heartofdakota.com

Hi again!....as i have asked several questions about where to place my oldest son (turning 6)...and gotten lots of advice from all you wonderful and wise HOD users ...i have another one!....i know you're excited for more!..lol
Have been debating whether to start with Beyond/LHFHG for next fall..he is finishing K now....he seems to fit in Beyond, but my concern is, would it be bad to miss the Bible history that LHFHG offers?? In looking at the catalog, looks like he may get more in Preparing or sometime later??...


So, any advice?...go with Beyond which "seems" to match his level?..or do Little Hearts to get a Biblical start to history, but otherwise may be material he has already learned this yr?....Thanks again!....so enjoy getting input from you all!

I think I was here at one point. I wanted to go back to HOD after taking a year to try something that I realized was a good fit for us. I worried about having a gap and it was in the k to 1st grade time frame. What I did is used the appropriate guide for the next year (for example it had the math activities based on that "grade" in the book). If it didn't work I figured I could always use it for the next child and move him up. However, I found that the activities are really very appropriate for him in the level where he fit right in the middle. And I have found that to be consistent with my older three. My first is an amazing reader, but then my next is much better at math and writing. My third is much more interested in being read to than reading himself, even though he has no problem reading himself. Each have strengths at their level but also weaknesses. I'm not really answering your question am I? I guess I'm saying that if you keep him in his age range, starting where you want in the history cycle is perfect because it's very age appropriate and he activities will also be a great fit. If he needs more challenge in reading, that is easy to advance in! So that's what I have done and will continue to do with mine to keep history and all things in order. But maybe someone else has more input?

You know your child best, but it seems to ME that Beyond would be the better guide for ya'll. I think if you got one of the bibles for LHFHG and just read a story a day (while doing Beyond) it would be fine. You could read the story after breakfast or before bed... just make a routine out of it. It only would take a few minutes but still, I don't think I would try to fit it in during school time unless your child is the type to beg for more. You could also get the LHFHG manual and follow the suggested activities because my son had a BALL with that.

Just looking through Little Hearts today and remembering that history does come back around. The Bible history book is really cool, but he could always sit in on that part with you and your other child if you were concerned. And you are right, we're doing a lot of that same history, only of course more appropriate for age, in Preparing this year with my 3rd grader. But either way you could start and he would be fine!

Such good thoughts here already! I am so glad you have had this thought about the Bible History and its importance, and you are so right - it IS important. The neat thing about HOD is that every single year of homeschooling is bathed in the Bible - through Bible Study, Bible Quiet Time, devotions, music, Scripture memory work, ACTS prayer model, copywork of memorized Scripture in a keepsake Common Place Book, discussions, purity study, becoming a Godly man/woman studies, Biblical Worldview, missionaries studies, Godly character trait studies, Christian heroes, practice in sharing the Gospel, pulling out the Bible to look for answers in virtually every single subject area - and I'm sure there's more I've failed to mention.

My point is you don't have to feel like missing the Bible in LHFHG means you won't get that Biblical history/focus with HOD. PHFHG and CTC for history especially come to mind, but truly, every year we have done HOD we have pulled out our Bibles every day and enjoyed countless cherished moments together. It is such a blessing to see our dc's faith and maturity grow. HOD truly makes it a priority for us to remain Christ-centered in our homeschooling, to focus on God's Word as the Book to guide us through the mountains and valleys our Christian ife, to take real time for us as parents to share our faith and heartfelt thoughts with our dc, and to make the Bible a part an integral part of virtually every school subject.

So, is missing a year of Bible History in LHFHG bad? No, not if Beyond is the right fit, and not if you intend on doing each and every part of HOD's guides, because with HOD, EVERY year is a year spent in the Bible. I hope something here helps, but I would encourage you to place your ds where he fits best according to the placement chart, and then give your utmost for His highest by delighting with your ds in the Biblical focus of whichever guide you are getting to enjoy.

In Christ,
Julie

thank you so much for your responses!...
Julie..such good information...i feel good knowing that the Bible is in everyday with HOD, as well as the guides that are based on the Bible History will come around as well. i think we have a good path figured out for next yr, going into Beyond.
i truly think part of the reasons we are wanting to start hs'ing are wanting to give our children a love for Christ..and i think using HOD will be just what we need!
such good advice given here, has really helped us find where we need to begin

So glad to have been of some help! I loved reading this...

momof3kids wrote:...i truly think part of the reasons we are wanting to start hs'ing are wanting to give our children a love for Christ..and i think using HOD will be just what we need!...

I couldn't agree more - have a blessed year with HOD!
In Christ,
Julie