No clue where to start...

[okcsoulwmn]

Hi there. I was referred to try HOD by someone on another homeschool website and since Ive been here, Im really thinking I want to use this curriculum. But this whole process has been overwhelming to me and I need some direction. I have 4 children. Two boys are in 12 and 13 (6th and 7th grade) and two girls ages 8 and 9 (3rd and 4th grade). This is the first year for me to homeschool. I want to use a curriculum that sort of blends together that i can use for the boys on the same level and one for the girls that blends together especially since they are so close in age. I see the programs and they say they extend to a 12 and 13 yr old but I dont understand "how" from looking at the samples. Can someone explain this to me? Is there someone on here with a similiar family situation that can share how a typical day goes, timeframe, etc? Any help would be appreciated.

[3sweeties]

Hi okcsoulwmn!

Welcome to HOD!!! I don't have all the answers to your questions since I do not have kids as old as your oldest boys yet, but I wanted to point you to look at the placement chart - http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php -- for each of your children to see which program they place best in. Placement is key in HOD! If you give us an idea of where your DC fall, then we will be able to help you figure it out a better! B/c your boys are so close in age and your girls are too, you may be able to combine them and only use two programs if that is what you are wanting to do. I'm sure some other ladies with older kids will chime in here too!

[3sweeties]

Also, I reread your post and to clarify what extensions are, your DC would be independently reading additional books and then orally narrating, writing narrations, and other activities that go along with the books that they read. I haven't done extensions with my DS yet, though, so I'm sure other ladies on here will have more insight/ideas than me!

[Kathleen]

Welcome!

I wanted to second what Jessica said, and that after you check out the placement chart we'll be able to help you talk through the best options for your family. It will be helpful to for you to look at the chart once for each of your 4 kids individually, so that we know about each of them when deciding how best to combine in the guides. Here are some posts that Carrie recently added to the message board to give you some good things to think about while considering placement with HOD, too. viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9344

There is a huge scheduling thread at the top of the message board, too, that can give you ideas of how families order their days. It will most likely work for you to use to different guides. The older guides will take more time for the student, but only need about an hour to an hour and a half of you. We like to get going with school in the morning by 8:30 so that we can be done at lunch time. This has been possible for us even using 3 different guides. Once you decide what you're going to use, it will be eaiser to give you more specifics in scheduling ideas.

This year I started by going over basics with Grant in CtC. (dictation, English or WWTB, math, and sometimes read the geography/Bible study box - depending on what the baby needed)
Then, basics with Allison in Beyond. (math, spelling, told her what to do for handwriting/copywork, and what to practice in the Emerging Readers)
Then I did LHTH and later in the year also phonics with Garret.
Now, the rest of LHFHG or later in the year Beyond with Allison, including listening to her read from the Emerging Readers.
And, finally, checking over independent work with Grant from CtC and reading storytime with him. I also listened to his narration if there was one, the answers to his research questions on that day, etc.
Kathleen

[okcsoulwmn]

Thanks so much for the feedback ladies. Ive been really looking at PHFHG but I wonder if the extensions would not be challenging enough for my 7th grader. If I go with CtC then I worry because my girls would be behind. (they all with the exception of one JUST had birthdays by the way and the grades I mention are next years, or fall of 2011 grades, fyi) Im open to using two programs, maybe thats what I should do but Im concerned about affordability as well.

[my3luvs]

welcome! So happy to see you here. I agree with the other posters. Spend some time looking at their skill set. I would imagine that you would be able to combine the girls in one program and the boys [young men] in another.

[beverett]

Hello
I was just wandering if you have had a chance to look over the placement chart yet? It was sooo helpful when we first came to HOD!! It really helped me to pin down exactly where each of my 4 children would fit best and thrive I thought about each child individually and went through the placement chart for each one, circling thier skills and then the column with the most circles is where they would place best! HTH

Once you get a chance to look over it, the ladies here are so very helpful and can really give you more accurate help....I was/am so blessed by all the help that everyone here gives!!

I really think you will have to do 2 programs. I am thinking that the girls will fall somewhere around Beyond or even in Bigger (which I am doing currently and LOVING), then the boys may fit into CTC or RTR if they fit there on the placement chart! Just to give you some ideas.

[okcsoulwmn]

Yes I did look over the placement chart and I am in agreement that we will go with two different programs.

One more question....

I really like Math U See, re there any other Moms on here that use a different math program along with HOD?

[Kristen]

Yes, I've used different math programs and will use Math-U-See next year for both my older boys (ages 9 and 11). In the past, I've used MUS, Saxon, Singapore, and Teaching Textbooks - and have now come back to MUS. It's just a better fit for us. I wouldn't suggest jumping around like I did though because math is incremental and it's just taken us longer to get through concepts because each program covers things a little differently.
Kristen

[beverett]

When you looked it over, where were you thinking that your children placed best?
Thanks,
Brandi

[twoxcell]

I would combine the younger two in either Bigger or Preparing, and the older two in CTC or ResTRef.

[okcsoulwmn]

Ive decided I want to use Preparing for the girls and CtC for the boys. And looking at the chart, I was really thinking I could even go to RtR with the boys if I wanted to but if this works as well as I hope, I would rather have the CtC for the girls anyhow so I feel its the best choice.

Im really excited.

[beverett]

I am super excited for you, you are going to LOVE HOD and homeschooling!! We have truly loved it and are really really enjoying everything!! We will be using preparing next year and so it looks like we will be doing it at the same time!

[Carrie]

Welcome! We're glad to have you here! It sounds like you are getting closer to a placement for your kiddos. If you get a chance to share a bit about each of your children in the areas of reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and independence that would help so much. I'm wondering more about whether each child is an independent reader yet, and whether any of them have read any of their own science or history yet? I'm also wondering how each one feels about written work and how easily he/she is able to do it? I'm also wondering about their spelling and how they fare with this? What grammar each kiddo last finished would be helpful for us to know, and finally whether each one is able to read and follow lengthy written directions or work on his/her own will be integral to their placement. So, any light you can shed on that area will give us more guidance in our advice too.

If you get a chance to share some of these things, it will help us be able to give you better placement advice. Without knowing anything about each child's skills, we can only give you advice based on their ages.

Blessings,
Carrie