heartofdakota.com

I'll introduce myself first. My name is Heidi and I've been blessed with three boys (four if you count my dh). The oldest just turned 12 the beginning of June, the middle one will be 8 in a little over a week and the baby will be 1 in August.

Where is the best place to start the two older boys? I'd like to keep them together if that's possible. Somehow, I don't think it is. We have a third coming up in the ranks in a few years.

Does anyone else hear combine kids in books? Do you ever add to them? I'd love to know!

If you would take a look at the placement chart here: http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php
and let us know where your kiddos fall, that will help us to give you advice.

Welcome to the HOD Board, hsingscrapper! We have 3 sons too (4 if you count my dh ). Our older 2 dc are similar in ages, my oldest is 11 1/2 yo, middle is 8 yo, and youngest 4 yo. We have used HOD for 8 years now and loved it. It is a very satisfying, happy way to homeschool.

I used the placement chart to place each of my dc, as netpea suggested, and that was very accurate. You can just check out the first page of it. If you could share a little about each of your dc - where they each individually place, where they are in the reading/writing/grammar/math skills according to the placement chart, and how independently they work, that would help us help you so much. HOD is not a one size fits all curriculum. Instead of just using age as an indicator of what to do, HOD takes into consideration what skills dc have intact, so they can be well matched to their learning and progress in skills incrementally year to year. This makes independent learning successful! The way HOD writes guides, it is not difficult to do multiple programs. Actually, as long as dc are appropriately placed, HOD is a snap. With HOD, combining and not combining are both options. After you share about each of your dc here, we will all chime in with some different options to consider, and chat it through till you're set. HOD is a joy for our family - it makes homeschooling happen each and every day, each and every year. It is what keeps me homeschooling year after year with a smile on my face, and with dc who are enjoying learning. I think you'll find the same to be true for you!

In Christ,
Julie

Let's see here.

I'll start with the oldest:

Reading & Writing: I would say Preparing Hearts except that he despises cursive and would rather have his teeth pulled.
Grammar: I'm ashamed to say he can't remember the parts of speech to save his life or just barely so Bigger Hearts might be the best fit.
Math: Resurrection to Reformation
Bible: (with a baby in the house, I've been leaving this to his Sunday school teacher)
History: We've been using Story of the World so I'm not sure where I would place him there.
Science: woefully lacking

For the younger one:

Reading & Writing: He could probably use Preparing Hearts as he's a really strong reader but doesn't have the attention span for reading that big brother does. I'm lucky to get 30 minutes before he asks if he can be done. Big brother will read for two or more hours at a time. He's got decent manuscript skills but we haven't started cursive yet.
Grammar: We haven't done much here with the baby in the house but maybe Bigger Hearts for him, too.
Math: He breezes through books but doesn't retain anything. He knows how to add and subtract and has dabbled a little bit in multiplication and division.
Bible, History, & Science: Same as big brother.

Does this make sense or do you need more info?

Thanks for sharing about your dc, and yes, that helps! I am thinking that PHFHG would be a good fit for them, and your oldest can do extensions. I think they will both be fine in R & S English 3, but you can have your younger child do R & S English 2 if you would like. As far as cursive, if your oldest has had one entire year of cursive writing instruction, and has practiced it since then, and it is not his thing, I'd let him print. At 12 yo, dc usually know their preference in writing - whether that is printing or cursive - and they can choose it. Most boys do not choose cursive - I know of very few adult men who write in cursive. So, if he's tried his hand at it, and can write his name in cursive, and can read other people's cursive, I'd call it good and let him print. If he has not had a year of formal cursive, I'd have him do one, and I'd recommend "Cheerful Cursive", as it not only helps dc write in cursive but also read different styles of cursive, as well as switch back between the two. For your younger ds, I'd do "Cheerful Cursive" or whichever handwriting program you want. PHFHG will ease dc into reading half of their history and all of their science. It will give them a great one year sweep of history, and you'll get to use some amazing books along the way. It will teach them to independently follow step-by-step directions by using the guide as their own student planner and checking things off as they complete them. It is a great guide to do - I think you'll all enjoy it so much! The extensions will provide more challenge for your oldest, and you can choose whatever math level you need to for him. You can use Drawn into the Heart of Reading for their reading instruction. I'd have you 8 yo begin with Level 2/3 plans, and your 12 you begin with Level 4/5 plans. You can choose any level of DITHOR book packs for each of them, or your own books if you'd rather. HTH - but what are your thoughts about this?

In Christ,
Julie

It appears I have some things to think about. My dh and I will figure things out from here, especially affording everything. Many thanks for your help.