Contemplating HOD ... soooooo many questions!

[mamatutu]

Hello everyone! I'm new to these boards and am considering using HOD for the 2012-2013 school year. (Our curriculum is already in place and working well for us this year.) I'd be lying if I said I haven't spent the past two weeks drooling over the amazing literature selections in the catalog and searching online to find every HOD review that's ever been posted!

But I have several questions for those of you who have actually done more than drool over it!

First of all ... juggling two programs ... I can't even tell you how much this scares me!! I currently use a program that is similar to HOD, and just to get through my dd8's day takes around 3.5 - 4 hours. I can't imagine doing Preparing with her for 4 hours, then tacking on dd5's LHFHG for another couple of hours. How does it actually work to juggle two programs at once? Can you stagger their independent time and teacher time so you're kind of able to have both programs going at the same time (say 8:00 to 12:00), or do you kind of have to finish up one dc and then grab the other afterward, thereby extending your day from 8:00 to 2:00? Does that make any sense?

Also ... DITHOR ... love the look of this! And it's a beautiful fit for my reading curriculum desires - actual books followed by discussion rather than readers and workbooks! I'm wondering if the Deluxe Package readers can be used for this, or if I would have them do the Deluxe Package books AND additional books for DITHOR.

I have many more questions, but these are the two I'm most concerned about right now, especially how it works in real life to juggle two or more programs. I'd love to hear not only your thoughts and tips on that but also how long a typical school day lasts in your house.

And whether we end up using HOD or not, I just have to say to Carrie - God has truly given you a gift! There's no doubt in my mind that every one of these teacher guides is Christ-centered and will impact both the hearts and minds of countless children. May you be richly blessed!

[holdinon]

Welcome to HOD! I also found HOD in the middle of our school year, and it was very difficult for me not to switch mid-way! Now we have started up with our 3rd year, and have no intentions of changing anything!

First of all ... juggling two programs ... I can't even tell you how much this scares me!! I currently use a program that is similar to HOD, and just to get through my dd8's day takes around 3.5 - 4 hours. I can't imagine doing Preparing with her for 4 hours, then tacking on dd5's LHFHG for another couple of hours. How does it actually work to juggle two programs at once? Can you stagger their independent time and teacher time so you're kind of able to have both programs going at the same time (say 8:00 to 12:00), or do you kind of have to finish up one dc and then grab the other afterward, thereby extending your day from 8:00 to 2:00? Does that make any sense?

Yes, you will stagger your teaching time. That can look different for each family, but for running Preparing and Little Hearts, here is what it would look like in our home: Preparing takes about an hour and a half of YOUR time. I would do that teaching block in one sitting with my Preparing kiddo. Then, the Preparing kiddo would complete the independent work, and I would only be needed on occasion. While the Preparing kiddo was working independently, I would work Little Hearts. I would chose either the "right side" or the "left side" and do that section in one sitting, take a break (maybe check on Preparing kid during that break), then a little later do the other side with Little Hearts. The left side of the plans has your history and Bible reading, music, the rhymes in motion, and science, art, or activity of some sort. The right side is more your basics---reading, handwriting or fine motor skills, math, and the storytime. Each side takes about 30 minutes (maybe 45 tops). So Preparing and Little Hearts could easily be completed by lunch. As you progress through the guides, dc get more and more independent. There is a schedule thread listed as a "sticky" at the top of the threads that can give you more ideas as to how others run multiple guides.

Also ... DITHOR ... love the look of this! And it's a beautiful fit for my reading curriculum desires - actual books followed by discussion rather than readers and workbooks! I'm wondering if the Deluxe Package readers can be used for this, or if I would have them do the Deluxe Package books AND additional books for DITHOR.

Actually, the Deluxe package in Preparing is used in the Independent History Study Box. These are books the student does read by him/herself. But there are already other assignments related to those books in the Ind. His. Study Box of the plans. You would probably want to use other books for DITHOR study. HOD has Dithor book packs at all levels, but you are also free to choose any books you want for Dithor, as the plans with work with any book.

The ladies here are very helpful, so just ask questions as they come up and we will be happy to help answer any we can!
Angie

[my3sons]

I just wanted to welcome you to the HOD Board! I am nodding up and down to everything Angie posted - such wise advice there. I agree whole-heartedly. We use 3 guides, and we love our homeschooling days. My dc are way too far apart in needs to combine, and separating them has been such a fulfilling way to teach them. It actually takes time off my day, because the littles are done more quickly, and my older ds can work at his own pace, not waiting for me or for the littles. If you need to economize, for DITHOR, you can choose your own books, just be sure you have one for each genre. We've been doing DITHOR for many, many years, and still love it. What a great way it has been to teach reading - it is so rich! For PHFHG, you'll want the Deluxe package for sure, as it teaches many independent skills needed for the next guide. PHFHG took us about 3 hours to do, and LHFHG about 1 1/2 hours - once we were a month in and in a good routine. We do teaching blocks of time, which keeps everyone moving along at the same time, and helps us finish on time. Here is a peek at our schedule, in case it is helpful...


Here is a link to the amazing schedules thread on the board...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2093

Keep asking questions until you are ready to go - we like to help here! I look forward to getting to know you here. I pray HOD brings you the joy it has brought our home!

In Christ,
Julie

[momtofive]

I also recommend reading through the schedule thread above the regular threads on the main board. There really is a wealth of information to be found there. So many have listed their schedules and other information that would help to answer your questions about just how this can be done.

Believe me when I say it can be done and done very easily. It seems harder than it really is. With HOD, we have such a great flow to our days and the kids just love what we're learning and how we're learning as well. I have five children and this year we're doing CTC, Bigger (full speed), Bigger (half-speed), LHFHG and we're doing some seperate learning books for my toddler. Next year we'll add her to the mix and she'll be doing LHTH. I have do doubts that next year will be as wonderful as this year and the year before!

Blessings as you plan out next year!