heartofdakota.com

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to stop by and say hi, and get some feedback. I became very interested in HOD just a couple of weeks ago. I love what I have seen on the HOD website, what I've read here on the Board, etc. Let me give you some background on our family.

We are a military family, so we do move often. I've homeschooled since 2009. In 2009 Ethan (he was 6.5 at the time) did My Father's World First Grade, and my youngest Evan (3.5 at the time) participated alongside. Tragically, just 9 months ago Ethan passed away in an accident. This has obviosuly changed our lives forever, but we are perservering and thriving and surviving because of the Lord. Ethan has met Jesus, and that gives us much peace.

We also moved just 6 weeks after Ethan passed to a new duty station. Now we are moving yet again...but this is a positive move. We are moving back home! Praise the Lord!

In August of last year I had good intentions to get started with Evan on Kindergarten (Evan turned 5 in October). Due to extreme grief, I just simply never got into a good routine with Evan concerning school. We started schooling a couple of months ago. He isn't reading yet, but seems to want to read (some days). Evan is a wiggly worm. He loves nature and loves to work hard and keep busy with projects and such.

The other curriculum I am considering (not sure if it's okay to post the name, so I will refrain) is a unit study that's been around for years. It's very hands-on, but also requires a ton of preparation. I've always like this particular curriculum because of the hands-on aspect, and character building units. I'm just not sure that I'm up for moving again PLUS planning for an entire school year. I would have a ton of planning with said curriculum.

I have always leaned towards the Charlotte Mason type of education. We are very outdoorsy and love nature as family!

Okay, so now that I have written a novel, can I get some feedback please? Do any of you seasoned HOD users think that LHFHG would be a good fit for my son and I?

PS.: I am going to pray on this too! Hubby supports me in just about all of my curriculum choices, so this isn't an issue.

Thank you all and God Bless,

Shannon W.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (Ethan's favorite Bible verse)

Welcome Shannon to HOD. My heart is breaking reading your post, but your love of the Lord and strength that He has given you shines through. I am deeply sorry for the loss of your son, Ethan. (hugs)

It sounds to me like LHFHG would be an excellent program for you and your son. It is a wonderful program that moves along quickly for squirmy children. It has lots of movement. Carrie has designed a program that is so developmentally appropriate for children. It is engaging, holding their interest just long enough and utilizes their need for movement. You can check the placement chart just to make sure that your ds fits in LHFHG: http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php It would be a wonderful program for you too as it is open and go. All of the items that you'll need are in the package or are everyday items you'll have around the house. It only takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hours each day. So it is short and sweet. It is a wonderful way to begin your school with Evan.

First, my sincere sympathy at the loss of your son. I can't begin to imagine that grief. I praise God that He is sustaining you through it.

I can only give you my experience with HOD. I tried it with my youngest when he was a preschooler. I thought it was great, but I was very overwhelmed with being new at hsing, trying to school a teen and having extra toddlers here everyday (I provide day care). I never really did much with it and ended up selling it. I struggled through my own thing for K. The basics got done, but that was about it. Same with the beginning of 1st this year. School was boring and my ds hated it. I began hungering for something more. I wanted my youngest to have more than what I could provide and to love learning. I began researching a bit before Christmas and kept feeling pulled back to HOD. We started LHFHG the first week of January and I love it, my son loves it, it gives us what we were missing. I love that it is so easy to implement and fully Christ centered. It has truly been a blessing to our lives and our hsing.

