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We'll be coming back to HOD for preparing, but my DD will be 10. She's going to miss the last two levels. I really want her to have them. I could even put her in preparing this year or next, but I wanted to keep them together. DS is only 7 next year...though he is advanced. What is your advice?

I haven't even started our other curriculum yet and I already mis HOD. I really don't want to be 2 years without it:(

Hi, Mumkins,

I was waiting to see what responses you got to your question, since I am not experienced in HOD. So hopefully this will give you a bump!

When I thought about doing HOD last spring, I had originally thought of putting the two youngest together in Little Hearts and starting half-speed. But the more I thought about it, the more it seemed that I needed to let my youngest finish Little Hands and start my second youngest in Beyond. So that is what we are doing. And it is going well. I can't imagine my youngest doing a higher level, nor can I imagine my second youngest doing a younger level; they are working right where they should be. Sometimes I think it would be good to have them on the same curriculum, but I can see that they are learning the skills that they each need to learn at their age.

I am reading through My First History of Canada and the Discovering Canada series (by Robert LIvesey) along with Beyond, and that is going well (considering we are only on unit 2...), and I have been doing some thinking about Canadian history books I can read along with Bigger.

Hopefully someone else will answer; I am certainly no expert!

Mumkins I am not entirely sure I get what you are asking but I think you have two that are about 2nd and 5th grade or maybe the 7 year old is actually maybe closer to 3rd grade level because they are advances and you are trying to figure out how to combine them both and also how to get all the future levels in for your oldest. Do I have that correct?

If so I would really look to see where they place on the placement chart. I am thinking you know your oldest can do Preparing. So I am guessing if they are 10 they are maybe 5th grade like my 10 year olds who are going to do Preparing starting on Monday. And we are going to get through all the levels. Here is how. 6th will be CTC, 7th will be Reformation, 8th will be the first American program and 9th (yep! I will use the extension pack for that or ask Carrie how to best work it) will be the last American program. So I am hoping I have taken a stab close to what you were wanting there with your oldest.

Now for the youngest. I would look hard at the placement chart and really see if you think your 7 year old can handle Preparing. If your child is very advanced they are one year behind the suggested age range. I do have one that will run that way myself. That will start out Preparing a year under the guide but hit the lowest age level midway. I am thinking she will be fine but time will tell. I would look just really hard at the placement chart http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php and see how closely your child matches up to Preparing or really where they would fall if you placed them independently and if it looks like actually they would fit better in another program I want to encourage you that two programs is extremely doable.

I hope something there helps. Let us know if I completely missed your question.

I'm assuming the problem is that Beyond and Bigger are American History and you're in Canada?

I can't help, but thought I'd give you a bump and see if I could help clarify your questions for others.

In searching for something else, I found a post that may or may not help you.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4292&hilit=future+programs

To put it more simpler, in 2 years I'll have a 8 and 10 year old. We'd be doing preparing. But I don't want to wait, so I was wondering if I could do it next year with a 9 and 7 y.o. We are skipping bigger beause we are in Canada.

I could seperate them, but I have 4 and will probably have 5 or 6 kids. Teaching that many levels is too much.

Also wondering how to work it with my DD being 10 in preparing and missing the last 2 levels. DH is adament that they take something that will give them a diploma in HS.

Mumkins,

I'm thinking that you have a couple of options. First, you could do Bigger Hearts and just add in some Canadian history of your choice, maybe a chapter an evening from your favorite Canadian history book. This is a good option if you want your kiddos to be well-prepared for heading into Preparing Hearts.

Another option would be to do Preparing Hearts instead over 2 years, taking your time to make sure that your younger child has time to mature and that the pace isn't too rigorous. You'd have to adjust the writing portions of the lessons for that child in this scenario.

As far as being concerned about your oldest child having enough as you move through the HOD programs, if that child falls within the age ranges on the guides she should be fine. Once your oldest is in 9th grade, you could likely use much of the HOD guide for history along with her brother (and then add any additional material for science, grammar, etc. that is needed to meet your Canadian requirements). If at that point you were able to share the requirements that Canada has when your daughter reaches high school, we could make suggestions of possible additional material that would meet her needed requirements. It will be easier for me to share options once we get our upper level guides written.

Anyway, just a few thought to help you brainstorm a bit.

Blessings,
Carrie