Considering HOD

[tuzor]

This is a bit long.

Hello,
I am considering purchasing LHTH for my three year old son. He already knows his letters and their sounds but needs the help with motor skills and writing his letters. I think this program would be perfect for him but I don't think I could use it again for Pre K. Everything I have found for this age group stresses letters and sounds but I need something to move him beyond letter and sounds. I did look another program that has more of a social studies approach to preschool, learning about ponds, farmers, etc. This seems nice as well and perhaps I may add a little of that in. Why is making a decision so hard. I know my three year old knows his letters and sounds, but he still needs the the motor skill development how to write letters etc. If you have this program and used it twice for the same child how did you modify it to make it more challenging? Also how does the program work if you do not use it 5 days a week as outlined but 4 days.

I have a another son currently in first grade that I have all his curriculum for but the planning every week and reserving books at the library is really taking a lot out of me. As a result some times I can't do some of the things I had planned because I don't have the resource or I could not go and make copies etc. etc. This leaves me with lots of anxiety. I am hoping a planned program such as this will reduce the amount of planning for me as I have three children. I can't imagine what life will be like once they are all doing school work. I need to make things easier on myself now. I plan on purchasing Beyond Little Hearts for his second grade year. Believe me if I could dump what I am using now and start over I would but I am going to stick it out and finish this year. I have to be clear that I don't dislike my current resources but the planning and prep time is too much.

This brings me to my next set of questions. Once I decided to educate my children classically. I decided to teach history chronologically. But I see that for all my hard work my son is not remembering much. I know at this stage (grammar) he is not expected to recall everything but I am wondering if my time would be better spent teaching American history in a pre packaged program then when he gets into junior high start with the Ancients. Have any of you experienced this feeling and did you change how you are implementing a classical education in your home did you stay the course as outlined in TWTM?
Next, I would like to use an additional reading program and a different LA then outlined in HOD program. I am currently using CLE LA and reading I love them. I know that you can make adjustments as you see fit but I am wondering how substitutions have worked out for those that chose not to follow the program exactly?
Lastly, do you feel the science is meaty enough. My oldest son loves lots of hands on science. Do you feel that the HOD science program was enough or did you have to add additional science?

[lharris]

Hello and welcome to HOD,
I too teach classically and know that you will love HOD. Carrie herself taught the chronological route beginning with the ancients with her oldest. (Julie correct me if I'm wrong on this,) She also discovered that the material was a little too mature and felt that the hero stories of American history was so appropriate for her boys at a young age, so she wrote her manuals beginning with Am.History. I too have fallen in love with Carrie's plan of starting with American history. I remember a different speaker at a conference also complaining that if you stick closely with the Well Trained Mind chronology, the kids are just not getting enough American history. After many years of reviewing materials, I agree with this. I would hate for a child to miss the wonderful stories that she has the children hear from the LHFHG and Beyond manuals. Amazing coverage! Remember there is no harm in adding additional stories to your child's learning. They love storytime. I think you will be very pleased with the coverage in HOD and the presentation of the history cycles! Much love,
Laura

[lharris]

I know you will probably get lots of responses to address your various questions. I think you can easily use a reading program that you already love with HOD, not a problem. As for the science, the level is good. I've enjoyed the science and Carrie blends hands-on learning for both science, math, and history! With the younger grades, I added some science readings from additional "living books" only because we love storytime so much at my home! But the addition of science living books is not necessary, just something we like to do. I hope this helps!

[my3sons]

Welcome to the HOD Board, tuzor! I am so glad you are here. HOD has taken away my stress of prepping and planning. I don't do that anymore. I am so glad to have given that up! All the time and energy I used to spend on prepping and planning I now spend enjoying teaching my dc. The change has been one everyone is greatly appreciative of - my dc, because I am not stressed and snapping at them; and my dh, because I have time to manage our home and be a wife to him. I think you'd love this kind of homeschooling too!

