New to HOD

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rainbowmama

New to HOD

Post by rainbowmama » Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:58 am

Hello everyone! I am new to HOD and I wanted to seek the wisdom of moms who have gone before me. :) I have two beautiful girls ages five and one. They are exactly four years apart. I would like as much as possible to have family learning but also respect the learning needs of each of my girls. What are your challenges and rewards of teaching two programs? Is it possible to use one program for both girls? If it is, could you provide an example of how each year might look like. My oldest is doing Sonlight P4/5 with the addition of singapore kindergarten math and other supplements and is doing well. I am planning to use Little Hearts next year. I would appreciate any wise words you may have. Thanks so much!

crlacey
Posts: 630
Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2008 1:13 pm
Location: NC

Re: New to HOD

Post by crlacey » Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:15 am

My two kids are closer in age than yours (6.5 and almost 4), yet I'm finding it's very difficult to combine them because they are so different in ability. I really thought I wanted to combine them as much as possible, but with such different abilities I don't think that will be happening in the near future. Since they are together for everything else through the week, I see it as my time alone with that child when we work on their individual school.
Crystal
DD 20 married college graduate
DS 17 college student
DD 11 CTC

Finished: LHTH, LHFHG, BLHFHG, BHFHG, PHFHG, CTC, Res to Ref, Rev to Rev, MTMM, parts of WG and WH

krismoose
Posts: 300
Joined: Tue May 19, 2009 12:56 am
Location: Arizona

Re: New to HOD

Post by krismoose » Fri Dec 04, 2009 1:06 pm

Hi! My kids are 5 and 2.5, and when I was deciding how to start, Carrie (the author) suggested I not be to concerned about how to combine the kids when they're so you and can't read on their own yet, that it will be much easier to make decisions about that once they can read. My 2.5 dd enjoys and participates in the rhymes, bible memory, science, art & drama in LHFHG and then is sent off to play with special toys while ds and I do phonics, K math and handwriting/fine motor...that may be an option for you when you start LHFHG. I had been doing LHTH with 2.5 dd, but I stoppped that for now since she's just as happy to join in with us. I can't imagine her tagging along without getting in the way if she was much younger, though. I'll probably do LHTH with her when she's 3 and my son is starting BLHFHG, as I imagine there will be less for her to participate in with us. HTH :D
Kristen
Loved LHTH & LHFHG :)
DS8 (2nd) WWE1, HOD dictation, Sequential Spelling, SM 2B, VP OT/AE & SOTW1 history, Song School Latin, Getting Started With Spanish
DD6 (K) Saxon Math 1, VP Phonics Museum K
DD3 cutting, gluing, more cutting :D

creekmama
Posts: 127
Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2009 7:20 am
Location: Buies Creek, NC

Re: New to HOD

Post by creekmama » Fri Dec 04, 2009 2:17 pm

My kids are five and nearly three. I just started my son on LHFHG this year after doing Sonlight Preschool last year. I'm not worrying at all yet about combining them. I knew LHFG would be a great fit for my son right now, so I just jumped in and started. Somehow it will all work out!
Kelley
Peter (12, Res to Ref)
Betsy (9, Preparing)

countrymom
Posts: 770
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 3:16 pm

Re: New to HOD

Post by countrymom » Fri Dec 04, 2009 3:18 pm

I think with that age range it would be hard to combine and have a quality program for both. My boys are only 19 months apart, but they are so different, both in temperament and learning abilities, I doubt I will ever combine them. We do reading time every day and I try to just make our daily life a learning experience. Sometimes we do a craft together. Beyond that, I have them in two separate programs and don't try to combine schooling. I think for sure in the beginning you will want to go separate. Maybe down the road you will get a sense of how you could combine certain aspects. Welcome to HOD! I think you will be happy.
Countrymom
Wife to J
Big J - LHFHG, Beyond, Bigger, Preparing, CTC, R2R, Rev to Rev, Modern Missions, beginning parts of World Geography
Little J - LHTH, LHFHG, Beyond, Bigger, Preparing, working in CTC

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

Re: New to HOD

Post by my3sons » Fri Dec 04, 2009 4:16 pm

rainbowmama wrote:Hello everyone! I am new to HOD and I wanted to seek the wisdom of moms who have gone before me. :) I have two beautiful girls ages five and one. They are exactly four years apart. I would like as much as possible to have family learning but also respect the learning needs of each of my girls. What are your challenges and rewards of teaching two programs? Is it possible to use one program for both girls? If it is, could you provide an example of how each year might look like. My oldest is doing Sonlight P4/5 with the addition of singapore kindergarten math and other supplements and is doing well. I am planning to use Little Hearts next year. I would appreciate any wise words you may have. Thanks so much!
Welcome to the HOD Board! :D I'm so happy you've found HOD, and I think your two precious gals will love it as much as our dc have. :) As far as combining, you'll find that some moms on this board combine dc and thoroughly enjoy that. Other moms do separate programs and thoroughly enjoy that. So, you really have 2 good options with HOD depending on your family's goals. One important thing to remember it that just because you don't start with combining your dc, that doesn't mean you can't in the future. :D HOD guides usually have several options for LA and math, and you can always do the right side of different guides to meet those individual needs for your dc as these will always be areas they will need to have personalized instruction in since they are 4 years apart. The left side of HOD guides are what most families that combine use to combine, this side of the plan usually covers subjects like history, science, Bible, geography, timeline, music, research, notebooking, etc. The extension packages (which begin to be available with the Bigger Hearts guide) make it possible to extend the history (and sometimes the science) for your older dd as well. So with all of this in mind, I would suggest starting your oldest with LHFHG next year, and waiting on your little one. :) Then, as your little one becomes more able to do school, I'd start the little one on LHTH and LHFHG, focusing on honing reading and writing skills, as developing these skills will help your little one be more able to join your older dd, if that is still your desire.

