Getting started questions

This is where new posts begin. All questions or discussions about any of Heart of Dakota's curriculums start here. If you wish to share a one-time post about your family's experience with our curriculum, you may post under the specific curriculum title (found beneath this "Main Board" heading).
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MY3monkeys
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Dec 12, 2013 11:01 am

Getting started questions

Post by MY3monkeys » Sat May 20, 2023 1:05 pm

I've been looking at HOD for many years now and am looking at it again for my upcoming school year. I'm just looking for history and Bible and not all the subjects. I've been told this is something I can do with HOD. But then I need to know how to best go about doing this. I will have ages 6, 8, and 10. My 6 year old is a non reader still with a very short attention span. My 8 year old is an emergent reader with some learning and sensory challenges and has low stamina for working. My 10 year old is a pretty typical kid but dislikes doing a lot of reading. I can only read for a short time or my throat bothers me-2 chapters is about my limit. We also have a hobby farm/homestead and a few outside activities to fit in. I can fit in history 3-4 days a week depending on the week. How would I best level my kids to make my life as easy as possible?

Rice
Posts: 526
Joined: Tue Aug 06, 2013 10:00 am

Re: Getting started questions

Post by Rice » Sat May 20, 2023 1:17 pm

If your younger two would work well together, I would suggest starting them in LHFHG or Beyond Little Hearts, wherever your 6yo fits for skills (see the placement chart on the website). Combining them would save your voice and combining at the younger child's level (which is the way two students *should* be combined in HOD) will provide a shorter work day for your middle child's shorter attention span. (Also note that some audio book options are available online: for sure the Burgess books from LHFHG Storytime and several books from Beyond's Storytime - 3 from the Boy set and 5 each in the Girl and Classic sets, as well as one of the Beyond History books.)

Your 10yo is likely ready for some independence and Preparing Hearts is a great guide, so that is where I would suggest starting that one. While CTC is an other option for a 10yo, it does require more independence in reading, so another year of growth might be good for a reluctant reader. Preparing has 2 boxes where the student reads the instructions and the reading, then completes the work independently, as well as some semi-independent work. It's a great place to start.

Blessings,
Rice

DS 21 - GRAD '20: after WG
DD 19 - GRAD '21: after WH
DS 17 - GRAD '22; did CTC-WH + 2yrs non-HOD (🇨🇦)
DS 15 not using a guide this year (DONE: LHFHG-MTMM)
DS 13 MTMM (DONE: Prep-Rev2Rev)
DS 11 +
DD 9 CTC (DONE: Prep)
6yo DS phonics

christianmom
Posts: 66
Joined: Fri Jul 06, 2018 7:47 am

Re: Getting started questions

Post by christianmom » Sat May 20, 2023 3:32 pm

I agree with Rice. She gave you some great advice and good places to start for those ages and abilities.

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