A "How much mom time is required" question.

[momontheprairie]

We are really, really likeing Bigger. We have only done one week, but it fits us much better than SL, it seems more "full" if that makes sense.

My question is if I wanted to eventually want to move my older two to a more independent volume like Preparing or CTC, how much extra work would that be for me? It is likely my youngest would always be in her own program as well as my youngest son in his own program. My two older boys will likely stay together as they are only 18 months a part and academically they fall about the same. That is three programs. I just want to know how independent the last two volumes are and how much mom involvement there is.

Thanks!

[my3sons]

I''m so glad you are enjoying Bigger Hearts, Carrie! We did too. We are finishing up PHFHG this year, and I have had less teaching time this year than I did with BHFHG. My ds was able to be independent a good portion of the time - actually, he could do it all right now independently if I let him, but I don't want to nor should I. We just are near the end of the year, and he's learned to do it all so well. Here are the approximate teaching times I had this year:

Reading about History: 20 minutes (including the reading and discussion/narration)
Storytime: 20 minutes (including the reading and discussion/narration)
Rotating Box (which is Vocabulary, Research, Geography, Timeline): 5 minutes
Poetry: 5 minutes
Bible Study: 10 minutes (including discussion and singing the song with him which you don't have to do, but I enjoyed)
Drawn into the Heart of Reading: 10 minutes
Grammar: 10 minutes
Dictation: 5 minutes
Math: 10 minutes
History Project: 5 minutes

I am a person who loves to teach, but am also a no frills, not taking to bunny trails kind of person (not that these are bad things, they just don't fit me ). So, we finish school in about the same time every day, and we do what's in the guide. We don't draw out discussions or add in more things, so someone who may be prone to do that would end up teaching longer. I can also say that now, my ds could do all of my above teaching without me, which in a pinch, is a very nice thing - but not something I want for him daily. I would say that the most helpful thing has been to teach my ds to read and use the HOD guides. He puts a check in the corner of each box as he finishes them.

I did PHFHG and BLHFHG this past year and enjoyed it immensely. It is worth spending time considering placement, that can make a big difference. I used the placement chart, and I can tell my dc have been accurately placed because all of it has gone so well. As you consider placement, both PHFHG and CTC will be less teaching time than BHFHG. However, if dc aren't ready for a guide, the teacher time increases as you have to help them through it more. So, for example, (and I'm saying this with the thought that other moms may be reading this too), say, if a person's child placed in BHFHG. It would not make sense to get PHFHG thinking that the teaching time would be less. Even though the planned teaching time in PHFHG is less than in BHFHG, the actual teaching time would end up being more if a child was doing PHFHG and not ready for it. The same would apply to PHFHG and CTC. Hope that makes sense! I think you'd find it very manageable to teach several HOD programs. We've done it for 3 years now and enjoyed it. Soon, we'll be adding a third HOD program. For our family, I've found it easier to keep our dc separate because they are 3+ years apart. But, I know other families combine and enjoy that as well. Praying you find what's best for your family, Carrie!

In Christ,
Julie

[Carrie]

Carrie,

If the Lord leads you to use more than one HOD program, then I know He'll equip you to get it done. We have run 3 programs for years and find it very manageable. Next year, we'll be using 4 programs by doing LHTH (at half-speed), Beyond (4 days a week), CTC daily, and be piloting our new program. We also do DITHR with our big boys as scheduled in the guides and will be moving into the Emerging Reader's Set with our Beyond guy.

This past year, we used LHFHG, Preparing Hearts, and piloting our new guide CTC. We started school at 9:10 and were usually done around 2:30. We did take a 45 min. recess in the morning and 45 min. for lunch. However, I will share that I am a very no-nonsense "do what's in the guide and move on" type teacher. If you personally love to do each project up really big, or add much to what's in the guide, or go off on bunny trails (which is perfectly fine), then you'd most likely be better off with 2 guides, rather than 3, for the long haul). Personality style of the teacher is something to weigh when thinking about how many HOD programs will suit your family best.

For now, I'm so glad you're loving Bigger Hearts. Your kiddos are in the target age range for the guide, so if do decide to keep them together, you could just move into Preparing Hearts as a group next year (and it would suit them well). Preparing Hearts is definitely a step up from Bigger Hearts and is excellent preparation for the more independent work in CTC.

Blessings,
Carrie