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how I can do this with 3 different age groups, or if I should even try. I've got a 12yo 6th grader, a 9yo 3rd grader, and a 5yo beginning K'er. I had Little Hearts FHG for the 5yo, but the history and literature were way above her head when we first tried it. I remember thinking I could just wait and use it in another year, concentrating only on the phonics and math portion of it for now, but then I went and sold it. Now I wish I'd kept it. My 9yo, however, was really enjoying the history and literature in LHFHG.

My 12yo (the girls all have late birthdays) is doing 6th grade LA, but is behind in math so we're working on catching that up. She does use Singapore + other math supplementals. For history, we've done a lot of different things with no particular sequence or order. Now I'm wondering what in the world to do with her over the next 2-1/2 years remaining of "official" elementary/middle school.

So *if* I were going to go with HOD, which level(s) would you recommend my doing? Bigger with the extension pack? Preparing? I can't afford to buy 3 entire separate packages. If I have to make a choice, I'd prefer to spend the most money on the oldest since I can use it again with the youngers. However, I agree with the HOD philosophy that it's easier to beef up a lesson for an older child than trying to lighten it for a younger child. Having tried it both ways, I like HOD's way much better.

Or should I just get HOD for the younger two, and keep the oldest in something completely separate?

What do you think?

Hi, and welcome to the boards. I don't have much to say right now about the older child, my oldest is 7( ). Other moms here have done wonderfully creative things to expand the programs to meet older children or slow down a program for a really young child. I am doing Beyond with my 7yo and something else for my 5yo then she will move into Little Hearts around 5.5 or 6.

Welcome, and don't worry, the ladies here always have wonderful ideas.

kayrenee wrote:how I can do this with 3 different age groups, or if I should even try. I've got a 12yo 6th grader, a 9yo 3rd grader, and a 5yo beginning K'er. I had Little Hearts FHG for the 5yo, but the history and literature were way above her head when we first tried it. I remember thinking I could just wait and use it in another year, concentrating only on the phonics and math portion of it for now, but then I went and sold it. Now I wish I'd kept it. My 9yo, however, was really enjoying the history and literature in LHFHG.

Hi, and welcome! Just a suggestion-you could try combining your 2 older kids in Preparing Hearts For His Glory, using age-appropriate math and language for each of them and the extension pack for the oldest, and maybe Little Hands to Heaven for your youngest, if she isn't ready for formal school. Little Hands only takes 30 minutes or less a day and introduces letter sounds and early math in a gentle way-have you seen the sample pages on the site? Also, check the placement charts on Heart of Dakota-they are really helpful for choosing a program that fits your child's level, language arts and math ability being the most important factors for choosing. http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php I hope that helps a bit, I know what you mean about affording-part of the reason I sent my oldest to high school is we couldn't afford to homeschool him anymore-and my next oldest will be going to high school next year-*sigh*

YAY, KayRenee is here! Kayrenee is here!

Lourdes gave GREAT advice! I'm still new too (as you already know ) so I won't even try to offer any suggestions. You already know that I love it. I think you would too and how fun would it be to use the same program

Let me know what you decide!
Mary

Are you "following" me!?!

Great minds think alike, kayrenee. Just for info, I am going to do something w/ my boys - they are beyond Preparing - and I am going to give HOD a try w/ my littles. I will probably be doing Little Hearts... and Beyond...

Nice to "see" you here.

K

**waves wildly at Mary and Kerby**

Hi, girls!

Lourdes, thanks for the info. I think my 5yo is beyond is Little Hands because she already knows her letter sounds and beginning math concepts. The Singapore Earlybird math recommended for Little Hearts is perfect. It was really just the history book and literature choices that she either couldn't sit still for or listen in on and really "follow". I think Little Hearts will be a good fit for her next year, though, while keeping her at her own level for math and phonics.

I wish there were sample lessons up already for Preparing! I'll keep watching for it.

*I think we were typing at the same time - looks like we were thinking the same thing anyway!

Hi Kayrenee!

