Julie,
First, I want to say,
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Welcome to HOD!
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
I started to reply to you earlier and lost it (my ooops!
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), and I didn't have time to retype. I started using HOD last year (LHTH), and this year I'm using LHTH and Bigger. We are LOVING it!!
I don't have
a lot of experience, but I have learned a lot from these ladies on the board and the researching I've done. If I were you, I would use Beyond with my 6 yo. If that's where she fits on the placement chart, I think that's truly the way to go. It would be a lot more work for you to try to modify something a little above her level (and it's a problem that may stick with you if you're just a little "above" her all the way through). I think that using Beyond and Preparing would be a great mix. (You could definitely
ease into it by doing 1/2 the plans for both programs as you get your feet wet, and then pick up the pace a few weeks later.)
Prepring is meant to take 4 hrs a day - and has it broken up to be teacher-directed, semi-independent, and independent - so your oldest would be gaining independence working on his own. (Starting out slowly may help you coach him along so he knows what to do if the things in HOD are new to your family. Many things in Bigger are new to me and my 8yo and they're taking a little getting used to...but we LOVE the change!
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) Beyond is meant to take about 2 hrs...I think. You may have to check the Beyond pages as I'm not sure on that one.
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My guess is that once you get into your groove with them, it would take about 4-4 1/2 hrs to get totally done as your oldest can be doing his independent things while you work with your daughter on Beyond.
I think HOD is wonderful for active boys!!!
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(I guess that's to be expected as Carrie is the mom of 4 active boys, and her editor/sister is the mom of 3 boys. They get 1st hand testing on 7 active boys!!
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) You'll be changing activities every 15-20 minutes as you work through your day, and I personally love how Carrie has balanced the day for me. She has all learning styles represented daily so we're up and moving, my son is listening to reading, he's writing, he's orally narrating. It's all there! AND...the different learning modes are spread around the subjects so that they're balanced within themselves weekly.
I LOVE the creative activities/projects that are included in HOD. This is something that was sorely lacking in our home before HOD. My son loves this now...and so do I! Carrie has really made these activities "doable" for us. They're meaningful, EASY (because they really do use things I have around the house - or I can easily substitute), and they're quick. Oh, how I love the activities!
Now I'm using Bigger, but I think this list of things that will be in Preparing looks awesome!
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1715&hilit=Preparing+projects Another...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1420&hilit=Preparing+projects
One more...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1405 You'll want to scroll down to Carrie's posts to get a feel for the projects.
Hope that helps! I look forward to getting to know you more.
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Kathleen