Hi Shannon, welcome to the HOD boards. Before posting I prayed for you and your family, continue to lean on Him for strength.
I wanted to share our experience with HOD with you, we are on unit 24 of LHFHG and we are really enjoying school. This is my first year homeschooling so I didn't know quite what to expect or how prepared I showed be. HOD made it so structured and laid out for me I even gained the confidence to do LHTH with my ds.
My dd and I have grown so much closer this past year. The hands on activities can be as short or as long as you want them to be. And there is virtually no planning needed, it really is open and go. I hear my dd singing the ryhms in motion or continuing the dramatic plays well after school is done. I have to keep the art and science projects last because she will just continue on, she's having so much fun.
I've kept to all of Carrie's choices so we're doing The Reading Lesson, Singapore math and using the Family Time Bible. Devotions are just deep enough to get the spiritual wheels turning. Some days I can get school done in an hour and some days I'll get boxes done throughout the day. I'm so pleased at how much she's learning educationally and growing spirtually.
A lot of prayer went into making the best choice for my family with so many choices out there. I pray the Lord gives you peace, and if you do decide to go with HOD it would be a breath of fresh air as it as been for me and my family.

God Bless,
Jennifer

Hi Shannon, I have not done LHFHG yet, but plan to next year with my daughter. We are in LHTH right now. My 2 sons are doing Beyond this year and loving it though. I highly recommend LHFHG for you, as it is so easy to use, with no preparation time and everything laid out for you. With all you have been through, I really think this would be a blessing for you. Words cannot describe how I felt reading your post about your son, but I am also in such amazement at you strong faith in our Lord that comes shining through your words. You must be an inspiration to so many, as you have touched my heart tonight and built my faith in my Father even more. My heart is grieving for you in this, truly, but your energy and love flowing through you has shown me the sovereign goodness of my Father in a fresh way tonight. Thank you so much for being a vessel for Jesus. Your son must have been an extremely special boy to our Father. All my love to you and sending prayers of surpassingly great comfort and overwhelming love to you.

So glad you plan to choose HOD...I don't think you will ever regret it. I believe God's Spirit led you here.

I want to say thank you to all of you sweet ladies that have replied thus far! This is just so encouraging and what I need right now. Just reading what I have read on the Board, and the responses to my post pull me even that more toward HOD! Thank you all!!!

As for my strength, well, there is NO way I could have gotten through that horiffic evening in the E.R. without my Father in Heaven. Indeed, Ethan was a very special gift from the Lord. He was a very moral little boy, and loved the Lord more than just about any adult Christian I have ever met. Indeed Jesus was correct (in Matthew) when He said let the little children come to Me. Children are a blessing, and it's so easy to get caught up in the day to day and take for granted being a parent. There has been so much done for His glory in our tragedy...and that makes it a bit easier to sleep at night. Again, than you all for your condolences!

So if I may ask some more HOD questions...do you all feel that your children are receiving a solid education. Now I do want to emphasize that the Lord comes first, and I try very hard NOT to be caught up in scope and sequence and what kids learn in public school. But I am only human and sometimes freak myself out thinking is my son learning enough? From what I can tell, HOD seems solid! I just wanted some opinions. Also, do you think that there is enough of the Charlotte Mason aspect? I love the idea of nature studies and notebooking. But I do agree with Carrie when she says that she doesn't agree with Ms. Mason's view on holding off on phonics until much later.

For phonics, what have you used to teach your children to read? At what age did you begin?


And a final question...do you feel enough flexibility in the teacher's manual? I don't like being tied too close to a teacher's manuel, yet I need guidance...if that makes any sense! LOL
God bless!!!

Oh Shannon! My heart goes out to you, too! I am so thankful that the God of all comfort has had you in His arms through this. Praying right now as your family continues to move forward for His glory.

We have absolutely loved LHFHG here. I am with you in that the Lord is 1st and foremost what I want to teach, but academics are very important....and kids are wiggly. LHFHG has been a perfect fit for us. I have never looked at or used anything that teaches my kids hearts and minds like LHFHG. I would not trade the precious, eternally significant talks that we have throughout our school day. Academics are very solid. The activities are great. You're moving, you're making, you're exploring. And, it really, really does use things that you have on hand - and the activities are things that Evan will be able to do himself, not just watch you do. LHFHG does not contain a nature study or nature journal formally. But, it definitely encourages a love for learning and observing...and because LHFHG will be done in a timely fashion in your day, you will have plenty of time to do this on your own with your son if you desire to. We spend a lot of time outside here!

