Considering HOD Little Hearts, need advice please

[Willow Tree Academy]

Hi Everyone,
I am considering purchasing Little Hearts, but not sure if it is the right choice and could use some feedback. Hope I am posting in the right place.

First of all, I have 3 children. One son who will be 11, and is very independent, he is doing great with school. No changes for him. (I think)

Then I have two girls- a 4 year old and a 5 1/2 year old. The 5 yr old has Aspergers and sensory issues, but is not delayed academically and is reading. Her struggles are more with perfectionism,OCD, etc. She is reading, but I haven't done a formal phonics or reading program with her.

My 4 yr old knows the letters and their sounds, and is very independent and wanting to do school.

Up to this point I have been very informal with the girls and it has been great. But recently I have had 3 deaths (one of them being the unexpected death of my beloved father) in the family in less than 2 months, and some serious health issues, and I am very overwhelmed.

I want to teach my girls together, there is no way I can do 3 different grade levels. I need quick and easy, with little preparation. I need structure, esp. for my 5 year old who thrives on routine.

This sounds bad when I type it out, but I need to not be responsible for structuring their school for this season in my life. I have tried coming up with my own plan, with resources I already have, but I get distracted, and go in circles in my brain.

Would Little Hearts be a good fit for my girls to do together? It is recommended for ages 5-7.

Thanks for reading my rambling thoughts!

[creativemommy]

Little Hearts for His Glory (LHFHG) is a wonderful program for K and/or 1st grade and is completely planned for you! When you purchase the guide and the books that go with it you are ready to start as soon as your box arrives.

I'm sorry for the recent loss in your family and the health issues your family is going through right now. Using HOD definitely takes the stress out of planning your children's schooling. I am always telling others it allows me to enjoy schooling my kids, not dreading it! I have time to focus on them, the things that need done around our home, not planning everything!

If both of your dds fit the placement chart for it ( http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php ), I would certainly combine them to make it easy for you!

You could always customize the Thinking Skills, Handwriting, etc. for them choosing K options for your 4 yo dd (i.e. Do It Carefully & Finding the Answers, K writing, etc.) and the 1st grade options for your 5.5 yo dd. (Thinking Skills, 1st grade handwriting, etc.) but I would choose just one science option - not both the K and 1st books, it wouldn't be necessary to have both of them.

My son was 6 yo last year when we used LHFHG. I chose all the 1st grade options for him and it worked wonderfully. He was reading when we began it (finished 100 EZ lessons within the first month) and worked through the Emerging Readers (ER) set as well as lots of other easy readers.

[Willow Tree Academy]

Great! I am so excited and think this is going to be great for my girls!

[shaffer96]

I have done LHFHG this year with my K and 3 year old. We have really enjoyed it and my 3 year old has even been able to participate in many of the activities. It is so open and go! I just found out also that there is a yahoo group for Heart of Dakota too. I found a file on there with a list of supplies needed for the entire year of LHFHG. While most of these supplies are things we have around the house, it still has helped me so much to see them all listed in one place so I can gather them quickly the night before. I think your 4 year old could participate just fine with some of the activities. You could always add in a few basic alphabet and number activities to make sure those bases are covered. I just bought a few dry erase books from Target that he likes to do while my daughter is doing things he cannot do. I think you will have a wonderful year!

[arstephia]

I think it would be fine for your aged kids. I found it to be a better fit for the younger end than the older end of the recommended ages. I am sorry to hear of your recent losses. I know how that can upset the schooling and life in general. I think you could use LHFHG very effectively with the kids you described. Enjoy it!

[mamanlait]

Willow Tree,
One more "go for it" to add to your list of "yes" answers.
We are in the middle of the LHfHG now with my 6.5 year old and really loving it. It's so versatile for age ranges. For instance, both K and 1 grade workbooks are scheduled for Thinking Skills/more phonetical work for 1. The math activity could be used with both and you could jump up to Singapore 1 for your oldest if you wish. I think both will LOVE the Activities and Bible songs. Yes! Go for it!
Amy

[ForHisGlory]

Dear Willow Tree,

I wanted to chime in and say hello, and encourage you. I'm very sorry for your losses, and health issues. My deepest condolences. We are new to HOD as well, and will start in August. Welcome! Your post struck me for two reasons. Reason one, I had a child with undiagnosed Aspberger's (we came to the conclusion that was his challenge, the Aspberger's). Reason two, I have experienced the death of my son whom I just mentioned (tragic accident) just 10 months ago, and we have moved twice across country in the past 8 months. In a sense, I can understand your pain and struggles, and totally get it when you said that you try to plan and your head/mind just goes in circles--same here. That is completely normal when you are grieving. Lay yourself at the feet of Jesus, and He will sustain you. Now is not the time to do it all and plan it all. This is my opinion, but trust me, when you are grieving, it's just enough some days to get up and dressed and do the normal day to day, let alone school your children and plan it all out.

When planning school this year for Evan my 5 year old, I was going to use another curriculum that is very hands on and very intense for momma to use! I simply cannot do it. Then I stumbled upon HOD, and what a blessing! The Lord led me here, and then I joined the discussion board and what a blessing every single lady is on this forum! I think that, Lord willing, you will be very pleased with HOD. There is that "guilt" we tend to feel as mommas and teachers if we don't plant it all. Don't feel that guilt. Some of us (such as Carrie) were given the gift from the Lord to write and plan a a curriculum. For myself, I don't have that gift--at least not in this season of life.

To address the Aspberger's, I think that your child will do fine with this curriculum. When I schooled my sweet son Ethan (who is with the Lord), I used My Father's World, which is very similar in some ways. He did very well. I just had to let him sometimes throw his tantrums that he had when he didn't do something perfectly. Also, frequent stretch breaks and recess were a great relief for him too. You CAN homeschool your child with Aspberger's!

Sorry I wrote a novel! LOL I felt the Lord leading me to respond back and encourage you in this challenging season of life. Take care!

[momofgreatones]

"This sounds bad when I type it out, but I need to not be responsible for structuring their school for this season in my life."

First off, this does not sound bad. You are just honestly assessing your needs at this point in your life. I don't even want to do that ever, even when things are going swimmingly. Anyway, HOD will absolutely do that for you - perfectly. And you know all your bases are covered very well, so there is peace with that.

I'm so sorry for your loss of loved ones and health issues. Praying for you.

[Willow Tree Academy]

Thank you, everyone, for your responses. I am feeling very encouraged.



Some days, I just don't know where to start. I am grateful that the Lord led me to HOD, because honestly, I had never considered moving on from MFW.

We will spend the summer trying to get back into the swing of things with chores, etc, and start HOD in the fall. But I am going to order this week! I am glad to know my girls can work on the same thing together. They want to do everything the same anyway

So, thanks again, I am very much looking forward to our next school year!

-Erika