Has anyone started HOD mid-year and done OK?

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Joselle173
Posts: 35
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:00 pm
Location: Illinois

Has anyone started HOD mid-year and done OK?

Post by Joselle173 » Tue Oct 27, 2009 6:18 pm

Also, have you ever placed a child below where they seem to "fit best" on the placement chart for HOD?

I'm anal about stuff like this and probably need to let it go :lol: - "What will we do if we don't finish the book by the end of the year?!", but we're using a curriculum right now that is just breaking my back in how much work the prep is and it's stressing me out, so I'm leaning heavily towards HOD, and sooner, rather than trying to stick the year out with what we're using (not sure where the money is going to come from, but will have to pray on that!)

Based on the placement chart, my just-turned-6 dd seems to place best in Beyond, and 8 yo ds places better in Bigger. Truthfully, I would rather place 6 yo dd in Little because she's half kindergarten level, half 1st grade. I'm thinking Little would be a better fit based on the books offered for the program, etc. And honestly, based on the books for the Beyond curriculum, I think DS would be better there. So despite the placement chart saying the kids need to go up a level, I'm thinking they need to go down a level. What are the experiences of those who have gone against the grain and gone down a level? Were you right and did everything go OK, or were your children not challenged in the lower level curriculum?

Also,l how do you teach two curriculums at once, and how much additional time does it add to the day?
Cheryl & Kids

DS10 & DD7
2011-2012 - Bigger (w/Extensions for DS10)

jenntracy
Posts: 428
Joined: Fri May 01, 2009 11:18 am
Location: Florida

Re: Has anyone started HOD mid-year and done OK?

Post by jenntracy » Tue Oct 27, 2009 6:34 pm

i will say that my son who will turn 6 on Thursday is doing the Emerging reader schedule from Beyond and is almost into the 1st grade level math(we use Math-U-See).We have done the Do it Carefully and Finding the Answers Book in the LHFHG guide, but no Handwriting til now. All the rest he is using the Little Hearts and it seems to be a great fit for him.

Oh i did go thru the Story-time already with LHFHG,, but i am going to supplement with our selection of books for now because i am going to combine my younger daughter for Story-time with him. had i thought ahead i would have started the books now instead of earlier. so now his sister is starting them and he will have own storytime. will wait for the Beyond storytime til next year when they can do that together.

sorry, i am no help on doing the two programs at same time. i have done LHTH at same time with daughter as my son was working on right side of LHFHG, but LHTH is a much shorter program on a daily basis ,so it is pretty easy to get done with another program going on.

i think you would have a blast and be less stressed if you started HOD now, from what you have said.

Blessings,
Jenn d
Last edited by jenntracy on Tue Oct 27, 2009 6:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Mom to 4 Blessings
DS 14.5 yrs World Geography
DD 13 yrs MTMM
DD 10 yrs CTC
DS 7 yrs Bigger

lmercon
Posts: 659
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2008 3:05 pm
Location: Zieglerville, PA

Re: Has anyone started HOD mid-year and done OK?

Post by lmercon » Tue Oct 27, 2009 6:36 pm

You can absolutely pick up HOD now and begin right away. I'm like you are - wanting everything to be "just so." But I have learned to relax. At this point, I just pick up with the day where I left off. So, day 1 in a unit might be on a Thursday. It works just fine. HOD is fabulous if you need a program that is easy to implement, requires very little prep, and is wonderfully full and rich. I think you will love HOD! Have you considered combining your kids in Beyond? Beyond is a fantastic program! You could easily cut down on a few requirements to accommodate your younger child. Add in DITHOR for your older and use the emerging reader set for the younger. The writing and grammar are very gentle. The history is fantastic! We loved the Bible and the songs as well. Science is only once a week and corresponds with the history.
Just some thoughts,
Laura
Wife to a great guy and mommy to:
Ds(15) - using WG and loving it!
Dd(11) - using Res.to Ref and having a blast!
Ds (3) - our joy!
Two little ones in the arms of Jesus - I can't wait to hold you in Heaven!

juliekay
Posts: 224
Joined: Mon Mar 23, 2009 4:39 pm

Re: Has anyone started HOD mid-year and done OK?