Each of our 3 dc are 3+ years apart, and we are enjoying doing separate HOD programs with them. I like our individual Bible/character discussions, as they can be tailored to what each child needs and can understand. I like how personal we can get with these discussions because no one else is listening in, but that's just a personal preference. I also like being able to have dc do school different amounts of time that are more befitting to their ages - i.e the toddler is done in 20 minutes, the 6 yo is done in 2 hours, and the 9 yo is done in 4 hours. This works well in our home for our different aged dc's attention spans and academic needs. I like it being easy to meet each individual child's needs, and choose a program that fits each of them just right. Finally, I like spending time with each child alone, as the rest of our day and night is all together. Of course, there are as many good reasons for combining, so you can be in prayer about this, but in the meantime - starting the love of learning with LHFHG with your oldest will be a wonderful way to begin homeschooling and will not prevent you from combining as some point later if that is your desire! We will all help you figure out a plan to do that if that is still your goal when your youngest is older. :)

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

rainbowmama

Re: New to HOD

Post by rainbowmama » Fri Dec 04, 2009 8:30 pm

Wow! Thanks folks for such awesome advice. I have to say...I love HOD already because of the support of wonderful mums like you! It's nice to know that two programs can be comfortably taught. I was a little nervous about that! I also like to plan ahead, way ahead. As of now, I will relax and not try to figure it all out...that's God's job. I will take the next step in our homeschooling adventure next year with Little Hearts and trust that He who has called me will also guide me. That's such a relief to say. :D Next year seems so far away to start Little Hearts...but I'll be patient. :D Thanks again. Ya'll have helped and encouraged me tremendously. I'm sure I will have more questions in the future. :D

Shimmer
Posts: 132
Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2009 2:52 pm
Location: Kansas

Re: New to HOD

Post by Shimmer » Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:07 pm

I just wanted to pop in and welcome you. My oldest and youngest are 4 years apart as well. We'll be doing LHFHG next year too. I considered starting my oldest sooner, but our day is very full and fullfilling as it is with LHTH and our K work so I'm trying not to undo all the great learning we have in out day by doing too much right now. There are so many fun guides ahead of us, but I'm going to be patient. :)

I agree the ladies here are the best with advice and support. That has become one of the major reasons that I love HOD! I haven't found a like-minded homeschool group in my area so this site is so special and incredibly helpful. Best of luck to you!
2016-2017
dd1 - ResToRef
dd2 - Preparing
dd3 - Beyond
dd4 - LHTH

DHT1999
Posts: 274
Joined: Sun Feb 22, 2009 10:00 pm
Location: Alabama

Re: New to HOD

Post by DHT1999 » Sat Dec 05, 2009 12:04 am

My sons are almost exactly 3 years apart in age. This is our first year with HOD and I elected to separate them into their own guides. Their needs are just so vastly different. They LOVE their own programs but they also enjoy sitting in on each other's readings and activities. I don't require them to but that's just how it always works out. So far, it really hasn't been very challenging in any kind of a difficult way. It took us a month or so to get into a flow and to tweak our schedule but I'd expect that kind of a learning curve with any curriculum, and using two guides didn't seem to make that any worse for me. I actually think it made it easier for me. My 10 year old has really progressed in his abilities this year and has become quite self-initiated. I don't have to hover over him so much, so that gives me time to do one on one with my 7 year old, who still needs that for math & phonics. The greatest reward for me has been peace of mind. I rest well knowing that each are having their current needs met and still enjoying some "extras" from their sibling's program. I have been thrilled with HOD, everything about it has been rewarding for us. I am enjoying seeing each one of them grow and develope academically and spiritually. I know some moms are happier with one program for everyone, but I just couldn't get a peace of mind about doing that. I have looked at every curriculum out there and tried quite a few different things (including Sonlight, which I loved, but wouldn't dream of combining or teaching two cores). I never felt settled about combining them. I really like the literature approach to learning but was always worried about my younger being exposed to the same content that my older was getting. Now, with HOD, it's not so much an issue. Overall, I have found the books to be so wholesome and edifying, I don't mind anymore if my younger overhears what I'm reading to my oldest. With SL, that was a constant problem for me, even in the earliest cores.

I would combine if possible but I think for us it wouldn't work with the 3 year age span. I do tend to be quite relaxed with my sons during first and second grade. No more relaxed for the big guy! So, I just have such different expectations for them, it seemed right to separate them. It really is working great for both of them.
2011-2012: Creation to Christ & Bigger Hearts

"He maketh the barren woman to keep house and to be a joyful mother of children." - Psalm 113:9

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

Re: New to HOD

Post by my3sons » Sat Dec 05, 2009 9:17 am

I am loving reading this thread. More and more I have come to believe that combining or not combining is such a personal preference in homeschooling. It's neat to hear how both scenarios are working wonderfully well in different homes. I am thinking we should have a post sometime devoted to helping other moms decide whether to combine or not to combine just by sharing what we're doing with HOD and what's working for each of us. I know we've chatted about this before, but probably never with the intent just to generally help new ladies decide what seems to fit their families and goals best. Something like the "Let's Share Our Schedules" thread maybe - one of those really helpful general threads to everyone in the decision making mode. :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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