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We are going to be receiving our first HOD box sometime this week, or next, and I am looking forward to starting!
I have been looking for a curriculum with a focus on the Word of God that is Gospel/Christ centered, uses narrations & notebooking, uses literature, and doesn't use a grid in the TM. I think I found it!

I want our first week with HOD to be successful for myself and my children. We have always home schooled, and I started really using curriculum 2 1/4 years ago. So a certain amount of structure is in place, but I know it is different with any curriculum changes. We will be using Beyond with R&S English 2, Singapore 2A, & DITHOR, LHFHG w/ 1st grade extensions & Singapore 1A, and LHTH. I spent a lot of time on placement, so I think where I have them will go well. Everything though will be new except for R&S English 2 & Singapore 2A for my oldest & the Italic handwriting.

Does anyone have any suggestions or tips of how to use the TM, or using the 3 TMs, successfully? Is their anything I should know praticular to HOD that will help me be organized when I start? How long do I need to allot each day for all 3 programs? Any HOD scheduling tips? Starting tips?

Thank you!

I'd stagger start them. Start the oldest one first, work with that one for a couple of weeks, then start the second one and do a couple of weeks, then start the younger one. That way each one can have the benefit of figuring out the routine separately from the other one instead of trying to start all of it at the same time.

I've 'scheduled' those same ages two different ways that both worked.... The first way was to do the LHTH child first. That way they've had their mommy time and are less likely to interrupt.

The second way, that worked BEST here was to get my oldest started with whatever they could do by themselves. Like go over the math and English and whatever else, set them up with copywork or whatever else can be done without me. Then I would do the left side with LHFHG child and get that done except for Rhymes in Motion and adding in Burgess books. Then I'd do LHTH and get it all the way done except for the Fingerplay. By that time the older one was generally done with her work. If she wasn't I'd consider it an added bonus and work on right side stuff with the LHFHG child until the oldest one got done. Then we'd all do the Rhymes in Motion and Fingerplay. Then I'd set the older one working on DITHOR work and finish with LHFHG child until she was done. Then I'd send the littles off to play (or set them up with something out of sight) and finish up with the older one. Did that make sense? I don't have an actual schedule, more of a routine, so it's hard to type out.

Starting at half pace for the 1st two weeks really, really helps the stress level, and getting to know the layout. For the most part, every week repeats itself. Certain things happen on certain days. Knowing how that goes before you start makes planning time, chores, outings, dinner, etc. easier. If you have time, take the whole 1st week of plans and do them half pace. It's made our first weeks pleasureable!

I definitely agree with staggering the start for each one. It takes me the first unit to figure out exactly how I want to do things and the order I want to do the boxes in. You may also want to take a peek at the "Let's share our schedules thread" here viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2093. You will probably gain some good ideas there on how to schedule your day with the guides. I like to spend some time in the guide before I start and really figure out what I need in terms of notebooks, basic supplies, index cards, etc. We are starting Bigger 1/2 speed this week and I have spent time getting ready and feel ready to go. Good luck! You will love it I am sure, but just remember it usually takes at least a couple of weeks to really get the flow down.

Thank you. Your replies ladies were so helpful, and exactly what I needed to hear. I know I can tend to jump in with both feet into something new, and then overwhelm myself. I don't want to do that to me or to my children. I had not even thought of the idea of starting off 1/2 speed, or the idea of staggering a start for each manual. It sounds manageable to do it that way. Everything, except for math & English for my oldest & Italic, will be new. Thank you for the reminder that any TM takes awhile to get the rhythm down and to take it slow. Very good advice.

Blessings,

LovingJesus, welcome to the boards. I feel like, with your screen name, you fit right in here! I just wanted to tell you I'm glad you are here, and you named something I didn't articulate until the past week (after 6 mos with HOD), but the "no grid planner" was a huge part of it for me. I wanted to know exactly what I was doing.

I also think if you stagger-start, the youngers will get an idea from the olders of what school is about, and you will get time to get used to it with those who will more likely discuss with you how things are going than the youngers.

Best wishes with your homeschool journey, and welcome!

We're on our 2nd guide and I've always done them at half pace for at least couple weeks...it's a bit overwhelming to show them how to do new things (and figure them out yourself too). By doing a half day, you can do things more slowly and make sure they are done correctly without feeling rushed.

Heidi in AK wrote:LovingJesus, welcome to the boards. I feel like, with your screen name, you fit right in here!
Best wishes with your homeschool journey, and welcome!

Thank you! I am so glad to find HOD! Everything I read just seems like a great fit for our family; I only wish that I had found this place sooner.

LovingJesus wrote:...Does anyone have any suggestions or tips of how to use the TM, or using the 3 TMs, successfully? Is their anything I should know praticular to HOD that will help me be organized when I start? How long do I need to allot each day for all 3 programs? Any HOD scheduling tips? Starting tips?

Thank you!

How exciting - you are just about ready to begin your HOD journey - hooray! In reading through your questions a few threads came to mind that may be helpful...

Beyond, time it takes:
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=162
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4390&p=32417

LHFHG time it takes:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4244&p=31219#p31219

Samples of Schedules:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2093

Best tips for peace, sanity, or really helpful stuff!
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4929

HTH - and you'll have to share your box day with us!
In Christ,
Julie

I don't think I've ever gone through the peace/sanity link. Thanks for that repost!