I need help choosing a program(s) for my chidren

This is where new posts begin. All questions or discussions about any of Heart of Dakota's curriculums start here. If you wish to share a one-time post about your family's experience with our curriculum, you may post under the specific curriculum title (found beneath this "Main Board" heading).
Post Reply
lovemycrazyfamily
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue May 01, 2012 7:35 pm

I need help choosing a program(s) for my chidren

Post by lovemycrazyfamily » Wed May 02, 2012 8:42 am

Hi! I have 4 children aged 9, 7, 3, and 9 months. The older 2 are finishing up 3rd and 1st in public school. God has put it on my heart to homeschool next year. I've been praying for and searching for the right curriculum and I think HOD might be it. The challenge is that my children don't fit easily into a grade level.

dd7: Finishing up 1st grade, 3rd grade reading level, straight A's (in a challenging school where few make straight A's), recommended for gifted testing. She loves to learn, but needs lots of wiggle time. She is extremely kinesthetic. She's benefitted from teachers who are also kinesthetic. She loves school, but doesn't want to do it all day.

dd9: Finishing up 3rd grade, 7th-8th grade reading level, in gifted program, loves learning, needs to be challenged (dislikes all school but her gifted time), loves to research and write. She is a visual learner. Could do school all day.

It seems that it would be easier to teach them the same program, but I'm not sure that's best for them. I've looked at Bigger or Preparing for both with appropriate reading and math. I've also considered doing Bigger for dd7 and CTC for dd9. I want them to be challenged, but not frustrated.

So, what do you think? What would you recommend?

netpea
Posts: 714
Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2009 7:39 pm
Location: Michigan
Contact:

Re: I need help choosing a program(s) for my chidren

Post by netpea » Wed May 02, 2012 9:17 am

did you check to see where they fall on the placement chart?
Lee Ann
DD3 - LHTH
DD10 - no longer schooled at home
DS12 - no longer schooled at home

Have used LHTH, LHFHG, BLHFHG, and BHFHG
http://netpea.blogspot.com

lovemycrazyfamily
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue May 01, 2012 7:35 pm

Re: I need help choosing a program(s) for my chidren

Post by lovemycrazyfamily » Wed May 02, 2012 9:24 am

I did check. They both fall into Bigger, so I guess I'm wondering if a gifted 4th grader who lives to be challenged will be challenged enough by Bigger with extensions. Or do I need to get her her own program?

netpea
Posts: 714
Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2009 7:39 pm
Location: Michigan
Contact:

Re: I need help choosing a program(s) for my chidren

Post by netpea » Wed May 02, 2012 9:57 am

It is rarely a good idea to put a child in a program higher than the one they place in. She may well be gifted but the placement chart is an excellent tool to see where she should be. I would simply add the extension pack if she needs it. You can require more from her on the notebooking assignments and narrations, etc... but I would not go to the next program if she places in Bigger.
Lee Ann
DD3 - LHTH
DD10 - no longer schooled at home
DS12 - no longer schooled at home

Have used LHTH, LHFHG, BLHFHG, and BHFHG
http://netpea.blogspot.com

lovemycrazyfamily
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue May 01, 2012 7:35 pm

Re: I need help choosing a program(s) for my chidren

Post by lovemycrazyfamily » Wed May 02, 2012 1:12 pm

Based on age, dd9 fits in bigger, preparing, or ctc. Based on skill, she fits in Restoration to reformation.
dd7 should do bigger based on skill.

How difficult is it to do 2 levels with a preschooler and toddler running around?

mommyofmany
Posts: 132
Joined: Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:06 pm

Re: I need help choosing a program(s) for my chidren

Post by mommyofmany » Wed May 02, 2012 1:21 pm

I've heard people say over & over that it's easier to run 2 guides when your kids are properly placed than one that you stretched to fit both. I'm only going to be doing LHTH and BLHFHG next year, but I think it sounds doable. Maybe check out the thread that discuss schedules to get some ideas on how to make it work.
Blessings,
Emily

Mama to:
Michael 25 College Grad!
Abbey 22 College Grad!
Cole 15
Matthew 14 (Down syndrome & Autism)
Anna 11 (Autism)
Josie 9
Katie 7

netpea
Posts: 714
Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2009 7:39 pm
Location: Michigan
Contact:

Re: I need help choosing a program(s) for my chidren

Post by netpea » Wed May 02, 2012 2:03 pm

It sounds to me that your children are farther apart in skill level than I originally thought. It might be possible to combine them successfully using extension packages but you might seriously consider placing your older child in her own program. Carrie or Julie could advise you best, hopefully they will see your post soon.

