Check-in: What guides are you using?

[Carrie]

Hello Ladies!

As the new year is beginning, and the board is now fully functioning again, it would be wonderful to hear from all of you! If you have a moment, could you check-in and share what guides you are doing with your kiddos?

If you are new to HOD or just looking at HOD, feel free to share that instead! The board is a terrific place to share with one another, uplift and encourage one another, and help with placement or guide use questions.

For several months, the board was needing updates which meant new users could not post. Existing users had challenges posting as well. These issues have been fixed, and the board is updated to a new version...PTL! So, let's join in keeping the board going as a wonderful resource for HOD users.

At our house, our son Beau is currently doing Revival to Revolution. Our son, Greyson, is about 4 weeks away from finishing World History. Grey will then move on to US1. Our two oldest sons both graduated from our Heart of Dakota homeschool and then moved onto college-level work. Our oldest son, Cole, will graduate from Liberty this May with a degree in History. He has worked for Heart of Dakota all through his college years and will move to full-time with Heart of Dakota after graduation. Our second oldest son, Shaw, is working on a graphic design degree through Liberty. He is also currently working on a needed redesign of our Heart of Dakota website!

So, how about all of you?

Blessings,
Carrie

[StephanieU]

Oldest is almost half way through Rev2Rev.
Second is starting CtC tomorrow.
Third is almost half way through Bigger.
And fourth will start LHTH some time in the next month (when #2 moves to full speed).

[Rice]

DS 17 is in 12th, using parts of WG, WH's EIW, US2 Finance
DD 15 is in 11th, using WG, WH's EIW, US2 Finance and different lit (due to low reading level due to Irlen Syndrome)
DS 14 is in 10th, using WH
DS 11 is in 6th, using RTR
DS 9 is in 4th, using Preparing
DS 7 is in 2nd, slowly making his way through the ERs (with Irlen Syndrome complicating things) and enjoying some Beyond Storytime, but otherwise just 3Rs
DD 6 is in 1st, flying through phonics, doing just 3Rs
2yo DS - joining the other youngest 3 for morning basket (calendar, number of the day, LHFHG/Beyond Storytime) when in the mood.

[cbenner0723]

Hello,
This is our second year of homeschooling.
DS 6th - Preparing halfway through
DS 4th - Correction* Beyond halfway (he has learning disabilities)
DD 1st - Correction* Beyond halfway
DS only 2yo he is in speech therapy to learn to talk. He still isn't communicating with words so we are working on that right now.
DD 11 mo - still learning basics of toddler life lol

I have a question about the Preparing guide. To be more specific the self-study extension package for older students. I bought the books from the site early last summer but the one book called DK Eyewitness Books: Ancient Civilizations isn't matching the Preparing guide that I bought from a used book store. The Preparing guide is saying that I need Usborne-Internet Linked Encyclopedia of the Ancient World, by Fiona Chandler. Because each one is saying something different the schedule isn't working with the DK book which is making it hard to do the extension for those weeks. Do I need to buy The Usborne-Internet Linked Encyclopedia of the Ancient World from a different source or is there a different schedule?
Thanks Carrie Benner

[abrightmom]

DS10 is in Preparing. Slow and steady. He finds the guide interesting and it’s pushing him forward in learning. The drawing challenges him and I have modified that for him. We do fewer drawings than scheduled because they stretch him so hard. We work at it though. He is doing well in this fun guide!

DD15 and DD13 are in MtMM. So far so good for both of them.

DS17 (special needs) recently completed IPC and loved it. He is doing a modified (fewer readings and more oral discussion due to his struggles with written expression) American Literature from the US1 guide. We have enjoyed the literature plans this way and it’s putting him in touch with interesting books/stories and thoughtful questions. I wish he could do the work as written but I’m thankful for the opportunity to pull what we can from the thorough plans. He isn’t able to do any other HOD guide subjects at this time but each year we are able to do some of a guide (last year he did WRC, Fine Arts and World Literature).

[Rice]

DS 4th - Bigger halfway (he has learning disabilities)
DD 1st - Bigger halfway

Carrie Benner,
Your 4th grader is not behind in Bigger! While some use it for 2nd, it's true, most use it for 3r or 4th, so with LDs, Bigger should be a perfect fit! (And even Beyond, with LDs isn't unusual. )

However, do you have your 1st grader in Bigger, too, or is that a typo? Since your signature says they are done LHFHG, I'm hoping you meant halfway through Beyond.

