Intro and questions...

This is where new posts begin. All questions or discussions about any of Heart of Dakota's curriculums start here. If you wish to share a one-time post about your family's experience with our curriculum, you may post under the specific curriculum title (found beneath this "Main Board" heading).
Patti
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:53 pm

Intro and questions...

Post by Patti » Mon Mar 17, 2008 11:05 am

Hi,
I have a 12 yr ds and 6 yr dd and have been hs'ing since K with ds. I have just discovered HOD and love everything I see! I do have some questions regarding my 12 yr old. Do you feel he could use the new program that is coming out? (Preparing) I think the readers for the older student would be a perfect level for him. Would the rest of the program be okay for a 12 yr old? I am thinking of adding Analytical Grammar to it. We have used R & S in the past and he really dislikes that program and insists he will not do it again. Should I add Igniting Your Writing also? Well, enough questions for now, but I'm sure there will be more. Thanks for reading!
Blessings,
Patti

silly
Posts: 44
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:49 am
Location: Wichita, Kansas

Post by silly » Mon Mar 17, 2008 11:44 am

I am not anywhere close to where you are with your 12 yo so I don't have any advice, but I wanted to say Hello! I have been so thankful for this board and for all of the wonderful advice these ladies have, and know you'll get some great help.
Sasha; mama to
Erik (5) LHTH
Jacob (4) LHTH
Lucas (2)

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jahayfamilyschool/

Marsha
Posts: 162
Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2008 2:20 pm

I am using Bigger with my 11 year old

Post by Marsha » Mon Mar 17, 2008 12:09 pm

and will be using Preparing when she turns 12 July 4).
Marsha
Miranda 15 on July 4th
Cassandra 12
Jonathan 10
Sarah 8
Hannah 6
Rachel 4
Abigail 2
Rebecca born in Sept.

granolamom6
Posts: 78
Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:57 am
Location: Florida, USA
Contact:

Post by granolamom6 » Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:10 pm

Hi Patti!

Welcome to the boards and to HOD!

I have just ordered Bigger to use with my 12 yo ds and my 10 yo dd. They have not had a very strong American History background and I am just loving HOD for my two younger girls. I love the strong Biblical base, the Bible memory and the great literature that this program has.

I'm sure that Carrie will jump in soon and let you know her recommendations on what you should add...or if you really need to.

Welcome! :D
Christa, wife to Sonnie since '93

ds- 13
dd - 10
dd - 7
dd - 4 — LHTH
And another blessing due in March '09.

Visit my blog: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/granolamom6/

water2wine
Posts: 2743
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2007 7:24 pm
Location: GA

Post by water2wine » Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:17 pm

Welcome! I can't answer your question on R&S for sure but I am thinking that you will need some kind of grammar instruction if you skip R&S and the writing program is for another area of LA. I know someone else will help you there. :D

On the age, we will be using preparing with a 12 year old and I am very confident it will be perfect for us. I will take Carries advice on how to beef it up a bit but I feel like it will be perfect for us. We are finding Beyond is working great with our dd who will be 11 in August. 8)

Welcome to the board!
All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. Isaiah 54:13
~Six lovies from God~4 by blessing of adoption
-MTMM (HS), Rev to Rev, CTC, DITHR
We LOVED LHFHG/Beyond/Bigger/Preparing/CTC/RTR/Rev to Rev (HS)

Kathleen
Posts: 1980
Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2008 3:23 pm
Location: NE Kansas

Post by Kathleen » Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:36 pm

Just poppin' in to say Hi, Patti! :D

:D Kathleen
Homeschooling mom to 6:
Grant - 19 Kansas State University
Allison - 15 World Geography
Garret - 13 Res2Ref
Asa - 8 Bigger
Quinn - 7 Bigger

Halle - 4 LHTH

Melanie
Posts: 777
Joined: Mon Aug 27, 2007 6:37 pm
Location: north Missouri

Post by Melanie » Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:48 pm

Just wanted to say "hi" :D and welcome to HOD! I can't help you a bit. :lol:

Melanie (aka Mel :wink: )
Using LHFHG with
ds - '00
dd - '00
dd - '02

Carrie
Site Admin
Posts: 8126
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2007 8:39 pm

Post by Carrie » Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:02 pm

Welcome to the boards, Patti! The reasons the ladies are waiting for me to weigh in is because no one has actually seen sample pages of "Preparing..." yet, making it hard for them to advise you! :wink:

The ladies on the board do have wonderful advice though and are excellent at answering questions! :D

As far as what I would recommend for you to add to Preparing to make it work for your 12 year old, it really depends on a couple of things. First, what has your child had in the way of formal history and science? Next, how strong of a reader and writer is this child? Last, it also makes quite a difference whether your child has just turned 12 and is a 6th grader or whether your child is 12 turning 13 and is more of a 7th grader overall.

