New here! Bigger questions

[Stacy350]

Could a few ladies share their thoughts on Heart Of Dakota, particularly Bigger?

I have used preK with HOD and I liked it fine.

Also, we did Sonlight (core B) this year and looking at the number of books... HOD seems so light in comparison so I wonder if HOD is enough all by itself or if many of you add books in.

My kids are 8 and 9 this year, 2nd and 3rd grade. So for next year I was planning on ordering Bigger with level 2 readers but not using DITHOR. Is that silly or is that something people do? It's just that the emerging readers are either books we have already read or my kiddos reading levels are beyond them. I figured the book labeled "level 2 book pack" would be a better fit.

Thoughts? Advice? Tia!

[StephanieU]

We will start Bigger in a few weeks, and I definitely feel it will be enough for my daughter in 3rd grade. The only things we are changing are areas where HOD gives up options (math and language arts).
From what I have read, Sonlight is mostly just reading. HOD has a lot of other things woven into the guide, so learning is taking place outside of just reading. Also, there is a point where reading more doesn't increase learning at all. It is just repetition OR a child's ears close up and their eyes gloss over. HOD tries to keep the length of readings appropriate for the ages recommended.
If you feel you need to add some, you can always add the extension books, and do them as read-alouds. But this is not necessary at all. A few of those books are actually storytime options as it is.

[StephanieU]

And as for DITHOR, I did order the whole package, but I am not planning on doing it with my daughter. I just ordered it because it brought my total to $400 for free shipping
I plan on using some of the ideas from the storytime box with those books, as the storytime in Beyond and Bigger are basically a light version of DITHOR.
Preparing-MtMM have DITHOR scheduled 3 days a week. If you follow that schedule, you complete 5 genres a year out of the 9 for 5 years. The goal is to complete each workbook once, which would be 27 genres. That would only leave 2 genres left out once, which I think most families can squish in some time over the 5 years. That is why many families don't start DITHOR until Preparing.

[Jennymommy]

I agree with Stephanie, more reading is not more learning. Be sure to do all the storytime activities, and your children will become discerning readers, able to get the most from the time spent. Hopefully you have read some of Carrie's posts on the subject....you will be greatly encouraged

[Mumkins]

I've done the first few SL cores. IMO, SL is light compared to HOD. SL, you just read, read, read with a little bit of work.HOD, you read smaller amounts, but savour it, interact with it, do activities based on it. You still read lots though. In Bigger, you'd daily read a history book, science book, poem, the bible, a book for story time and have them read to you once a day, plus a devotional book once a week.

if yo search, you'll find plenty of three abou SL that may help you make a decision.

[Stacy350]

Thanks ladies! I feel better about that piece now.

[Nealewill]

I am glad you feeling better about HOD. I was also going to add the same thing - SL is so much reading but HOD is a lot of meat. It is not light at all. I amazed at what my kids have learned and how advanced they are compared with other kids because of HOD. I absolutely love it and HOD has really transformed them into strong thinkers

[my3sons]

Hi Stacy350! I agree with what's already been said, and I think you are going to really enjoy BHFHG! I don't think BHFHG is light at all - actually on the contrary, most people find it challenging aplenty. However, when choosing a guide, it is important to choose according to the placement chart. I did want to mention that your 8 and 9 yo dc could place in PHFHG as well. If your 8 yo isn't ready for PHFHG, then BHFHG is the guide to use if you want to combine. If your 8 yo places soundly in PHFHG, and your 9 yo places there as well - then PHFHG is the guide to use. Not many 8 yo dc place in PHFHG though. Either way, whether you'd use BHFHG or PHFHG, DITHOR adds a lot of depth to reading instruction, as without it, dc are just reading. You can hold off on starting DITHOR until you are into a good routine with the rest of the guide. But, as you'd mentioned BHFHG possibly being light, I did want to mention that part of the intended instruction is daily DITHOR instruction, which does up the level of difficulty of the guide. For most dc, as StephanieU shared, completing each of the levels of DITHOR at least one time by the close of 8th grade will be more than enough. However, if you really want to get the utmost out of BHFHG and have it be as challenging as possible, using DITHOR as intended daily will up the level of learning and difficulty automatically. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie