Decisions for next year: HOD vs. AO

[musicianmom]

I am really having a hard time deciding between HOD Bigger or AO Year 2 for second grade next year.

 

I have always been an Ambleside fan. I first discovered it when dd was less than 2 years old! I bought nearly every book on the Year 0 list, started collecting higher-level books whenever I ran across one cheap, etc. I was absolutely determined to use it and couldn't wait for first grade to begin year 1.

 

When it came time, I chickened out. I wasn't comfortable with the lack of formal spelling and grammar. I absolutely stink at nature study. I liked the systematic box-checking structure of HOD, so I ended up with that. However, after practically memorizing the HOD catalog, I still think that overall, the reading material of Ambleside is superior.

 

To make matters more difficult, dd is in an all-day tutorial once a week. It's just to give her some time with kids her age and to give us a break from each other (she's a very intense child, lol). There is no way to do any school on Tuesdays, and so I'm having to hyper-focus on the calendar in order to get the HOD plan done by the end of the school year. So for that reason, Ambleside would be easier to manage. But then there's still that pesky feeling like I need to add things to Ambleside -- science, grammar, spelling, etc. And did I mention that I really stink at nature study and that whole outdoors thing in general?

 

Any thoughts?

[musicianmom]

bump

[Another Lynn]

I feel your pain! I have gone back and forth between HOD and AO many times. I like things about both. Even now when I'm not really using either one, I add in AO read alouds when I can. Here are some things I would consider as you think about choosing....

 

1) Grammar and spelling - these are not too hard to add to AO. You could add FLL if you want more gentle or R&S if you want more rigorous or CLE if you want a grammar and spelling all-in-one.

 

2) Science - not my strong point, but you could add Apologia or Elemental Science or RS4K to AO. Or you could add LEt's Read and Find Out Books and some experiments (Janice Van Cleave books?) and not be tied to a program.

 

3) More importantly, ask yourself how you feel about HOD this year? That would have a lot to do with what you choose for next year. Do you like the skill integration done for you? Or would you rather pick and choose what readings (from AO) you decide to do a notebook page for? an oral narration for? copywork from? (and later, a written narration for?) Do you know how much and what kind of writing you would assign if it were up to you?

 

4) It would be fine to go back to AO Year 1, in fact there are lots of good reasons to do so. The years are not really grade levels per se and there are some great reads in year 1!

 

5) I stink at nature study too. I wouldn't worry about it. Get better at it if you want to, or forget about it. That would not make or break my decision about which program.

 

6) Do you have a preference about which history cycle you follow? I'm sure you are familiar with HOD (another year of American, then a 1 year world overview and then a 4year history cycle). AO is a 6 year cycle. Does one of these appeal to you more than the other?

 

Okay.... I think I had some other thoughts, but I've forgotten what they were (a few interruptions here, LOL). Anyway, not sure that helps any, but I have wrestled with the same questions myself.

[SorrelZG]

I departed from HOD and just started AO1. I don't have experience with Bigger; I have all the guides below it.

 

I don't think you need to be intimidated and you don't have to approach AO as an all or nothing choice. Do something more formal for science if you want. Add some structured spelling if you please. HOD ends up doing spelling in a CM way with dictation eventually anyway so if you don't like that, you'd be adding a different spelling there also. HOD also has a rather gentle science in the early years that many people feel the desire to add to so I think these specific points shouldn't be the ones you make your decision on.

 

I'm not using AO in a pure CM way. We are enjoying it far more than we were HOD. Part of that is because all the core subjects are separate and individually paced for my child who doesn't fit the box. You could do the same thing with HOD by ignoring the skills section but the other part has been the readings. Obviously every child is different and apparently mine isn't typical for his age but the thing he was enjoying about HOD was that it didn't last long while the thing he is enjoying about AO is everything we're reading.

 

Obviously, just because HOD didn't light the fire for my DS as I had hoped but AO does, doesn't mean that's going to be the case for you. I just don't think you should let the things you've mentioned be such a great factor in your decision.

[Hadassah]

I adore AO and have used it since the start, though I must admit that I've never used HOD. But I agree that using AO isn't an all-or-nothing decision. You can incorporate the aspects that work for you, and tweak as needed.

Two more pieces of AO advice...

1. Trust the system. I know this can be hard. When I was starting out with AO I also balked at the abundance of nature stuff (I'm more of an indoor girl :D) and the lack of a formal grammar/science/etc curriculum. But trust the program. Everything will fall into place.

2. On the other had, you don't have to be an AO purist. AO and CM recommend "free" afternoons, but that didn't work for us. Our school day overflows into the afternoon. Another example: yes, I use a writing curriculum for my younger kids. Recommended by AO? Nope. A better fit for my family? Yup!

HTH,

Hadassah