Tree House Academy wrote:Why do you have to skip anything?
Bigger 3rd grade
Preparing 4th grade
HHTT 5th grade
Confused??
Hi Colleen! I was thinking the above progression too.
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
Are you thinking you'd like to have another whole year for doing a country study as well, and is that why the above progression wouldn't work? If so, I second what has been said about the geography in HOD. I think it is a stand-out part of the overall progression of HOD programs because it links so well to what has been studied in history and science. The geography gets increasingly more difficult. In Creation to Christ, Geography of the Bible Lands is used - for example - and that is a very in-depth study. Each year of HOD increases its geography learning, so it will be much more in-depth than the geography studied in the younger ages of HOD guides.
Are you wanting to take the summer off, but not sure about being in the middle of an HOD program? I may have read into your post here about that, but if that is also something you are concerned about, I just wanted to say that we do that and it's been fine. We live in SD, and we LOVE our summers off because it is some of the only truly outdoor playing friendly weather we have. Also, my dh loves to take our boys fishing, and it is a joy to be able to pick up and do that whenever he wants to during the summer. Anyway, if you want the summer off, definitely take it off without worrying about finishing HOD guides before you do. Our oldest son is on the Sept. to May plan, and finishes his HOD guides this way each year. Our middle son has been on a Jan. to Dec. plan (pretty much). He takes the summer off in the middle, and it has worked just fine. In fact, I have rather enjoyed beginning just 1 new HOD program each Sept., and picking up the one we're in the middle of for my middle ds. Since my middle ds is on the young side of the HOD guides as well, I only do Beyond with him 4 days a week too. So, eventually we won't even be on the Jan. to Dec. plan because he'll need longer than a 36 week school year (with summers off too) to make it through the guides. This is fine with me because it fits his skill level.
So, that brings me to another thought I had as I was reading your post. Are you not sure about what to do with the last 14 weeks of school now? I think it would be nice to do Bigger Hearts now and get a bit of a head start on it. You could actually start it now and do it 4 days a week. Then, take the summer off and begin where you left off, doing it 4 days a week until you finish. That should allow you to finish it by the end of May (even with some time left over). You could always use the fifth day for anything special you wanted - or just free time, which is always a hit around here.
I hope something here helped - just post again with any other thoughts you are having. We'll all help get to the bottom of it so you have a super year!
In Christ,
Julie