Post by juliekay » Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:23 pm

We found HOD (Bigger) last January and it worked out beautifully! My older ds 11 & 12 were older & it went SO well that we're not only still with HOD but we LOVE it! If I were you I would go with Beyond!
Julie
2010-2011
ds 13 RTR plus
ds 12 RTR plus
ds 8 RTR
dd 5
ds 2
We loved using Bigger & Preparing

SoaringEagle
Posts: 122
Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2008 8:21 am
Location: New England
Contact:

Re: Has anyone started HOD mid-year and done OK?

Post by SoaringEagle » Wed Oct 28, 2009 6:16 am

I actually did this. My dd is 6 yrs old and doing LHFHG. She could have been placed in Beyond but I know she wouldn't have been ready for most of it. This year is going so well. I tried Little Hearts last year for K but it just didn't work, we only kept science/math/phonics. Things are going so much better/smoother this year :D
~Juli~
Wife to P
Mommy to dd Froggie - age 7 - BLHFHG - August '10
ds Hot Wheels - age 4 - LHTH - August '10

http://soaringeagle91.blogspot.com/

Joselle173
Posts: 35
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:00 pm
Location: Illinois

Re: Has anyone started HOD mid-year and done OK?

Post by Joselle173 » Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:50 am

Thanks so much for the quick responses! You've given me some things to think about! I'm leaning towards not combining the kids into one curriculum even though it'd be cheaper. One of of my "beefs" with our current unit-style curriculum is that it's really better for older elementary/junior high (even though it's "supposed" to be for K-6). It leaves something to be desired for little kids, so I'm concerned that if I combine again I'll find my younger child getting bored and feeling left out. Many times the Bible portion of it is way over their heads :cry: , which is one of the main things I want to be teaching in our homeschool! I'm very concerned at the moment that what I move to be "age and level appropriate".

Thanks again!
Cheryl & Kids

DS10 & DD7
2011-2012 - Bigger (w/Extensions for DS10)

lmercon
Posts: 659
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2008 3:05 pm
Location: Zieglerville, PA

Re: Has anyone started HOD mid-year and done OK?

Post by lmercon » Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:56 am

To combine or not to combine has been the question for many. I'm certainly not trying to convince you to combine, but something to consider is this. HOD is very unlike a traditional unit study that is meant to span many ages. If you read Carrie's "biography", you will see that she was unsatisfied with the very things you mentioned. She designed the HOD programs to cover a few ages but not to be as inclusive as other programs. Beyond, for instance, is designed for 6-8 yos. It was her desire to have programs that were specific to a short span of ages so that children wouldn't be in programs that were not on their level. With a little thoughtful planning, you can easily do two programs, if that is your desire. Just wanted to add that thought.
Laura
Wife to a great guy and mommy to:
Ds(15) - using WG and loving it!
Dd(11) - using Res.to Ref and having a blast!
Ds (3) - our joy!
Two little ones in the arms of Jesus - I can't wait to hold you in Heaven!

Joselle173
Posts: 35
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:00 pm
Location: Illinois

Re: Has anyone started HOD mid-year and done OK?

Post by Joselle173 » Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:28 pm

Thanks Laura!
Cheryl & Kids

DS10 & DD7
2011-2012 - Bigger (w/Extensions for DS10)

my3sons
Posts: 10702
Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:08 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Has anyone started HOD mid-year and done OK?

Post by my3sons » Sat Oct 31, 2009 11:06 am

We've started mid-year with LHFHG and with Beyond with our middle child, and it's gone really well! :D I think this is one of the wonderful things about HOD - it is very flexible. If I were you, I'd look at the sample weeks' plans for both LHFHG and for Beyond and see what you think. They are both wonderful programs, and you could easily teach 2 (I'm doing 3 and happy), but you could also combine them for the left side of Beyond, and have them do their separate right side of the plans for the basics (LA and math). I think you'll be able to tell from looking over the plans. Here's a link to the PDF's of LHFHG:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/pdf/little ... t-week.pdf

Here's a link to the PDF's of Beyond:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/pdf/beyond ... t-week.pdf

There is a lot more to HOD than first appears in the plans. It is light on prep but meaty on learning. I think you'll love it! :D

In Christ,
Julie
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie

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