New Here..Introduction

we6rblessed · Post by **we6rblessed** » Fri May 09, 2008 8:28 am

Hi!
My name is Linda, and I live in beautiful South Carolina. I have 4 children. One of these children is graduating from Christian School in the next 2 weeks. The other three are going to be home with me for the 2nd year in a row.
I come to HOD seariching for my place in the world of homeschooling.
I have tried to piece my own curriculum together and feel that I am not getting the results that I desire. I have had all the children doing their own independent work and just being around to go over instructions and read with them. I feel that they are needing more time together and also a curriculum that they can all do together. They love an adventure, and I think that HOD might be the answer to our search.
We will be doing Bigger Hearts for His Glory with extentions. I think DITHOR, also.
I do want to say that I am needing to keep my house nice and clean, laundry done and stress to a minimum, as this is important to me. I need time and enegy to excercise and take care of myself. I have put myself on the back burner too much, and if I am going to last in this voyage, I must take care of me too.
I have a very supportive husband who is sent from the Lord. We have been married for 21 years this June. He is a hard worker and is about to leave his regular job to become self imployeed. This is a step of faith as well as an answer to prayer.

I do have a few questions to ask:

~What type of paper do you purchase to do the science and history pages?
~I hear talk of using StartWrite.com...is this to enrich or instead of the scheduled handwriting?
~Do any of you use a different language arts?

Please pray for us this change in curriculum is a huge step, and I desire to make our home a reflection of the Lord!

~Linda
dd, 18
dd, 15 LD"s (Chosen Child)
ds, 10 struggling reader (Chosen Child)
dd, 7

momof2n2 · Post by **momof2n2** » Fri May 09, 2008 11:30 am

Welcome Linda

My kids are 7, 5, 3, 2.
This year we used Beyond for my 7 year old/second grade.

I did use a different language arts for my son as I had already began a two year curriculum last year that I was seeing fruit with and I didn't want to stop. It did not effect the use of HoD at all!

At the expense of mentioning another author, [yet I think it would be okay as Carrie hasn't penned a similar book] have you ever read Managers of their Homes by Teri Maxwell? It comes highly recommended by friends who also share the same goals as you have [clean house, time for self].

Everyone has been very helpful here!

Melanie · Post by **Melanie** » Fri May 09, 2008 11:55 am

Hi Linda!! Welcome to HOD!

It sounds like just what you have been searching for.

I'm not to Bigger yet, but MamaMary has posted about using the writing journals from Miller Pads and Paper and that's what I plan to use....they have a blank space at the top and lines for writing at the bottom. (Maybe she'll post about that for ya! hint hint....

)

StartWrite is a great program that you can use for handwriting and copywork if you want. I don't use it...we just use handwriting paper, but water2wine uses it and really likes it. (Maybe she'll post about that one....hint hint

)

You can use a different language arts program if you choose, but Carrie's suggestions are really terrific and you may find yourself wanting to use the whole program once you get started. I give that warning to everyone b/c I started Little Hearts last year using a different reading and math. When we start Beyond, we will be doing total HOD....that's how great it is!!

I think you will find many like minded ladies on this board all striving to serve the Lord and bring glory to Him through our homes and schools.

Mel

Melanie · Post by **Melanie** » Fri May 09, 2008 11:57 am

Oh...can't believe I forgot to mention this one....check out motivatedmoms.com for help with the house. You'll love it!

Kathleen · Post by **Kathleen** » Fri May 09, 2008 2:13 pm

Hi Linda! I want to welcome you, too!

I'm planning to start Bigger with my oldest this year, and am so looking forward to the great memories we'll make learning! (Have you checked out the Weekly Check-In Thread? I love hearing about all the great things that everyone is doing and learning...especially from Bigger.

http://www.heartofdakota.com/board/viewforum.php?f=14 )

In answer to your notebooking question for history and science...I'm planning to use the notebooks from Miller Pads and Paper that MamaMary suggested. I saved the link, so here they are...http://www.millerpadsandpaper.com/catal ... ItemID=419 I know that some moms just use regular computer paper to do the notebooking on and then put it in a 3 ring binder in a plastic sleeve. I think that works well, too. It's really up to you.

Glad you're here!

Kathleen

MamaBear23Cubs · Post by **MamaBear23Cubs** » Fri May 09, 2008 2:44 pm

I am currently using Bigger with my 8 year old. We just started since we will be done with School by January 2009. I also have 2 preschoolers doing LHTH. I have tried Drawn Into The Heart Of Reading but have stopped and are reading from the Emerging Readers book list right now. She was having a hard time with it and I will try again in a few months. Anyhoo for the notebooking I just use plain old computer paper, stick them into page protectors and then into my BHFHG binder under science and history. Some of the bigger projects I will take pics and eventually stick them too into the binder. I use the journal books from wal-mart for the copy work and a regualar notebook for the dictations/spelling and what ever else she needs to write.
Instead of Rod and Staff I use First Language Lessons. We used it last year and want to continue with it. I had planned on using FLL vol 3 but I may go with R&S. I have both and somedays I want to go with FLL3 and others RS3. We are halfway thru FLL2 so I still have a little time to decide.