Lharris did a super job of helping you - this board is full of neat ladies just like her - and I think you'll enjoy coming here as much as I do. She is right, Carrie originally taught chronologically with her oldest from the start as well, and ran into the very bumps in the road already shared. I have personally felt that beginning with American history has been an excellent way to start. My sons do remember much of what they have learned, and they are able to really take it in well, respond to it, enjoy it, and make it a part of their own memory of their country's history. I would be editing out much of the Ancients for my little one's ears. It is kind of a strange time period to try to grasp, very different from what we know today, and somewhat confusing for young budding Christians. We did CTC 2 years ago with my oldest, and that was an excellent time to do it. I would not have done it any earlier. We had deep talks about many things, and I think because his faith was stronger, he was able to understand the underlying implications and meanings of that time period so much better.

You can certainly use a different reading program, though I will say I love HOD's ERS and DITHOR. As far as the LA, well, you will certainly know what you want to do there. Though again, I do love the way HOD balances this for me. These are not make or break parts of using HOD. I would encourage you to give some of them a try though - you may find you love them, as many do.

For science, yes, I do believe HOD's science is meaty enough. I was just thinking the other day, my ds just finished RTR last year, and is now doing RevtoRev. He has done...
68 experiments in LHFHG
68 experiments in Beyond
68 experiments in Bigger Hearts
35 experiments in PHFHG
35 experiments in CTC
35 experiments in RTR

That's 309 experiments! And we have not missed a one. I think it is important to look at science plans with our eyes wide open as homeschool moms. I have looked at many, many science curriculums that I think look wonderful, but in the day to day, they are not getting done. So many moms choose a science curriculum without really thinking if they will get done the plans and the experiments planned. When you take the hands-on out of science, you have just a reading plan. Science is a hands-on subject. It is very important that the hands-on does not get dropped, IMO. My dc can think like scientists because they have behaved like scientists, they have gotten in their "labs", and they can match the doing with the reading. It clicks. So, one of my very favorite things about HOD's science is simply that my dc are constantly doing experiments, and are always being asked to think scientifically through using the scientific method. On a side note, I just looked at a science kit with 100+ experiments from Thames and Cosmos this summer, just to get for the kids to do for fun. I couldn't buy it. Do you know why? My dc had done every single experiment except for around 8 within HOD throughout the years. It just would have been a repeat. It DID make me feel awesome about everything my dc have done in HOD though! We took the summer off instead.

I also love the biographies. They are a window into scientists' minds, and God just gifted them in a special way. The notebooking and the living books are of course another favorite of mine. I love HOD's science. It is meaty enough. It is balanced! Dc are actively doing the experiments, not just reading, and not just watching ME do the experiments. It is a powerful way to do science.

For your little one, I think LHTH will be wonderful! We have loved it. We start at 3 yo and go half-speed. We use both Bibles and alternate reading them each day. This way my ds will finish LHTH, and be ready to start LHFHG next.

I hope something here helps. but keep asking questions until you are set!

In Christ,
Julie

[lharris]

Hey Julie! It was awesome to read your summary of the science coverage. I really had never thought to add up the experiments like that and I am truly impressed all over again. Makes me wish now, I hadn't skipped so many in the Beyond manual -- With my work schedule and homeschooling at night, it makes the hands-on activities harder to squeeze but I'm determined not to miss any jewels this year as we are doing Bigger!! Love love love it!

[VAmomto4]

I used to follow TWTM until I couldn't ignore my issues with it any longer .

I will say that my daughter is getting much more science then she did following TWTM because it actually GETS DONE. Carrie has done all of the work and made the readings/projects/notebooking so easy that I have no reason to skip them

Skills are the foundation of classical education. A four year history cycle or rigorous elementary science are not.

I used to feel like I was juggling too many balls and dropping them all. I love that narrations and dictation are scheduled in HOD. I love that the guides focus on skills while still providing a rich experience with science, history, and living books. I love that I no longer feel a burden on my shoulders and that my daughter and I are having fun.

I have a new Apologia Astronomy book with notebook on my shelf but I have NO DESIRE to add to HOD science. We did, however, have time to take a trip to the beach one afternoon to check out intertidal zones firsthand I definately see trips to the zoo, childrens museum, science museum, aeronautical museum, and the aquarium in our future. Another science book...not so much

[Heidi in AK]

I used to follow TWTM until I couldn't ignore my issues with it any longer .

