This might sway those who are on the fence about HOD...
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:20 pm
I just wanted to post today to tell about something I discovered while looking into next year's plans. I hope it might be of some help to anyone who's on the fence with trying to decide about jumping in and joining us here with HOD. Here's what I discovered...
While waiting for my dgs at soccer practice a couple of days ago, I made a list of things I wanted to cover in next year's plans. I had a copy of Ambleside's list of book suggestions, and some thoughts of my own of things I wanted to include. I numbered down a page as I added things to my list, not necessarily in any order of importance, but of course I realize some are more essential than others. I already have a copy of Bigger that I bought used, and had thumbed through it just to get the gist of how things were set up. In the back of my mind there was that little bit of doubt that I could cover all I wanted to with Bigger, so I wanted to try a list to see how it would compare with what was included with Bigger.
Here's how my list went:
1) Scripture memory-- *covered in Bigger (Proverbs and others too)
2) Bible lessons---*covered in Bigger
3) History using living books--*covered in Bigger
4) Science using living books including inventors--*covered in Bigger
5) Math--own program, *exercises covered in Bigger
6) Art activities---*covered in Bigger (may add in private lessons)
7) Music using folk songs and hymns--*hymns covered in Bigger
Grammar---*schedule for R & S 2 covered in Bigger
9) Nature study---*Carrie suggests using Clare Walker Leslie book for this and Jim Arnosky--this will be my add in under her suggested titles
10) Poetry Memorization---*poetry study covered in Bigger
11) Literature (read alouds)--*lists from Bigger covered and also DITHOR
I will add in Parables from Nature as we have time, possibly one per every 4 weeks or so.
12) Word roots/Foreign lang.---*we have Elem. Spanish free through United Streaming, and I will possibly add in word roots cards as time allows
13) Phonics/Spelling/Dictation---*Spelling and Dictation covered in Bigger
14) Character lessons---*covered in Bigger
So you see, I only have a couple of things I'd actually be adding in to what is already covered in Bigger. I discovered this after I actually sat down with the Bigger guide last night and read through about half of it. I didn't even realize prior to reading in the book that character lessons were already included. I had looked into buying some type of lessons separately---thank goodness I took the time to just acquaint myself further with the lessons guide! The only other thing I'd really be adding in is Spanish, and as I said, that is a free resource for us, and possibly the word roots.
So I've written this really long post to say that you might be surprised what you find is covered in Carrie's guides. I certainly was, and I'm thrilled to know that I don't have to go to the trouble of writing out any kind of plans on my own. Praise the Lord!! Carrie has done all of that work for me, and now I can be secure in the knowledge that she's already thought through all those questions I had about making sure everything is covered. This program is so deep. I can't wait to start up with Bigger in the fall. We're going to double up on our Beyond lessons as we can in order to be done in time for fall!
While waiting for my dgs at soccer practice a couple of days ago, I made a list of things I wanted to cover in next year's plans. I had a copy of Ambleside's list of book suggestions, and some thoughts of my own of things I wanted to include. I numbered down a page as I added things to my list, not necessarily in any order of importance, but of course I realize some are more essential than others. I already have a copy of Bigger that I bought used, and had thumbed through it just to get the gist of how things were set up. In the back of my mind there was that little bit of doubt that I could cover all I wanted to with Bigger, so I wanted to try a list to see how it would compare with what was included with Bigger.
Here's how my list went:
1) Scripture memory-- *covered in Bigger (Proverbs and others too)
2) Bible lessons---*covered in Bigger
3) History using living books--*covered in Bigger
4) Science using living books including inventors--*covered in Bigger
5) Math--own program, *exercises covered in Bigger
6) Art activities---*covered in Bigger (may add in private lessons)
7) Music using folk songs and hymns--*hymns covered in Bigger
Grammar---*schedule for R & S 2 covered in Bigger9) Nature study---*Carrie suggests using Clare Walker Leslie book for this and Jim Arnosky--this will be my add in under her suggested titles
10) Poetry Memorization---*poetry study covered in Bigger
11) Literature (read alouds)--*lists from Bigger covered and also DITHOR
I will add in Parables from Nature as we have time, possibly one per every 4 weeks or so.
12) Word roots/Foreign lang.---*we have Elem. Spanish free through United Streaming, and I will possibly add in word roots cards as time allows
13) Phonics/Spelling/Dictation---*Spelling and Dictation covered in Bigger
14) Character lessons---*covered in Bigger
So you see, I only have a couple of things I'd actually be adding in to what is already covered in Bigger. I discovered this after I actually sat down with the Bigger guide last night and read through about half of it. I didn't even realize prior to reading in the book that character lessons were already included. I had looked into buying some type of lessons separately---thank goodness I took the time to just acquaint myself further with the lessons guide! The only other thing I'd really be adding in is Spanish, and as I said, that is a free resource for us, and possibly the word roots.
So I've written this really long post to say that you might be surprised what you find is covered in Carrie's guides. I certainly was, and I'm thrilled to know that I don't have to go to the trouble of writing out any kind of plans on my own. Praise the Lord!! Carrie has done all of that work for me, and now I can be secure in the knowledge that she's already thought through all those questions I had about making sure everything is covered. This program is so deep. I can't wait to start up with Bigger in the fall. We're going to double up on our Beyond lessons as we can in order to be done in time for fall!
