acsnmama Posted July 13, 2014 Share Posted July 13, 2014 Dare I say that I may be one who could end up being a HOD drop out. I'm doing LHFHG and Bigger with my 2 school age kids, but it truly is hard doing separate things with them. The thing I like best about it is how it's all planned for me. There are activities I never would've thought of. I fear not being thorough going it alone, which I've done before, but I like how HOD teaches poetry (stanzas, verses, rhyming patterns...) as well as timelines, etc. I don't mind subbing things, but the cost is too much for me to sub too much. I'd just prefer to combine my kids in Bible, Poetry, Science, History, Art and Storytime (to name a few off the top of my head). I love HOD choices, which is why we chose it! But I feel like I can't combine, and although others have said the same, I never thought I would, but soon enough I'll have a 3rd little one doing school, and a 4th in a few years. I'm so torn, I've invested so much money in HOD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeartatHome Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 Have you thought of MFW? I haven't used it but it is created for combining and multi-level teaching so maybe that is something to consider. How about picking just one of the story times from one of the guides and combine that vs doing two separate story times. I've heard other moms do that when they are using more then one guide. I suppose you could do the same for bible? If you really like HOD there are ways around things to make it work for your family but I also understand sometimes it's best to move on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenaj Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 I tweak HOD to death to make it work for our large family. We do a completely different Bible combined together first thing in the morning and then skip the Bible boxes (Bible Study Guide For All Ages). Most of the kids read their story time by themselves and we skip the activities associated with that box but your kids are so young that I would combine them all for read-aloud time. I think it was the year before last we cancelled all storytime boxes and spent the whole year reading The Chronicles of Narnia. I move the kids into independence a bit ahead of the HOD schedule. For instance, both of the boys who have done Bigger have managed the science box on their own (except for some help with the experiment days) and if I'm just having a day, I will send my "Bigger" kid off to do the history reading on his own. Also, both times through Preparing, by the end of the guide, the history reading has morphed into a mostly independent box. We don't do DITHOR. Just wanted to throw some ideas out there for you. I understand the appeal of combining. Really! In fact, I was just contemplating scrapping all my HOD stuff a few weeks ago and combining everyone together again but than I sat down and reminded myself why I chose HOD in the first place. In fact, just yesterday my mouse wandered over to the simplycharlottemason.com site of it's own free will - LOL! It's so hard to make these decisions! The kicker for me is that the reason I picked HOD in the first place was because I love, love, love how Carrie's plan points my kids constantly to remember God in almost every subject. The other really big priority for me was that I like the skill-based levels that allows each of my kids to develop individually which sometimes gets lost when I'm combining just because I don't have the time or confidence/knowledge to tweak those assignments for them. Best wishes as you decide the path for your school this year! " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susie in MS Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 In fact, just yesterday my mouse wandered over to the simplycharlottemason.com site of it's own free will - LOL! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oh my word!! :lol: You are much too funny! OP, I just wanted to say that you are not alone in your struggle. I only have 1 to hs right now, but I did (and would again) combine all of my other older kids when it was possible. I have read all of the reasons why some feel you should not combine, and never did agree with them for kids under 9th grade.Still with only 1 child left to school I often times considering dropping any and all guides, but then doubt sets in just like it is for you. I am absolutely no help to you, but wanted you to know you are not alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holly Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 We switched to SCM's free curriculum guide. I have made a few changes from it, but since it's free, it's not a big deal. ;) My DC took too long on HOD's lessons and I couldn't see it working when I started adding more levels. With 5 DC, I need everyone combined as much as possible! SCM is also easy to substitute books with, so I can often use resources we already have. This coming year, we'll be using MOH 2 and LLATL. I use the book suggestions from the SCM history guides, but MOH as our main text. So I basically use their free guide as a starting point to organizing my own materials. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelli Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 Bigger is the MOST teacher intensive of all the guides so I hear of and experienced burnout with it more than any other. If I was still using HOD, I would not start any of my kids in HOD until Preparing in 4th grade when the guides begin to be somewhat independent. Plus I'm not a huge fan of the younger guides any way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 Dare I say that I may be one who could end up being a HOD drop out. I'm doing LHFHG and Bigger with my 2 school age kids, but it truly is hard doing separate things with them. The thing I like best about it is how it's all planned for me. There are activities I never would've thought of. I fear not being thorough going it alone, which I've done before, but I like how HOD teaches poetry (stanzas, verses, rhyming patterns...) as well as timelines, etc. I don't mind subbing things, but the cost is too much for me to sub too much. I'd just prefer to combine my kids in Bible, Poetry, Science, History, Art and Storytime (to name a few off the top of my head). I love HOD choices, which is why we chose it! But I feel like I can't combine, and although others have said the same, I never thought I would, but soon enough I'll have a 3rd little one doing school, and a 4th in a few years. I'm so torn, I've invested so much money in HOD. Absolutely. Go for it. Hundreds of thousands of homeschoolers have happily done their own thing over the years and lived to tell about it. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acsnmama Posted July 14, 2014 Author Share Posted July 14, 2014 I have looked into SCM! Just not sure about it. I'm trying to figure out the parts I'd truly miss from HOD, there are plenty I'm sure. Like what History would we use? One large reason I went with HOD is because of History. I do like the One Small Square books and the notebooking suggestions, but I really want to do Apologia! We tried Apologia in the past but didn't keep it up, though I miss it. It will be too much to add Apologia in addition to HOD. Time and money. I also think of the price of HOD and figure it would be cheaper another route, I'm not sure though, the options I would choose on my own probably aren't that much cheaper, I've considered Beautiful feet history, and have many of the books for American history already, so I guess it wouldn't be too expensive this year if I went that route. I guess I need to write it all out and price all of it. I like Rod & Staff English got the most part, I have levels 2-6, so we're set! I think I'd probably follow HOD history cycle, continue reading the DITHOR reading selections. We too don't do DITHOR, my son just reads the books. I like the idea of DITHOR, breaking down parts of a story, etc, but I honestly cannot imagine adding that to our day! I read the "Plain Vanilla Homeschoolers" topic and found myself longing for a simple set up! I know myself though, and I tend to really slack without a specific game plan! That's where HOD helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeriJ Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 I combine elements of SCM and HOD and do my own thing. I love the books from HOD. But I use the suggestions for combining for some subjects from SCM. SCM inspires me to figure out my own plan. HOD helps me with the details. Sometimes HOD assignments are too detailed for me, so I refer to SCM to help me keep it.....simple. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acsnmama Posted July 14, 2014 Author Share Posted July 14, 2014 Today I read some of the free sample of Apologia Chemistry & Physics to my kids, they also painted together, etc. It was quite freeing. Typically my little ones will tag along with art, so I get stuck having to either do extra, or just skipping one. I've been busy today rearranging to prepare for our new baby coming this fall, but while I relax tonight I'll be pricing out other options. I have always felt that kids should learn at their own level, but for things like poetry, bible, art, etc don't NEED to be separate, I'm seeing that now. I'm not sure I'm ready to give up HOD, but I'll be thinking and praying about it for sure. I found great resources on teaching poetry and also how it doesn't have to be much more than reading poems together. It would be easier to do dictation directly from a poem instead of separate list, and using it for copywork... Lots of things to consider.... I started schooling early because of our baby due this fall, I'm glad I'm not mid way through the year trying to figure this out, even if I don't change my plan, at least I get the urge out of the way now! Not that it won't ever return! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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