New - Lost, Should I Order HOD?!

[HSMom03]

Hi!
I put together my own curriculum for Kindergarten this year and I just feel so lost. I just hate the materials we are using (even though I picked them out!), plus I feel so disorganized not having a guide to follow. Nothing seems cohesive at all and I can't seem to find the time to write out our plans each week. I would have to continue using our current materials while I order HOD Little Hearts and then start it once it got here. I couldn't sell our current materials until after that. I hate spending more money but I just don't know what to do.

I'm also thinking down the road... how hard is it to teach multiple levels of HOD? I currently have a 1.5, 3.75, and 5.75-year-old. Thanks!!

[Kteni]

Should you order? Absolutely.
Is it hard running multiple guides? No. You have less prep than planning a year yourself. You are able to balance teaching and foster independant learning through the guides.

I too am reselling curriculum I bought for this year but switched to HOD. I am SO blessed by this choice. I recommend HOD without hesitation.

Now, saying that, the best thing to do is ask The Lord and see what He says. Hope you can figure out what is meant for your family. hugs!

[HSMom03]

Thank you!! I just needed to hear from someone! At this point, I don't know WHAT God is saying to me! Can you tell I'm panicking a little?

[StephanieU]

Choosing a curriculum can be hard! Luckily it isn't a long term commitment. Try something for a year. If you like it (or love it), continue with it. If it isn't a great fit for your family, then move on.

We started with Horizons last year for K. I was searching for history and science, and someone recommended MFW. From there, I found HOD. We are almost done with Unit 8 of LHFHG with my 5.5yo, and we are both loving it. We do still use Horizons for math and phonics, but otherwise we are doing HOD as written. I will admit that occasionally on busy days we skip a dramatic play, but that is it. I LOVE that everything is in on guide all planned out. There is no way we do do such a variety of things otherwise. The prep time is almost 0. Normally before bed I read the guide for the next day. I mentally note where everything I need is, and that is about it. Super easy!

[MelInKansas]

God gives wisdom when we ask Him. Not only does he say that in his word, but I can testify that it has been true in my own life, especially when it relates to Homeschooling. He cares more about what our children learn and how they grow up than we do!

I too have been blessed by HOD, I have been using it since my oldest was a preschooler. Of course you will hear lots of testimonies of that here on the HOD board. If you are looking for something that provides complete, Christ-centered education without a lot of prep on your part, HOD is a great solution.

Running several guides at once is not very hard. Yes, it takes up a lot of the day, but I think no matter what I used by these ages I would be spending a large part of my day schooling. It takes some balance, a lot of patience and flexibility, and an ability to plan and manage your days for success. I have had to plan out a schedule for our days in the past few years to make the guides work and try to maximize the time I spend with each child and not have people sitting around bored or off getting into trouble. But once I have a schedule that seems to work, I just get out my guide and my books each day and get to it. As someone else mentioned, if I were trying to piece together various things to make a complete curriculum, I know I would not have included all the variety of things in such a well planned-out way. I love the connections we make between our different activities, that really reinforces the learning. I love the time with my kids, and not time spent planning.

I hope this is helpful.

[psreit]

We starting HOD in the fall of 2010. This past winter I had to stop and deal with and focus on some reading and math difficulties that were causing much frustration. After getting some much needed help in these areas, I've decided to give my daughter time to move forward in those skills before we resume HOD. I can honestly say that moving to the outside of HOD has left me feeling wanting. Although I need to adjust the independent reading and the language arts because of a special program we are using for dyslexia, I am honestly looking forward to getting back to HOD. Being away from it and trying to fill in the gap myself has not been fun. Trial and error was part of my life. I finally found something I knew we could enjoy for one year. But, we aren't even doing that completely. To try to do the complete program would be overwhelming. It would certainly defeat my purpose for waiting to get back into HOD. So, take it from someone who has been with HOD and then stopped. It is unmatchable in style and I have appreciated the book choices and the excellent character training and Bible included. Having literally everything written out is a blessing as well. I believe the Lord was in my finding HOD in 2010 when I was desperate, and since stopping it out of desperation of another kind, I am definitely being drawn back. If you believe the Lord is leading you to HOD, don't hesitate. You won't be sorry.