Mixing curriculum?

[Shawna]

Do any of you ever mix two sets? Or just use the guide for a couple of subjects? I am confused as to what I want to do for my middle child...he has had some of one set and some of another!! I reaaaally like the Bible program in Preparing, and CTC...but we just finished History in April with Christine Millers book on Ancients....so I am not sure what to do!!!
Also, for DD I am thinking Beyond..but a little confused on the reading level..for Emerging, we have several books, as well as the Classic list..can I just mix those as well? YIKES!! I feel a like there is something I am not understanding...maybe it's just because of the level my kids are on....I think for dd I am going to order the Teachers Guide and look thru it and see what I need at that point...I know it's cheaper to buy boxed sets, but I have so many books from each set already.Can ya'll tell I am a little bumfuzzled today? HELP please!!!! Oh...I have not really done unit studies! I did use Five In A Row when the middle one was in 1st grade, but we really just used it as a reading/lit guide!

[crlacey]

I can't help with the older ones since I'm not that far yet. However, I can help on ordering for Beyond. You would need everything in the Economy package. You would then choose the items you need from the Basic package to add to the Economy package. (you'll see 2 options for Basic depending on the math level you want) Then you would choose either a phonics program, the Emerging Readers set (which we love), or the level of DITHOR that you need. This choice would reflect your child's reading level. And for Storytime, you would either choose the package you'd like or find a book or your choice from your home or library in each genre listed. hope that helps some.

[Kathleen]

The only way I've seen moms mix guides is so that they have math & LA on their child's level. I think it would be too confusing to try to mix the actual history study and the skills that HOD teaches along side that. I know that you said you already have a math & science plan for your child. So, you're welcome to use that plan. And then I'd either pick Preparing OR CTC based on where he places on the placement chart. Then you'd also want to use DITHOR for his reading instruction and English (HOD uses Rod & Staff) on his level. Does that make sense?? The purpose of the different packs of books for the guides are described in the introduction of each guide. You can check these out if you click on the guide you want to check on the home page. Then along the left side there will be a link to the intro of the guide which you can read here or print off.

In Beyond, the Emerging Readers are a pack of books that your child will read aloud to improved their reading and comprehension skills. There's a schedule to use them in the appendix of the guide. They're for a child that is finished with phonics (or finishing) and is not yet an independent reader. You can see if you have some of them that they move along in difficulty noticably from the beginning of the set to the end. The books in the Classic, Girl-Interest, Boy-Interest sets are used for storytime in the guide. You read them aloud and then your child is also learning about story elements and looking for biblical character qualities in the lives of the characters. So combining those sets wouldn't allow you to use them in any way with their purpose in the guide. You'd want to use the Emerging Readers for reading instruction with your child if that's what she's ready for. Then for storytime you'd want to make sure that you have a book for each genre to use during the year. You could plan to use the ones you already have for that and either order others or go to the library. Does that make sense?

This all makes SOO much more sense once you are using it, trust me! It's super-user-friendly!!! I just open the guide & go every day.
Kathleen

[lovedtodeath]

How old is your middle child? What grade level? What LA is he currently using and at what level?

[Shawna]

my middle one is actually 11 today!!! He is considered 5th grade..but for Math we used 6th grade-teaching textbooks this year...will do the pre-alg for 7th this year...for Rod and Staff I would have him in 6 grade English...we have used several of the Apologia books...all but the new one about the body--he has done elem history levels, we have used MOH and TQ--we love the living books!

[my3sons]

Hi Shawna! That "bumfuzzled" feeling you are having is about to disappear, because HOD magically has that effect! All you need to do is skip on over to the placement chart, carefully consider page 1 of it for each of your dc, and then place them in the guides that best fit each of them. Here is the placement chart:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php

Using the HOD guides as they are written completely clears up any confusion and makes teaching a true delight. I would love to hear where each of your dc place, and then we will all work together with you to fine tune that plan so you can have that happy, peaceful feeling about homeschooling that we all desire and that HOD thankfully provides! I'll check back on this and help you out as much as I'm able then.

In Christ,
Julie

[Shawna]

Oh Julie!!! You are my NEW BEST FRIEND!!! LOL....thanks...I got the catalog in the mail and have been pouring over it circling and checking things we like or have....I am thinking of this plan...tell me what you think:
DD7~ Beyond...probably use the emerging readers...maybe go back and add some later if she really passes that level-but not pressured for sure.R&S for math2, and R&S English 2......She used the lang lessons from Sandi Queen this past year...she sailed through faster toward the end...we havent finshed the book--she got sick the last week of school then I got it! So..we may finish on boring hot days...maybe not!! She likes to read when she thinks I am not watching her! Like when I am sending emails, or various words on signs, whatever...she wants to be able to read as good & fast as my boys and I--which frustrates her when she has to stop and sound things out, or gets slightly hung up....I know this will pass, but boy--she's stubborn. Not sure where she got that?

