Thanks, Carrie, for input (also asks others to respond). . .

[Momofsix]

I'm looking at the sample week of Bigger Hearts. Will Preparting Hearts be laid out kind of the same way, with the week at a glance all on one page?

I wish I had discovered HOD earlier. My two oldest next year will be second and sixth grade, and I thought I would put them in Preparing Hearts. We're kind of floundering this year with no set curriculum, so I thought I would buy DITHOR and use it for the rest of this year and some of the summer, then start fresh next year with Preparing Hearts. But I'm wondering if Bigger Hearts can be adaptable to a sixth grader at all. If so, we can do Preparing Hearts the following year and by then hopefully the next level will be out. I don't want to shortchange my older dd, but I want younger dd to get the most out of. I kind of feel guilty because I haven't done much formal schoolwork with her, although she's a naturally strong reader and keeps herself busy with reading all sorts of books. But other than a little writing and math, we haven't used any curriculum.

That's what I love about what I'm seeing here. It's seems like such a natural, warm approach to schooling. I guess I want to use as much of the products as I can, but don't know if I can supplement up enough for older dd.

Also, is DITHOR meant to be used with one of the other books? If we do DITHOR this year, are there literature selections for the other years included? How might one use DITHOR with, say, Preparing Hearts?

Thanks so much for your help!!

lisa[/b]

[Momofsix]

post. Thanks!!

[Carrie]

Lisa,

Preparing Hearts... will be the same layout as "Bigger Hearts...". We have finally decided that we will keep it the same so that there is a day at a glance on each 2 page spread.

The "Learning Through History" side of the plans will be on the left side and the "Learning the Basics" side of the plans will be on the right side, just like the pages shown in "Bigger....".

"Bigger Hearts..." is able to be adapted for an older student by using the Extension Pack. With what you've shared about your kiddos, I actually think that would be a great place for you to start with your 2nd and 6th grader. The Extension Pack extends the history readings by giving the older student an independent reading assignment to do on her own each day, in addition to listening to the read-alouds for history. Here's a link to the "Bigger..." packages page, where you can see the Extension Pack:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/bigger-hearts-packages.php

I think "Bigger... " would also be a good intro. for your children and would help you get used to the flexible structure provided in our programs.

I think starting this year with DITHR is a very good idea. Don't feel the need to get through it, as it is meant to be the literature study portion of "Bigger..." and "Preparing...". So, you can just continue on with it during next school year, finishing the genres that you didn't get to this year. At our house, we cover all 9 genres every 2 years.

For your 6th grader, you may want to add a writing program, such as "Igniting Your Writing Vol. I" to "Bigger...", which is listed on our site here:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/drawn-into ... p#igniting

You will also need to have your own language arts and math for your 6th grader, if you choose to do "Bigger....". If you need help with that, I can certainly give suggestions.

If you have other questions don't hesitate to ask! The other moms will probably chime in here too!

Blessings,
Carrie

[Tansy]

Were in bigger right now. And we love it I think it would be great for your younger dd. You can give your younger dd a more "rounded" education. I think it would be really fun for her. Carries activites really help make the information stick in thier little minds.

The notebooking is really fun. You could require a bit more from your older dd to beef it up for her. Like having her do more research into the science guys. Or Do more of the activites already in the "One Small Square books. Those books are just written so well they are good for a nice age range.


I know I worried my daughter would have gaps in her education, but with Carries books I don't worry about that any more.

[blessedmomof4]

I agree-Bigger will be great! I'm using it now and my girls are loving it. The extension pack will be a wonderful set of books for your older daughter to read-the Exploring Planet Earth in particular is for grades 5 through junior high, I've seen A Child's Story of America listed as grades 4-6, and the other books are interesting and challenging. I had to stop the extension books for my 4th grader, because she's not that strong a reader yet
Just a recommendation for DITHOR-you might plan to start one level lower than you would expect, since your children have never used it-it will give them a chance to ease into it and enjoy the reading more- so 2/3 for the younger one, and 4/5 for the older.