Your oldest might do well in Preparing or CTC. Preparing teaches how to do written narrations and prepares the student for CTC well. My 4th grader is finishing up Bigger with extensions and moving into Preparing soon. She will do most of it as a 5th grader. She is an avid reader and blossomed using Bigger this year although I think she could have done Preparing. My 6th grader started out this year using CTC and thought it was too much of a challenge but that may well have been due to attitude rather than ability. Once you get her properly placed, it will be smooth sailing. :D
Lee Ann
DD3 - LHTH
DD10 - no longer schooled at home
DS12 - no longer schooled at home

Have used LHTH, LHFHG, BLHFHG, and BHFHG
http://netpea.blogspot.com

Carrie
Site Admin
Posts: 8128
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2007 8:39 pm

Re: I need help choosing a program(s) for my chidren

Post by Carrie » Thu May 03, 2012 11:28 am

The ladies are doing a great job of helping you talk through your options. I guess I'm needing a bit more clarity on your 9 year old in order to give placement advice as to what would be best for her. So, I need to ask a few more questions to help in this area. :D

Is your 9 year old an independent sort of child who stays on task well? Does she read and follow lengthy written directions well? Has she been responsible for reading her own history and science material this past year and doing follow-up assignments mainly on her own? Or, has she still had quite a bit of hand-holding in these areas this past year? Is she already diagramming sentences and does she have a strong background in grammar and English? Could she write a paragraph up to 3 paragraphs very easily, without much problem? Can she spell well in her own writing and can she copy from the Bible or classic poetry without any issues? Is she strong in math as well, or how does she do in this area? :D

If you get a chance to pop back in and share more about your 9 year old that would be great! Then, we can help you even better! :D

Blessings,
Carrie

MomtoJGJE
Posts: 1534
Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:20 pm
Location: Gastonia, NC

Re: I need help choosing a program(s) for my chidren

Post by MomtoJGJE » Thu May 03, 2012 11:45 am

It is not difficult to do two programs with a toddler and preschooler running around, as long as those children are properly placed.

I would gently suggest that even though your children are gifted, HOD is going to be way different from anything they have ever encountered before. So with that said, I would, with what you've shared, do Preparing with your older child and Beyond with your next child. That way it'll allow them to be successful and learn the program and still help them progress the way they need to. The programs are very meaty and in depth. It never takes my kids very long to do these programs (and I have two in Preparing and Beyond right now) but they are tired after we finish. Mentally exhausted.

lovemycrazyfamily
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue May 01, 2012 7:35 pm

Re: I need help choosing a program(s) for my chidren

Post by lovemycrazyfamily » Thu May 03, 2012 1:04 pm

Thanks to everyone who has given me advice. I'm still praying over the options and trying to find the right answers.
Carrie, to answer your questions, my 9 year old is a very independent and motivated girl. She is not a typical 9 year old. She does stay on task well. Her current science and social studies requires her to read and work pretty independently. Unfortunately, the teacher was forced into this class and does not want to be there, so the children are pretty much on their own. My child has done very well with it, but others haven't fared so well.
She is very strong in language arts. She has done some diagramming sentences and copy work, though maybe not as much as a child who is home schooled. She is a great writer for her age and is currently writing a short story for fun at home. She can easily write multiple paragraphs with pretty good spelling.
She catches on to math easily, though this is probably her weakest subject at the moment because they move slowly at public school. She was doing multiplication in 1st grade, but not until this year (3rd grade) at school. They have barely touched on fractions and division. So, she has been quite bored in math. Also, it's like pulling teeth to get her to memorize math facts. She doesn't understand the need when she can just figure it out quickly in her head.
Most of her teachers have tried to keep her challenged. She taught lessons in Kindergarten, has helped individuals who needed extra instruction every year, and started a 3rd grade newspaper this year. In her gifted class, she does critical thinking games and activities, research, presentations, etc.
In her words, "sometimes I like work in a group, but usually I prefer to learn independently".

