2010-11 school year: I used LHTH with my 3 yr. old, Little Hearts with my 5 and 7 yr. old, Bigger Hearts with my 9 yr. old. It was busy but do-able. The struggles I had were not because of the curriculum. I was concerned about many guides in the future and struggling with my oldest (Not sure that HOD was the right fit for him!) so decided to try to group them all together for 2011-12 school year using SOTW and some other stuff. I did not like having them all together at all. Borrowed MFW CTG from a friend but I couldn't hardly give that a go because I am so turned off by the lay-out of the TM, some of the books they use, bad experience with ECC (I have used K, 1st, ADV, and ECC.) So we are back to HOD. I have six kids. We are using CTC, Beyond, and my 4.75 yr. old girl just started MFW K (because I love that program!) I try not to worry about what the future holds (when the younger ones grow into the school years.) My goal, though, is to keep the second and third children together in a guide. I think that will continue to work for that particular pair and will help keep the number of guides down. I looked ahead, though, and I love how independent it becomes. That will be so helpful in our household! It gives me confidence to just keep plugging away with HOD until it doesn't work anymore. I need the structure that HOD gives me. My kids love it. What more can I ask for?

My 6 yo flew through Teaching Textbooks 3 this winter so we picked up Singpore IP and CWP. I really like how he actually has to think to do math now. TT didn't offer him that. On the other hand, my 8 yo definitely has had to think his way through TT3 so it is not the program's fault.

Thanks for the input! Both my husband and my son voted for the boy set. I can get some of the history books from the library, including City, so we may do some from each of the two sets. My library has all but one from the boy set, so I ordered that one and also Boy of the Pyramids. I would also like to get God King from Amazon.

How did you choose which set to use? I'm afraid if we do the History it will be too much of the same time period and we will tire of it. Experience?

My 8 year old can do all of this: *unload the dishwasher; load & start it in a pinch *wash dishes or dry dishes and put away *sort, fold and put away laundry; can run the equipment *sweeping *spot washing floor *vacuuming *clearing the table and washing it *garden work (planting, harvesting, weeding) *haul firewood *all garbage and recycling out of the house *cooks many things but I drain anything that needs it *scrub out microwave *wash down front of appliances *toilets *wash mirrors and windows, tv screen *pick up floors *pick up yard *fetch things from the chest freezers or the cellar *make bed *clean room with brothers He can do so much!! He doesn't do all of the above all the time. This is just what he is capable of. We all pitch in to keep our heads above water.

I would save MFW K for age 5. It is a great program, but especially with the updates I would save it. Carol's looks great! I've always wanted to try it. Little Hands to Heaven is wonderful! I have never been able to make myself like the Rod & Staff workbooks, but some kids do like them.

:lurk5:

Where is the best place to buy Singapore if that is all you are ordering? (cheapest shipping?) Thanks for all the ideas!

My young 6 yr. old is nearing the end of Teaching Textbooks 3. He has a great understanding of math and zooms through the lessons with 100%. I would like to use something before or with TT 4 to slow him down some. Any suggestions? Anyone use the Critical Thinking Mathematical Reasoning books? opinions on those? other ideas? Thanks.

Love it! 10 yr. old son is almost finished with TT4. He didn't like math until TT. 8 yr. old son is halfway through TT3. He gets math, but doesn't always apply himself so likes to blame the computer when he gets one wrong. :tongue_smilie: 6 yr. old son is nearing the end of TT3. He gets math easily and loves math. He tested into 3 without having used any other math curriculum. I am so glad I don't have to fight with 10 yr. old over math anymore!! I'd rather not list all the programs I tried with him.:001_huh:

:D

I have used HOD in the past. My 10 yo son hated notebooking pages and most activities. He wants to read and discuss. My 8 yo son likes activities and I will let him do what he can handle on his own as I don't feel I have the time for it (I have other children.) My 6 yo will also listen in, so I am obviously not using HOD as they would tell me to on their boards. I also do not think we will go on to CTC. I mostly just want a history reading schedule, but I am afraid that SL will not provide the Biblical worldview I desire. The other thing that interests me about Preparing is the guidance for beginning written narrations. I will not do HOD's science as it turned my son off from science when used Bigger. I will go light on the poetry as I thought it was overkill in Bigger. I already have the books for Preparing, but not the guide. I had planned to use it in fall of 2011, but then changed my mind.

I would like to do an overview of world history with my 8 and 10 yr. old boys. We would not do be using everything in Preparing, so just consider this for Bible, history, and read-alouds. I can't decide which one to go with. Any advice?

Green Lake, WI Port Washington, WI Fond du Lac and Oshkosh, WI (Lake Winnebago) Saugatuck, MI make sure you take a ride on the dunes.

I remember doing copywork in elementary school in the 80's. In first grade, we copied off the blackboard a simple sentence about that day. ("Today is Sunday, January 8, 2012.) In second grade, we copied poems. We also had dictation sentences on our spelling tests.

I graduated in 1993, first in my class, and my parents were not involved in my education other than attending parent teacher conferences each year. My sibs were anywhere from A-C students.

Lands End will replace them if they don't hold up. Also, get on their email list, they have sales and codes all the time. 25% off right now. Look on their home page. Also, overstocks is a good place to get them on discount.

:iagree:

I had baby no. 6 four months ago. My husband is usually able to take two weeks off and I do nothing but care for the baby. It helps speed recovery sooo much!! I read that suggestion and the benefits of it years ago when I only had one or two kids. We have made it a priority because we wanted my body to hold up to a large family and it has worked great!

My now 10 yob started TT4 earlier this calendar year when he was 9 and it has been great for him! He was a lot like you described your child and I am so thankful for TT!

My 10 yr. old son was the same. We just started Phonetic Zoo and I am seeing a difference already! Highly recommend it.

We were supposed to finish our HOD programs that we started last school year, but we put them on the shelf. As much as I loved HOD, it wasn't working for my oldest at all. He hated it. I switched to SOTW and Apologia science to use with all my school-age children together (ages 6, 8, and 10.) WOW. I felt a huge burden lifted from me when we switched. I didn't expect that. I guess HOD wasn't the fit I wanted it to be. I mourned it for a couple weeks and I still don't know if I want to sell the programs but I might just because of finances. To those of you it is working for, enjoy it for me! :D

There are recommendations in the activity guide. I highly recommend it if you didn't get it. I love it!

LOL Well, my degree is in Early Childhood Education. I don't mind art projects so much but these ones just seem like they need more from me than what we did in HOD's Little Hands to Heaven. I was so spoiled by LHTH's low prep and very age-appropriate activities. Some of the things in Alphabet Art seem to be a reach for a 2 yr. old. That said, I looked at it again this afternoon and am going to try it with my 2 yo and almost 4 yo. I had been planning to use MFW K (bible and science) with my 4 and 6 yr. olds, but the 6 yr. old is beyond it and is better off w/ his big brothers. So I wasn't sure what to choose next. I have both of TMJ's preschool programs and SL's, too. I don't think my 2 yo is really ready for much but he may surprise me. Did you get the animal books? (animal homes, etc.)

Phonics: finishing the Reading Lesson book and cd, Reading Eggs, then we'll move into HOD's Emergent Readers Just started Writing with Ease and we'll see how that goes. Math: TT3 and we'll fill in with other stuff if he hits a tough spot but so far he's doing great! (family) History: SOTW 1 w/ AG and Vos Story Bible (family) Science: Apologia Zoology 1