Need help on curriculum

[Jessica30]

I am struggling with which curriculum to get my (7 year old boy in Aug) son. He is advanced in everything and currently almost done with 4th grade Bob Jones reading (which we will like to stick with next year)...will be in 2nd grade but will have Singapore math 2 completed by the end of summer and is using Bob Jones spelling 2 (which I would like to continue using)....I also was thinking about sticking with apologia for science because I hear it's better than HOD science....thoughts on the HOD science????is it still worth getting bigger hearts or with substituting those things should I not? Or if I should move up a level? He does not enjoy a lot of writing...I am also struggling on which curriculum to order..thank u for any input

[StephanieU]

I would not go higher than Bigger for sure. One thing i have learned about HOD is that Carrie picks books that fit the age level and maturity. The guides allow you to customize math, reading/literature, and grammar (VERY easily) to what level you need. But there is a ton of meat in the history and Bible lesson sin HOD's choices even in the LHFHG guide.
As for which guide, without it being a huge battle, how much handwriting is he willing to do a day? The writing increases with each guide. In LHFHG, it is just workbook work and an occasional sentence once or twice a week. In Beyond, it is copying parts of a poem for 5-10 minutes a day, spelling, and sometimes some minimal writing in the other subject areas. In Bigger, they start notebooking (officially) for both science and history. I don't hink you would want to modify HOD's suggestions for how much they write each day, as it would make future guides even harder (Preparing starts written narrations for example on top of everything else). I would say look at Beyond and Bigger's first weeks and see which one you like better for history. I think the guide is worth it for that.
As for science, Beyond's science is intentionally light. This is following CM philosophy that children should learn mostly through play and exploration in the early years. Then in Bigger, science picks up. By the middle school guides, the science in HOD is definitely at the level of most other curriculums. It is living book based, but it is strong none-the-less in the later years. This is again in the CM style. Some of the middle school guides do even use Apologia, so I would look and see about that. We just supplement what is in the guide with books fromt he ilbrary, videos, etc. I know everything in textbooks int he early years comes up again anyways, so I am not worried about science being overly rigorous. I would say the gudies in the early years are still worth it even if you don't do all of the science as planned int eh guide. The history, storytime/read-alouds, and Bible are definitely worth it. I learned a lot from LHFHG and am already learning things in Beyond through the Bible study and history.

[countrymom]

I also have a child that does very well academically and I had him in Bigger at age 7 and would not go higher at all. There are so many skills packed in each guide that continue to build and writing will definitely build each guide. My son has been in HOD since LHFHG and he just scored very high in science on the Iowa skills standardized test, so I would not worry about the science.

[Jessica30]

He is currently writing a notecard for mystery of history 2 times per week, spelling he journals once a week, and his apologia has a lot of writing...he has gotten used to that writing but he would not be crazy with more than that;).

[MelInKansas]

If you use HOD science instead of Apologia that would cut the writing workload there and he could probably handle the writing in Bigger Hearts. If you used Rod &Staff 2 for grammar you could do part of it orally and decide how much writing to have him do. As StephanieU mentioned, the math, spelling, reading, and grammar are very easy to customize at the child's level. There is a box each day to do these things, and there are some math activities written into Bigger Hearts for Singapore 2A/2B but if he is in a higher level that will not throw off the rest of the work at all. There is a Singapore Math 3A/3B schedule in the back of the Bigger Hearts guide to help you get through it in a year's time. Bigger Hearts is a 2.5-3.5 hour long day if you do everything HOD suggests (maybe longer if you use other things). Would he be ready to spend that much time each day doing school work? Bigger Hearts is a very intense guide for teacher and student. The history in all the levels is very rich. If you went with Beyond for him he would learn a lot from the history and be eased into narration skills with the history and the storytime elements. If Beyond was your choice on those things you could add Cursive, R&S 2 that is normally done in Bigger Hearts and do your Apologia Science at least part time if you wanted to keep going with that.

I am not terribly familiar with Apologia but I can tell you the science in HOD is fun, interesting, hands-on, and they really learn how to think about what happens in the world around them because they are exploring it, rather than learning from a textbook. My kids ask me so many interesting science questions and I think the science in HOD has given them that inquisitive, thoughtful attitude that makes them want to know how things work and why they are the way they are. Many of the skills start off slowly in the younger guides, making the school day short, active, and fun for younger ones, but they ramp up into very strong academics by Preparing Hearts. Don't push your child too far too fast or you could take their joy of learning away.

