NEW! Using BHFHG with extension package.

[juliekay]

Hello. We are new to HOD having made a mid-year switch from another curriculum for many reasons, but mostly because what we were doing while having a CM style it was too much for us to keep up with. We liked almost everything we did. It was just too much. A friend using BLHFHG had me look at what she was doing. It was Providence! I am thrilled with Carrie's God-at-the-center approach and while using a variety of living books it was still very simplistic and ready for me to pick up and go. I have 5 children ages 1,3,7,11,12. Although BHFHG has suggested that the extension package may be a little young for my older one it seems to be a perfect fit to our schedule which already includes national & international competitions for math and science along with a full-time swim team schedule that takes us all over the state and beyond. I am also very pleased to see my 7 yr. old begin to really enjoy learning since our switch to BHFHG. I am afraid that a decision to teach to my older ones and let him do what he can and absorb what he can just didn't work for him. Currently we are on Unit 14. I did not dive in all at once, but started with 3-4 boxes and then added slowly as we are chugging along.
Here's some questions: Does HOD plan to continue into high school? I have heard that ITHR is great for girls, but not necessarily boys - I have NOT read past posts - this is what I am hearing from a few reviews and people around me. If you are using the extension packages with older children - are you happy with the end? At this moment I am planning to PHFHG with the extension package..... OR should I try doing that with my 8 year old and CTC with the older 2? AND then what about my 4 year old? Is it really possible to do 3 HOD books and get it done and stay sane? Thanks! If I posted this to the wrong board - forgive me and direct me please.
Julie

[Mom2Monkeys]

I can't really answer your questions, but I wanted to say welcome to HOD!!! I'm also using BHFHG with a few of the extensions for my rising 3rd grader. We have just finished Beyond and jumped right into Bigger recently. I'm loving it and I'm sure your crew will too!

I am doing DITHOR, 2 full guides, plus the occasional lesson in LHTH with a rowdy two year old-- and I don't feel overloaded in the slightest. I also add in several of my own things as you can see in my signature. We are done with all of HOD by 11:30 or 12 and usually don't start until 9 or 10. The extras are after lunch/rest time.
I know there is more to do in older guides, but the kids are also becoming more independent by that time. So, your teaching time could still be about the same.

We know for sure Carrie will have 3 more guides after the one released this fall, which will complete the 4 yr history cycle. We are all praying God leads her to write high school as well!!!! If not, she will be able to give us her recommendations. God has given her a family to care for and teach as well, so I'm amazed at her accomplishments with the guides she has already written! My heart's desire though is to never have to leave HOD!

[juliekay]

Oh you did answer my questions! AND in the way that you did you confirmed my decision to go with HOD and BHFHG for everyone for now..... I've been looking at DITHR and think that is exactly what they need and it's really laid out nicely for me to allow independence for my older ones and yet keep them all together....this will have to start with our next school year. I'll just have to pray and think and get more feedback as to if I should separate the older 2 from the middle one and then maybe even add on LHFHG for next year as well. It sounds so busy and crazy, but reading your post makes me think maybe not. I need to do some more research! Thank you for taking the time to post!

[netpea]

I am using DITHOR 2/3 with my 8yo Son. It is great for boys too. You can choose any books you want. There is a book list available for $5 that gives book ideas for all the genres for each level of DITHOR. You can also select your own books for each genre that are similar in level to the sample ideas. So if your boys are all boy, you just pick an all boy book. We love it.

[Carrie]

Julie,

I just wanted to welcome you to the board! We're glad you're here. I'm thinking that Preparing Hearts with the Extension Package would be a good fit for your kiddos once you finish Bigger Hearts (especially if you're enjoying Bigger Hearts right now with your crew and finding it to be a good fit). Your kiddos actually fall right within the target age range for Preparing Hearts (which is 8-10 with extensions for ages 11-12). I see that you have one child slightly beyond the age range for our extension pack, however I will tell you that Preparing Hearts is VERY rich in content, so I still think the Extension Pack with Preparing overall is a good fit for your older child as well.

