New here and yet another Preparing question

[grandmaof7]

Hi Ladies,

This is the best discussion board. I'm new here---just registered day before yesterday---and I'm trying to decide if I want to use HOD for my grandson who will be in the 5th grade in the fall. I've had a wonderful response from Julie, and now I'm in the process of reading over these discussions to get a better "feel" for HOD. As I was reading, another question came to mind. Would it work to use Preparing for my grandson for both his 5th and 6th grades if I went a little slower and got the Extention Package for Older Studends and the Self Study Deluxe History package for the Newly Independent Reader? I would be using Drawn Into The Heart of Reading as well, of course. For his 6th grade, I could go on up to English 4 and also go to the 6th grade math level for that year, but just finish up Preparing in the 6th grade. Do you think this would work? If it would, it would almost be like getting 2 years of curriculum for the price of one. I would only have to buy his English and math for the 6th grade because I would already have all the other books I would need. I'm also trying to economize and I do have a few of the recomended books already.

Please let me know what you think of this idea.

In His Love,

Barbara

Wife of 33 years
Mother of 2 grown dear sons (who were also homeschooled)
Mother-in-law of two dear daughters-in-law
Grandmother of 7----so far

[my3sons]

Hi Ladies,

This is the best discussion board. I'm new here---just registered day before yesterday---and I'm trying to decide if I want to use HOD for my grandson who will be in the 5th grade in the fall. I've had a wonderful response from Julie, and now I'm in the process of reading over these discussions to get a better "feel" for HOD. As I was reading, another question came to mind. Would it work to use Preparing for my grandson for both his 5th and 6th grades if I went a little slower and got the Extention Package for Older Studends and the Self Study Deluxe History package for the Newly Independent Reader? I would be using Drawn Into The Heart of Reading as well, of course. For his 6th grade, I could go on up to English 4 and also go to the 6th grade math level for that year, but just finish up Preparing in the 6th grade. Do you think this would work? If it would, it would almost be like getting 2 years of curriculum for the price of one. I would only have to buy his English and math for the 6th grade because I would already have all the other books I would need. I'm also trying to economize and I do have a few of the recomended books already.

Please let me know what you think of this idea.

In His Love,

Barbara

Wife of 33 years
Mother of 2 grown dear sons (who were also homeschooled)
Mother-in-law of two dear daughters-in-law
Grandmother of 7----so far

I love reading your signature - I hope I am posting the same thing in the years to come - only I'll hopefully have 3 grown dear sons who were homeschooled and 3 dear daughter-in-laws - and I'll take any number of grandchildren the Lord provides!

I'm glad the other post helped, and I know others will post here when they get the chance. PHFHG is only a 4 day a week program, so if you stretched it out over 2 years, you'd essentially be doing 4 days of plans for approx. 10 days, and I don't think that would probably be enough. Now, we love to bat around ideas here on the HOD board - so please know, these are just my ideas - you should do whatever God is leading you to do. I have prayed about you and your situation, and I know God is going to lead you to the correct decision - whether it is my suggestions or not.

If I were you, I would get the PHFHG Economy Package, the Economy Package Science Adder, and the Basic package for sure. This will give you the most bang for your buck with PHFHG. Your grandson will need to read himself as well. If funds allow, I would get ONE of EITHER of these 2 options...
1. Get the Self-Study Deluxe History Package, OR if he is a strong reader get the Self-Study Extension Package for Older students.
2. Get Drawn into the Heart of Reading (DITHOR): the teacher's guide and the level 4/5 Student Workbook. You can either use the 4/5 book packs sold by HOD or put together your own book choices by using what you have and sorting them into genres (i.e. just be sure you have a mystery book for the "mystery" genre, a nonfiction book for the "nonfiction" genre, etc.). You can use what you have on hand and/or utilize the library to economize this way.

Last, you just need a grammar program and a math program. I personally am thinking of stretching R & S Grammar out over 2 years coming up. It is known to be advanced, so you could get several year's use out grammar that way. As far as math, any math program will work. We are partial to Singapore, and have loved it thus far, but many moms use different math programs with HOD and are happy with that.

Please keep posting and others will chime in - hope something here helped!