When I use HOD, I do exactly what all the little boxes tell me to do. Super-easy...and it's exactly what I'm wanting to cover. Couldn't make it easier on my own.

I've used The Reading Lesson with Allison, and now Garret. It's worked great for us. I used Saxon Phonics for Grant. A little over-the-top with the thoroughness and how time-consuming it was for us. I decided that wasn't really necessary. Like TRL much better.

I'm pretty sure that I looked long and hard at that same unit study when I was looking around. HOD is just a perfect fit for our family, and using it has verified this to me for sure. I love being able to spend my precious time with my kids teaching and talking and enjoying them! LOVE it! I'm sure I could pull things together if necessary...but it's not as God has led us here at this time in our lives.

Kathleen

Kathleen,

Thank you for the prayers! It's very appreciated, and I am thankful for sisters-in Christ whom I have never met...that are willing and able to pray for us.

Thank you also for your thorough response! I am so thankful for everyone who has taken the time to post their experience, and to encourage me on the path to starting over on our homeschool adventure.

Yes, I am sure you know which unit study program I am discussing. While it is a great program, I know myself all too well. I am just not a planner right now. We have a lot going on with grief and moving...many life changes in a small amount of time. I don't know quite exactly what it is, but HOD gives me a "warm and fuzzy" feeling I've never felt with other curriculum that I have bought or researched.

To carrie, THANK YOU for letting the Lord direct your mind to write this curriculum! What a calling you received from the Lord to write all of the guides for HOD, and it surely is blessing SO many other homeschool families! This is what it's about...doing what the Lord leads us to do, so that we can be a blessing to others.

Well, unless God directs me otherwise, it looks as though LHFHG will be our curriculum of choice for fall 2011!!! If we weren't moving in less than two weeks (we're moving 2400 miles give or take from out current location), I'd go ahead and buy LHFHG. But I shall wait and perhaps order in about 3 weeks. HOORAY!!!

Shannon

Proverbs3:5-6

Praise the Lord, Shannon! I just knew it was the right one for you!

Thank you for the reminders for us not to take being a parent for granted or to take it lightly. I have one son (my oldest) who is just so strong willed and I find myself frustrated with him often. Then I have my second son who sounds so much like your Ethan. Everyone thinks he is the "perfect" child, and indeed I would say he is very close. Such a gentle and sensitive spirit...I have often been fearful of something happening to him. I don't know why...I never worry about my strong boy. But I love them all so much. Thank you again for the reminders. Love to you and welcome. I look forward to getting to know you more.

Where are you moving?

Hi and welcome to HOD, Shannon! My heart breaks for you and your family and all you've been through. I, too, have an Ethan (my second DS) who is also very sensitive and compassionate, so I feel especially touched by what you have shared. Praying for you and your family as you continue to heal and rely on God's Strength during this time.

I think LHFHG sounds like a great fit for your son! My second DS is doing it this year for K and he has LOVED it! I have loved how simple it is for me as a teacher/mom to teach, yet he gets soooo much out of it! I have especially loved The Reading Lesson for phonics -- my DS has grown so much as a reader and I wish I had known about it for my first DS! Ask away if you have any more questions, etc.!