I will say that my daughter is getting much more science then she did following TWTM because it actually GETS DONE. Carrie has done all of the work and made the readings/projects/notebooking so easy that I have no reason to skip them

Skills are the foundation of classical education. A four year history cycle or rigorous elementary science are not.

I used to feel like I was juggling too many balls and dropping them all. I love that narrations and dictation are scheduled in HOD. I love that the guides focus on skills while still providing a rich experience with science, history, and living books. I love that I no longer feel a burden on my shoulders and that my daughter and I are having fun.

I have a new Apologia Astronomy book with notebook on my shelf but I have NO DESIRE to add to HOD science. We did, however, have time to take a trip to the beach one afternoon to check out intertidal zones firsthand I definately see trips to the zoo, childrens museum, science museum, aeronautical museum, and the aquarium in our future. Another science book...not so much

Well said!

[tuzor]

Thanks ladies for taking the time to respond to my queary! I have ordered my middle son's materials and I eargerly await their arrival. I was wondering where I could find samples of the reading programs suggested. Phonics instruction is difficult for me as I am considering it for a 3 year old. So I need something that I can modify for him. Again I am looking forward to using this program with my middle son and getting a feel for how it works and then ordering Beyond for next year with my oldest.

[tuzor]

Okay ladies, I have decided to do something crazy. As I mentioned earlier I have already purchased my oldest sons curriculum for the year and we have started our year. We school year round here, so we started our officical year June 6. However we have not accomplished a ton in certain subjects, like science, history, memory work, and Spanish. I have decided I am going to go ahead and purchase LHFHG and resume our year with that. I will continue our math, LA and reading. We have accomplished more in those areas than any other because I tell myself if I don't do anything else I must do these three. I even told my husband. He agreed, he did ask if I had the money to do it. I told him no because I don't. I will have to wait until our next pay schedule in order to make it happen. I really hope that I am not making a mistake by switching like this while our year is underway. But I have been so down about the planning that I just can't see myself having a great year if I continue along this route. Truthfully, planning is a big part but also its just this season of my life. I have a ton going on with extended family members coming in and out for visits, my husband travels a lot and my children are involved in some sports activities, doctors appointments. The idea of something that can be done quickly between appointments or that will not be as time consuming really sounds great right now.

[my3sons]

...I was wondering where I could find samples of the reading programs suggested. Phonics instruction is difficult for me as I am considering it for a 3 year old. So I need something that I can modify for him...

There are 2 phonics programs that HOD carries. They are both excellent, but for a little one, I'd go with "The Reading Lesson". It is an uncluttered, well-written, easy phonics program to use that is very effective. Here are some threads that may help with this decision...

Carrie compares The Reading Lesson and Reading Made Easy
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2503

The Reading Lesson Comments:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9993&p=72922#p72922
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5541
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9276

HTH!
In Christ,
Julie

[my3sons]

Okay ladies, I have decided to do something crazy. As I mentioned earlier I have already purchased my oldest sons curriculum for the year and we have started our year. We school year round here, so we started our officical year June 6. However we have not accomplished a ton in certain subjects, like science, history, memory work, and Spanish. I have decided I am going to go ahead and purchase LHFHG and resume our year with that. I will continue our math, LA and reading...But I have been so down about the planning that I just can't see myself having a great year if I continue along this route. Truthfully, planning is a big part but also its just this season of my life...

This doesn't sound so crazy to me! We loved LHFHG. I am so glad your ds and you will get to do it! I used to be very energized by planning, but then quickly found that the "doing" of the plans I'd written didn't go as I thought it would. Carrie has an incredible talent for writing BALANCED, DOABLE, ACADEMICALLY strong plans. I think her years of teaching both in ps and in homeschooling, as well as her going through her master's program really helped her see the forest for the trees. I have happily given up my planning for school and reaped the harvest of doing HOD each day. I love pouring my energy into my teaching, and my dc love me having the time and the energy to do that. I still like to plan things - but they are fun outings, b-day parties, chore charts, life skills type teaching, family Bible readings, etc. These things come and go, and they change regularly. They fill my need to plan, but don't overtake my life. My homeschooling is all taken care of with HOD, and that is an incredible relief that brings me great joy daily. So, I think this is a pretty wise decision on your part, and I can't wait for you to start your journey with HOD!

In Christ,
Julie