heartofdakota.com

Hey I am having a hard time getting a feel for HOD. I just requested a catalog yesterday. I would love to hear why you like HOD and how it works. I will have a K and 3 grader this fall. I am still trying to find a curriculum that fits us.

Thanks

I love HOD because I have homeschooled for 14 years and have 5 children two are in high school and it is so easy to just open and go. No prep for me, or very little maybe just gathering things. I also love how biblical based it is and the character building. I love how easy my son learns bible verses. I love the stories we read and the snuggle time while we read them.
I love the progression I am seeing in my son in his abilities.

I love the fact that it's short, sweet, and to the point... and most of all the kids remember what they've learned!

I can get school done with my three (and soon to be four) using guides before lunch time! I absolutely love that part! And because the guides get more independent as the kids get older I can count on my part being roughly the same as we go along!

I've bee using HOD since 2007 with preschool for my youngest, but this is our first full-time year of homeschool as a 1st grader. I love the simplicity, the completeness, the biblical world-view, the creative thinking, and the flexibility offered without extra prepwork. I have 3 girls (6,4, and 2) and work 2 part time jobs, and my husband is a pastor. We're busy, but still have plenty of time for school and creativity! We're using Beyond this year and next year will be in Bigger, Little Hearts, and Little Hands.

I am looking for something that doesn't require a ton of time. I have 3 kids as well. 7, 5, and 1. What does HOD cover in its guide. LA, Bible, Science, ect?

HOD covers everything - another reason to love it. It truly is complete. We have used HOD for going on 10 years and enjoyed it so much. Last Valentines Day we all had fun with this thread that would be good for you to read to get a feel for HOD...

Why do you “heart” HOD?
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8268&p=60839#p60839

Families new to HOD use the placement chart to know where to place their dc. The first page is most important...
http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php

Once you have an idea which guides may fit your dc best, you can click on the guide and it lists everything included in the guide for the "Learning Through History" and the "Learning the Basics" parts of the plans. You also can view the "Introduction" (very helpful reading) and the "First Week of Plans" by clicking on those links.
http://www.heartofdakota.com/index.php

And of course, this is a great place to ask more questions and get help - these ladies are a huge help and are very encouraging! I love to come here. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

HOD is soooo easy to use - open and go, as others have said. Plus, it's complete, right down to art and music. I don't have to add anything else from outside if I don't want to. In addition, the scope and sequence of material all the way up is complete and concise. Finally, I marvel at how the plans are appropriate in age range to my DD (and later DS).

It is just also awesome to have such a complete curriculum with Christ at the center. I have an acquaintance who is apprehensive about using HOD because her hubby's not Christian and she's either very new to the faith or a pre-Christian herself, but I told her that there is not an easier one to use! Because of that, I also see it now as a possible evangelistic tool, in a very gentle presentation.

M3Sons thank you for those links! Loved the heart one

I love HOD SO much, I just put up a post a couple days ago raving about it It truly is an answer to our prayers and exactly what a schedule free "nerdy/hippie" (as my hubby calls me) needs! I know there a lots of ladies on here who have scheduled up their whole days and love it, and I LOVE that I can use the guides at my own pace and it is so not needed to schedule like that because I would DIE (maybe even literally hehe), but being free to be who I am and still getting everything done that is needed, I just check off my boxes and move my markers and know everything is getting done on my schedule! I guess my point is I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything because these programs are so meaty and beefy and full of so many things!

Finally for me, I should wrap this up because I could write a book about how much I love HOD, my biggest reason is that my daughters LOVE LOVE LOVE the program, they are so sad when we don't do school, are literally yelling out loud when we've read the scheduled amount for the day. Almost daily they are like don't stop! more!!! I hope you have fun pouring over your catalog and these boards and feel the Lord's leading for your family but I can't help but tear up almost everytime I get out my guides and look ahead to the new ones, the peace that is over me because I love this program is exactly what I need

Blessings!
Heather

Thank you for all the replies! I really am praying I can find the right fit for our family. Right now everything is just a mess. I love being with my kids but this last one has about did me in. LOL! I am so tired. My house is a mess. My older two are fighting a lot lately and the one yr old is into everything. We are behind in second grade for my DD because I haven't figured out how to get school done everyday with a one yr old who doesn't sleep through the night or take more than one hr naps. Thankfully this is my third child and I know I will eventually be through this stage and have somewhat of a normal sleep schedule. This fall the older two will be in K and 3rd so I have to get this figured out soon. Maybe even start K early. But first I have to figure out what I am gonna do. There are so many things I want to do and read and experience with my kids but we are just surviving right now not thriving. I know God is teaching me something and I hope I learn it quick. How do you figure out what curricula works for your family without trying them all?

I feel like I could have written your post HOD works great for us because of the simplicity that also covers every area. I feel so completely prepared to teach without even having to prepare and it is wonderful. I know God will direct you where to go, but it sounds like you need something already laid out and planned, which is HOD backwards and forwards. Perfect fit, right?

Oh, and don't worry too much about your house. we ALL struggle to get it all done!