heartofdakota.com

Hi, I am new here and I am thinking about using this curriculum next year. My year actually starts in June and I usually have everything purchased by Easter. So I am looking into this now so I can save for it.
I have a daughter 5 currently in Kindergarten and a son 8 (9 in a month) who is currently in 3rd grade. Our current curriculum is very eclectic. I use Abeka Math K and 3, Rod and Staff English 3, Veritas Press History and Bible (cards only) for both my kids, Apologia Science, Rod and Staff 3 reading, Hooked on Phonics (dd), and we do our own thing for handwriting and reading for geography and art. I am very CM in our approach to learning things and love all the reading that we do. But that is WAY too much prep for me. I am looking for a more simple approach to school and this looks like the right fit.

I know for sure I will be purchasing Little Hearts for His Glory for my daughter. However, I am a little set back for my son on what to purchase. I want to purchase Bigger Hearts for His Glory because it seems to me that the History, Geography, Science Bible, and even in the genre of reading follow along a similar subject matter. My daughter is used to sitting in on these same subjects anyway with my son, so having a similar subject matter as my son while we are doing HOD would be nice as well as familiar to both my children.

Here is the big BUT/Question…We already use Rod and Staff English and will be starting grade 4 as well as he will be in grade 4 with Abeka Math at the beginning of the year. I figure that I could just continue with the English and math even though HOD talks about using grade 2. I did not really see where using the older grade would effect the studies. Unless someone out there can tell me otherwise.

However, I am wondering if Bigger Hearts for His Glory would be to easy for him. He is a pretty good reader and of course I would purchase the Drawn into the Heart of Reading for him too go along with the readers. From some of your experiences would using Bigger Hearts for His Glory be holding him back? Should I just move him up to the Preparing Hearts for His Glory and scrap the idea of having a similar subject matter for history and science?

Sorry I was so long winded!

Signed,
Oh so confused!

Welcome, Oh so Confused! Hopefully after a while here, you'll get your questions answered and feel a little less confused.

I think LHFHG is a great way to start your dd in HOD. We used it for first grade as well. Currently my dc are using Bigger for 3rd grade and it is a great program! We're enjoying it immensely. We'll be moving onto 4th grade with Preparing and using R&S4 next year. I don't think there would be a problem at all with you using the next level of R&S for your son with whichever program you choose. HOD makes it so that you can be flexible with your math and grammar choices. It can be easier to track if you are using what is recommended in the guide just so you know what to do each day, but you are already used to scheduling that yourself so it shouldn't be an issue.

As far as which program for your son, you probably should take a look at the placement chart: http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php to see where he places now. I know it is a little difficult to try to figure out where he will be by next year, but if you can figure out where he is now that will help everyone help you with placement. I'm guessing since you've been following a CM style of education, he is probably going to be ready for Preparing next year. I think LHFHG and Preparing would be a great fit together, since they both do a World History overview. There are many moms here that are doing multiple guides together so I know they can tell you more about that. I am only teaching one guide at a time so I can't really say how to work them together. I do know from reading the boards though that many of the ladies here do several of the programs at the same time and it doesn't seem to matter which programs they are, they work well for them.

I hope that helps a little and gives you a little to ponder until more ladies can hop in and answer your questions

Welcome to the HOD Board! Thanks for sharing about your dc, and I think that you are going to find HOD a great fit for them. We enjoy the CM style of learning so much in our home as well. After reading many books about CM, I fell in love with that style of education ... but, it seemed somewhat difficult to plan for it and put it all together myself. HOD has been such a blessing to us! The living books selection is amazing, Christ is at the center of what we're learning, CM style LA skills of oral narrations/written narrations/dictation/copywork are all already woven in the HOD plans in a balanced way we enjoy, and our day is very manageable from this busy homeschooling mom's perspective.

The pp did such a good job of answering you already, that I will concur that LHFHG sounds wonderful for your 5 yo. As far as your older child, I would look carefully at the placement chart and weigh as best you can whether he seems to fit better in Bigger Hearts or PHFHG, all history time period considerations aside. We have 3 dc, and I have found the placement chart makes our life so much easier because once each of them is properly placed, our days go very smoothly with very little prep on my part. In essence, HOD lets me enjoy my teaching time to the fullest.

BHFHG and PHFHG were a joy to do. I'd say the biggest difference between BHFHG and PHFHG was the reading/writing and the level of independence of the dc. Bigger Hearts is always my biggest teaching year, but it is my "launching" year for future independence, and I really like to put my teaching time into it and do it right, as I know from having done so with my oldest, it will pay huge dividends as the dc go through the subsequent guides. So, after checking out the placement chart, here is a post that may help you decide between the two as far as the writing goes:

Amount of writing in Bigger vs. PHFHG:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3602

As far as the independence of the student, if you get a chance to print off the first week of plans of Bigger at this link...
http://www.heartofdakota.com/pdf/BHFHG-first-week.pdf

And of PHFHG at this link...
http://www.heartofdakota.com/pdf/PHFHG-sample-week.pdf

You can compare the two and see which seems to be a better fit for your ds.

As far as the reading goes, the science box becomes independent in PHFHG, as does the "Independent History Study" box. The "S" boxes in PHFHG are meant to be "semi-independent", so as you are looking at those boxes, it may be good to read through them and see if your ds could follow the directions for those boxes directly from the guide fairly well, with you just giving a short overview of what to do and then leaving him to work. I will say that I think it's very important dc can do the "I" boxes independently, and the "S" boxes fairly independently in PHFHG if they are going to be ready for the work in "Creation to Christ" the following year. Dc should be strong readers and fairly strong writers by the time they get to CTC, and they also need to do well with following directions and working independently (all important goals and milestones for those older ages that HOD eases dc into beautifully). HTH, and I think you'll find this place an encouraging place to be! The ladies here are so gracious. It is a haven for me to come visit this board here, where I know ladies will be encouraging and Christian in their advice and in their words. I hope you find the same to be true!

In Christ,
Julie