So glad you're here! Here's some suggestions:

For the 5 yo: If she needs a Kindergarten readiness program, Little Hands to Heaven is great preparation - and lots of lighthearted fun! But, if she knows all of her letters and sounds, colors/shapes, numbers, counting, can cut, hold a pencil already - then Little Hearts for His Glory would be a better fit.

For the 9 yo and 12 yo: You could do either Bigger... or Preparing. If you are planning on starting now, I'd suggest Bigger... with the extension pack for your older child. (As long as she's reading fairly well.) Otherwise, if you're thinking to begin later in the year, Preparing... may be a good fit too.

Maybe check out the placement chart, really looking especially at writing, reading, and math, and see whether Bigger.... or Preparing looks like a better fit. I'd love to hear what you think after checking that out! I think you can definitely find a balance that will work, with 2 programs. I'll watch for your post!

Hey Kayrenee! I will just say welcome and that I am so happy I found a way to get my older kids and all my kids into HOD. We love it. I would check with Carrie on the levels but if there is a way I would really consider going for it. My kids love this program. And the extension pack for the older kids is great. In fact I would do it even if I did not have older kids.

Welcome to the board Kayrenee!

The ladies on the board did such a good job of pointing out some options and directing you to the placement chart. I would agree that the chart will help more with placement than seeing the sample pages will. But, the sample pages for Preparing... will be coming in early April or so. Here's the link to the placement chart: http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php

I also just wanted to pop in and tell you we're glad to have you here. I would agree that "Little Hearts..." sounds like the correct placement for your 5 year old.

For your older two (strictly from an age standpoint), if your kiddos will be pretty close to being 10 and 13 when you begin HOD, you should look at "Preparing...". However, if they will still be 9 and 12 for awhile, from what you've shared I think you could either go with "Bigger..." or "Preparing..." depending on whether you want to cover a one-year overview of American history or whether you would rather begin with a one-year overview of world history. Since you mentioned that you have covered a smattering of various things history/science-wise/Bible, a one-year overview of American history followed by a one-year overview of world history might be a good plan for your older two.

It also sounds like you have the language arts and math covered for your older child, so it would just be a matter of looking at the history cycle/science/Bible that you like the most. Truthfully, your 9 year old could go in either program too. "Bigger..." would be lighter than "Preparing...". So, it also depends on whether you are looking for a more rigorous study or a lighter look at history/science for the ages that you have.

These are just a few things to ponder. I think you can definitely go with two of our programs for your family and have it work well.

If you get a chance to pop back in and let us know what your thoughts are, we'd all be glad to help!

Blessings,
Carrie

Okay, I'm looking at the placement chart and it looks like "Bigger" is just about right for my 9yo. Carrie, can you tell me what grammar is recommended in "Preparing" for an older child? The 12yo is definitely capable of (and is already doing) most of the LA skills listed on the Preparing chart. Math is "iffy". This is always been her weakest area.

I would say the following applies to us, since their birthdays are in the fall, and I'm looking to begin something right away. We just finished a pretty in-depth study of Ancient Rome, but have done just smatterings of American history (mostly early Am.), so the whole overview with different literature than we've read in the past would be good. I think we could start that now, and then move into "Preparing" later in the fall, with one year remaining afterwards for the oldest before she starts h.s. While she could definitely proceed with "Preparing" now, enjoying "Bigger" for a while might be good to get us into the habit of consistency and basic study skills before adding more depth. We just got done doing a more in-depth study with history and Bible... but are sorely lacking in consistency, especially in the 3 R's. Does that make sense? I'm typing a lot of rambling thoughts here. LOL. And my dh looked at the sample lessons for "Bigger" and really, really likes the Bible aspect of it.

I'll reconsider Little Hearts, too.

However, if they will still be 9 and 12 for awhile, from what you've shared I think you could either go with "Bigger..." or "Preparing..." depending on whether you want to cover a one-year overview of American history or whether you would rather begin with a one-year overview of world history. Since you mentioned that you have covered a smattering of various things history/science-wise/Bible, a one-year overview of American history followed by a one-year overview of world history might be a good plan for your older two.

kayrenee,

In Preparing Hearts... we schedule Rod and Staff English 3 and 4. However, if this is too young for your oldest dd, you could easily add in your own English.

