heartofdakota.com

i know that each curriculum that has it's own forum also has it's own 'feel' and purpose. i've been on one where you can ask any question or concern you have about the curriculum, freely compare and contrast it with other curriculums-their merits and weaknesses-etc., and then i've heard of other forums that don't really want you to discuss other curriculum, and would prefer that questions be kept more on how to implement the curriculum, what it includes, and not really get into concerns.

i have worried that in asking questions here about concerns i have, or in asking questions to figure out whether hod is the best fit for us, i might be a frustration. now i know that all the communicating is done with typing, so i'm missing the 90% of nonverbal, but i just thought i'd ask, because i don't want to be causing problems by questioning, if this forum would prefer it another way.

thanks for any input on this!

Carrie would be the best one to answer this question. I know that we have had others ask questions about other curriculums and how they compare to HOD.

The Welcoming post by Carrie at the top of the board says

Carrie wrote:Welcome to Heart of Dakota's "Main Board". We're glad you're here!
--snip--
Our prayer for this board is that its content may glorify our Father in heaven and may also encourage other families on their homeschool journey. With that in mind, we will be monitoring the board for helpful content as well as for a positive, encouraging tone. Posts that we feel do not reflect the philosophy of Heart of Dakota Publishing may be removed.

This is the only "official" Heart of Dakota" board moderated by us. Since this board is sponsored by Heart of Dakota, we ask that you do not post links to other companies or other boards. We also ask that you do not post for the purpose of buying or selling other items or curriculum.

--snip--
We're so glad that you came to join us. Enjoy the camaraderie, conversation and community found here at Heart of Dakota.

Blessings,
Mike and Carrie Austin

I would like to see discussion in a positive light. I think we should be careful of the tone of "voice" we use when stating our opinions and asking questions. I have felt that some recent posts could have been understood to start division and sounded really negative.
I am searching to find myself with HOD, and it is not my desire to share anything that would damage or hurt the HOD Publishing or its members here.
Just my thoughts...
~Linda

annegirl1919 wrote:i know that each curriculum that has it's own forum also has it's own 'feel' and purpose. i've been on one where you can ask any question or concern you have about the curriculum, freely compare and contrast it with other curriculums-their merits and weaknesses-etc., and then i've heard of other forums that don't really want you to discuss other curriculum, and would prefer that questions be kept more on how to implement the curriculum, what it includes, and not really get into concerns.

i have worried that in asking questions here about concerns i have, or in asking questions to figure out whether hod is the best fit for us, i might be a frustration. now i know that all the communicating is done with typing, so i'm missing the 90% of nonverbal, but i just thought i'd ask, because i don't want to be causing problems by questioning, if this forum would prefer it another way.

thanks for any input on this!

I think the question you asked on science was a fair question to ask. My answer may have made you feel that I did not think that way and I apologize if that is the case. But it is something I also wondered about in the past, thought about and I was giving an honest answer on what I thought. BUT I was not trying to make you feel bad for asking it so I hope I did not. I am assuming my response did make you feel uncomfortable and that is part of what you are referring to. So I do want to apologize if that is the case. It was a big questions and I guess I thought it deserved a big answer

So I know I have a great deal of respect for Carrie and appreciate how she has really transformed our hsing into something meaningful and organized miraculously. I would especially be sad and grieved if I made people who might be seeking the same for their family were put off by my words. That of course is not my intent. I want for everyone that they would find the program that God is leading them to because of course that is where they will be most blessed.

dear water2wine,
i did not take offense at your answer at all. in fact i appreciated reading the response from someone who is really into science.

i also appreciate your response here-explaining where most of the people on this board are coming from. it explains why maybe i could feel a little sheepish questioning stuff. i don't want to be disruptive to the purpose that is desired here. i have no desire to be argumentative (i've hated boards that were like that-and i am a very nonconfrontational person). but i am a huge researcher and don't just take things at face value. i guess i have to be convinced-especially when i have a concern.

all that to say, that if open discussion about concerns isn't part of the purpose here, i'll try to keep those questions for a forum like hsr, or something.
thanks!

annegirl1919 wrote:dear water2wine,
i did not take offense at your answer at all. in fact i appreciated reading the response from someone who is really into science.

i also appreciate your response here-explaining where most of the people on this board are coming from. it explains why maybe i could feel a little sheepish questioning stuff. i don't want to be disruptive to the purpose that is desired here. i have no desire to be argumentative (i've hated boards that were like that-and i am a very nonconfrontational person). but i am a huge researcher and don't just take things at face value. i guess i have to be convinced-especially when i have a concern.

all that to say, that if open discussion about concerns isn't part of the purpose here, i'll try to keep those questions for a forum like hsr, or something.
thanks!

