heartofdakota.com

Hello,
We're planning on using Beyond and Bigger with our 2nd and 6th grader in the fall. I'm not sure about the Language and Math. I'd love to just use the suggestions, but I'd like to check out other options. Will a change in programs still go with the manuals since Carrie uses R&S and Singapore??

Thanks!
Kelley

Hi there! It might be worth a look for you to check out R&S and Singapore...as they both tend to be time-savers if done as Carrie suggests in her manuals. We use R&S English and LOVE it! However, we do use a different math, and it has always worked fine with the rest of the 'boxes' on each day's plans. Depending on what you go with, you may just have to plan a bit more time into your day for that subject(s). So feel free to explore other options....the guides are easily adjusted to fit each family. HTH

So far we have been using Math-U-See.

I'm using Ray's arithmetic for math because this is what we originally started with and I wanted to keep it consistant for my dds. It has worked really well for them. If this were not the case, I would have switched to Singapore. We are using R&S. We had previously used Classic Curriculum from Mott Media but it wasn't compatible with my oldest dd so I had no problem switching this one. I think it depends on how well what you are already using is working for your dc. HTH

Hi Kelley,

We are in our third year with Heart of Dakota and love it! I started off with Singapore Math for K, but it just didn't work for us, so we are using another program for math. We are using the Rod and Staff English and love that. So, to answer your question, you most certainly can use your own LA and Math with absolutely no problem! That's what makes HOD so flexible!! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

LeAnna

We do it both ways. I have some kids that use HOD as written and some that use different LA and Math. We find it works well either way. The program still really flows and both ways have blessed us. There is a lot of flexibility in this area with HOD. I think whatever you decide you will find the program still blesses you. It is really written to have that option and Carrie did an awesome job with allowing the freedom to choose.

We started out with a different math program, which I absolutely love and if I just had one child I'd keep with it, but we've since switched to what Carrie recommends. We also used a different phonics, but my next time around will do what's recommended in the guide. Using something else works just fine, but Carrie's reccomendations are so efficient! We went from doing 30-45 min of math a day to about 15, and it's every bit as effective.

Thanks, you guys! This helps a lot.
Kelley

I can't speak for LA, but we are using Math-U-See, as Singapore was too "busy" (in appearance) for my DS. MUS fits the bill perfectly for him and I don't think it will interrupt the guide at all. Since the Singapore books are so cheap I've considered getting them as supplements, but then I'm afraid that would make DS feel overwhelmed, and MUS is doing a fine job on its own.