Love in Christ,

Dear Shannon,
My heart aches for what your family has withstood. Yet, I praise and thank my God that He has not left you with out hope, but has sustained you. I thank Him, also for your strong testimony and witness to all of us who have been touched by your story and the courage and strength in Jesus that you display. May the Lord continue to give you His strength, peace and hope for daily living! May He keep your eyes fixed on Him, even during those sometimes sleepless nights! Pra

About LHFHG, I can't really say much. We are just finishing our second year with HOD (we started with Preparing). What I can tell you is my overall opinion of HOD (and I am not a paid representative ). Our family loves it! My oldest is 11 yo. and we began homeschooling him at birth. Seriously, I have tried other curriculums, have loved some, disliked others, put some together myself....but God kept nudging me that He wanted something MORE for our family. And then we came to HOD...and I understood His nudging! In HOD we found a curriculum that worked with us to accomplish our spiritual and educational goals for our dc. It is educationally solid. I have found no gaps in my ds education. He is thriving in areas that were once weak. My ds has made consistent progress, his education is grounded in Christ. I left a curriculum that I enjoyed - to some degree, but always had to "amp up" spiritually speaking. With HOD, I find that we don't have to try so hard to make the connections - and we are discussing His-story around the kitchen table, driving down the road, walking...Jesus is the focus. Gotta love that! It gave us time to do character building - and is a great part of that character building as we read about characters in light of Scripture. Anyway, that has been my experience. S

tnahid wrote:Praise the Lord, Shannon! I just knew it was the right one for you!

Thank you for the reminders for us not to take being a parent for granted or to take it lightly. I have one son (my oldest) who is just so strong willed and I find myself frustrated with him often. Then I have my second son who sounds so much like your Ethan. Everyone thinks he is the "perfect" child, and indeed I would say he is very close. Such a gentle and sensitive spirit...I have often been fearful of something happening to him. I don't know why...I never worry about my strong boy. But I love them all so much. Thank you again for the reminders. Love to you and welcome. I look forward to getting to know you more.

Where are you moving?

We are moving next week! Please keep us in prayer as we drive from WA State to TX! Thank you.

4HisPraise, thank you! I have tried very hard since the very second that I learned Ethan didn't make it (from the accident) to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus and eternity with Him, AND my son. It isn't easy. But it has grown our faith tremendously as a family. My husband's faith has grown so much, and for that I thank Jesus. Sometimes it takes a great tragedy for people to fall on their knees and truly, deeply, and lovingly follow Jesus. With that said, I am just like everyone else who is a true believer in Christ--I struggle just the same as everyone else. But (I cannot explain it) in some ways, that night (June 5th, 2010) has changed me FOR THE BETTER! PTL! I have deep compassion for others who grieve even more so than ever. I can be that comforter that knows what to say and not to say to the newly bereaved. On the other hand, there are ways it has changed me in ways I don't like (I'm not as social as I was, and I don't volunteer--I'm just sort of here). But that's the grief journey. Anyway, sorry you all to get off topic. I'm not meaning to post my troubles on here for you all!

Thank you for the good words on HOD! I am going to use it in the Fall, Lord-willing. I am even thinking of starting it with Evan in a few weeks once we are all in Texas. Hooray!!!

Shannon,
My heart goes out to you and your family over the loss of your precious boy. Praise the Lord that you have clung to Him and grown in your faith, and thanks be to God that you and your husband are believers so you have assurance that you will see your son again in due time. Thank you for blessing others even in the midst of your own heartache. I just wanted to reassure you that that it is okay to go a little off topic sometimes, there are some prayer warrior mommies on this board who are praying for you even now!

We'll be starting LHFHG in the fall, and are loving LHTH now. We can't wait to see what's in store for us. HOD has solid academics without exhausting the child - too much and they won't retain anything anyway! From what I've seen as I have pored over the entire catalog, it is just right! And I have researched them all (was a market researcher by trade before becoming a SAHM)

Wishing you the best with your move and your journey into HOD, and looking forward to getting to know you on the board.
Kristin

Since you have experience with MFW 1st, you might be interested in my blog posts comparing HOD to MFW. We just switched last month from MFW 1st to HOD and couldn't be happier. It all planned out for me, easy to implement, but easy to add more and play around if I want to. Here is the first posts, there are a few more updates after that too - http://onelittlewordsheknew.blogspot.co ... ching.html

and (hugs), what a tough road to walk.