New to Heart of Dakota: placement???

[Jessi4]

Hi lovely ladies!

I've been looking over Heart of Dakota for some time now and am struggling to decide which guide to use with my oldest two boys. Ages 6 1/2 and 9 when September rolls around. I've considered Beyond...although it is a little out of range for my 9 year old who will be doing 4th grade next year. But I thought I might be able to supplement with things like "A Trip Around the World" (geography) and "Considering God's Creation" (science), to have plenty for him to learn. My 6 1/2 year old (currently doing Kinder.) will be in first grade, turning 7 halfway through next school year, but is already reading at a 4th-5th grade level. My oldest (to be 9) is reading at a 6th grade level and is currently in the 3rd grade, going into 4th next year.

I have two other children ages 4 and 5 (when the school year begins again), and imagine I'll do Little Hands with them. They are both at the same level overall...still learning their letters, etc. I considered trying to place the youngest up into Little Hearts this year along with my 6 1/2 year old, but don't think this would be the best for my 6 1/2 year old because he far more advanced compared to the two youngest.
(However, I am here for your opinions!!! Any ideas are welcome!)

My focus has been on combining my two youngest in one guide and two oldest in another guide. This would be best for us economically and time-wise, I believe. I'm also thinking Bigger might be the way to go. I could even possibly extend it to a two-year guide. This way, my 6 1/2 year old would have a bit more time to "grow" and it would still work decently for my 9 year old. The only problem I see with doing this is that my oldest will graduate before getting to the highschool American History years (I looked in the Heart of Dakota catalog) ...and this concerns me. How do you work with that?

So....there is a lot to think about. I want to find the best placement possible for everyone, but really don't feel 3 or more guides a year will work for us. I'd really like to be able to choose Heart of Dakota!!!! Any help is greatly appreciated. I am up for ideas I haven't thought of yet, too! Thanks so much!!!

[pjdobro]

How do the each place individually on the placement chart: http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php? In particular how they are on writing? Do they like to write? Can they copy longer copywork passages? Have they had much grammar exposure? Is your younger son done with phonics? If you can tell us a bit more about each of them and their skills that would help figuring out what would be the best placement for them. Welcome to HOD!

[Jessi4]

Hi pjdobro!

Thanks for your response!
Let's see...

If I was going to place them each in a separate guide, I would say my 6 1/2 year old would fit pretty well in Beyond.
He has done a Spectrum phonics 1st grade workbook this year...and it will be completed in another month or so.
I'm not sure how much more he should learn in phonics. He hasn't learned any of the rules yet. (i before e except after c).
He just seems to know how to read very well and sort of "decode" a word, if you will.

He hasn't begun any grammar yet, but I bought him a first grade Christian Light Language arts workbook for next year, so he will begin.
We haven't done tons of writing. He knows about all of his letters and was even writing some words at age 4, but this is our first year of "penmanship" and he's doing pretty well. I will need to keep up with him a bit on a few letters because they come out correctly, but he starts them wrong (wrong place). I plan on fine-tuning the penmanship this summer. He did write a very cute short story, real sentences and all, but did not put any punctuation in. He hasn't done any copywork yet. I think he could handle it...maybe if we begin slowly?

Wesley in general is very smart, easily picks up on things..but is also still very young and this being his first year of schooling, doesn't have a huge attention span. However...I usually give him a checklist with 4-5 things to do, and most of the time will get it done. Sometimes he just needs a reminder.

My oldest (turning 9 in September)was very much like Wesley at his age.) He knew all of his letters before he was two and was reading quite well by 5 years old. He has had much more introduction to things Wesley hasn't been exposed to yet. We've done quite a bit of grammar. He memorized 43 prepostions and a list of helping verbs last year. This was part of the curriculum we used. I didn't think he'd be able to do it, but he did. I am also planning to use CLE language arts with him next year. He is at the moment learning to find prepostional phrases, subjects, helping verbs...etc.
DS9 doesn't love to write, but can. He gets bummed out when he reads a few pages in science and I ask him to write 4 facts, or things he remembers, from his reading. Rarely I will have him tell me what he's learned instead of writing it. He prefers this way. He has done some of narration in the past and copywork so I don't believe it will be a big struggle for him overall. I would probably place him in Bigger most likely, to be on the safe side, and work my way into the Charlotte Mason approach. We have been primarily textbooks for a while. I don't think he's really enjoying school at all, but he does well. He is fun and outgoing like his brother, silly, focuses much better than he did in Kindergarten! Both sons also play violin. (We are a very musical family). I hope some of this helps. There is a lot here! Thanks for taking the time to help me!

[Jessi4]

Wesley is the soon-to-be 6 1/2 year old, in case there's any confusion!

[pjdobro]

I think you are right that your youngest ds, Wesley, would place well in Beyond. It sounds like your older son might be able to do Bigger, but from the way you describe how he feels about writing, I think he would be happier in Beyond. Many ladies here have combined even older children in Beyond successfully. You would just need to add in the appropriate grammar level which you already have covered, reading (I would suggest adding DITHR), and math. You would do the Learning Through History and storytime with both of them. Then for the math, reading, grammar, and spelling do the appropriate levels for each of them. Probably for your younger son most of what is in Beyond would be the correct level. For your older son you would use the grammar you have planned, the higher level reading and math, and perhaps either spelling list two or dictation. You could add in the additional science for your older son to increase the science to more of his grade level too. It's a great core program that you can use with both and beef up as necessary for your older ds. Beyond is a lot of fun and I think your dc will enjoy it. Mine really did!

It's nice to hear of another musical family. We're one of the those too and both of my dc play violin as well although around here we call it a fiddle.

