Preparing HFHG questions.

[kiloyd]

Explain to me the Deluxe Package for history. Are these mentioned in the teacher guide? Are they highly recommended? Will it be okay if I don't get them? They are $100. Wish some of these were easy to get at the libary. I could do interlibrary loan though.

I'm planning on buying the Basic Package so I don't have to do interlibrary loan. My library only has The Family Under the Bridge out of all 10 of those books.

Any other Preparing tips you have for me? I'll go look on the Preparing page too.

I remember last year when I got my box for Bigger that I was overwhelmed with all the books and starting 3 rd grade. So I know I'll think the same with starting 4th too.

[gotpeace91]

We did Preparing last year. If I had to choose between the Deluxe package and the Basic package I would pick the Deluxe. The Basic package is for the Storytime part of the plans and practice with oral narration. The Deluxe package is for the children to read a small portion independently and they do a small activity associated with it like copywork, drawing, narration etc. My kids enjoyed the Deluxe more than the Basic and I feel it's more important anyway because they get practice with cursive, drawing, and oral narration among other things. However, that being said the books in the Basic package are very interesting read-alouds so you will have to choose what is the best fit for your family interest and finances.

[gotpeace91]

Oh I forgot, yes they are mentioned in the guide each day. The Basic package is the Storytime part of the plans and the Deluxe package is the Independent History part of the plans. Here is a link to the first week of the plans to give you an idea of what's scheduled. http://www.heartofdakota.com/pdf/PHFHG-sample-week.pdf

[my3sons]

Explain to me the Deluxe Package for history. Are these mentioned in the teacher guide? Are they highly recommended? Will it be okay if I don't get them? They are $100. Wish some of these were easy to get at the libary. I could do interlibrary loan though.

I'm planning on buying the Basic Package so I don't have to do interlibrary loan. My library only has The Family Under the Bridge out of all 10 of those books.

Any other Preparing tips you have for me? I'll go look on the Preparing page too.

I remember last year when I got my box for Bigger that I was overwhelmed with all the books and starting 3 rd grade. So I know I'll think the same with starting 4th too.

I always look forward to switching things up and starting a new guide (but I also like coming back to my tried and true ones a second time with my younger dc). As each guide is somewhat the same but also somewhat different, the Introduction really helps me remember what the purpose is for each part of the plans. Here's the explanation of the skills taught in conjunction with the Storytime read-aloud part of the plans of PHFHG, which uses the Basic Package:
Each unit includes the following activities in coordination with the “Storytime” read-aloud assignments:
*Day 1: personal connections are shared that relate to the story
*Day 2: differences between the characters’ lives and the students' lives are identified based upon the historical time period of the story
*Day 3: the main character’s faith is evaluated for its impact on the character’s life and the story
*Day 4: oral narration is practiced by retelling the story

The Deluxe Package coordinates with the Independent History Study box part of the plans. Here's the explanation of the skills taught within that part of the plans for PHFHG:
Oral narration, copywork, notebook entries, and Biblical connections round out the independent readings. At this age, notebook entries are limited to copying, tracing, and drawing from a model. Accuracy and attention to authentic detail are encouraged. Entries are meant to be factual and to provide a finished product that gives an overview of the history topics studied throughout the year. Reminders are given for copywork to be done in cursive.

Here is a link to the Introduction of PHFHG though, as more information is given about each of these parts of the plans here:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/pdf/PHFHG-intro.pdf

The reason HOD has packages rather than 1 big kit of things is so we can make decisions about what we really want based on funds and goals, but still get the savings of ordering packages of parts we need. I would try to get both somehow, even if I had to buy half at first and half later. However, if it came down to it and I couldn't raise the funds to do that, I'd get the Deluxe package, as this has many skills students learn that have specific directions they are to follow to be able to do them independently (important training for CTC) . For the Storytime plans, I'd get the books if I could as they are great, but if I couldn't, I'd use other books for read alouds and make sure I did the plans as best I could for that box yet, so the skills would still be learned by the end of the year. The library may not have a lot of them, as the library sometimes tends to go for current flashy books instead of having a lot of the kind of books that are considered living, timeless, and/or Christian (this is the case at our library, but I know that's not everyone's library) . HTH as you consider what you'd like to choose to do.

In Christ,
Julie

P.S. I was thinking about your thoughts about being overwhelmed by all of the books. I know has I have gotten more and more books for HOD, I have needed to organize them more (mainly so I don't get the kids' books mixed up with each other, and also so they don't read them before they are supposed to ). One thing that helped me was to just put the books in that I need right away in 1 tub, and the books for later in the year in a different tub that says "For Later". That way, I only have 1 science book, 1 DITHOR book, 1 semester of math, 1 Storytime read-aloud book, etc. in the tub I'm using each day. When I finish 1, I put it in the back of the "For Later" tub, and grab the new book to put in my "For now" tub. Just thought I'd share what's helped me with all of those wonderful books!