heartofdakota.com

God has led me on a journey the last few weeks and so far the end looks like HOD. It started at Sonlight. Then a few friends recommended FIAR. While reading that discussion board there someone was recommending HOD to a poster, so I curiously traveled over and here I am!

This seems like exactly what I am looking for, could it be true?! A fun, yet complete plan that is laid out so neatly for me to implement!Sonlight and FIAR both had things in it that just weren't my style.

We currently are enrolled in Classical Conversations and will continue that next year (we love it!). While we do work on memory work at home a little, we mainly just participate in the weekly class and my daughter's complete an IEW writing assignment at home. Beyond that my girls are now doing an eclectic mix of things no one in our house is too wild about (Mystery of History Volume 1 included in that) and my son is not doing anything beyond reading with mom and talking about life and his CC class.

I am trying to decide which HODs to purchase, any advise is appreciated.

Here is some info on my kids to get a glimpse of where we are:

Youngest: Turns 5 next month, but was an early, early preemie and is a boy. He loves to read books with me, knows letter recognition and sounds but nothing further like blends. Does not show an interest in sitting, very busy-body. He can write his name, which is four letters, but doesnt like worksheets. Loves to do messy projects and things that are tactile. I am looking to spend time with him each day as he just gets pushed aside too much right now, but I am lax and not trying to over achieve with any specific goals. I am thinking of LHFHG because he already knows his alphabet and their sounds. Is this a good fit? I thought LHTH looked good too, but I dont want to get something that is too little for him.

Middle: Turns 9 next month, is extremely bright and LOVES to learn anything. She could do school all day with a smile on her face no matter what it is. Keeps up with her older sister and usually surpasses her in our studies. She is on level for her reading though.

Oldest: Turns 12 in June, she is starting the typical tween attitude of school isn't that great, but I will do what I have to do to get it done. She tends to be a slow learner with concepts, so her math is weak, but she is an avid reader. Since I have two more years before she starts high school I have decided that I would love to find a way to instill that love for learning back into her. That is one of the reasons I am looking at HOD.

After looking over the HOD site and taking into consideration we are enrolled in CC I am torn. I fear using something like PHFHG or RTR would be too much on their plate. But I love the look of it! Isnt trying something new a scary thought sometimes? I also really like the concept of DITHOR and think this would be great for the girls. I like the idea of using RTR since we will have finished MOH volume 1 which ends at the Resurrection. Umm.....

I hope I gave you enough information about my family and THANKS for any thought you can lend!

Candice
In Texas

Welcome to HOD.
I believe you have found just the right curriculum.
I am not going to say where to start your children, as I feel that there are others out there who can do much better.
My 2 children are in Preparing. We have LOVED it. Ds is 11 and dd is 9. We do the written dictation for spelling. We do a different grammar and a different math, but follow the plans as written. We have grown so much together. We have grown so much in the Lord! When I might be tempted to think of going off into "textbook land," I am reminded how HOD has made our home school flow, get finished daily, and bring such peace to our home. Every day is an adventure, and I am doing it with the greatest little people!! It is the perfect balance in home schooling.

Have a wonderful day!
Linda (in SC)

Welcome!
Have you had a chance to look at the placement chart? It may help you figure out where the kids might place. Even if you are looking to combine, I know it's helpful to know where they place so others have a better understanding to guide you.
Here is a link to the placement chart:
http://heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php

Just wanted to say welcome! You will love HOD!

Welcome! We are using Preparing this year and I *highly* recommend it! Remember, you'll still need to keep up with your CC work too! I think RTR may be a bit much with both starting on a new CM based learning schedule and doing your CC co-op..... Just my opinion. However, I am confident in saying that as long as you pray about it - whatever you do choose - you are in for a real treat!!

Welcome to the HOD board! You have come to the right place - homeshcooling is such a happy thing to do with HOD. I think you've done a great job of placing your 5 yo in LHFHG. He is on the young end of it, which gives you some nice wiggle room to stretch it out if you desire. Whatever older HOD program you choose, PHFHG on up are all 4 day a week plans, while LHFHG is a 5 day a week plan. So, you could still take off the fifth day with your little guy and give him some time to ease into it if you wanted. We've enjoyed all of the HOD programs, so it really just comes down to proper placement for your older 2 dc. The placement chart has been easy to use and right on target for placing each of our dc over the years, so I would love it if you could take a peek at the chart and share where you think your 2 older ds would fall on the chart individually. It shouldn't take long, I promise! The first page of it is really what's most helpful for us giving good placement advice. Here's a link to the chart:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php

I'd also wondered about combining. Do you feel strongly one way or the other about combining or not combining your older 2 dc? That can make a difference in the advice I'd give too, as this is often a personal preference that can lead to different placement.

I'm excited for you to have found HOD! It is such a big part of the reason we love homeschooling, and I know it will be for you too. Just keep giving us information, and we'll keep kicking around some ideas here until we get the placement you love!

In Christ,
Julie

I don't have any placement advice. I just wanted to say welcome to the boards! We love HOD!

Thank you all for the great advice and warm welcomes.