I took that out though because really it isn't my place to say what the purpose is either I realized. I can't speak for Carrie or what is right or wrong here. I am just a huge fan of HOD and I let myself get off track in that sometimes I guess. But I know I can confidently say this. It is fair and reasonable to question about the program. I had many hard questions and I felt like Carrie welcomed them and was very respectful to me to answer all of them. I am a huge researcher also. I can't help it. I think it is commendable that you are looking deeply at what you are using. I just did not want to be a hindrance to that path of finding where God has you is all. BTW I think Carrie would have answered your question directly if she were not working in some other way. She is very honest and would not shy away from a direct question. I have asked many of my own directly to her and she was very patient to answer mine. Honestly hearing her answers and then seeing how it is put to work in the program is what sold me on HOD. That and actually using the program and seeing it's magic work on my kids.

But it does not work the way my head works. It works wonderfully in favor of what I want and flows better than anything I could ever hope to do on my own, but it is not my natural self I guess I would say. It is I guess not the way I pictured my natural ways but I am finding I guess who God is molding me to be in the process, which is more important. So praise God He led me here but my nature would not have come on this path. In some ways yes but in others I had no idea this is what I was searching for in hsing and as I see it as helping to disciple my kids. God spoke to me though and I do believe some of it was showing me belief in my disbelief if you will. And in that turning from the confidence I had in myself and my ways to see the confidence He wants for us in Him and the ways He has for us. So I am in favor of questions personally.

Thanks for your response. I would have been sad if I had offended you.

My earlier post was not meant to discourage conversation either. Just pointing you to the only post I've seen from Carrie on the subject.


Everyone here loves to help, but sometimes we get carried away and sometimes we might get defensive if others think differently of programs we love.

I think we just need to hear from the horse's mouth so to speak as to what Mike and Carrie consider acceptable or unacceptable.

Carrie does enjoy questions, and she is very direct about answering them. I do think the tone of questions is important. This board is meant to be an encouraging place to discuss HOD, and words like "bored", "hated", "glazed eyes" (which are rare here) just aren't necessary when asking questions. There are just nicer ways to go about asking questions than that. As Carrie's sister, I'm sensitive to this, because I think Carrie puts more time, prayer, and effort into being an active part of her board than any other author I know.

My answer to the science question was not meant to offend anyone, and I apologize if it did. Since Carrie is gone to a convention and unable to answer posts at the moment, I felt the need to generally address the science post to stand behind HOD's curriculums and say that the science is accurate and matches state standards, etc. I am not a science enthusiast, and I think a more specific answer was wanted, which brings me to the posts by inHistiming and w2w - I thought they were excellent and encouraging of the kind of banter that is healthy when discussing questions.

Questions are great, and Carrie welcomes them - so keep them coming! I do think it's kind to consider the wording of the questions, especially knowing Carrie is a very active part of the board and will most certainly be reading and probably responding to all of the posts.

In Christ,
Julie

Ooh ladies,

As I'm methodically going through posts here upon my return from convention, I must say you've got me wondering with this particular thread! I will continue reading on and am sure I will come across the thread that must have led to this one, but I will weigh in here on the question asked in this thread.

I totally agree with netpea's quote from the "Welcome Letter" on our board. I will especially highlight this portion from our letter:

Our prayer for this board is that its content may glorify our Father in heaven and may also encourage other families on their homeschool journey. With that in mind, we will be monitoring the board for helpful content as well as for a positive, encouraging tone.

We consider this board to be the "HOD family", and this board has often been singled out for having a "different feel" from other homeschool boards. So many moms email us, call us, or personally stop by at convention to tell us how much they appreciate being encouraged here at our board. That is due to each one of you!

We also strive for that family feel here at HOD by personally being VERY active in our board to make sure that the tone stays uplifting and encouraging and that the content is helpful (and accurate).

So, I encourage whenever you ask questions, to ask yourself, is my tone uplifting and encouraging and is the content of my post glorifying to my Father in heaven? If not, a rephrasing is in order. This is good advice for me as well. In our quest for knowledge, we don't want to forget our number one purpose which is to glorify our Father in heaven.

I look forward to hearing more from each one of you as we encourage one another on our homeschool journey.

Blessings,
Carrie