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Has anyone used HOD for a gifted 2nd grader?
I am new to HS and hope to start this fall. My 2nd grader (7 yrs old) is gifted and an advanced reader, quick thinker, rapid learner, etc. I am trying to figure out if HOD is a good fit, and if so, which one? Bigger??

I will also have a K child, who is an average learner.

Is it possible to combine programs?

I personally believe HOD is wonderful for a gifted child. You will want to check the placement chart to see where your child falls. http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php
Keep in mind that math and reading are not connected to the guide so you can always go up a level if needed. Bigger is meaty and has a lot of writing in it, so check the placement chart carefully. You can combine guides, but it is most important that a child is placed correctly. It can turn out to be more work to combine than to place children in the guides where they fit best. It does not sound like combining would work for your situation, but you can easily work two guides once you get into the swing of things. If you have more questions after looking at the chart, let us know.

I was a gifted child and I can tell you that HOD is more than I had... pretty much ever! I've learned a lot just through teaching with HOD

My children are advanced. I'm not sure if they are gifted or not... my oldest can memorize anything and my middle two are very fast to make connections and learn and my youngest amazes me every day. HOD is perfect for them. We school year round because they get really bored and don't do well with breaks. I'd say they are right on par for where they should be. They COULD be a little farther ahead in the guides, but they are still challenged where they are. My oldest will be 9 this week and is 6 weeks (I think, might be 7 now) in to Preparing, second turned 7 in January and is almost halfway through Beyond, third is 5.5 and about 6 weeks into LHFHG, but we are going half speed. She is more than ready to move to full speed, but I want to spread her and #2 out a bit more in guides... I'll have her start going full speed sometime in May.

Now I said all that to say that it seems with my kids at least that even though each guide seems "easy" for them, that it's getting to where the older they are, the more work it takes. It's still not HARD for them, but it is more challenging. My oldest is tired after a full days work in Preparing even though it only takes her 2.5-3 hours to do the work. My middle two are not tired, and could keep going, but I know that will end soon enough that I'm enjoying the quick painless days now

And like they said, you can do math, reading, grammar, etc wherever a child is. They are not tied to the guides. I'd say follow the placement chart and just remember that Bigger has a LOT more writing than Beyond.

I've used HOD since my oldest was.in 2nd grade and.she enters 6th grade.this fall. She is gifted and quick and has read chapter books since.age 4. She devoured and comprehended even.the hidden meanings in.chronicles of Narnia shortly after turning 6. She was advanced.in.every area and we started her with Beyond I'm 2nd grade. What's great about HOD is.its age appropriate. She is gifted so I.gave her AGE appropriate books materials and activities and ABILITY appropriate expectations. I tried to keep in mind.just bc she could do more, doesn't mean she should gidtedness doesn't mean more work is needed. It actually means less is needed.bc they get it quicker! Beyond.is a full program. It let her be a kid and still learn a lot. She's going into CTC this fall. No extensions. She's forever learning and letting.her be at the upper end of.the age range has let her really get so much more from.each guide. Its also left her with plenty of.time.to pursue her own.interests ans.reading choices as many gifted.kids tend to need time.for she isn't.behind by doing.cycle as a 6th grader when others do it in 4th or 5th. She excelling and blossoming and learning tons of wonderful lessons. HOD has been.perfect for her and I am .thrilled.to.be able to use.it.all through high school for her. And thrilled to see HOD working.so well for my boys too!

I don't know if I'd call any of my kids "gifted" in terms of what the local p.s. would, but they have all been quick readers and deep thinkers. I think HOD is perfect for the type of child you describe because it isn't tied to a textbook but with great REAL books. That alone gives you great flexibility to meet their needs and keep them interested and challenged. You can choose your own math, language arts level, and with the DITHOR program, have ability-appropriate books. You aren't limited within the confines of a "grade level" textbook approach.

As far as what guide to use, I think the best way to decide is to use the placement chart. My own 2nd grader could have used Bigger this year I believe, but I don't regret using Beyond. We just sometimes took things a little further to meet her interest and ability. For instance in one of the geography activities where we took cards with the names of the continents and placed them in a circle, we took it a step further and took sidewalk chalk out on our dead end street, drew a huge circle, then using an atlas, dd tried to draw the continent shapes and label them. It turned out really cool! Also, in the science things sometimes we would get some books on the topics and she would just look through those books, look at the pictures and we would read or talk about things a bit more indepth. Never an pressure to be advanced, just allowing her to expand her learning naturally.

Hope that helps!