program - and excellent literature at that. When you get your catalog, be sure to spend some time checking out the placement chart. It helps to circle right where your child falls, and then see what program overall will fit him best. We've found the chart to be very accurate in placing our dc. Be sure to pop back in and ask any further questions you have here on the board! You'll find this board a very helpful and encouraging place to visit.

In Christ,
Julie