I think that's we need to do too. She loves the artsy fartsy stuff but by the time we get done with the actual spelling, math, history, and copywork I'm so tired out (and after doing school with 2 other girls) that I don't feel up to the crafts and stuff. That's kind of why I was thinking of going to a workbook only thing for a year and trying it out.

I have looked at their stuff but it's probably too expensive for me. I will already be buying the next level of HOD for my oldest to do next fall.

My 9 year-old is so distracted! It takes her hours to do her work. She is smart and bright, but she gets distracted by everything. We are trying to do Bigger Hearts for His Glory and I am skipping so much. My oldest did that guide last year and it went quite well. My girls are so different though! :p I don't know if the Eggleston books just lose her? Maybe the content in Preparing would be more interesting (it sure is to me!) I am thinking of just getting Christian Light Education grade 4 or my distracted learner next year and waiting a year before I try Preparing Hearts with her? I'm just afraid I'll be so frustrated with trying to get her through the material and all the independent work? I should mention I have 4 kids and am having my 5th in April...3 of them are in guides this year and next year my 4th will probably start some preschool workbooks. Would it be easier to just give her some workbooks like CLE would have? We already use CLE math and love it.

Thank you. :) I will look at CLE again. Thank you. :) I appreciate your honesty and advice.

My 5th grader is in Preparing. :)

Oh yes, my 1st grader is a very advanced reader, but she's just doing the emerging readers this year. :) My 3rd grader is reading the first level of DITHOR books, but I haven't had her do any of the workbook. I am glad to hear a few people say not to worry about the workbooks. :) I really do like the DITHOR book choices though.

I guess I wonder if we do need anything at this point? Is it enough just to have them be reading these books...do we really need to do all the activities and worksheets with the books? It's just a bit overwhelming to me.

I've looked at CLE and R&S. I am looking right now at Memoria Press. I have 3 readers right now. 1st, 3rd, and 5th. All great readers. DITHOR just isn't gelling for us, 2nd year of trying. :) We use HOD so they are already getting a good amount of reading.

A little background - I have a 3 year-old and am pregnant in addition to the 3 doing school right now. To make things a bit easier for me right now, I am thinking of dropping HOD's Little Hearts for my 1st grader and Bigger for my 3rd grader and combining their history, Bible, & science for the rest of the year. My 5th grader is doing Preparing and I LOVE it. My 3rd grader will be doing it next year for 4th. So, what are some alternatives? I get SO overwhelmed looking around at the various websites. We use CLE math, Rod & Staff English, and R&S Spelling already and love them. THANKS!

Thank you! That does help me a lot!

Just wondering if this would be age-appropriate for my 6 and 8 year-olds? They will be 7 and 9 within a couple months. Thanks!

Thank you everyone!

Thank you ladies. :) Heather - that's kind of what I was thinking. Maybe I will get it - I guess it's only $6.50 plus shipping....

I bought ETC 3 & 4 for my 1st grader this fall. Should I have bought the teacher's guide too? I'm also wondering if I should have bought 1 & 2 as well? Thank you for any help! :)

Thank you again for all the ideas. :) coffeefreak - we did do Adv. I made it through, but it wasn't a love thing. ;)

Thank you both for the comments. :) We used MFW from K through ECC. We liked K & 1st a lot but began to dislike Adv and then we really didn't like ECC. Not sure if we went back if it would work better for us now or not. I have heard of teh SOTW and Galloping the Globe before - maybe I'll look into those. :) Thanks!

So this year I have done 3 different HOD guides with my girls. It has been busy and tiring. :) I plan to move my oldest forward into Preparing this fall. However, I am completely undecided what to do with my next two daughters this fall. I am not sure my 6 (will be 7 in Oct) year-old will be ready for Beyond. I am not sure I am ready to repeat Bigger with my 8 (will be 9 in Oct) year-old daughter. Is there something I could use with them together for history & science? I plan to continue with R&S Spelling, R&S English, and CLE Math with them. I used MFW the first 4 years and HOD this year so I've really not ever explored anything beyond those two things and I feel very overwhelmed looking at what else is out there!

Yes, I agree, we have liked Beyond, I'm just not sure it'll be the right fit for my next in line next year. :) I don't remember loving ADV. It was okay, but honestly, not sure I'd want to do that one again. Thank you for sharing though! I did love MFW K & 1st.

I have only used Little Hearts, Beyond, and Bigger, but I agree with about everything you said here. :) I am wondering what you would suggest to do instead of Beyond though? I am trying to decide whether or not to move my daughter whose in Little Hearts this year into Beyond next year or choose something else? She'll turn 7 this Oct.

:leaving:

I agree with everything you said!!!!!!!!! We switched over to HOD this year after 4 years with MFW. We are using Little Hearts, Beyond, & Bigger this year. Beyond & Bigger I really really like, except for the devotionals quoted above my comment. Sometimes we don't do the little activity with the lesson either as either I am missing a supply, my child isn't interested, or whatever...but I appreciate the ideas. I am not crazy about Little Hearts though. We kind of like the Burgess books, but also it gets old IMO. My 6 year-old doesn't like to do the rhymes or little activities. I don't know if she's embarrassed a bigger sister will see her or if it's just not her style. I am not sure I will use Little Hands or Little Hearts again. I had so much appreciation for MFW K & 1st I may use those when my next child comes up to that point. We also found that CLE math works best for us and we do R&S spelling.

We just went through this. My husband came down sick on a Thursday, toddler Friday...we chose to keep girls home from AWANA Sunday night, in case. Monday morning dd3 got sick. Tuesday we kept dd2 home from violin lesson, in case. She and her other sister got sick the next day. They each would have been contagious and potentially infected others if they'd went to AWANA & lessons. I am so glad we kept them home. Now everyone is mended, but not it took a couple weeks of going nowhere.

So sorry you went through all that. :( I am proud of you for wearing a mask at work. Sometimes we have to look out for ourselves!

Really really cute!

He is precious! I love the frizzy hair. We used to have a white cat. He was possessed! He was deaf and had two different colored eyes. As much as I've always loved cats, I'm not sure I could ever have another after Cooper. He traumatized me! lol