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Hello I am new to the board and HOD.

I am a current Sonlight user, but am thinking of changing things for my kids, but not sure exactly where they would fit or if you can combine them. I am looking for a smoother day.

Oldest daughter(13)-History-SOTW volumes 1,2,1/2 of volume 3, then switched to MOH she read volumes 2,3, done World history cores from Sonlight(finishing it up), She reads very fast, and very independent. Needs to be challenged, but not so much that she would hate everything. Right now she is very bored.

Middle daughter(11)-Has done a year of American History with Sonlight, and is currently doing Easteren Hemisphere with Sonlight, average reading, likes hands on, likes me to help her with stuff.

Youngest boy(almost 7)-Intro to world cultures,reading on his own, hates to write anything, but can write. Likes books.

Just trying to get an understanding of how HOD works, and if combining works, or how you do seperate guides with the kids. We have enjoyed most of Sonlight,but got very over whelmed with the reading, so much that I had to take out some books. I like how HOD has bible through out everything.

Thanks for any suggestions.
Stacey

Hi and welcome Before going any further, it would be helpful if you evaluated and where each child places individually on the placement chart, especially the first page of it. For me, it helped to print out a separate copy for each child and then mark where they fall in each category.
http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php
Once you've done that, come back and share what you've found, and we will be happy to brainstorm with you about placement. Even if you wind up with three guides, there are many people here that can tell you it is doable and flows smoothly when everyone is placed properly. I have two in Heart of Dakota as you can see by my signature line, each doing a separate guide. They are close in age but far apart in abilities, personalities, and maturity, so separate guides makes a smoother day than combining-they are both working well daily
Off the top though, because you said your youngest doesn't like writing but reads on his own, Beyond may be a good place to start with him. He will get practice with writing through copywork but it won't be overwhelming.
Your 11 year old sounds like a candidate for Preparing-you will still work together with her for most things, but with the independent history reading and independent science, she will take steps toward success with the upper level guides. All the guides have wonderful hands-on activities.
Your 13 year old may be ready for Rev to Rev. It is highly independent, yet still gives you opportunities to be involved with her day My 14 year old is doing Rev to Rev and is definitely not bored

Stacey,

Welcome to the HOD Board! We're glad to have you here.

Once you get a chance to pop back and share with us where each of your kiddo's fall as individuals on the first page only of the placement chart linked above, we'll be able to advise you so much better. Try to put aside all combining scenarios and thoughts of the history cycle for now as you consider the first page of the chart.

After we hear back from you, we can discuss possible options and scenarios with clearer direction. We look forward to hearing back from you!

Blessings,
Carrie

Thanks for the replies.

I have looked at the chart. My youngest (boy 7 in a couple weeks) seems to fall in between Beyond and Bigger. He is finishing phonics with Horizions and is reading on his own. He doesn't like to write, but can when encouraged to. He is not ready for cursive, but maybe some light grammar. He has read around 11 ( I have only read 2 of them as read alouds) of the books offered in Beyond so I thought Bigger would be a good fit. But he really gets over whelmed with writing.

My next oldest 11(girl) seems to fall in between Preparing and Creation. She reads well and has done some grammar (hard for her) does not like to write, but is getting a better. She has also read 4 of the books offered in Prepared, but this seems to be a better fit.

My oldest (13girl) Falls in the Revival to Revolutions area. She is very fast reader and enjoys writing. She is vey independent, but will let me read to her every so often. As I mentioned in previous post she is a bit bored, and I would love for her to enjoy some of what she is doing. I would like to challenge her, but not just give her busy work. She has already read the Geroge Washington book and the Who is God book (did that as family ) So not sure if this is a good fit or not.

Thank you very much for your replies. I really like what I see with HOD. We have only been home schooling for 2 years, so we are still getting it all figured out. I got really over whelmed with trying to do 5 to 6 read alouds and all the other stuff that needs done, so that is why I am looking at other ideas.

Thanks again,
Stacey

Generally when they place between guides it's a good idea to drop to the lower guide. And HOD does such a nice job with books that it normally doesn't matter if they've done books before, at least with the lower guides. With Beyond, you can choose storytime books that your child hasn't read, and the emerging readers have a list of supplemental books that you could sub in case those are the ones that have been read. I don't know about your oldest, because I"m not there yet, but from what you've said about the placement chart and about your kids, I think Beyond and Preparing sounds like a good fit.