I'm sorry I can't help with your Preparing Extensions question. Hopefully Julie (my3sons) or Carrie will see your post soon.

Blessings,

[my3sons]

...I bought the books from the site early last summer but the one book called DK Eyewitness Books: Ancient Civilizations isn't matching the Preparing guide that I bought from a used book store. The Preparing guide is saying that I need Usborne-Internet Linked Encyclopedia of the Ancient World, by Fiona Chandler. Because each one is saying something different the schedule isn't working with the DK book which is making it hard to do the extension for those weeks. Do I need to buy The Usborne-Internet Linked Encyclopedia of the Ancient World from a different source or is there a different schedule?
Thanks Carrie Benner

Hi Carrie!

Carrie's updated, copyrighted plans for the DK Eyewitness Books: Ancient Civilizations are available for free three ways - either with your order from HOD of the PHFHG teacher's guide, or with your order from HOD of the DK Eyewitness Books: Ancient Civilizations, or with your past order from HOD of the PHFHG guide. Usually our boys include the updated schedule along with your order of any of these items. If we missed sending you the schedule, just call or email us with the approximate date you ordered any of these items from us, and we can quickly verify the order and mail you the updated plans.

In Christ,
Julie

[my3sons]

Hi ladies!

My oldest son, Wyatt, is in his sophomore year of college working on his Business Finance degree through Lumerit/Liberty University online. He has been able to CLEP/DSST out of half of his credits thus far, saving him a ton of money (thank you HOD for laying the groundwork for that)! My middle son, Riley, is in his junior year of high school and is in Unit 18 of HOD's USI guide. My youngest son, Emmett, is in his 7th grade year and is in Unit 18 of HOD's RevtoRev guide. I'm enjoying catching up with all of you and hearing what guides you are using!!!

In Christ,
Julie

[Carrie]

Ladies,

It is exciting to see what guides you are using and how you’re making them work for your families! We are chugging along here and finally hitting our stride with the new year.

Beau just finished reading Seaman: Dog of the West and really liked it. His favorite book this year has been The Reb and the Redcoat. He absolutely loved that book! I loved it too when I was choosing it for the guide.

Greyson is currently reading Les Miserables and listening to the audio. He is really enjoying that book as well! I love seeing my kids curled up reading good books for school.

What are some of your kids favorites from the guides this year?

Blessings,
Carrie

[daybreaking]

We are long-time HOD users here. Life threw us a wrench that kept us from having a smooth homeschooling path, when my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's five years ago and I became her primary caregiver. When it got too difficult to manage things from a distance two years ago, we moved my mom in with us. Thankfully - for the first time in years - I'm feeling we're in a good place now and I'm able truly to do homeschooling the way I envisioned. Unfortunately, because of all of the demands on me over the last five years, we got off track with our HOD guides and got quite behind. The time period that was the most intense with my mother was when I was working with my daughter in Bigger Hearts. I felt like I was barely surviving at the time and I wasn't able to work with her the way I did with her older brother when he was in Bigger Hearts. I ended up deciding to go through the Bigger Hearts books more as a read aloud time with her and then move her into Preparing with extensions. At the same time, my son is doing a combination of high school guides. It's not the way I would have preferred, but it's still good, and I'm pleased with what what he is learning through the HOD guides. I know, even if we weren't able to do each HOD guide exactly as written, what the children are getting is so much more than what they would get if they were in school, and our times learning together have been priceless.

Carrie and Julie - you are incredible blessings and have been immensely encouraging and motivating!!! Thank you!

[my3sons]

We are long-time HOD users here. Life threw us a wrench that kept us from having a smooth homeschooling path, when my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's five years ago and I became her primary caregiver. When it got too difficult to manage things from a distance two years ago, we moved my mom in with us...Carrie and Julie - you are incredible blessings and have been immensely encouraging and motivating!!! Thank you!

I was hoping you'd be posting on the board again! Thank you for your kind words here, and we have so enjoyed getting to know you these many past years! I know we've visited about this before, but the Lord is well pleased by those who take good care of their aging parents. Being the primary caregiver for your mom was certainly a God-given purpose that pleased Him greatly. Carrie and I have never regretted the care we gave our Dad through his years of pancreatic cancer; time well spent. Though our homeschooling our children was 'off' sometimes during that difficult time, we all learned much about being flexible and about embracing God's plan rather than ours. I have to think our children - and yours as well - learned much as well. You can feel so good about that and also about the plan you have put together for your kiddos moving forward. Thanks for checking in here!!!