I just recieved MOTH eariler this week(Managers of Their Homes). I have enjoyed reading it and am ready for a schedule. I have put myself on the backburner too. I only currently have 3 children but my days are crazy (plus I am currenlty living in my parents basement). If you know someone that has it, I recommend looking at it. I was able too a few months ago and knew I needed it. They have a Chores one too and I bought it too. Hey what ever helps. I know some ladies go to flylady but it didn't work.
I have also added a bit to our stuff also. I posted awhile back that while enjoying the One Square Book: Seashore, we are not near the seashore. So we have talked about the Great Lakes and once it gets warm again (its around 40-50) we are going to the beach/sanddunes. Then go to the aquarium after we finish the book. Also since it's spring/summer we have added more outdoors stuff. We are having our first ever garden. I remeber my parents had one when I was 6 or 7.
I also going a bit slower than planned since I am one of those people that have to check off all the boxes before moving on.
Good luck and welcome to the list.

crlacey · Post by **crlacey** » Fri May 09, 2008 6:12 pm

Welcome!
I can't help with your schooling needs since we're not there yet. But I did want to second the motivatedmoms.com I would be living in a mess without my schedule!

Homeschooling6 · Post by **Homeschooling6** » Fri May 09, 2008 10:30 pm

Welcome Linda, (love the name

)

I'm another one who went with MamaMary suggestion using Miller Pad & Paper. I just ordered some for my kiddos and can't wait to see them.

Blessings,

netpea · Post by **netpea** » Mon May 12, 2008 6:46 am

Welcome Linda,
We'll be doing Bigger next year too. Looking forward to it. I havent' looked into what we'll need yet, so I can't answer your questions. However someone mentioned Managers of Their Homes (MOTH).

I bought it last fall and read it twice but was too "afraid" to commit to a schedule. The Lord has shown me that my ds7 (8 next month) needs a schedule. So I have pulled it off the shelf and I am ready to do it. The schedule helps by letting the kids know when to expect everything, and by reminding mom all the things to get done. As an avid anti-scheduler, this will be hard for me but MOTH makes it so much easier with Time grids and little moveable squares (different colors for each kid).

I am working on a summer schedule right now so we do all the things I want to this summer, gardening, teaching basic housekeeping skills, quilting... and still have time for the beach and to have friends over. Then I will put one together for the fall.

If you are finding trouble getting it all done, I believe this could help you; particularly if you are like me and easily overwhelmed. If on the other hand, you are already fairly organized and just need a checklist to keep you on track, then the other suggestion of motivatedmoms.com will meet your needs.

Sorry for being long winded, your post just reminded me of my own convictions to bring more order to OUR household.

MamaMary · Post by **MamaMary** » Mon May 12, 2008 11:26 am

we6rblessed wrote:
I do have a few questions to ask:

~What type of paper do you purchase to do the science and history pages?
~I hear talk of using StartWrite.com...is this to enrich or instead of the scheduled handwriting?
~Do any of you use a different language arts?

Please pray for us this change in curriculum is a huge step, and I desire to make our home a reflection of the Lord!

Linda, I am so happy to see you! I think you will find HOD is perfect for giving you that biblical foundation, as well as a meaty and wonderful education! As a mom with children who learn differently and one that doesn't, I love that it meets ALL my needs! (((Praise the Lord)))

Question #1- Here are some examples of how we have used the Miller Pads Notebook: (I use one for History and one for science)

Question #2- I am going to use StartWrite to help with the copy work, but it won't replace my "Cheerful Cursive" program.

Question #3- I use Time4Learning for Math and Lang Arts and because of the way HOD is set up it doesn't throw anything off. It truly is a flexible program.

Hope This Helps,
Mary

Post by **Carrie** » Mon May 12, 2008 9:38 pm

Linda,

The ladies have done a great job of welcoming and helping you. I'm glad you found HOD too! We'll pray it will be the fit you desire for your homeschool.

We're glad to have you here!

Blessings,
Carrie

my3sons · Post by **my3sons** » Mon May 12, 2008 9:55 pm

Linda,
I too have a great love for Miller Pad and Paper. You will not find better paper more economically priced anywhere. I highly recommend checking out what they have to offer. I'm going to be stocking up on it myself at our next book fair. The books MamaMary mentioned are terrific (beautiful pictures, btw, Mary!!!

) They also have reasonably priced sketchbooks, construction paper, white-pad drawing paper, etc. that have become a staple in our homeschool.

We have really enjoyed Cheerful Cursive this year, so you may want to just give that a whirl, unless you have some other hw program you've already started that you enjoy.

I second the Motivated Moms chart! It's a great resource for keeping on top of cleaning, etc. (Thanks once again for that tip, Melanie!)

We are just on the tail-end of doing Bigger... and DITHR (and LHFHG) this year, and we've had a great year! I know you will too. I'm looking forward to getting to know you more here - so WELCOME! Glad you are here!

In Christ,
Julie

P.S. I wanted to say that I think it is key that you have realized you are putting yourself on the back burner. A good thing for all of us to remember is that when we put ourselves continually on the back burner, we get "burned out"! NOT what any of us wants for ourselves. Kuddos to you for committing to do something about this! Prevention is so important. It's what can keep us homeschooling happily - so, here's to you putting yourself on the front burner now and then! And the rest of us as well!

New Here..Introduction

New Here..Introduction

Re: New Here..Introduction