Hi Stacey, and welcome to the HOD board! You'd mentioned you want school to go smoother - well 'smooth' is one of the words I would use to describe my homeschooling days with HOD. Our days just flow, and we are really enjoying them. I like the balance in HOD - no one thing is top heavy, so the day is full of a nice ebb and flow of variety. I also love the fact that the guides are full of meaningful, personally relevant, life changing, Christ-centered days! We are doing RevtoRev, PHFHG, and LHFHG right now, so that would be similar to the placements you are considering. I will say that if placement is right, 3 guides works far better than 2 guides if placement is wrong.

For your 7 yo ds, I'd consider the amount of writing when making a placement. Here is a quote from Carrie in regard to this from another thread...
As far as choosing between "Beyond.." and "Bigger..." goes, the amount of writing varies quite a bit between Beyond and Bigger. Bigger requires more writing in the areas of a once a week history notebooking assignment, a once a week science experiment sheet and a once a week science notebooking entry, along with once a week copywork of a Bible verse, 1-3 vocabulary cards each week, cursive handwriting practice daily, and daily grammar instruction with written practice. It also provides a choice of spelling or dictation passages. If your little one sounds like that would be fine for her, she belongs in Bigger. If not, then Beyond would be best.

Beyond has much less writing doing copywork daily from the poetry, using a gentle once a week introduction to grammar, and writing daily for very short spelling lessons.

For this reason, from what you've shared, I'd say Beyond would be a wonderful placement for your ds. There are so many neat things paired with the books used in Beyond that will make even the books ds has read feel fresh and different - discussions between the two of you, short and fun art activities, history activities, Bible connections, etc. I think you would really enjoy it together!

For your 11 yo, there is quite an increase in writing from PHFHG to CTC as well. I think PHFHG would be a great fit for her, and you can have her read the extensions as well. This will have her reading upped, but not your reading as a teacher, and it will also teach her how to write written narrations, and well as how to write creatively paralleling Robert Louis Stevenson's classical poetry - which is great fun!

For your 13 yo, I'd look at the first week of plans for RevtoRev and see if she is ready for the level of written work and the skills of following multiple step directions independently. From what you've shared, I think she sounds ready, but as she is new to HOD, this is more of your judgment call as you know her best. Here is a link to that (I boxes = independent; S = semi-independent; T = teacher-directed)...
http://www.heartofdakota.com/pdf/Rev2Rev-first-week.pdf

George Washington World will feel very different as it is linked with neat history projects, timelines, period paintings, storytime books, and so much - not to mention the History Student Notebooking Pages will give it a totally different feel - AND they are so lovely. As far as the "Who Is God?" book, if you didn't go through it with your dd, it will feel different as well. That is a teacher-directed thing in RevtoRev, and it has been really a special time for my ds and me so far.

Here is the current way we are doing our day with our HOD guides, just to give a quick snapshot of one way of going about it...


This is also a great thread for schedules...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2093

Another option would be to combine your 11 yo and 13 yo in CTC, with your 13 yo doing extensions. This could be an option that would work if you think your 11 yo could hang with all of the writing and independent work, and if you think your 13 yo would be challenged enough.

This board is full of encouragement, so keep asking questions until you are set! HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

Julie,

Thank you for your reply. It is very helpful. I have been looking and do think Beyond is the better fit for him(7), I might get some extra books that he hasn't read. He just loves to read. I think since it is a new program that Preparing would be a better fit for my 11 also, it might be easier I don't know, she seems to not like grammar(Winston grammar)but she can do it, just gets over whlemed by it. I may switch to Rod & Staff for her and my 7 year old(he is half way through Horizons phonics 1st).

It was a great idea to combine the 2 older ones, but my older daughters reading level is so far ahead, the books would seem young for her. I will still keep in mind. I like the RevtoRev guide, I was wondering if the "Who is God" book is used all the way through, we did this as a family and talked a lot about it, really enjoyed it, and she has already read the next one in the series. She likes to read!
If she has done grammar(winston grammar) would you do more with that regarding English(Rod &Staff)
It seems that the guides have a lot of notebooking, along with creative writing,written narrations,English,and bible writing,dictation passages(I don't do dictation with my 13, she is a good writer, and speller), and vocabulary cards? This seems like a lot of writing.

After looking at the guide for RevtoRev. I could just let my 13 read that and go, am I missing something? It seemed like most of it was Indepent work.

Right now I type up an agenda for all 3 of the kids for the week for their notebooks, put in any worksheets they need, in each of their folders (spelling, bible,history,science,math) I have my teacher notebook with all their guides divided by child and we go.

Well I really appericate your time. I keep praying and trying to let the Lord show me what He wants the children to be doing next fall. I will keep checking back and am very encouraged by this board.