We curently use DITHR with our 2 oldest sons, and they have enjoyed it for years. They love the books they read for DITHR, and the projects they get to do at the end of each unit. We've had some wonderful discussions about character qualities and story elements through the years. My oldest will be on his last year of DITHR next year as an eighth grader (after doing Levels 2/3, 4/5, and 6/7/8). Where does the time go?

Blessings,
Carrie

[juliekay]

Thank you, Carrie, for personally responding. Your affirmation to my plan - especially concerning my oldest child - means a whole lot!
With all the positive response concerning DITHR I am now very excited to try this with all 3 of my boys - not immediately, but next school year.
We are so enjoying BHFHG! Truly I am overwhelmed with joy when I tell you that this is just working out so well for all 3 of my schooling children! My 7 year old is grasping it and enjoying. My 11 & 12 year olds are enjoying the independent work as well as the work we do together. I keep looking at the Preparing book list and drool with anticipation! REALLY - how many homeschooling mommy's can say that in March and April of any school year?!
Truly Blessed by HOD!
Julie

[my3sons]

Oh Julie - that's great to hear! I feel exactly the same way - we're nearing the end of the school year, and we're still loving it around here. We are doing PHFHG with DITHOR, and BLHFHG with the Emerging Reader's Set this year. We also have a very busy toddler to add to the mix. We are usually finished with school by noon or 12:30. When we began the year, it took us longer than that for the first month, but after that the day shortened up. We've enjoyed doing DITHOR for many years now, and the books we've done with DITHOR are some of are very favorites. We're starting another project this week, and my ds is so excited. He really loves all of DITHOR, and I like the balance it has. And PHFHG - well that is just like a book love feast! It is just one great book after another. We've truly enjoyed it all. I think you will too!

In Christ
Julie

[juliekay]

Wow! That is great new to me! If you are finishing up Preparing and still have great excitement - Ohhh! I can't wait for next year!
Now, Julie, I was just reading an old post of yours as I am trying to do a little more research. ABOUT LHTH with my 4 year old next year in our mix with Preparing? What do you think? I see by your signature that you used it? How long will it take daily? I know that a lot of people say to use their older children to help teach the little ones, but my dd just so enjoys having time with me "doing school" (She's such a girl! For the boys in our household we AVOID the word "school"!)

Thank you in advance!

[my3sons]

Wow! That is great new to me! If you are finishing up Preparing and still have great excitement - Ohhh! I can't wait for next year!
Now, Julie, I was just reading an old post of yours as I am trying to do a little more research. ABOUT LHTH with my 4 year old next year in our mix with Preparing? What do you think? I see by your signature that you used it? How long will it take daily? I know that a lot of people say to use their older children to help teach the little ones, but my dd just so enjoys having time with me "doing school" (She's such a girl! For the boys in our household we AVOID the word "school"!)

Thank you in advance!

LHTH takes 20-30 minutes a day. I found it to be an easy way to be sure I got in "mommy time" for my younger that I might not otherwise have done. Once younger dc see us doing school with older dc, they want to have time with us like that as well. I found that after I taught LHTH, my younger ds was happy to go off and play independently for awhile because he'd had my attention for awhile already. He also often continued "playing" things we'd done in LHTH, like driving his car over the masking taped letter B we'd made, or re-enacting the Bible story we'd already acted out together, or seeing which things sink or float in the sink after we'd done that as an activity, etc. For me, it was a quick way to spend some fun time with my younger ds, and it also taught him all of his letters, numbers, and a sound for each letter (which helped him learn phonics very easily the next year), as well as how to listen to books being read more carefully, etc. You could always do LHTH just 3 days a week or so too, and take a bit longer to go through it if that works better with your schedule overall. We did that with our oldest ds at first when we did it together. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[water2wine]

Just wanted to say welcome! Sounds like you have your plan for your children but just wanted to say welcome. Glad you are loving HOD. It is a blessing.

[juliekay]

Thank you for the welcome! Thank you for the advice! Now it's time to have fun and learn!