DS11~Was tossing between Preparing and CTC~ He looked thru the catalog with me last night and said" OOHhhhh I like that one..the books look great!" for the CTC..which is what I had pretty much deciced before he came in to look!!We have just finished that Science Apologia book and the Christine Miller book on Ancients, but he said that was fine...he would do parts of it again to get the other books!! ha!! I really like the Bible study--it was one of the main things I was looking for this year...I was going with R&S Bible before I saw this....SO..God is good!! This is going to be sooo much easier on me than hunting books for all 3 kids!

DS14~ Okay,,,for Bible I am gonna have him do the same thing as DS11...just get his own workbook or whatever he needs. He will be in Apologia Biology,Teaching Textbooks --either Geom or Alg 2...did Alg1 this year and did wonderfully!!! For Eng, R&S 9/10.....Story Starters from Karen Andreola for creative writing....Truth Quest for History...we stopped with George Washington this year and will pick up there...I know at some point we need to do Texas History...will maybe do that after he is up to present day with TQ....Oh...DITHOR for lit..for him and ds11.
So, that's my plan...what do y'all think? Any words of wisdom are appreciated...I am anxious to order my guide books at least today or tomorrow!!!

[my3sons]

Oh Julie!!! You are my NEW BEST FRIEND!!! ...I am thinking of this plan...tell me what you think:
DD7~ Beyond...probably use the emerging readers...maybe go back and add some later if she really passes that level-but not pressured for sure.R&S for math2, and R&S English 2......She used the lang lessons from Sandi Queen this past year...she sailed through faster toward the end...we havent finshed the book--she got sick the last week of school then I got it! So..we may finish on boring hot days...maybe not!! ...

Oh good - I love making new friends on this board! I do think Beyond for dd7, along with the Emerging Reader's Set and R & S English 2 as well as R & S Math 2 would be a great plan for her. As far as the Queen's language lessons, you can probably just stop with that, as those CM skills are covered beautifully in Beyond already and you'd be doubling up. So sorry to hear you and your dd were sick - hope you are feeling better now.

DS11~Was tossing between Preparing and CTC~ He looked thru the catalog with me last night and said" OOHhhhh I like that one..the books look great!" for the CTC..which is what I had pretty much deciced before he came in to look!!We have just finished that Science Apologia book and the Christine Miller book on Ancients, but he said that was fine...he would do parts of it again to get the other books!! ha!! I really like the Bible study--it was one of the main things I was looking for this year...I was going with R&S Bible before I saw this....SO..God is good!! This is going to be sooo much easier on me than hunting books for all 3 kids!

Hmmmm. Which one do you think he places in best according to the placement chart? Is there a chance you'd want to combine your 11 yo and your 14 yo in RTR? RTR is for target ages of 10-12, with extensions in history for 13-14 yo's. Just thought I'd throw that out there. You could keep 14 yo's TT, Apologia Biology, "Story Starters", etc. (and the guide after RTR is going to be American History within the context of World History - it will include state study). Either way, DITHOR will work beautifully for both whatever you decide to do. I'd like to hear a tad about 11 yo's reading, writing, math and your thoughts on the placement chart for him. I'd base your placement for him on the placement chart rather than on his interests or time period, as whether dc can do the skills well they are to be doing independently/semi-independently in a given guide is a very big influence on how successful they do with a guide - just whenever you get the chance.

In Christ,
Julie

[Shawna]

Julie,
DS11 did R&S Eng 4 for 4th grade...this last year we didn't focus on Grammar so much for either boy,,,we had such extensive learning with R&S that they didn't need a full year...we worked on Creative Writing more.....which they still don't like!! ha!! But they can do it...and I think they are pretty good at it! Better than I am for sure!! So..he would be on target for R&S 6 this year...
Math, he did Teaching Textbooks 6..even tho he is 5th grade age wise...he is a little advanced in math...he will be doing the 7th grade TT this year:Pre-Algebra. He does very well with reading too...well above 5th/6th grade level. From the Placement chart, I had place him on the CTC level...only thought about Preparing for the history/lit...but he would probably do better with the CTC. I like the idea of combining the boys where I can...especially the Bible level! I will have to read more about the RTR for combining them...but I hadn't thought of that...I wonder if DS14 would be bored with the History part on that level? He did Middle ages and Ren.& Reformation very extensively last year (not this Semester..it was Early AMerican)....Hmmmm. have to check that out!
Yeah... I will put away the Queens book! I liked the short lessons,but somedays she wanted to keep going and we would do 3 or 4 lessons and she seemed bored at the end. Which is why I wanted to start her with R&S...I love their approach. And I like that we can pare it down when she has grasped and we can keep moving forward.
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly!!
Shawna