[Jessi4]

Thanks so much for your help. I am thinking that's probably what I should do. That was my original plan. (It's usually the original plan that is best, huh?). I really will have all of the basics covered, as you said. I figure I will go ahead and beef up the oldest's year with a science supplement and geography supplement. And my 6 yr. old can join in if he likes, but it won't be "required." The only big question I have now is, what happens in high school? My oldest will hit 12th grade before getting to learn from the last two guides consisting of American History. These are future plans and are printed in the Heart of Dakota catalog. I'm not sure if those programs are posted on this website anywhere. The only way, I see, to get him to experience at least 1 of the American History guides would be to start him in Bigger full speed next year. But we've already figured it might be too much for him...not loving to write yet. And my 6 year old would most likely fit best in Beyond. So...just curious about that aspect. I tend to be a planner...sometimes to a fault...but I just don't want to mess up his highschool years. Maybe I could do some American History program over the last couple of summers? I don't know...
Well...that is wonderful! Another musical family! I guess there are more of "us" out there! We live up north...so typically people play the "violin", but eventually my boys may play the "fiddle."
I grew up on and sing country music...so I understand the fiddle!!!

Anyway...I'm getting off track here. (Doesn't take much for me! )
Thanks again! It's nice to chat with you!

[pjdobro]

Don't worry about the American History for your older ds. He'll be able to do the extensions all the way through the guides taking the level of learning up to his grade level. Extensions are written into the guides starting in Bigger. He'll get a great view of American History these next two years in Beyond and Bigger. It will form a wonderful foundation for him to build on later. Then when you reach Rev to Rev and Modern Times for his 9th and 10th grade years, he'll get an awesome education in American History. Then he will have a specialized geography study in 11th grade study and finish 12th with a year of World History. He'll be able to have it all! His American History will just come through Rev to Rev and Modern Times instead of the high school guides, but it will be high school level through the extensions. Have you taken a look at Rev to Rev? I drooled over it when I saw it! As it is written, it already contains so much more than I ever got in my high school studies of American History, and with the extensions, it is really impressive. I think your son will be fine following this path and as you get to the high school level, Carrie and the other ladies on this board will help you figure out how it all counts on transcripts. Rest assured, HOD has got you covered.

We're big bluegrass fans down here in the south. My dh is extremely musical playing multiple instruments. You might guess from my user name that I play dobro. I don't play much these days though, but I still love the music. It's been nice chatting with you too! I pray you have a wonderful year with HOD and are as blessed by it as my family has been.

[Jessi4]

Yes...I see what you mean. I think he will be all set....and I believe he will actually retain information I never retained and enjoy learning too!
I've been using Math-U-See and feel I should stick with it for both children since I already have the teacher's guides and my oldest told me the other day that he really likes it. So the only differences will be the grammar and math for both children...and I will supplement some things for the older boy. Yeah...sounds good.
And yes..your username made sense after you told me you were a musical family. And I'm quite fond of bluegrass too. Dan Tyminski (can't remember if this is how you spell his name) came up here a couple of years ago at least. I took my husband to see him on his birthday. It was wonderful!
I hadn't had much time to play my guitar, sing, or write...but then we put a band together...so I'm kind of "forced" to pick up my guitar and actually practice. Hope you get some time to play your dobro. That is a cool instrument! Take care! Have a blessed week!

[my3sons]

Well, all that is left to do is to celebrate with you! Patty gave such good advice already, and I really like your plan for your dc. Welcome to the HOD family - we're glad you are part of it! Be sure to share your box day with us - we like to help celebrate.

In Christ,
Julie

[Jessi4]

Yes, Julie! It's a good feeling to have a basic plan!
Thanks for celebrating! I will do my best to remember to get on here and share my box day with you! ( unless I'm having sooo much fun I forget!)
It's so nice to be a part of this board! Thanks for your support! (And thanks again Patty!)

[jenntracy]

I will say that your 6.5 yr old sounds alot like my now 7.5 yr old. we are doing Beyond with him for 1st grade this year. It is perfect for him.
already past the emerging readers and reading his first set of books for each of the genre Carrie has scheduled.
He just started the BEta guide of Math-u-see.
My son turned 7 in October during his first grade year.
HIs younger sister is doing LHFHG for kindergarten (16 months apart). they are different personalities and different levels and it has worked out great even though i will be doing back to back guides.
that is the only input i can give you based on my experience.
Have a fun year with HOD!

Jenn D.

[Jessi4]

Thanks Jen D....

Yes....looking over the sample pages of the guide, I do believe it will work out well for my 6.5 year old. He won't turn 7 until February, but still...I think he's going to do very well using this guide. My other option was to start bigger with both he (him? ) and my older son (9 in Sept.), but start 1/2 paced. It's always an option if Beyond doesn't work out, but I don't see there being a problem with it. I was curious about the spelling lists in Beyond. I'm not sure if I'll be able to use those with the younger or older son. The younger is spelling my oldest's 3rd grade spelling words. Not a huge deal though. I could probably get a list online and still Carrie's method of teaching spelling, just with new words. I plan on using Christian Light for Language Arts. I haven't used it before. It's more of a workbook type program. I wonder if anyone here has used it...
I've seen many great reviews and that's part of the reason I chose it.
I guess we'll see!

I currently have my 6.5 year old doing Alpha in math-u-see. Do you know if this is considered the Kindergarten level or 1st grade? We started the second 1/2 of this year (K)....just to slowly ease our way into it and will complete whatever is left next year. He seems to be picking up on it pretty well, so that's a good thing.

Thanks for your input and encouragement! Blessings to you and your wonderful family!