I agree that since you are looking to start now, "Bigger..."would be a good choice, especially since your 9 year old is fitting well there according to the chart. I also agree with what you said.... "while your older dd could definitely proceed with "Preparing" now, enjoying "Bigger" for a while might be good to get you into the habit of consistency and basic study skills before adding more depth." It would also give you time to focus on the 3 R's, which it sounds like you want to do.

Doing "Bigger..." now and moving into "Preparing.." next would give your kiddos a good two-year study of American history and then World history. You would definitely want to add the Extension Pack to "Bigger..." for your older dd to read independently, according to the schedule in the Appendix of "Bigger...". This beefs up the history and science in "Bigger..." for older kiddo.

I'm so glad both you and your husband have had a chance to look over the Sample Pages. That really gives you a look into our guides. You may even want to print out the Sample week from "Bigger..." and lay each two-page spread out side-by-side so you can get an exact feel for what each day would be like. That is how the plans are set up in our guide. Here's the link to the sample pages:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/sample-pages.php

As far as doing "Little Hearts..." with your 5 year old, you could just start out doing the left side of the plans one day and the right side the next, until you've gotten comfortable using our programs. You could continue doing "Little Hearts..." that way until you, or your 5 year old, seem ready for more. We are doing that this year with "Little Hearts..." for my new 5 year old, and really enjoying it!

Feel free to ask other questions. The ladies here are so good about helping and encouraging.

Blessings,
Carrie

Hi Kayrenee!!! Glad to see you here! (we need a waving icon, lol!)

I love the ideas you've been given about starting with Bigger now, and then moving into Preparing. Also, love the idea about doing one side of manual each day to work your way into LHFHG. Sounds like you may get to start soon!!! I'm excited for you. I have to wait until August. I am an Olive, so we WILL be finishing MFW Adventures, like it or not, LOL!!

Finding HOD has been such a breath of fresh air for me. I have found the whole set-up very freeing. I've found that I kind of have to do a paradigm shift, and get out of that trap of feeling like I need to start a volume in August and finish it by May. As long as we keep up with our 3 R's, there's no reason we can't spread a volume over a longer period of time...ahh, the weight feels like it's being lifted!

(Are you now regret selling CHOW to me?? )

LOL, no, Marypoppins, I'm fine without CHOW. But I do regret selling Little Hearts!

HOD seems very organized and, well, more "Olive" to me. I think it might be what I was *wanting* in the other curriculum, and might be just the thing to keep from going with all textbooks. Might. I hope.

I like the idea of doing one side of Little Hearts one day, then alternating. Might just do that.

I'm using the word "might" here a lot because quite frankly, I'm afraid of spending more money and trying again, only to be disappointed again! I just want to be SURE, kwim?

marypoppins I to have struggled with wanting to start HOD and feeling the need to finish what we are currently using. This was made worse by the fact that ds is beyond the phonics and math in the program. My ds has decided he wants to finish this program. We only had 6 more units and we are currently completing 1 unit a day I can't believe it. I have promised him though in March/April we will get the caterpillars and watch them turn into butterflies. This is what he really wants but it is too cold right now for them.

Sarah

Just wanted to chime in and say we did LHFHG, left side of the plans one day and the right side of the plans the next day, just as you are describing. We loved it! We did decide to do phonics daily, otherwise we stuck to that pace. We did that at the end of last school year (after finishing LHTH), and at the beginning of this school year. Just last week, we began doing all of the plans, both sides, each day instead. My ds was begging for it, and YIPPY - he was ready for it! It was an easy transition. I just thought I'd mention this because I think you'll know if your child is ready for more after awhile. I was prepared to take 2 years to do LHFHG, and was fine with that, but my ds surprised me with wanting more now. The way HOD's programs are written for multiple ages helps me stay on "track" even when we do it this way. I love that flexibility, and this was a simple, fun way to begin LHFHG.