In Christ,
Julie

[my3sons]

...What are some of your kids favorites from the guides this year?

Blessings,
Carrie

From Revival to Revolution's Storytime, we especially loved Amos Fortune, The Reb and the Redcoats, and Seaman! I am actually reading these aloud this time (I didn't when either of my older sons did RevtoRev). I am finding I am in a new stage of life, with my oldest son in college and my middle son in his junior year of high school. I have time to read aloud Storytime to my youngest son, and though he is in 7th grade, he loves it! Precious times. Emmett also is loving Four Inventors, and really all of the science books he is reading. He has an entrepreneurial spirit, and this year's science is a favorite of his. I also just love hearing him read his written narrations. He has learned to write in straight lines in his notebook - praise God! He also just is developing his own writing style, and it is neat to hear.

From USI, Riley especially enjoys America: The Last Best Hope. He really likes Bennett's writing style. Riley also truly loves the hymn study - he is somewhat of an 'old soul' that way. Our church has a mix of old and new music, but it is when the old hymns are played that Riley really loves it best. Riley found Ben Franklin's Almanac amusing. Ben's quirky sense of humor and dry wit were entertaining to Riley, probably because he also has a dry wit. The double journal entry for living library is a favorite assignment of Riley's, and I enjoy the great quotes he picks and his insightful take on them. He likes adding to his Book of Centuries. He is creative and his BOC is full of beautiful coloring and careful penmanship. He likes both Government and Constitution Literacy - they are Christian and appeal to his sense of right and wrong. From Lit, he loved The Prince and the Pauper, as well as Rip Van Winkle. He is also enjoying Algebra II this year! A miracle! We are using mathhelp.com, and it is a hit!

Wyatt is in his sophomore year of college, but I'll share a bit about his favorites too. His favorite course so far has definitely been Comparative Worldviews! I was thankful for all that we covered in HOD with Biblical Worldview. He also loved his Dave Ramsey Finance course (and he had great training for it thanks to HOD ). Both of us have just been so thankful for all the courses he has been able to CLEP/DSST out of. He uses Instantcert and the REA practice tests to study for these, but we both credit HOD's solid education first and foremost for his ability to pass these tests. Some of the tests he has passed so far are USI, USII, Sociology, Environmental Science, Government, World Religions, Microeconomics, and Business Management. This has saved so much money! We are glad he first completed HOD's high school - we both enjoyed his HOD high school immensely! By the time he graduated, he was then mature enough to be ready for college level tests/work/courses.

What are some of your kiddos' favorites from this HOD year?

In Christ,
Julie

[cbenner0723]

Your 4th grader is not behind in Bigger! While some use it for 2nd, it's true, most use it for 3r or 4th, so with LDs, Bigger should be a perfect fit! (And even Beyond, with LDs isn't unusual. )

However, do you have your 1st grader in Bigger, too, or is that a typo? Since your signature says they are done LHFHG, I'm hoping you meant halfway through Beyond. ]

Rice,
LOL, Actually the typo was for both DS10y and DD6y. They both are in Beyond. DS10 already finished Bigger but it was a struggle that's why I didn't move him up with his brother.
Blessings
Carrie B

[chillin'inandover]

This year my daughter in 8th grade is using MTMM with extensions and US2 astronomy/fossils and US Government. This is the same daughter that was doing preschool guide, LHTH, in kindergarten.
My son is a senior and he is attending college full time. He should graduate college with an AAS in welding in May, after he graduates high school. Over the summer he did Personal Finance and the US2 Devotion. HOD has been an excellent fit for my son and has provided me the tools to be a prepared teacher. The high school guides have so much detailed instruction in how to grade. In Minnesota there is the option to do PSEO (Post Secondary Education Option) in the students jr/sr year that is completely funded by the state. My son took full advantage of that program. HOD prepared my son for college. The most challenging part of his college has been the M-Th 7am classes. We have done HOD M-Th, but we never started at 7am. Thanks HOD! Off to get a kleenex as I realize my only son will be graduating May 2020.

[Norrfam0506]

Hi! We are back to HOD after a hiatus for a while. My girls are 10(4th) and 11(6th) and currently doing CTC together. My oldest is using the extensions. They both seem to place well there, but I’m fully prepared to move either my youngest down to Preparing or my oldest up to RTR if needed. One da at a time. Our first week back was amazing last week!