considering HOD - help with placement/combining

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Aimee
Posts: 36
Joined: Mon May 18, 2009 8:04 am

considering HOD - help with placement/combining

Post by Aimee » Mon May 18, 2009 3:48 pm

I am considering HOD for the upcoming year for my four youngest boys, who will be in grades 1, 3, 3 and 6. We have used Biblioplan with SOTW for the past few years and would like to stay with our history rotation as much as possible. I also really prefer to keep everyone on the same page for history as much as I can, even if they're reading different materials - I just get too divided and don't feel that I do a good job teaching when I'm going in too many directions. That said, I am wondering whether HOD would work for us. Looking at the placement guides, I see that my two middle boys fit nicely in Bigger - could go with Preparing but it repeats a lot of material we've recently covered, and I like the looks of Bigger better for next year. My little one could really fit into LHFHG or Beyond and I don't think I'd be too divided trying to do those two programs together. But my bigger guy, who will be 12 in the fall...I just don't know if Bigger would work for him - he is out of the age and grade range suggested. I'm glad to supplement and add things and tweak LA, math and reading - I have done that for years, but I am curious as to whether anyone has done this with Bigger, or whether anyone might have suggestions for us.
Thank you for any input!
Blessings,
Aimee
Blessings,
Aimee
Mom to 6 great kids, ages 8-20
Some homegrown, some born in Korea, all born in my heart

Carrie
Site Admin
Posts: 8128
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2007 8:39 pm

Re: considering HOD - help with placement/combining

Post by Carrie » Tue May 19, 2009 11:08 am

Aimee,

Welcome to HOD! :D I'd love to have you take a peek at the placement chart and share with us where each of your kiddos fits individually on the first page only of the chart, all history scenarios and combining aside for now. It's really helpful if we know how each child does in reading, or what they're reading now, what they've had for grammar and writing, whether they can spell or do dictation well, how they do with copywork, and whether they have done any narrating (orally or in writing). Here's the link to the first page of the chart:http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php

Having that information will help us advise you better on possible options and combinations that might work best for your family. :D

Blessings,
Carrie

Aimee
Posts: 36
Joined: Mon May 18, 2009 8:04 am

Re: considering HOD - help with placement/combining

Post by Aimee » Tue May 19, 2009 12:33 pm

Whoops, I had checked the placement chart before posting, I guess I didn't expand on that. The two middles (will be 9) fit very well into Bigger - they are reading independently, one using chapter books like the Mouse and the Motorcycle, and the other preferring graded readers like R&S or Pathway. We are about a third of the way through R&S 2nd grade grammar and they are able to complete the exercises in it. We have also used PLL and they are capable of dictation (small chunks), copywork and some independent writing, and they both do narration (mostly oral) regularly. They have not started cursive yet - I was waiting until 3rd grade. It seems they'd be well placed in Bigger though I think they'd be able to do Preparing.

My little guy (6) is an emerging reader who can do simple copywork, is continuing to work with phonics and is ready for first grade level work. I think Beyond would be a good fit for him.

It is my older of the four, who will be 12 in November and in 6th grade, who I am having trouble fitting into this equation. He has worked through 2/3 of Intermediate Language Lessons and has great writing and research skills (even if he doesn't love writing). He is does well with narration (doing more written now), dictation and copywork. He reads at a young adult level but still enjoys listening to a good story. I am wondering if the two previously mentioned programs would work together, and if so, what could I do for my older guy? Again, I would like to keep them all on the same page for history - at least the same general time period.
Thanks so much,
Aimee
Blessings,
Aimee
Mom to 6 great kids, ages 8-20
Some homegrown, some born in Korea, all born in my heart

simplepamom
Posts: 53
Joined: Tue May 05, 2009 11:22 am

Re: considering HOD - help with placement/combining

Post by simplepamom » Wed May 20, 2009 2:49 pm

You said your boys fit nicely into Bigger so I am not sure how much my experience will help you, but this is what I am fairly certain we are doing. This is our first year, so I can't actually tell you how it went yet, but I am excited.