[Shawna]

Julie,
Had Aa question I forgot...with the DITHOR, do I just buy the one guide book, then the accompanying student book? Wasn't sure what I needed for the boys!
Thanks,
Shawna

[Shawna]

Just bumping to get some extra feedback...Julie wanted more info...so if she or anyone else has some advice I am ready!! LOL

[Himfirst01]

On the DITHOR, yes, you only need one teacher guide for all grade levels then a student book for each child at his level.

I would seriously consider combining the boys' history. It wasn't mentioned, but you could even combine the CTC history and use the extension books for your older. If you needed to beef it up more, I'm sure some other ladies may have some suggestions on that. If CTC is the best fit for you middle son and you were already thinking of using that Bible AND DITHOR for your oldest, what do you think about doing CTC for both, but having your older follow your original plan for Science, English, and Math? You could always add in extra research if you felt it was needed. Or, you could either have him choose an "Elective" course to pursue or focus on some Life Skills training.

[Shawna]

okay..that sounds doable..I am just concerned about him being bored with the History...we have already done that...is it enough that he would stay interested? Gotta go back and read some more....we have done his History chronologically and we are up to George Washington. History is the subject he would definitely skip!! I really didnt like History very much till I started hsing...I think growing up and seeing how God works in all things makes you appreciate the past...but..at 14 you really don't care!! LOL At least he doesn't...he is so good in Math and Science...I guess you can't love all of it!! I def. need some help in this decision! I will be praying about it, but all the ladies who have done this can jump right in and tell me what your experience has been!!! Thanks again!! I love it here!!!
Shawna

[my3sons]

We just finished CTC, and my ds loved the history. Actually, he's enjoyed the history in every HOD guide. If a child is bored with it, I think it's their own fault, as the living books that are chosen are just incredible. I think it's understandable that WE were bored with history growing up, as most of us were taught from dry textbooks and made to memorize long lists of things we probably no longer can recall. I so agree with you about enjoying history more now - I really look forward to it and feel like history is something that is incredibly interesting.

I would think you could easily combine your 2 dc in CTC and have your older do the extensions. You already have his LA/Math beefed up, so that shouldn't be a concern. RTR might be tough for your 11 yo to come into, since he's not had experience with HOD before. I guess if I were you, I'd study the placement chart one last time with only your 11 yo in mind, and choose either CTC or RTR based on what you find. Your older one would do well with either. CTC on up in HOD will have a very "grown-up" feel to the guides. Have you seen the Student Notebooks? They are amazing. Here's a link to the CTC Photobook, in case you'd like to see some pics of what would be done:
http://heartofdakotasphotobooks.shutterfly.com/31

As far as DITHOR, you'd just need to get the DITHOR Teacher's Guide, the 4/5 Student Book for your 11 yo, and the 6/7/8 Student Book for your oldest. The Sample Book Ideas list comes with it. You can either choose your own books or use HOD's book packs. Here is a link to the 4/5 Book Packs:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/drawn-into-optional4-5.php

Here is a link to the 5/6 Book Packs:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/drawn-into-optional5-6.php

The Reading Levels are sometimes higher than that of the titles of the packs. They are listed at those links as well. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[Shawna]

Thanks Julie..I see what you are saying.. I think ds11 is going to be in CTC..what I meant about the older one being bored, is because we just so recently went through the Ren & Ref/Middle Ages period into early Am. I need to look again at RTR and see what the History line is there...maybe he will need that instead...not sure..but I have time to deliberate over it for sure!
So..dd7 will get Beyond with Emerging readers and for the other books, I will have to see which we have and what we need to order. She will use R&S math and english 2.

DS11 will do CTC R&S 6, TT7, and again...we have many books, so need to see what I should get. Also, DITHOR..level4/5 and get what's needed

DS14...TT Algebra 2 or Geom...R&S Engl 9/10....Apologia Science, Biology....Bible with ds11!! Lit..DITHOR...either put him in Hist with ds11 or finish our cycle with TQ....

so, i am gonna order dd's stuff, ds11's stuff, and the DITHOR...after I see what books we lack...hopefully by tomorrow afternoon!!! YIPPEE!! I am sooo excited. I know I will have dozens more questions..but right now I just want to get those guides in hand and pour over them!!! Thanks so much Julie!! You have been a blessing!!!
Shawna