Question about doing two guides??

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
hobandrolly
Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Nov 12, 2009 3:22 pm

Question about doing two guides??

Post by hobandrolly » Fri Dec 03, 2010 12:20 pm

Good morning all~

Still new here! I've asked scattered questions, and I think I have a good plan for next year, but wanted thoughts on it: what we've decided (99% sure) is to have our 4th graders do Preparing, and our 2nd grader do Beyond Little Hearts (those would be their grades next year). My question is this: I'm coming from a curriculum that is both time and teacher intensive~and time is what I lack (in addition to those three girls, I also have a 3 year old energy filled gal!). My current curriculum combines all students from 2nd grade up...I'm having a hard time getting out of this mindframe. Would it be better to combine the three older girls in Bigger Hearts with the exentions for the older two? Or is it truly doable to do two guides (as this would be IMPOSSIBLE with my current curriculum and it's hard to envisions this!). As an aside, my older two are wonderful at independent work~there are quite a few subjects that I briefly explain and they take from there, and they are strong and eager readers. Thanks so much for any thoughts! ~Holly :D
For 2012~2013 school year:
Gracie (5): Kindergarten
Maely (8): Bigger Hearts for His Glory
Annie/Lynnie (10): Creation to Christ
Second year with Heart of Dakota and loving it!

cirons
Posts: 180
Joined: Mon Jul 05, 2010 8:17 pm
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA

Re: Question about doing two guides??

Post by cirons » Fri Dec 03, 2010 2:12 pm

Hi Holly,

I am currently doing Preparing and Beyond with my dd 9 and ds 7. I find it very doable! We start between 8-8:30am in the morning and I finish Beyond within 1.5 hours and we finished Preparing by lunch time. I try and do the required reading with my Preparing dd first so she can then go off and do all her independent work while I do the whole Beyond program. When I am finished with Beyond, I do the other LA components and Maths for Preparing. I am there for my daughter for her questions and I also do some of the semi independent things with my Preparing daughter when my ds is having a snack break. It works well for us. They are great programs and my kids love doing them!
Homeschooling 2 dc since Feb, 2008
Preparing with dd 9
Beyond with ds 7

deltagal
Posts: 930
Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2008 8:29 pm
Location: Virginia

Re: Question about doing two guides??

Post by deltagal » Fri Dec 03, 2010 2:30 pm

Holly -
Just skimming over your question, but if your children "place" well in those guides according to the placement chart, it will be very doable. Keep in mind that you need to plan for a slow start - perhaps take 2 days to do one day for the first 2 weeks and get your olders going before you begin working with the youngers, but it will work. AND ----you'll be so pleased. We sure are. I came to HOD because I really felt my children needed the "individualized" attention the separate guides offered and it is really reaping great rewards. Sounds like you have a plan!
With Joy!
Florence

My blog: http://florencebrooks.com/

Began HOD 1/2009
Currently using: Bigger, RTR, Rev to Rev and MTMM

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

Re: Question about doing two guides??

Post by Carrie » Tue Dec 07, 2010 3:08 pm

hobandrolly,

The ladies have already done a great job of advising you. :D Placement is such a key factor in determining what will work best for your family. When you look at the first page especially of the placement chart, do you find that your 2nd grader fits best in Beyond and your 4th graders fit best in Preparing Hearts? The reason I ask is because if this is where your children place well, then it would be very difficult to raise your 2nd grader into Bigger Hearts as it will be too difficult for her/him. There is a large difference between Beyond and Bigger. :D

When combining with HOD, we typically recommend that you combine the older children into the younger child's program. So, in this case we wouldn't usually recommend combining unless your 2nd grader fit well within Bigger Hearts,as it would be going back too far to combine your two 4th graders with your second grader in Beyond. If you had one child placed in Bigger Hearts and two placed in Preparing Hearts, then we would recommend looking at combining, as the children would be close enough together skill-wise to combine well then. Clear as mud? :D

Blessings,
Carrie

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

Re: Question about doing two guides??

Post by my3sons » Thu Dec 09, 2010 11:58 am

I just wanted to encourage you that we did Beyond and PHFHG a few years back and found it very doable! In fact, I had a newborn and a surgery that year and did fine with it. One thing to keep in mind - combining does not always mean your life will be easier. When dc are farther apart in age or in skills, combining seems to be more difficult to do, as someone is generally pushed too far, or someone is not challenged enough. We are doing 3 HOD guides and enjoying our days very much. Is it busy? Yes, but everyone is happily doing school and thriving. We finish school in about 4 hours. We love our life with HOD! I think you'll do just fine. When you get to mapping out your day, there are some great schedule/routine threads on this board. I'm excited for you to begin homeschooling with HOD! :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

hobandrolly
Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Nov 12, 2009 3:22 pm

Re: Question about doing two guides??

Post by hobandrolly » Wed Dec 22, 2010 8:01 am

Thank you to all who responded~oddly enough, the Lord had an interesting way of guiding me here. My 6 year old has been a bit challenging lately and after praying about her and asking the Lord what it was she needed from me that she wasn't getting it was crystal clear. She rarely gets me alone~her older twins are both special needs (Cerebral Palsy~physically challenged only yet requires therapy and home program) and the younger sister (3) receives lots of me just by being so young. My 6 year old gets the leftovers, sadly. I am now looking forward to doing two separate guides so that I have that time each day to cuddle up with her for those great read-alouds, to sit with her and show her that I'm on her team and invested in her learning. Now I can't wait for next year! :D So I'm taking the Lord's leading and your great advice and choosing Preparing and Beyond~and looking forward to it. Thanks a bunch ladies! ~Holly
For 2012~2013 school year:
Gracie (5): Kindergarten
Maely (8): Bigger Hearts for His Glory
Annie/Lynnie (10): Creation to Christ
Second year with Heart of Dakota and loving it!

blessedmomof4
Posts: 1138
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 4:34 pm
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

Re: Question about doing two guides??

Post by blessedmomof4 » Wed Dec 22, 2010 1:09 pm

Holly.
I'm so glad for you that you have been steered this way, as HOD will surely be a help in accomplishing your heart's desire :D That special time with your daughter sure means a lot, I see it in my girls. I have 3 daughters, and somehow it is so easy for the middle one to get the "leftovers". I have been made more aware of that now that they are all home again, that my middle girl loves it when I give her some time for just the two of us :D God bless you on your parentiing journey and give you daily grace!
Lourdes
Wife to Danforth
2 grads 9/19/92,7/8/95
2 in charter school 1/31/98, 9/19/99
3 in Heaven 8/11/06, 8/18/10, 9/13/13
Future HODie is here! 9/14/12

Post Reply