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Hi I am a pastor's wife and mother of 5. We have been hsing for 5 years and have used Sonlight for the last 3 years. We are currently in Core 3. I am very interested in using HOD for next year. I emailed Carrie and she graciouly sent me a very informative email, but I wanted to post some of my questions here as well. My oldest dd is a exceptional reader and she has been using SL's program and also Easy Grammer. My second dd (7) in the second grade struggles a little with reading and is grouped with my dd (5) who is an advanced reader for her age. They are both doing Sing Spell Read and Write. DD in 2nd grade does Horizon's 2nd grade math and DD age 5 does Horizon's 1 st grade math.We have always tried to stay together as far as history and science goes. We are currently studing Early American History. What books would you suggest putting my kids in next year. If my oldest does Preparing she will be doing a broad scope of History like she did last year with SL Core 1+2, am I right? I was kind of hoping we could continue on with the second half of American History next year, but , Bigger may not be challenging enough for her. What do you guys think?

Also what are some of you planning to do for High School? I know this sounds premature, but I had already mapped out my kids curriculum through 12th grade with SL. It just made me feel better LOL!!! Now I'm not so sure. Also, What would I do with my oldest in 6th grade if we did Preparing Hearts next year?

Any insight would be great!

Thanks and God Bless,
Kyle

Hi Kyle and welcome!

You don't say how old your eldest is, but you could do Bigger with the extension pack for older students (says 4th-5th grade kids.) I just read further down again, and it sounds like your dd is/will be in 5th for the coming year, and since she's in Core 3 will have covered the first part of US history. If you don't mind going through the first part of US history again, I'd start with Bigger and extensions for her--maybe adding in more history reading than just the books in the extension pack through her literature with DITHOR.

With the younger two (they'll be 8 and 6 next year, but since one is advanced and one a little behind, let's call them 7 together.) Have you looked at the placement charts for HOD to see how they fit in that? I'd almost say to put them both in Beyond and adjust the reading level by the books you choose for them to read with DITHOR, or use the emerging reader schedule, whichever would fit. Even though your youngest is a strong reader, I'd be afraid to put her in Bigger. If you are going to switch maths to Singapore, the middle child could use the 3a/3b schedule from Bigger. If you're going to stick with Horizon, this isn't an issue.

I'm not there yet with my youngest, but have used several years of Sonlight in the past with my older two. I just love the way HOD is set up, and will stick with it with my youngest as long as Carrie writes guides.

Welcome to the HOD board, Kyle! You've given some good information about your dc already. I am wondering if you could look at the placement chart, giving more weight to the first page, and share about where each of your dc seem to individually fall? Taking "history" and "combining" out of the decision for a bit will help us know where best your dc fall - and then we can weigh that with your history preferences and whether you'd like to combine or not. We love to "tailor" fit HOD programs to best work with individual family's needs! Once placement is figured out, HOD is smooth sailing! I am currently doing several HOD programs and am loving it! Here's a link to the placement chart, it is quick and pretty easy to use - we've found it to be accurate:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php
We'll keep checking back here for your thoughts and help you find a happy decision for your dear family!

In Christ,
Julie

I'm a planner too and will tackle your high school question with what I have so far...

My plan is to move to My Father's World for 9th-12th. You then just add Math, Science, Foreign Language. For Math I'll likely just keep going with whatever we end up switching to after Singapore-- maybe Teaching Textbooks plus "Bridge Math" (will know once Carrie finds the right fit in math for her future guides). For Foreign Language, I will possibly be using the Latin series from Classical Academic Press from 3rd grade on up to their last level of Latin Alive! they come up with (taking more than one year per level) and/or Power Glide German since it goes all the way from elementary to AP. German is the next language after Latin recommended by the classical circles. They also have a one year high school Latin course.

As for Science, I plan to keep it living...I have researched and found many great books to help me do this and I'd be more than happy to email that to you...it's too much to post. It uses the 5 "By Design" books as a spine (Body by Design, Universe by Design, etc.) then adds in many specific living books. I've got it laid out by grade/science subject (Geology, Origins, Astronomy, etc.) and lists all the books with authors.

I might continue in the R&S english even once starting MFW just because it is such an incredible program...it won't take much to add in a lesson per day. If I finish level 6 by the end of 8th, that will be great. Then we'll just try to finish at least to level 8 in high school. MFW is independent in high school which should be a great follow up to the independence learned in HOD.

HTH!

So does this discussion confirm my suspicions that Carrie has plans to stop HOD after 8th grade?

Yes, as of right now, she is not planning to write curriculum for the High School years. However, you never know where the Lord may lead her and her family, especially with so many people praying that she'll reconsider. So, keep your eyes and ears open in the future.

Kyle,

Welcome to HOD. I am not sure if it was answered or not but Carrie will release a new guide each year for four more years. Then next four will go through a classic cycle of history pretty much. The last one will be up until 8 with an extension to 9th grade. She does not have plans for high school but many of us are praying hard for that. She did promise to share recommendations if she does not do high school.

We use Bigger right now with three 4th graders and one 6th grader (my other two do LHFHG). My sixth grader is very advanced in reading. She does nothing but read all the time and HOD is perfect for her. I think any child that is bright and loves reading would love HOD. If you did Preparing then the next year you would do Ancients and Carrie will have the next guide ready for you a year before you get there so you will have four more before you have to worry about Highschool depending on the age of your child. I have one that will be too old even if we can convince Carrie to write high school. My plan for her is to include her with us but have her do a separate history as well such as Notgrass and different science. Math and LA are already being done at her level. I want to include her though because I see how much she grows from HOD and she will be very sad if she is left out of what we do with HOD. The great thing, as you have already seen, is the author is willing to help you customize the fit if you need it. I think you would love HOD. It is wonderful for large families.