I would like to keep my 9 and 12 year old girls together so that I am not off in two different directions. I am leaning to Preparing Hearts as a good change of pace. Previously I was worried about getting their timeline in perfect order, but lately I have become more relaxed in the fact that they can re-visit history in highschool and graps that more in detail.

I am so excited to start something with my little guy, now I just need to pray that God will give me the peace that my mind needs.

Just wanted to say "hello" from a fellow CC'er! I am using Preparing this year (my first time with HOD) with my 8 and 10 year old daughters, as well as attending CC. It has not been too much for us, as I tend to keep the work separate for the most part. We have found that what we are getting in CC (geography usually), gets reinforced in Preparing, which I love! Review is good.
Preparing has been wonderful for us this year and my girls do enjoy learning this way. I am enjoying teaching the HOD way as well! ( My middle daughter sounds a bit like yours and will be 9 in a few months also. ) I am so glad to have found HOD and cannot wait to start CTC next fall!
Brenda

" Since I have two more years before she starts high school I have decided that I would love to find a way to instill that love for learning back into her. That is one of the reasons I am looking at HOD."



This is what I was looking for with my daughters too, who are are 14 and 12, my 14 year old particularly, when my searching led me to HOD. I'm happy to say that this is EXACTLY what happened with both of them - they are doing CTC together. They are enjoying their reading and activities so much, and look forward to starting school every day. My oldest has thanked me several times for starting HOD and tells me she loves it, and wants to go through all the guides. Even though technically she is over the age limit for CTC, she is soaking it all in after having had years in public school and then two years with lackluster homeschool curriculum. She is figuring out that it is fun to learn, read, and do great things, and I know this will help her to blossom during her high school years. She told me the other day, "Mom you have my permission to get on your forum and tell all the other moms that your oldest daughter said she approves and she loves HOD!" I didn't tell her I already had.

I haven't used Preparing yet, but I'm sure that is fantastic also (in fact I'm trying to fit some of the Preparing books into my girls' reading since they look so great and I don't want them to miss out), and that either Preparing or CTC will be a huge blessing to your 12 year old like it has been for our dc!

Monique

momofgreatones wrote:" (in fact I'm trying to fit some of the Preparing books into my girls' reading since they look so great and I don't want them to miss out....Monique

LOL! We're using Preparing and skipping CTC and we're doing the same thing! We're in the middle of listening to Ben Hur - WONDERFUL! AND although my 2 older ones will miss CTC - my 3 younger ones and I won't! So, at least I'll get to read those books!
ALSO, thank you for sharing your daughters thoughts and words! It really is all about the students - are they loving it as much as we parents are. They are! What a blessing! Agreed?

faithfulmom wrote:Thank you all for the great advice and warm welcomes.

I would like to keep my 9 and 12 year old girls together so that I am not off in two different directions. I am leaning to Preparing Hearts as a good change of pace. Previously I was worried about getting their timeline in perfect order, but lately I have become more relaxed in the fact that they can re-visit history in highschool and graps that more in detail.

I am so excited to start something with my little guy, now I just need to pray that God will give me the peace that my mind needs.

PHFHG would be a wonderful place to start, as it does a 1 year sweep of history. We still have our timeline from PHFHG hanging up, and the dc often reference it when trying to place when something happened in history. Otherwise, CTC is a God-honoring journey through the ancients that is teaching us sooooo much in an intriguing way. Either way, I think you'd enjoy combining your dc in one of these programs. The placement chart will detail the differences between the 2 programs, so you'll know where your duo best fits. Isn't this board a nice place to visit? I love the encouraging nature of the ladies here.

In Christ,
Julie

Just wanted to add my "welcome" and say that we looked at Sonlight & FIAR before deciding on HOD, too. It's our first year with HOD and we are LOVING it! I know God led me to the website.

I'd definitely put your 5 yo son in the LHFHG guide. My son is over halfway through LHFHG this year and has done really well. There's not too much that requires sitting for long periods of time. My son is on the move ALL the time, loves messy projects and is always having to do something active while I read to him (Storytime & History boxes).

Sorry I can't help place your other children since I'm not in those guides yet. The ladies on the board are wonderful and will help you!

faithfulmom,

I just wanted to pop-in and welcome you to the boards! We're glad to have you here!

The moms on the board have already given you such great advice, so I'll just chime in to say that I agree that your 5 year old would fit well in LHFHG. I'd lean toward doing it 4 days a week with him, stretching it into the next school year to finish. I'd also lean toward combining your older two in Preparing Hearts with extensions, as it is great preparation for Creation to Christ and the upper guides. However, you'll know your children and your needs best.

We look forward to getting to know you even better!

Blessings,
Carrie

Thank you all so much!

LHFHG should be here any day now. I cant wait to get started! Since we are in classes on Tuesday and Friday, using it three days a week and stretching it out is going to work great for us. We will start now and stretch it into next year.

I am still considering Preparing for my older girls, but I will definitely grab DITHOR, it looks great. I think Preparing looks amazing too, I just need to solidify what I am going to do with my oldest.

Thanks for all the help and the warm welcome! I am telling other moms about HOD, hopefully we will have some other families to share this blessing with.