My oldest dd will be 10 mid Sept- entering 4th grade. My younger dd is 7 will be 8 in Jan- will be in 2nd grade. My oldest dd fell into preparing for some things actually as far as the placements on the 'first page" (I realize they say the first page is the 'most' important for placing, but my dd's have had no american history (we were doing history fertile crescent forward)- it is most important to me that they combine, with a new baby coming this year... We also have not worked extensively in the BIble areas mentioned.) Since my goal is to combine, I know I will be working LA and Math individually- which kind of makes the placement of the math and other placement values on the first page a little inconclusive.

Anyway, I have decided to go with Beyond for my girls. I actually got both TM used- and looked through them some, compared, talked to my older dd... Beyond lists for ages 7-9, so really she is above the age/grade recommended. When I looked at it, I was a little concerned that she might feel some of the activities were 'babyish'- but I asked her to look at the activities for science, art, geography- and she said they sounded fun. (I thought they did too, but that preteen age can be such a hard age with that kind of thing)

Now Beyond doesn't offer an extension pack, so I am creating my own. I have on hand a small book called Colonial times. I also have on hand a few Dear America books. I have added a Daily life in a covered wagon book. I am considering changing the New Americans book from the extension pack for Bigger to use with Beyond for my dd- then adding a different book from that series (the revolutionary war one, or the constitution one....) I am also thinking of changing Almost home from Bigger extension to use with Beyond- then adding a different one from that series with Bigger, or a book from the Christian Heros then and now series to replace it..... I am thinking of adding a historical cookbook- I found U.S. History Cookbook which looks kind of good or hte library had the Little House cookbook.... I also considered adding The American Boys Handy book (or something like that)- it is an old book, reprinted, with lots of colonail type activities..... I was going to think about allowing my dd to read magic school bus books to add more science....I thought Ben Franklin could be added... I also have a book called Being your best- I was going to add that... (it kind of fits with the character traits) Oh and also The Light and Glory for Children (a history book)

Now, of course, this is in no way comparing to what Carrie has put together. I am sure it does not nearly match up nearly. She has done a great job of matching her extension pack for Bigger to history, and the Biblical traits being studied, and it just all goes sooooo nicely together. While I realize this- I really feel for us, my younger dd will be best started in Beyond. I also feel it is best for our family to combine, and so I am doing what i need to. Older dd will do Rod and Staff grammar 4. Older dd will get her own spelling words/dictation. I might add some extra apologia science... THey are each doing their own math....

My point being, if you are accustomed to combining already, I think you can make any arrangement work. Both TM that I picked up are so well laid out, so very thorough, and the materials that go with them seem so wonderful, and so thoroughly planned and selected. If you realize you will have to add narration/writing at his level, do grammar seperately, do math seperately etc- (OR realize you have to leave your younger guy 'out' of some of the more advanced activities if you go with an older level program....)....

Brenda

Aimee
Posts: 36
Joined: Mon May 18, 2009 8:04 am

Re: considering HOD - help with placement/combining

Post by Aimee » Wed May 20, 2009 5:31 pm

Thank you, Brenda, I really appreciate you sharing what you're doing. I too am used to changing around the math and LA schedules - my two 8-year-olds have different math programs simply because of their learning styles, and they love R&S LA, which just about killed my 11-year-old at that age - he loves Intermediate Language Lessons. I too am collecting books to add - found a book called "eating the plates" and an American history cookbook as well, at the library used book sale. I have thought of supplementing Bigger for my older with The Story of US, which we enjoyed using with my older daughter when she was in 8th grade, or with appropriate parts of SOTW, which I have all four volumes of. For the 11-year-old I would also add his own science - I've found the Abeka science books to be colorful, fun and thorough supplements to living books from about 4th-6th grade (with narrations). I think I would place the littlest (6) in Little Hearts, he still really needs something geared to him. He arrived 3 years ago through adoption and is still working on language, so reading and narration at his level are so important. So these are the things I'm mulling over and I appreciate you mulling with me and sharing your thoughts.
Blessings,
Aimee
Blessings,
Aimee
Mom to 6 great kids, ages 8-20
Some homegrown, some born in Korea, all born in my heart

