Those of you who used HOD, left HOD, and then came back...

[striving2Bprov31]

I was wondering what made you come back to HOD after a time of using another curriculum????? What did you learn about HOD after trying a different curriculum?

Anyway, what made you come back to HOD?

I haven't been on this board for quite some time....Thank you in advance!!

Liz

[momofabcd]

I haven't been on the board very often, but I thought I'd chime in. I left HOD after LHFHG because, at the time, that was the only book, besides LHTH, they had out. I had nothing else to move on to. So, I used MFW that I would have to say I loved just as much, then dd and ds went to a christian school for two years. Now we're back home and with HOD. I remember the reason I chose HOD with dd when she was K is because I already had Singapore Early Bird Math, Reading Made Easy, Hide em in your Heart CD's, Devotions for the Children's Hour and Handwriting Without Tears ready to use. I felt like Carrie was reading my mind. I still do. I found that with subsequent guides, she has used many resources I was either debating or already have on hand. She just seems to be on the same wave length as me. So I'll let her do all the work pulling it together, and our family will benefit greatly

[Busymomma1]

Hi Liz,
We used LHFHG when my oldest (dd) was in K and my 2nd (ds) was 4 1/2 y/o (3rd son was 2 y/o at the time). We had a fun year, but I wasn't sure if I liked following someone else's plan. Plus, I felt it was a bit easy for my dd in some areas, and I wanted more out of the history and science. So, I did "my own thing" the next year (for the olders' 1st grade and K years, respectively). I was trying to follow a classical model and do history from Creation to the end of the New Testament, pulling from a variety of sources. Well, long story short, it wasn't a "bad" year, but it wasn't great either. And I just felt something was missing. Well, in the spring of last year, I pulled some activities out of the LIttle Hearts guide that went with what we were doing. It was a very simple activity, and in it was a yes/no question about loving Jesus. My dd hesitated, and began crying. It brought out the fact that she had questions, wasn't sure about Jesus, etc. It gave us a wonderful opportunity to talk about faith and Jesus. Well, at that time, I was considering coming back to HOD, and that clinched it! I was realizing that I wanted a curriculum that REALLY pointed my kids to Christ, and this was it! I felt like God was showing me the way to go with that incident. While I was trying to do it on my own, I wasn't succeeding very well. HOD does it so beautifully! Plus, we weren't getting in the literature read-alouds like we had the year before, too. My dd is a good reader, so I had her reading on her own, but my 2 younger sons were missing out somewhat. AND, I wanted school to just be MORE FUN!

So this year, we started Beyond in August. I like to keep my kids together as much as possible. It is on the easy side for my dd when it comes to the right side pages, but I just beef it up for her (we do Math U See anyway, and adjust DITHOR and language arts accordingly). And it's just about right for my 1st grade son, if not a little challenging on the language arts side of things. BUT... spiritually, it is RIGHT ON, and that is my most important goal. Secondarily, my kids love American history, and they have really enjoyed the history and activities. I still beef up the science with Sonlight, but... overall, we are having a VERY GOOD YEAR! And I'm so glad we've come back. I'm planning to stay! In fact, I'm having to hold myself back for ordering for next year! ha! I like how the guides progress in difficulty as you move along, so the fact that I thought LHFHG was easy made me think all the guides would be easy. Not so!

Most importantly, I really felt led by the Lord to come back. Pray, and I'm sure the Lord will guide you! He gives wisdom to those who ask! (James 1:5).

Be blessed!~