Help me get started...

[MistyP]

Hi! I am Misty, mom of 4 girls ages 5, 4, 2,(all August babies!) and 15 months. We are going to start homeschooling this Fall and are excited about it. Our oldest (will be 6 in August) did Abeka Kindergarten last year in a private school. We will have her in 1st grade and be starting Kindergarten with our 2nd (will be 5). I was really excited to find HOD and be able to teach both of them together.

I am hoping to order our books soon. Can you tell me what you think of my plan? I have never done this before! I was homeschooled as a child on the mission field but we did ACE.

My plan is:
Little Hearts for His Glory Economy & Basic Pkg for Kindergarten & Add on Thinking Skills Grade 1 and the buying BLHFHG and just using the reading guide and Emgerging Readers for DD #1.
OR would I be better off to go with BLHFHG and add on Kindergarten stuff?.... My 1st grader would definitely be ready for BLHFHG...
Singapore Math or Math-u-see (K & 1st)
Phonics: Finish up 100 EZ Lessons with K, Start First Language Lessons with 1st grader
Writing: DD #1 writes beautifully in cursive, I would like to continue cursive with her...not sure if I will buy Abeka, Cursive First, or what....

They are both interested in Spanish (we live in South FL) and I figure I may add that in sometime later on.

Am I missing anything??

Thanks so much! DH and I went to the Orlando Homeschool Convention; looked at many booths, talked extensively with Sonlight and MFW reps and when it was all over, we sat down with a cup of coffee and I said none of it adds up to Heart of Dakota I love the very user friendly lesson plans and how easy it is to tweak it to my preferences. I have recommended many of my friends to check your website out.

Misty

[Kathleen]

Hi Misty!

Welcome to the HOD board! It's such a friendly place. You'll love it. I think your plan looks great. I think that you should use LHFHG, and add in the emerging readers for your older daughter. I think that this plan will let you keep them together long term as you work your way up. I think you'd be good to add in a cursive book for your oldest. I loved Cheerful Cursive that we used last year, but it was my son's 1st try with cursive so maybe you'd want something different since she already does it beautifully. Some moms here use Startwrite and make their own handwriting pages for their kids. Maybe that's something that would work for you. (I however have no experience with it to tell you anymore. )

Kathleen

[gratefulmama]

Welcome Misty!
How exciting! I'm glad you found HOD . I think your plan sounds wonderful. I like the idea of keeping your two oldest together in LHFHG and getting the Thinking Skills + Beyond manual with emerging readers for your oldest. It will be so great to teach your first two together in LHFHG for the "Learning Through History" segments plus Storytime while you give them each individual time with reading, math and writing.
There is also a great list of optional/supplemental books you could offer your oldest DD throughout the year that correspond with the theme for each unit, listed in the back of the LHFHG manual. (Many of these titles are available in libraries)
The only thing I thought of after looking at your list of things to order was a Bible choice. You may already have one that you'd like to use.
Otherwise, I'm sure others will be along to welcome you and offer advise - I just wanted to say "Welcome" I'm sure you are going to love HOD. I know I sure do! It's been such a rich experience thus far and I look forward to sharing in more of the journey with you!
In Him,
Victoria

[funkmomma71]

Your plan of combining your dd's together in LHFHG sounds great! One thing I would suggest, before buying another LA curriculum you may want to look at the spelling and beginning grammar that is in the Beyond manual. It would certainly simplify things for you if you felt comfortable using what's already included in Beyond. For handwriting you could purchase the StartWrite program, I have it and have used it for my dd's handwriting. You could have your 1st grader write out her bible verses as copywork, that would be good practice. In the storytime plans you will have other opportunities for your 1st grader to do handwriting. Best wishes! OH yeah, welcome to HOD!!!

[MistyP]

Thanks all! It really helps to have someone that has been through the books validate it all for me. I was really wishing that HOD had been at the Convention so I could pour through it all.

I didn't realize that Beyond already had LA and spelling included that is great. As far as Bible, we have several we use but the Family-Time Bible looks really nice too. I was so excited to find something that I could use for both of them and figure the 3 yo will be sitting in for story time too My oldest is already a little teacher and says she is going to teach her 3 yo sister her ABC's, numbers, shapes, colors, etc this next year!

I talked with DH. I am going to finish up my order today We are hoping to sell our house and move to Missouri so we will be closer to all our family so we may start school first of August so we can take a couple of weeks off when we move.

Blessings!
Misty

[my3sons]

Thanks all! It really helps to have someone that has been through the books validate it all for me. I was really wishing that HOD had been at the Convention so I could pour through it all.

I didn't realize that Beyond already had LA and spelling included that is great. As far as Bible, we have several we use but the Family-Time Bible looks really nice too. I was so excited to find something that I could use for both of them and figure the 3 yo will be sitting in for story time too My oldest is already a little teacher and says she is going to teach her 3 yo sister her ABC's, numbers, shapes, colors, etc this next year!

I talked with DH. I am going to finish up my order today We are hoping to sell our house and move to Missouri so we will be closer to all our family so we may start school first of August so we can take a couple of weeks off when we move.

Blessings!
Misty

I love your plan, Misty! Very savvy - you've covered all of your bases, kept your dc combined in a way that makes perfect sense, and still met their needs individually - oooo, I love a good plan! I think you'll love the spelling and grammar in Beyond. It's been so great for our dc. The Family Time Bible is a favorite at our house - what beautiful God-honoring pictures, and text true to Scripture that has. We actually need to get another one, our cover is hanging on by a thread. Be sure to share your box day with us - we love to share in the excitement of your receiving your HOD goodies!

In Christ,
Julie

[jenntracy]

i will also say use LHFHG for both and use the emerging readers with your 1 st grader. that is what we will be doing but my kids are about year behind yours in age. so i had to do some tweaking becauset started my son in LHFHG before my daughter. He started when he was 5 (b-dayin October but he only did halfpaced) and she wasn't ready yet. she turned 4 in March and started LHTH then. anyway when the tweaking is done they will do History side together and be at their own levels in basics.

i, too, love the fact they can do it together. it is tough now with my almost 17 month running around. she is a climber and wants to be a big kid , just like them.

i would suggest checking out Bocabeth.com for spanish. it is bilingual teaching . she is out of Tampa, Fl. my kids love it when we do some Spanish. we are not on a rigid schedule for it . it is really geared for the younger ages. although, i really like it for myself too! i like simple and i never learned Spanish til now.

Have a great school year

[MistyP]

Thanks Julie and Jenn! I will check out the link for Spanish

I ordered yesterday, then had to email to add on Cheerful Cursive Mike was so nice to do it for me!

We are so excited

[my3sons]

Hip! Hip! Hooray! Misty - have fun going through all of your things from HOD. You'll have to share your HOD highlights with us on the HOD Weekly Check-In if you get the chance. I love getting renewed that way, by sharing in the happy moments of other homeschool families using HOD too. I'll be sharing about our start with CTC and our progress with Beyond near the end of August when we start up again. Have a super Sunday!

In Christ,
Julie