Thanks you so much!!
Stacey

I'm glad something may have helped, Stacey! You sound very organized, and I think you are going to do just fine with 3 guides. I agree Beyond sounds good for 7 yo, PHFHG for your 11 yo, and RevtoRev for your 13 yo. It sounds like your 13 yo is ready for RevtoRev, and I think she will really enjoy it.

snadig wrote:...I might get some extra books that he hasn't read. He just loves to read...

You can have your ds do "Drawn into the Heart of Reading" Level 2/3 if he is ready, and that will fill this need nicely as well.

snadig wrote:...I think since it is a new program that Preparing would be a better fit for my 11 also, it might be easier I don't know, she seems to not like grammar(Winston grammar)but she can do it, just gets over whlemed by it. I may switch to Rod & Staff for her and my 7 year old(he is half way through Horizons phonics 1st)...

HOD recommends doing R & S English orally or on a markerboard, and reserving 1 section or so for dc to write. This has helped us use a solid English program in a time conscious way. Both of our dc retain well what they have learned this way, and we are able to clip along. You could consider trying R & S English with your dc in this manner, and see how it goes.

snadig wrote:...I was wondering if the "Who is God" book is used all the way through, we did this as a family and talked a lot about it, really enjoyed it, and she has already read the next one in the series. She likes to read!

It is used all the way through, and if you discussed it already, I think I'd not do it again. Have you gone through "Beautiful Girlhood" with your dd? That is a lovely study scheduled in RTR. "Beautiful Girlhood", the "Companion to Beautiful Girlhood", "From Girl to Woman", and "What Is God's Design for My Body?" work together so nicely, and if you have not gone through these resources with your dd, the two of you would probably really enjoy doing this in place of "Who Is God?". But that is just an idea!

snadig wrote:...If she has done grammar(winston grammar) would you do more with that regarding English(Rod &Staff)

R & S English teaches many writing concepts as well, and for that reason I'd consider switching to it. Summarizing, outlining, giving speeches, oral reports, writing with unity and clarity, etc. are just a few topics that come to mind that R & S English covers well. I'd not do both Winston Grammar and R & S English, but if Winston Grammar does not cover clear concise writing in this manner, you may want to consider switching to R & S English.

snadig wrote:...It seems that the guides have a lot of notebooking, along with creative writing,written narrations,English,and bible writing,dictation passages(I don't do dictation with my 13, she is a good writer, and speller), and vocabulary cards? This seems like a lot of writing. After looking at the guide for RevtoRev. I could just let my 13 read that and go, am I missing something? It seemed like most of it was Indepent work...

The writing is broken up into manageable segments throughout the day, and interspersed nicely with projects, reading assignments, discussions, etc. It is not overwhelming for my ds, so I am sure your dd would do fine with it. Plus, it is kept to manageable amounts naturally by the boxes in the History Student Notebook - very nice! As far as the independent work, yes, there is a good amount of it, as is appropriate for this age. However, it is key to do the follow-ups planned for us as teachers in the guide. I do these in a few check-up times planned in the day for just the 2 of us to meet, and it works well. I also read the key ideas at this time as a nice summation for each reading/activity.

You may want to stagger start your dc's guides, as you are new to HOD and starting multiple guides. Many moms start with one child in one guide for a week, and focus on helping that child get off to a solid start, and then move on to the next child, and finally the last child. This may be something you would or would not enjoy. One other thing that really helps is to let students use the guides as their student planners, reading the directions directly from the guide as it is in their possession, and checking off the boxes as they complete them. This helps them be successful with independence, as opposed to the teacher having the guide in hand and giving directions. A routine order of doing the boxes is also helpful, as is a rotation of who you are working with as a teacher. I hope something here helps, there are all just ideas that you may or may not find helpful. We are thoroughly enjoying our days with HOD, and I pray the same blessings for you and your dc!

In Christ,
Julie

Hello had a question about RevtoRev science. My daughter is doing Apologia genreal science. How does HOD science compare to Apologia?

I also noticed younger students doing RevtoRev, is this program for 8th grade?

I guess that is it for now.
Thanks,
Stacey

snadig wrote:Hello had a question about RevtoRev science. My daughter is doing Apologia genreal science. How does HOD science compare to Apologia?

I also noticed younger students doing RevtoRev, is this program for 8th grade?

I guess that is it for now.
Thanks,
Stacey

I normally look at what the extensions grades are and then go back from there to see what grade level it is intended. For Rev to Rev the extensions are for 8th and 9th so I would say it is for 6th or 7th without extensions.