Carrie
Site Admin
Posts: 8128
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2007 8:39 pm

Re: considering HOD - help with placement/combining

Post by Carrie » Sun May 24, 2009 9:32 am

Aimee,

Thanks for your patience in waiting for a response from me. :D From what you've shared it sounds like your oldest would fit well in CTC, your next two would fit well in Preparing Hearts and your youngest could do LHFHG or Beyond. I'd lean toward LHFHG.

However, since you're wanting to combine your oldest 3, I would lean toward combining them in Preparing Hearts, with extensions for your oldest child, as it would be the best fit for them skill-wise and would also place them within the target age range of the guide (ages 8-10 with extensions for 11-12).

If you deeply desire a trip through American history, you could place your 9 year olds in Bigger and do the beefing up you mentioned for your older child. Here's a link to a previous thread where I mention some books that could be added to Bigger Hearts for that purpose: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=640

I'd love to hear back from you if you get a chance. :D

Blessings,
Carrie

Aimee
Posts: 36
Joined: Mon May 18, 2009 8:04 am

Re: considering HOD - help with placement/combining

Post by Aimee » Sun May 24, 2009 1:26 pm

Thank you, Carrie. I've decided my littlest will use LHFHG regardless of what the others are doing; he is a young 6 and I think it will be a nicely paced program, just for him. I absolutely agree with you that Preparing would be an ideal placement for the other three in terms of all their abilities and a program that meets them all where they are, without significant modification. I've looked and looked at Preparing, but I really think there are too many materials we've already used in the past year and the year before, for this to be an good fit for us for next year. In addition, two of the boys are chomping at the bit to move forward in history, anxious to see "what happens next."
This is why I'm trying and trying to see how Bigger could work for the middles, and add to it for the eldest of the group. From my description of the two middle boys' abilities (both 9 in the fall), do you think Bigger is too young a placement for them?

I appreciate the "beefing up" post, thank you for linking to it; it gives lots of great ideas that might help "Bigger" work for us. I must say, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the looks of HFHTT and would like to start it RIGHT NOW if it were the right time LOL. I will keep perusing my catalog, look forward to your reply and will keep prayerfully considering what God might have for us for next year. :D
Blessings,
Aimee
mom to 6 great kids ages 6-18, schooling K, 2, 2 and 5
Blessings,
Aimee
Mom to 6 great kids, ages 8-20
Some homegrown, some born in Korea, all born in my heart

Carrie
Site Admin
Posts: 8128
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2007 8:39 pm

Re: considering HOD - help with placement/combining

Post by Carrie » Mon May 25, 2009 6:39 pm

Aimee,

It sounds like you have a good fit for your youngest little sweetie in LHFHG, which we pray you will enjoy as much as we have. :D

When looking at placing your oldest three kiddos in Bigger, you'll have to know that it will require some tweaking since they placed in different programs on the placement chart originally. Your two third graders should be fine in Bigger Hearts with the addition of Rod and Staff English 3, instead of 2 as scheduled, and DITHR Level 2/3. :D

Your sixth grader should use the Extension pack of Bigger Hearts (with a little beefing up from the books in the thread I linked previously) and the right side of either Preparing Hearts or CTC added to Bigger Hearts to "up" the level of language arts, math, and science. I would lean toward adding part of the right side of CTC to get the Life Science focus, the upper level of dictation passages in the CTC Appendix, the Write with the Best scheduled along with DITHR, the higher level of Rod and Staff scheduled (using either 4 or 5), and the upper level of math (unless you have your own math).

I would also add DITHR using either Level 4/5 or 6/7/8, depending on how much writing your child likes to do, how independent that particular child is, and how much literature study that your oldest has had in the past. :D

Blessings,
Carrie

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