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I am looking at both. HOD looks amazing. My biggest issue is getting a curriculum that will work for my two boys who are 9 and 12. Both are bright, and hands on learners. I don't want to hold the oldest back and not push the youngest too hard. So how do I chose the right level????

Lia

You start by looking at the placement chart for each child individually. Once you know where each child falls it's easier to see whether you want to combine them or not.

Yes, just work right down the matrix and place your DC according to their individual skill levels. Don't consider their age so much as their current capabilities. HTH! Welcome to the boards!

I agree to look at the placement chart and just wanted to let you know that doing two guides is quite easy with HOD. As for hands on, I have a series of pictures to post to the weekly review, but lately we have make edible clouds and identified the different types, constructed a birchbark canoe out of homemade playdough and made edible grasshoppers. We have also measured a room after learning that George Washington was a surveyor and we are currently using dimes and pennies to learn to add and subtract two digit numbers. All that and more in two units. Welcome to the boards!

We used MFW for 5 years and then begin HOD. I have been combing my 2 oldest boys since they were in 1st & 3rd (or 6 & 8 1/2). This will be our 3rd year with HOD and we all love it . My boys will be 10 (he turns 10 in 2 days ) and 12 & 1/2 (turns 13 in Dec.). That makes them 5th & 7th this year. We are using Res to Ref.

Hi Lia! We would all love to help you here. Have you had a chance to look at the placement chart? It really is not overwhelming to do - honestly! If you just look at the first page of the placement chart, and print a copy of that off for each child, you can circle in each column where that child falls individually and share that with us. We then, can help with placement options. I am very thankful that HOD has a placement chart that really addresses dc's skills - it is an indicator that specific skills are taught and addressed within each guide, and that does my heart good as it takes away that concern that I'm teaching my dc what they need to know when they need to know it. I've used the placement chart with great success with each of our 3 dc through the years, and it has made homeschooling a joy for us. Having each child being equally represented in the decision of what we choose really helps our family to be balanced in our homeschooling. It helps every person be successful in what he/she is asked to do. HOD is so flexible that it can be used in combining situations or not in combining situations - but the beauty of it is it's not a one size fits all, cookie cutter kind of curriculum. HOD doesn't just hand every family the same "box" of things, but rather thinks outside of the "box", and lets you fill your "box" with what your particular family needs to be successful. Let us help you fill your "box" - just share a bit about each child according to the placement chart, and we'll all chime in with a placement tailor-fit to your family's needs and goals!

In Christ,
Julie

Thank you all for your replies. I am looking through placement now. I am sure I will be back with questions.

Lia