Homeschooling is attractive to her because she wants to be challenged and move at her own pace. I want her to be challenged. At the same time, she's still a little girl and I don't want her to grow up too fast. ( It's been very difficult finding books at her reading level that interest her and are appropriate material for her age. )

I hope this helps.
Thank you!!

mom23
Posts: 532
Joined: Thu Apr 08, 2010 10:10 am

Re: I need help choosing a program(s) for my chidren

Post by mom23 » Thu May 03, 2012 1:40 pm

Based on what you've shared above about your 9yo, I think Preparing would probably be a pretty good fit. I agree with this:
MomtoJGJE wrote:It is not difficult to do two programs with a toddler and preschooler running around, as long as those children are properly placed.

I would gently suggest that even though your children are gifted, HOD is going to be way different from anything they have ever encountered before. So with that said, I would, with what you've shared, do Preparing with your older child and Beyond with your next child.
We started HOD with one guide, and it wasn't a perfect fit for either child. We're currently running 3 guides, and it's actually easier than trying to cram my older two together.
Becky, married to my preacher-man and raising:
DD 12-7th grade public school
DS 10-Preparing
DS 8-Beyond
DS 3-Just doin' his thing

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

Re: I need help choosing a program(s) for my chidren

Post by my3sons » Tue May 08, 2012 8:13 pm

Your 7 yo could do either Beyond Little Hearts or Bigger Hearts. Writing is an important consideration in making this decision. Carrie had this to say in regard to the writing in Beyond Little Hearts compared to the the writing in Bigger Hearts...
As far as choosing between "Beyond.." and "Bigger..." goes, the amount of writing varies quite a bit between Beyond and Bigger. Bigger requires more writing in the areas of a once a week history notebooking assignment, a once a week science experiment sheet and a once a week science notebooking entry, along with once a week copywork of a Bible verse, 1-3 vocabulary cards each week, cursive handwriting practice daily, and daily grammar instruction with written practice. It also provides a choice of spelling or dictation passages. If your little one sounds like that would be fine for her, she belongs in Bigger. If not, then Beyond would be best.

Beyond has much less writing doing copywork daily from the poetry, using a gentle once a week introduction to grammar, and writing daily for very short spelling lessons.


You can have your 7 yo do "Drawn into the Heart of Reading" with either Beyond or Bigger, to keep a challenge in reading instruction. :D

For your 9 yo, I'd look at the first week of plans for PHFHG and see if she seems appropriately placed for the "I" boxes especially. These boxes should be done completely independently, so being able to do the reading, follow the directions in the teacher's guide, and complete the work without assistance is important. Likewise, the "S" boxes are meant to be done semi-independently. This will have your dd having a some help from you but a portion should be done independently. The "T" boxes are teacher-directed, so you would be teaching those. If your dd has not done oral narrations and written narrations, this could make a difference in placement as well. PHFHG is assuming dc are fairly adept at oral narrations (retelling with clarity what they have read), and are ready for written narrations (retelling in words what they have read). Here is the first week of plans for PHFHG...
http://www.heartofdakota.com/pdf/PHFHG-sample-week.pdf

Did your 9 yo just turn 9 yo, or will she be 10 yo soon? If she is close to 10 yo, you could possibly look at Creation to Christ. Also, did your 7 yo just turn 7 yo, or will he be 8 yo soon? That may make a difference as well. I'd love to know your thoughts after considering the writing skills expected in BHFHG, and after checking out the first week of plans of PHFHG if you get a chance, as well as the answer to your dc's ages. Placement does take a bit of consideration, but it is a whole year of your lives - so worth the time. Once placement is set, it is smooth sailing! HTH, and I'll check back to see your thoughts here. :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

Post Reply