heartofdakota.com

Hi everyone~ This is my first year using Heart of Dakota and I have officially decided to use it for my 5th grader using CTC and my 7th grader using RTR. I just received my package in the mail and absolutely LOVE what I see. Not just the beautiful content, but the philosophy behind the content absolutely matches what I have been trying to create on my own through many hours (and hours, and hours....) of work. So here is my struggle. I have eight children. Two are in high school using dual credit options, but I have a 3rd, 2nd, K & toddler as well. When I look at the guides for my younger kiddos BHFHG looks perfect for my 7 & 8 year olds and LHFHG looks great for my K guy. I'm concerned about the time commitment and biting off more fabulous stuff than I can chew. When I think about going down a guide, it just doesn't seem challenging enough for them. Any suggestions? Thanks ladies. I appreciate any input you can give me!

Amy
Mom of 8 and married to my beloved for 17 years
DS 16 College Plus
DD 14 College Plus
DS 12 RTR
DD 10 CTC
DD 8 ?
DS 7 ?
DS 5 ?
DD 1

You are in for a real treat with HOD!! Youre going to love this board full of wonderful, supportice HODie moms as well

I have just four kids, but using four guides. They are grades 6th, 3rd, K, and a 3yo. (ages 11/12, 9,6,3). Weve used HOD since 2008 and this is our first time using four guides. Weve used 2-3 in other years plus a newborn amd/or toddler. We school from about 8-3, but no one is doing school that whole time and that includes chore time, breaks, lunch, time for me to get the 3yo down for nap, and an hour early on devoted solely to my 3yo except the last 20m or so we add in the 6yo to read his history or storytime book to both littles. Im doing half speed with the 9yo but planned it where the time for full speed is already built in so it wont add time later.

Carrie also does four guides but takes a long break after lunch amd then has another small block of school time later in the day. Im considering this as well, but rigjt now that school time while the toddler takes his after-lunch nap is too vital!

If you look on the top of the main board on page 11 of the schedules thread, youll find a link to see how we do our days Hope that helps you see how it can work!

We've been successful with that many guides. I'd encourage you to give it a try!

Hi! Welcome to HOD. I know you will enjoy it.

I only have 3 children, and therefore only doing 3 guides.
The one thing that has helped the most has been to have a staggering start time. Meaning I don't have them start a new guide the same week.
That allows you to adjust to a new curriculum/guide at separate times.
I do know some friends who also say it helps to have older children in higher guides, because they have their independent times, which gives you time to
work with the youngers.
If they are placed correctly, after the initial adjustment (only a short time) I have seen it work well.
I also take about 15 minutes every Friday or Monday morning to make sure I have everything I need, any changes to schedule etc. Older children can help with that.
Just a few things to take into consideration.
HTH

I fully agree with the suggestion to stagger start the guides. You could also go 1/2 speed with your little one in Little Hearts for awhile, as he is in the younger age range anyway. That would help you get into the swing of things. Once your middle is done with Bigger you will have 3 children with independent portions of their guides and the older two will do a lot independently. I think if you can pace yourself through this year and make a good schedule you will be fine.

Thanks everyone! I think I am going to go for it! I love the idea of my Silas doing LHFHG at half speed. He could do it for K-1 and still be great. I have been planning my own curriculum for so many years that I am not going to know what to do with all my time Blessings over all of your homes as you pour so faithfully into your blessings!

Amy Claussen
www.familyrestorationproject.com

Hi Amy! You really received solid advice already here! We use 3 guides and love our days with HOD. Teaching 4 guides will be busy, but then life with dc is that way anyway, right? One thing I wondered - would the fifth and seventh grader work well together in CTC, using extensions for the 7th grader? Maybe you've weighed that and determined it's best one is in CTC and the other is in RTR, but since your 7th grader would be in the extensions range, and since CTC is a meaty guide anyway, I thought I'd mention it. Also, going half-speed with your LHFHG child is an awesome idea! We have done half-speed for various lengths of time with various guides with our various dc, and love that pacing option. You may end up going full-speed at some point, as dc just end up loving what they are doing and tend to grow into it over time, making it easier to actually go full-speed at that point. But, if that does happen, it will be obvious. That brings me to your Bigger Hearts duo, there is no reason they cannot go half-speed for awhile either! They are on the young age range of Bigger Hearts, and that is a big training year for dc, so going half-speed with them is a great option too! We usually end up spending about 1 1/2 years on a guide when starting half-speed, as we end up going full-speed at some point. This actually has worked wonderfully well, as we take about 3 years to go through 2 guides, and then at that time, full-speed tends to be a solid pacing, and the guide is at that point (usually around PHFHG or CTC), more independent and requiring less teaching time from me anyway. HTH as you ponder this, but what are your thoughts?

In Christ,
Julie