No advice, but I just wanted to say HI, Kyle!!! (I have the privilege of knowing Kyle in "real life":-) Everyone on this board is VERY knowledgeable and helpful, so I know you'll get the answers you need!

Kyle, Kyle, wherefore art thou? Love to hear back from you!
In Christ,
Julie

Hi, I'm back. Things have been very busy here! I just realized that I hadn't clicked on "notify me of responses" so I've had no way of knowing when someone has answered one of my posts. I've clicked on it now, so maybe I'll stay in touch with everyone better.

I think I have decided to go with Beyond for my 5 and 7 year old for next year and Preparing for my 9 year old. Does that sound right? My younger ones will be finishing up their Sing spell read and write by the end of the school year so I think I'll go with the emerging readers. My oldest is a fantastic reader,but, I'm not sure which set of readers to choose for her. I'm still not sure what to do about math. If you've seen my other posts you know I'm obsessing a little about my decision there. I really like the idea of totally following Carries plans, but that may just not work for us. I need to pray about it don't I

Thanks for your responses!

Oh, and HEY AMANDA!!! I didn't realize you used HOD!!!

Kyle,

I think your plan for combining your 5 and 7 year olds (will be 6 and 8 ) in Beyond sounds like a good fit. As far as your 9 year old goes, I do think that Preparing sounds like a good fit there, however did your 9 year old do SL1+2 last year? If so, did you read Hillyer's A Child's History of the World for that core? I'm asking, because that is a central part of Preparing Hearts, and you wouldn't want to read through that again another year in a row.

Also, you mentioned that you have a 6th grader as well, I believe? If so, that child could also join in Preparing Hearts and use the extension package. This is because the target age range of Preparing Hearts is for 3rd and 4th graders with extensions for 5th and 6th graders. Depending on where your 6th grader falls language arts-wise you could use what was in Preparing or beef it up a level.

I look forward to hearing back when you get a minute.

Blessings,
Carrie

Hi Carrie,

Yes, Hannah did do SL1+2 last year and we did read that book, which she really liked by the way. I will not have a 6th grader next year, Hannah is my oldest she will be in 5th grade (there must have been a typo in one of my posts ) So, what would you do? Should I not do Preparing with her since she focused on that last year? She is very bright, I would say advanced a little. Should I do a different guide with her? We have been studying early american history this year. So, should I do Bigger with extensions for her since its like the 2nd half of American History?

I can't wait for you to be in Winston Salem this May!!! I may just camp out at your booth/table, whatever it is!!!

Thanks,
Kyle

Maybe I need to do the NEW guide with Hannah, Hearts for Him? Since we have already used the Child's History Of the World. Although she did really love that book. If I told her I was reading it again I think she would be happy.

Kyle

Kyle,

It is I who have made the mistake in somehow thinking you had a 6th grader, instead of a 5th grader. I sincerely apologize. I usually take notes when advising on placement, however in this case I didn't take notes (thinking I'd already advised you on placement by email). I went back to find my previous correspondance with you and now understand so much better!

Anyway, I wouldn't lean toward using Preparing Hearts with your oldest daughter, since you've already done A Child's History of the World last year (unless you were thinking to have her read it on her own this time around).

In looking at your busy household, it really comes down to a matter of whether you are trying to keep your 3 older kiddos together or not. If you desire to keep them together, you would need to do Bigger Hearts with extensions. If you are willing to separate them, then the younger kiddos would fit best in Beyond, and you would place your 5th grader in either Preparing Hearts (to be done quite independently) or the new ancients program. At that point, I would lean toward placing her in the new ancients program due to her previous coverage of world history.

The placement chart is in the process of being updated to reflect the placement considerations for the new guide. So, it should be up soon to help you in that area.

The ancients guide is designed to be much more independent than the previous guides, so it is also a matter of how independent you would like your older daughter to be. One last consideration, is how strongly you feel about having your older daughter finish American history now. If is is VERY important to you, then you would combine her within Bigger.

If you're ready to let her be more independent and ready for her to be separate, then you would place her in the ancients guide (and she would get one more dose of American history, within world history, as she completed the 4 year cycle of guides through grade 8 ).

I'd love to hear your ponderings if you get a chance.

Blessings,
Carrie

It has taken me a while to get back but I've really been thinking/praying and talking to my hubby and best friend who is switching to HOD (I think). Thanks Carrie for talking to her on the phone yesterday, (I was kinda jealous she got to talk to you, since I told her about HOD )

Anyway, my husband suggested putting them all in bigger. He said Hannah could help facilitate. Then he turned right around and suggested putting Hannah in the NEW guide and doing beyond with my younger two school age girls. Just like you said in your last post. AAGGGHHH! I just wanted to slap him! Can you tell I don't like making decisions? That's sad isn't it. I can't believe I actually made the decision to home school with everyone against me!

Anyway, I'm packing up my unused Sonlight stuff right now for my refund (I only used 16 weeks of it, so it should be a 100% one). And hopefully I'll order my HOD soon.

I think I will stick with beyond for the younger two. I looked through the first week of Bigger and some of the activites I thought might be a little too much of a challenge for my 5 year old although her reading and comprehesion are on a 2nd grade level. I just don't think her writing skills are there yet. Although they are good for a 1st grader. I think I will put Hannah in the New book. You did say it had a lot of independent activities, Right? How much time would you estimate it taking if I were doing both of these guides?

Thanks and blessings,
Kyle