[Nealewill]

I can honestly say that I had originally wanted to do all of the apologia prior to coming to HOD. My oldest had completed Botany and then Zoology 1. Before we found HOD, I had every intention of completing each level and had them all planned out. Then, once I found HOD, I struggled as to whether or not complete Apologia or the HOD science. My oldest dd started this year with Preparing and I can honestly say we have enjoyed the HOD science much more than the Apologia. I was surprised that it worked out that way too. And she had done all of the writing and the activities, experiments and lapbooks with the Apologia. The thing that I like with HOD over the Apologia is that there is more stuff to learn in a year with HOD than there was in Apologia. Plus, I love the living books. I find my dd loves them more too and she remembers so much more with HOD than the Apologia. I think the Apologia is very fun and interesting but there is only so much time in a day and I want to get the best bang for my time. I think the HOD science does that. It really is wonderful. Before I found HOD, my oldest had been tested over all and would get a grade or two higher on the standardized test. This year, because of the variety and hands on activities with HOD, my dd scored a 8.9 grade level for science. She rocked that test. And I can honestly say that I find the science just more interesting and diverse with HOD. For me, while it was hard to decide not to complete all of the levels of the Apologia, I really do like the HOD science more and my kids respond so much better to it too.

As for a level, I would stick with Bigger. My youngest is gifted and we still intend her to stay within the age range of the guide. The structure and material covered are best suited to ages listed IMHO.

[MomtoJGJE]

I have an advanced 7yo who is about to start Bigger. We do HOD as written, and she is challenged way plenty by it. We do math and grammar at her pace actually, but everything else is as written. I would definitely not go higher than Bigger for her..... I learn so much each time I go through the guides that I know there is enough for them. And as for science, we do HOD science for school, but we have experiment kits and since dh is a scientist and I was going to be, we talk science all the time. But it's all informal and I dare say they have used what they've learned in HOD science to figure out the random science we do.

HOD starts using Apologia books in CTC. So even if you want to add in apologia I would suggest two things... The first is to look and see what books will be covered in HOD and not do those, and the second is to still do the science in HOD, but have the apologia for fun.

[my3sons]

I am struggling with which curriculum to get my (7 year old boy in Aug) son. He is advanced in everything and currently almost done with 4th grade Bob Jones reading (which we will like to stick with next year)...will be in 2nd grade but will have Singapore math 2 completed by the end of summer and is using Bob Jones spelling 2 (which I would like to continue using)....I also was thinking about sticking with apologia for science because I hear it's better than HOD science....thoughts on the HOD science????is it still worth getting bigger hearts or with substituting those things should I not? Or if I should move up a level? He does not enjoy a lot of writing...I am also struggling on which curriculum to order..thank u for any input

HI Jessica30! It sounds like Bigger Hearts would be a good fit for your ds, though he'll probably need to grow into the written assignments of it. Otherwise, the placement is probably spot-on. We have done HOD's science all the way through the current high school WG guide, and it has been awesome! A few things that I have noticed about HOD's science...

*living books that dc naturally retain the information from better than textbooks
*science experiments - my dc can do them themselves rather than watch me perform them or have me be the one directing it all; therefore, they feel they have whole-heartedly taken on the role of the 'scientist' and embrace that process
*the scientific method is taught at a young age in ways the young child fully comprehends
*links to the history tie in nicely to the theme which again works to promote retention
*LA type assignments are linked across the curricula, so dc learn to orally narrate, do written narrations, answer comprehension questions, etc. within the body of science
*Christ-centered!!! Completely - enough said, right?!?
*my dc all LOVE science, every guide, every year, every minute, every assignment with HOD!

Here is a thread you may be interested in reading...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5797&p=42536#p42536

HTH!
In Christ,
Julie

[Jessica30]

Thank u all sooooo much but I have a few questions....yea I was debating between bigger and beyond!!?? Since he has not done HOD will he be lost or confused starting with one of these? Also I am confused what I need to order if I am using a different reading program and spelling? (Both Bob Jones)? I am going to try HOD science.

[MelInKansas]

If he is ahead and won't mind a longer school day then he could probably do Bigger Hearts. Spelling is included in the guide, and reading is usually DITHOR at that stage so you would order everything in the Bigger Hearts packages. If you visit the Bigger Hearts page here:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/bigger-hearts-packages.php
You would definitely want the Economy Package and the Science package right below that.
The Basic Package gives you the Grammar book, math workbooks, devotion, and hymn study. If you are using R&S 2 for grammar and Singapore Math (it sounded like you were on 3A/3B) you could do this to get a bit of a discount on those. It looks to me like the Basic Package with 3A/3B would include your textbooks. I highly recommend the devotion and hymn study and they are scheduled in the guide.
You would skip the reading option, choose one of the cursive books if you wanted him to do cursive this year (it is scheduled in but just 1 page a day in Cheerful Cursive)
Then decide if you want to buy a storytime package or try to get those books some other way. It's so nice to have them all in hand, but these are often books that you can get at the library if you are on top of things.

It's a lot but this is covering every subject and many of the books are reusable/resellable, especially as a whole package.

[Mumkins]

Maybe look ahead at Preparing and see if you think he could handle that next year? My oldest son is extremely bright, ahead in most areas. I did bottom age of the guide with him. He turned 7 the month after starting Bigger. Bigger went fine. Preparing was a little challenging. In CTC, I had to half pace him. He comprehended everything fine, he just wasn't ready for all the writing. I'm about to start Bigger again in the fall, but with a child who will be 9 a few months after we start.