If you get a chance to give me a little more information, I can guide you much better!

Blessings,
Carrie

Patti
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:53 pm

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome!..Answers for Carrie

Post by Patti » Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:02 am

Carrie,
My ds just turned 12 so would be considered a 6th grader. This would be for next year as a 7th grader. He has had some hit or miss science over the years, but this year we have been doing Apologia Elementary Zoology II, so just a bit more formal. His reading level is good and comprehension is good, but he really doesn't like to narrate things back to me. We have been trying to work on this, but he isn't a talker so this is hard for him to do. Writing is a struggle, at first it was the physical act of writing and now he really struggles to get ideas down on paper. He can write well if he likes the subject or for something just plain silly, but if you go outside that narrow little box he falters. So science or history narrations are not happening. He is the type of learner that just all of a sudden has learned something. Reading was like that for him, he didn't read well until 8/9 and after that he could read whatever he wanted. He just had to gain the knowledge and confidence. I guess I do consider him a little behind for his age, but not too far maybe 1 level or so. Thanks for all of your help!
Blessings,
Patti

Patti
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:53 pm

I should add that ....

Post by Patti » Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:07 am

Ds has been doing the Queens Language Lessons for the Elementary Child and doing well with this. I'm thinking he needs something that does diagramming though? Is that true? Thanks again!
Blessings,
Patti

susie in ms
Posts: 230
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 2:37 pm

Post by susie in ms » Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:36 am

Hi Patti!

Just wanted to welcome you to the HOD!! This is such a wodnerful board with wonderful mamas that are such help. I hope Preparing fits your child and you both enjoy it!

Susie ~
Susie ~ servant to Christ, wife to Ricky for 25 years, mom to Trisha 22, Kris 21, Joshua 19 and Hannah Grace almost 4.
Loving Little Hands to Heaven!

blessedmomof4
Posts: 1138
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 4:34 pm
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

Re: I should add that ....

Post by blessedmomof4 » Tue Mar 18, 2008 6:32 am

Patti wrote:Ds has been doing the Queens Language Lessons for the Elementary Child and doing well with this. I'm thinking he needs something that does diagramming though? Is that true? Thanks again!
Blessings,
Patti
It depends, I think, on what you want out of grammar instruction. The Queen is just different than Rod and Staff-if it is what works, you could continue with the next level of that, and simply skip the grammar lessons in the Heart of Dakota Preparing Hearts guide. Use whatever works for you and your son!
Lourdes
Wife to Danforth
2 grads 9/19/92,7/8/95
2 in charter school 1/31/98, 9/19/99
3 in Heaven 8/11/06, 8/18/10, 9/13/13
Future HODie is here! 9/14/12

kerby
Posts: 61
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:34 pm

Post by kerby » Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:37 am

Patti, I don't know where you are or how it happened but... I think you have my ds! :wink: :lol: You have explained him almost to a "T".

I would love to hear more about everyone's thoughts.

K

Candice
Posts: 831
Joined: Thu Oct 04, 2007 10:48 pm
Location: Southern California

Post by Candice » Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:24 am

Just sayin' hello from the welcome wagon! :D

Candice

Carrie
Site Admin
Posts: 8126
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2007 8:39 pm

Post by Carrie » Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:16 am

Patti,

Thanks for taking time to answer my questions. That really does help me get a clearer picture of your son! 8)

I do think from what you've shared that your son could benefit from the lessons in "Preparing...". I also agree that he should have some formal lessons on diagramming and on formal grammar, due to his age. Even Charlotte Mason advised a formal introduction to grammar by grade 7 with parsing (which is diagramming).

So, with that being said, I do think you could teach "Preparing...." as is for history along with the Extension Pack books. If you felt you needed to beef it up a little more you could add "Short Lessons in World History", but it probably isn't necessary.

As far as grammar, I think Analytical Grammar would work great, since your son is not a fan of Rod and Staff. You would just do "Season 1" of analytical grammar this year, with seasons 2 and 3 the following years.

As far as writing goes, there's another thread running on the board right now where I discuss the writing that will be done in "Preparing..." titled "Language Arts in Preparing...". I can't link it for some reason on the computer I'm on today. But, if you can read that thread it will really help explain the writing in "Preparing...".

If you feel the writing is enough than you would not need to add "Igniting Your Writing". I do think that a year of the writing in "Preparing..." would strengthen your son's confidence and ability to write, so he could have better luck doing more formal writing the following year.

As far as the science, it sounds like the books and activities scheduled in "Preparing..." would also be enough. You could certainly add in an Apologia Book similar to how you did Zoo 2 this year if desired on Fridays.

"Preparing..." will schedule oral narration once a day rotating through the subjects. So, your son will also get practice in that skill without it being overkill.

I'll be glad to help if you have other questions!

Blessings,
Carrie :wink:

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