HOD or BJU?

[wcoffey]

I am new to HOD. My dd (8yrs old) does BJU Math, English and Reading. (She learned how to read with RME but when she got into 2nd grade I had her start reading BJU reader and do the worktext.) We love BJU. She does very well with it. But I really like HOD's style. Should I take her out of BJU, should I keep her in BJU and do both, or should I skip HOD's right page for her? She love's BJU Math so much! We began Math 2 in July and finished in Dec. So we started the next grade level after Christmas break. It's the same way with my other dd (6 yrs old). She loves BJU Math even more! I was planning on keeping my 8 yr old dd in BJU Math, English, and Reading, and letting my 6 yr old dd do both BJU and Singapore's Math. One thing... my 8 yr. old does not like new things!!! But she is excited about all the fun activities in HOD. We start BLHFHG on May 4th. Does anyone have any suggestion on what I should do?

[Kathleen]

Wendy,

It will be super easy to use HOD for everything except math, English, and reading. So, if you're already happy with those from BJU, go for it! You'll still be getting SOO many great things from HOD and you won't mess up anything.

I just have to say though that Drawn Into the Heart of Reading is WONDERFUL! I started it this year with my 8 yo, and we have loved it. He is enjoying the books we're reading. He has really grown in reading aloud with expression and fluency. But the real thing that I treasure is the discussion time we've had in talking about the books. Carrie has done a wonderful job of including questions that guide us to discuss the characters and books in light of God's Word. We're talking about OUR character and what God says about things we do as well as what's going on in the book. You may want to take a look at DITHOR at some point, 'cause it's too good to miss.

Kathleen

[momofone]

Wendy,
I don't have a lot of suggestions for you, as I'm new to the boards. However, I wanted to let you know that my situation is a litle similar to yours. My son has been doing the BJU reading, but we've got some Abeka also. I'm not sure at this point what we'll continue. I have ordered Bigger and when I get the guide, we'll make a decision on everything else besides science, history and Bible. I really think Carrie's suggestions look great, but I'm still sorting this part out.

However, we have switched around some so whatever we do I want it to be for the long haul. Just wanted to pop in and say "hello" and say that I'll be reading this thread as well.

Tina

[9hillbillies:)]

HEllo Wendy and welcome to HOD:) We too use BJU homesat. We've used homesat for all their classes, but this past year i've "learned" about unit studies:) I felt my heart drawn to doing some type of unit study as my children fairly close in age and i want to actually teach them instead of them sitting in front of the dvds all day. So i bought tons of different curriculums! I have prayed and asked the Lord to show us His plan. I talked w/my children and asked if they were ready to try something else....they said yes on doing a unit study, but NONE of them want to quit bju!!! I have 7 children ages 11 down to 1, (plus a girl due in Aug~still havent figured out a name for her yet........i love Hadassah, dh said no)... Anyway, my 4 oldest are all doing bju and they love the math and reading and english,,,,,,,,so those classes we'll stick with, but for history (mainly) we're doing Bigger w/the extention package. My kids also love their bible class and science for bju as well, but are willing to do HOD for those as well. I love how the HOD guides tie together each subject so well.

If your children already love doing bju, stick w/it and add the HOD 1)for the fun of it and 2)as a way to do a unit study w/more than one age at a time.

My oldest is doing bju science, math, bible and eng/lit ,,,but is so willing to do the Bigger w/us as well. There are days where i can have him do the science or any of the other subjects w/the kids if i need to take care of something else. Plus the fact, its training him to someday be a hs daddy~:)

We love bju but we are also loving the Bigger and looking forward to learning and growing as a family in doing the HOD together!!! I think if you stick w/the bju and add the HOD, you will be very pleased w/the decision and your kids will feel like they had some say in the matter:) If they love their bju classes, stick w/it, as the LOVE of learning is such a motivator!!!

Have a blessed school year:)
angie

[Carrie]

Wendy,

I just wanted to pop-in and welcome you to HOD! We're glad to have you here. The ladies have already given you such good advice. Especially in the area of math, if your kiddos are doing well you'll want to just keep on going. In the other areas, you can weigh how much your kiddos love their current plan and which areas are time consuming or somewhat frustrating that you would like to change. If you're happy with all of those areas as is, you can easily keep your BJU for any of the language arts and math portions to use along with HOD. You'll find the HOD guides will give you a wonderful back-up plan in those areas in case you ever need something different.

Blessings,
Carrie

[wcoffey]

Thank you ladies and Carrie so much. I think that I will keep with the BJU Math and English with both my dds. But I will do HOD with my 6yr old dd along with the HOD Language Arts and Math.
Here's one more question: If I were to decided to change to R&S English for my dd who will be entering 3rd grade and has already completed BJU English 2, where do I place her? R&S 2 or 3?

[Kathleen]

Wendy,

I haven't done BJU English, but we had done Abeka's Language for 2nd grade. We went into R&S 2 and it was a good fit.

Kathleen

[my3sons]

Thank you ladies and Carrie so much. I think that I will keep with the BJU Math and English with both my dds. But I will do HOD with my 6yr old dd along with the HOD Language Arts and Math.
Here's one more question: If I were to decided to change to R&S English for my dd who will be entering 3rd grade and has already completed BJU English 2, where do I place her? R&S 2 or 3?

Wendy,
I think this sounds like a good way to start out with HOD. You are going to thoroughly enjoy Bigger Hearts - it was great fun for us last year. Your 6 yo will love the HOD LA and Math - we're doing that now as well, and I am amazed at how our ds is able to tackle difficult math concepts easily because of the way they are taught with the hands-on HOD and Singapore Workbook combination. The spelling, copywork, oral narrations, emerging reader's set, storytime genre study, poetry study, etc. are really helping him grow in the LA area as well. I think Kathleen gave good advice about the R & S level for your 3rd. grader. You truly can use any math and English you'd like with HOD, but it's worth looking over the HOD plans carefully when making that decision. The HOD plans are very solid, super-easy to teach, time conscious, and they use ideas that seem to increase retention. So, enjoy using whatever you decide upon for math and English along with your Bigger Hearts guide - and either way, you'll always have a good backup plan if one of them isn't working quite like you'd like it to.

In Christ,
Julie