In Christ,
Julie

P.S. As far as funds are concerned, if it helps to buy things spread out over months, we can figure out which books you have to have for the first say 3 months or so, and then you could just purchase those. Then, you could purchase what was needed the next section of the year, and so on. Just a thought!

[grandmaof7]

Hi Julie,

You are helping much more than you may think. I have honestly used sooo many curriculums over the years---Abeka, Hewitt, Sonlight, Bob Jones,----and believe it or not a few more. It does seem to me that none are really a perfect fit----I doubt there is such a thing. That is the reason that HOD appealed to me. It looks more adjustable than anything else out there and anyone with more than one child knows that no two children are alike. What works for one doesn't necessarily work for the other/s. The fact that you've used HOD for more than one year with all your children speaks volumes to me. That is a testamony to HOD.

Thank you so much for your prayers and please continue to pray for me. I've just about decided I am going to use HOD for my grandson's 5th grade, I've just got to decide exactly what program. I appreciate all your suggestions since you are familiar with HOD and with Preparing in particular. See, I hadn't even thought about the fact that the teacher's guide was for only 4 days so if I stretched that out over two years, 4 days would have to s t r e t c h into 10 days and that is a bit much----lol. Thank you for everything and I'm praying for you and your family too. And, yes, I pray that one day you will be a grandmother on here still helping people and helping with your grandchildren.

I also want to let you know that you make me feel good and you encourage me. You are a younger woman, home where you should be and nurturing your children. Most of the women my age think I'm crazy because I homeschool a grandson (actually, up until this year, I homeschooled two of my grandsons) and because I babysit my grandchildren a lot. My husband babysits them a lot also. I feel that God has given me this job. I taught my boys and now I'm blessed that I can teach their children at every opportunity. My grandchildren are the joy of my life. I do miss having a lot of "down time", but I think being busy is much better than being bored or lonely. May the Lord bless you and I love you even though we have never met. I know that your life will be always be full and that God will always be there holding your hand every step of the way.

In His Love,

Barbara

[StillJulie]

P.S. As far as funds are concerned, if it helps to buy things spread out over months, we can figure out which books you have to have for the first say 3 months or so, and then you could just purchase those. Then, you could purchase what was needed the next section of the year, and so on. Just a thought!

This would be very helpful to me as well. Thanks!

Also, are there some that you consider "must owns" and others that are needed for a short enough time period that they could be borrowed from the library? I do have access to a lot of libraries with our interlibrary loan system, so I'm often able to find a majority of the titles.

[my3sons]

Oh Barbara - thanks! I was so touched by what you said - and I do covet prayers for our family as well. I think you and your dh are wise to help your dc and grandchildren out. Many other people are filling their time with so much more emptier things - you are building a legacy. Nothing is more important than that - and what's more, God honors faithfulness in teaching children about Him. Love ya back! Keep on asking questions on the board until you feel comfortable with a plan - the ladies here are wonderful!

Love in Christ,
Julie

[my3sons]

P.S. As far as funds are concerned, if it helps to buy things spread out over months, we can figure out which books you have to have for the first say 3 months or so, and then you could just purchase those. Then, you could purchase what was needed the next section of the year, and so on. Just a thought!

This would be very helpful to me as well. Thanks!

Also, are there some that you consider "must owns" and others that are needed for a short enough time period that they could be borrowed from the library? I do have access to a lot of libraries with our interlibrary loan system, so I'm often able to find a majority of the titles.

Hi Julie! We can surely figure this out. Once you decide what program(s) you are doing (I need to catch up on reading your other post because maybe you've decided and I missed out on all that fun) - but anyway, once you decide the program(s), you can post what you'll be doing and ask what books you need specifically for each of them for the first "x" amount of months; then, the next "x" amount of months, etc. Believe me - I get the whole idea of budgeting money for things. We'll help you sort through that for sure!

In Christ,
Julie

[Carrie]

Barbara,

I just wanted to pop-in and welcome you! We're glad to have you here. Julie has done an excellent job of thoroughly answering your questions and of helping you talk through options. The ladies on this board are so gracious and giving of their time. We are very blessed!

If you have other questions, ask away as we're glad to help.

Blessings,
Carrie