New and considering Preparing... questions.

[my3darlins]

Hello,

I have a dd9 and a ds10 they are only 16 months apart, so I am thinking I can fit them both in Preparing based on the placement chart.
What would I have to order separately for them? Also, what kind of notebooking and timelines are used in this program? My kids want some more hands on activities as we are coming from textbooks only. We would do TT for math. How long is your day using Preparing especially using it with 2 dc. I am trying to get a feeling of a typical day.

Thanks, Kristen

[Mercy]

Hi Kristen,

We have loved preparing! I have seen so much growth is my young man.

Lets see...timeling is either a stepping type wall (kinda like a "z") made from index cards or you would just tape them together and make an accordian. Very easy!!

I am only using w one, the intro to preparing says it takes from4-4 1/2 hrs total. Many, many moms testify that they work multiple guides and are done by noon!

I cannot think of what you would need to purchase seperately. Most of hod is reusable for your upcoming children. Dithor, you need a workbook per child...I dont think there is anything else this year.

Hope that helps some,
Mercy

[Mercy]

Forgot to mention...there is one history project per week, broken into steps to do 3 days of the week. The fourth day you will do a science experiment. Lots of fun projects to do! And, those also are very easy for mom. Not a lot of weird things to buy. The science exxperiment is to be done on their own! Fun stuff!!

[my3darlins]

Thanks Mercy!

Is the timeline something that the children draw or could you use timeline figures for them?

Are the notebooking pages for science or other subjects?


Thanks again, Kristen

[Mercy]

I considered using figures and you could. The guide gives directions for what to draw and they are usually specific to what they had learned that week, so I personally would opt out of using figures. The drawings required are basic enough drawing them shouldnt give any problems.

Yes, you will need to buy spiral bound or some kind of notebook for ea of your children for science, a lined journal to use as a "common place book," for history it would work well to get a lined notebook, have them do their pictures on copy paper and glue them into the notebook. I just went the binder method this time and I am kind of regreting it. The pages are so keepable that it would be nice to have them all in a joural!!

Also, a composition book for english and dictation as well. Of course all of these can be done on lined paper as well...just seems so much nicer to have booklets for each subject.

[my3sons]

Hello,

I have a dd9 and a ds10 they are only 16 months apart, so I am thinking I can fit them both in Preparing based on the placement chart.
What would I have to order separately for them? Also, what kind of notebooking and timelines are used in this program? My kids want some more hands on activities as we are coming from textbooks only. We would do TT for math. How long is your day using Preparing especially using it with 2 dc. I am trying to get a feeling of a typical day.

Thanks, Kristen

Hi Kristen, and welcome to the HOD Board! We did PHFHG with our oldest ds a few years back and are very excited we get to do it again this year with our middle ds! We loved it. I think you will too. The notebooking assignments are wonderful, and they are varied from week to week. We used white cardstock paper for them, and put them in clear plastic sleeves in a 3 -ring binder behind tabs. Science has 1 notebooking a week, and history has 1 notebooking a week. The hands-on science experiments and history projects were favorites of our ds. Who knew learning could be such fun?!? When we did PHFHG, it took us around 3 hours to do, but at the start of the year it took us more like 4 hours until we got into a good routine.

Here is a link to the amounts of time each box of plans takes in PHFHG (we always use this when making our schedule for the day):
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4244&p=31219#p31219

As far as the timeline, I think much of the learning happens because of the drawing and labeling of the figures. Here is a great thread that explains this...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5887

Also, here is a link to the PHFHG photobook, so you can see the timelines and the notebooking pages:
http://heartofdakotasphotobooks.shutterfly.com/30

HTH! I think you'll love PHFHG as much as we did, and I'll look forward to getting to know you better here on this great board!
In Christ,
Julie