heartofdakota.com

I know I have read thank you after thank you lately. I love getting up early on Mondays and reviewing stuff for the week. As I was up this morning, it got me thinking about my past and all the educational changes I have seen come around in these past few years with my kids.

When my oldest started Preparing 2 years ago, she had the hardest time reading. I was completely panicked by mid year as she was reading 10 pages at a time in chapter books for independent history and science. She was also reading DITHOR and completing level 3. Plus, there was a huge increase in writing for her. That year for her was definitely the toughest. Because we abruptly switched to HOD in October, I don't know that I really used the placement chart well and don't know if I really placed her correctly or not but buy the end of the year, she finished strong. Even at the beginning of CtC, she struggled with the history text. She did well with it but she also had little focus at times. So I couldn't really tell if her lack of production was due to her struggling while working hard or if she was hardly working. By the end of CtC though, she finished very strong! She was able to complete the poetry alone. She rarely needed help with any "I" boxes. And her writing had grown very much. This year we started RtR. I know that in this guide it states Kiddos can take on their reading by themselves for Storytime. I never in a million years thought this would happen now. But it has. I was worried last spring about my dd having to read so many pages in history and then whining about doing the Shakespeare study on day 4 because of the extra reading. And the reading in the Bible Study box is different than last year and I was worried about that too. Well, not only has she done all of the reading easily (and she does it - I check and ask her questions - but she gets done fast!), she is also taking over story time. From a child who could barely read 2 years ago to a child that reads quickly now, it literally amazes me! And not just reading, but math too. When I started 2 years ago, I had used my prior math program for the year. I switched to Singapore in CtC because the other program was just not working out. Math for my dd last year was tough! She really struggled. We had to take some of the concepts really slowly. And she lacked so much confidence. Every day she would sit with me and tear up half way through because she was paralyzed by fear of making a mistake. And believe me, she was making lots of them! By the end of the year, math moved more quickly. But this year, in Singapore level 5, it seems like a lot has clicked. She is moving right along. No more tears! Praise God for that too

On to my son.....He started in Beyond. He could barely hold a pencil. I know 7 is such a young age and kids ability differ greatly. But he was so behind many of his peers in pretty much everything (due to some learning delays). Not any more! He writes everything required in the guide and with no complaining and no trouble. The other day he had to writing something down for AWANA and he actually wrote it in cursive LOL. I never thought that would happen....writing in cursive out of his own free will. While he does still struggle with reading some, he was able to read the directions in unit 7 for the "I" boxes and to actually complete the items without my help. I also never thought this would come! He has had SO MANY challenges to overcome in his life. I must say, I do fully believe that God continues to heal him everyday and helps him grow. But I am amazed in his abilities thus far. Even with writing, his spelling is getting better and better everyday. He is able to actually write down sentences and not ask me how to spell every single word. He only asks for about half of them LOL. May not seem like much but it is still an accomplishment that count and am very grateful for.

While I could brag on my youngest the most easily, God just made her in a way that school has always come very easily and she is very much advanced well above her age. For her, I feel so thankful that HOD has such wonderful resources to fill her mind with. I also feel thankful that HOD has put limits on me not pushing her too much. For that, I am grateful!

So in all - thank you HOD. I would have never envisioned that my children would be where they are now. I sit here and am honestly in awe. I can't believe how much they learn about and I can't believe how balanced it is. I can't believe they actually get it done! I love that they are learning about so many interesting things. I love that when I walk around the house in the mornings, everyone's nose in a book (mine too on occasions LOL). I love that my kids have grown SO much and I know that if I had used other programs or been left to myself, this would not be the case. I so glad God led me to this program even though I had made different plans originally for the year I made the switch. I am grateful that my husband gave me his "shed" money to be able to make the switch (he was saving money for a shed but he gave me all of that money since I had already purchased other curriculum for the year and we didn't really have the funds to buy 2 full years worth of curriculum in our regular checking account). I guess as I sit here this morning, I just can't help from smiling and thinking about how blessed I am that my kids use HOD. I never thought using a box curriculum was in my future as I wasn't crazy about the ones I had seen. Plus, most people I knew didn't use one. Not only do I love this boxed curriculum, but it has been so wonderful to see many of my friends switch to using HOD now too. And what I love most is that it is so Biblically grounded. Everything is based on the word of God and my kids faith grows every day. Never did I ever think I would find something so Biblical including wonderful character studies, that learning would be so varied and interesting and that the program would have strong academic merit but still include lots of interesting hands on activities including strong art activities . I just feel so thankful to have found HOD. And to Carrie, Julie and Mike - thank you, thank you, thank you. We pray for your family all the time as I know what it is like to be busy. And I am just so thankful that all of you have persevered through many challenges to bring us this curriculum. Thank you again.

Thanks Daneale for this post. It is very encouraging to see how far your children have come as I too have some children who are struggling. I see them improving greatly also because of HOD, but sometimes I can look ahead and think they will never be able to do it, or the progress seems too slow.

I came from about 18 years of homeschooling eclectically and never thought I'd use a box curriculum either. I LOVE it! I wish my older children had been able to use it.

Thank you Carrie, Mike and Julie!!

What a great post Daneale! I think it is so important for us homeschooling moms to stop and reflect upon all the progress our dc have made. It is so easy to compare our kids to others or to look ahead at something and think-they will never be able to do that, but it is in looking back that we clearly see God and how He is able to do amazing things in the lives of our dc. I am so thankful that He lead me to HOD those many years ago and that he continues to use it in my son's life. I know most people on here know his story or follow my blog, but I am also amazed daily at things he is doing as far as his assignments go. I never would have thought he was capable of doing the things in the World History guide, but he is and he is loving it. All the step by step skill building through the guides makes such a huge difference! Schooling a child that has some unique learning challenges can be so intimidating, but thankfully HOD has made it so much easier than it would have been if I used something else.