oops! I just realized this was from 2012... What did you end up using? Did you find something similar?

bumping... I was wondering the same thing as the PP.... anyone else have some curriculum ideas for something like Elemental History Adventures in America but for other time periods?? I LOVE the layout and booklist!

Ok, definitely going to look into WP! Thanks!

This is exactly what I am already thinking. My almost 4 year old is definitely a lot different than my 7 year old. So I'm not the only one this has happened to! I have so many things that I would LOVE to use but once I try them the wonderful picture in my head of how it will work for everyone and the reality when I actually add children to the mix are not even close. :tongue_smilie:

Thanks I do have the book and reference it. I was hoping to find out some other personal experiences with curriculum. :001_smile:

I have 4 boys and 1 girl. My daughter is definitely my daughter, worksheets, paper crafts, etc... now my boys I am needing help with. I know I shouldn't have curriculum that has a lot of writing or a large sit down time commitment.(especially until they are older) I was wondering what you all have found to be favorite curricula for your boys. TIA!

I was curious if you all think that you could use HOD with different ages then what is recommended if you are using it in a Sonlight way.

:bigear:

I agree with everyone just keep reading. I didn't start chapter books too early. A little bit last year and more this year. My kids are now in 1st, K, preschool (3 going to be 4 in March), toddler, and new baby. Now that we have started reading more chapter books with the oldest two I have been shocked with the narrations (or telling back what he has pick up in the story) from my 3 year old. I definitely think chapter books with short chapters are great to start now. My kids have LOVED Mr. Popper's Penguins, and we are reading through the Little House books. Heart of Dakota's Beyond Little Hearts storytime read-alouds is a great list for ideas. I also really like the Simply Charlotte Mason website and their literature lists. HOD http://www.heartofdakota.com/byd-little-hearts-packages.php SCM http://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/scmguide/literature/

I would also say for a booklist we LOVE the Before Five in a Row books and Five In a Row books. Definitely add more books - they learn so much by you reading to them and you don't have to wait for their motor skills to catch up to do that. :D Before Five in a Row http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/Before+Five+in+a+Row+Literature+Package/BFRFIR/c2ff4a591b765bb5ec43fc2f?subject=2&category=8986 FIAR http://www.rainbowresource.com/searchspring.php?q=five+in+a+row

Mr. Popper's Penguins The Little House Series Frog and Toad books Blueberries for Sal We don't have the CDs but we love Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel and I think I have seen the book and CD packaged together.

We did Little Hearts with my oldest two last year and have enjoyed some of the rhymes and continue to read the bible story book with my younger ones this year. (We have been doing Elemental History this year after BLHFHG didn't end up working, mainly for me. For some reason the boxes overwhelm me when I already feel like a ping pong ball bouncing between kids. :001_smile: ) I love the idea and look of HOD but I have a really hard time implementing it with the size of my family and not being perfectly placed. I really want to try to include everyone in the content subjects and then meet everyone on their own level for skills subjects. So I wasn't planning on using HOD with my group but now really wanting to do an overview (much more in depth than LHFHG) I like their main history and read-alouds that they use. For you ladies who have used Preparing how difficult are the topics in the read-alouds? I don't expect even my oldest to remember everything that we have read but I want to introduce them to different times in history, pyramids, knights & castles, etc. My kids love reading and have been enjoying chapter books with even the 3 year old giving a brief narration, which shocks me what he is picking up. Mainly I just want to give them lots of new information in story form using great literature and a few hands-on things when we can fit them in. :)

Have either of you used or seen the CD that has the hands-on activities on it? What types of activities are suggested?

Thanks for the advice about the ages. My plan isn't to use CTC the following year most likely so that wouldn't be a problem. I really want to keep my kids somewhat together for content subjects. This is what I thought to about ECC's booklist, thanks. When I was looking at the books used in EE vs ECC they do look very similar. I am still hoping I can figure out a history focus and then maybe I can just add in EE.

I am breaking up my questions from my previous post Overview of World History + Geography... I like Heart of Dakota's Preparing Hearts but the ages of my kids aren't in their "range". It will be for a 2nd grader 7/8 year old, 1st grader 6/7 year old, and then 4K. Has anyone used PHFHG specifically for the history/bible? Would it be worth it with the ages or would it be too much? Has anyone had experience using the guide they want for the history readings not using the age/skills range? I don't expect to use the whole guide but wonder if it would be nice to use for the pages listed to read for history and science. Thanks!

I am breaking up my overview of world history/geography post questions to hopefully hear more specifics... Sonlight's Intro to World History looks something like what I am thinking but I am more questioning of their book choices. (We like to wait on tough topics until kids are older but still think there are plenty of books to use beyond just American history when they are young.) I also am not that interested in doing the Intro for two years but like the books that are in the separate years better than the books in the B+C option. If you have used Core B, C, or B+C can you tell me which books are questionable? Is B+C too old for my two oldests? It looks like the age goes up from B, but B+C and C are the same.

I am wondering if their is a curriculum out their that is an overview of world history with a strong geography focus. I have Expedition Earth but I don't necessarily want to just do a geography year. I like Heart of Dakota's Preparing Hearts but the ages of my kids aren't in their "range". It will be for a 2nd grader 7/8 year old, 1st grader 6/7 year old, and then 4K. Has anyone used PHFHG specifically for the history/bible? Would it be worth it with the ages or would it be too much? Sonlight's Intro to World History looks something like what I am thinking but I am more questioning of their book choices. (We like to wait on tough topics until kids are older but still think there are plenty of books to use beyond just American history when they are young.) I also am not that interested in doing the Intro for two years but like the books that are in the separate years better than the books in the B+C option. If you have used Core B, C, or B+C can you tell me which books are questionable? Is B+C too old for my two oldests? It looks like the age goes up from B, but B+C and C are the same. I also wondered if MFW Exploring Countries and Cultures would have a history overview focus at all? I like the use in HOD/Sonlight of A Child's History of the World and in HOD Grandpa's Box. Are these books in the back reading list at all? What types of books are in the reading list? I guess I am wondering if it is pretty much just geography like EE from Confessions. We are doing American history this year with Elemental History and I think I would really like to do an overview before we start ancients. Anything out there like what I am thinking or do I have to set it up myself if I want to do it???

I just checked and it is that price for me without prime. I don't know much about prime but is the check mark meaning it would ship free for you because of prime? On my screen I have that it qualifies for the spend $25 on certain items and get free shipping where your prime check mark is.

I'm sorry I don't have a lot of experience with the two you are comparing but have you looked at Little Hearts for His Glory from Heart of Dakota? We used a lot of it last year for K with my ds and I think it is very open and go and what you are describing. My little experience with FIAR...it was not open and go for me because I had to make decisions all the time about what I should choose each day to do. I love the idea of it and had a very hard getting rid of the manuals but decided we would just read the books along with our K program. (You can find book packs from Rainbow Resource for the different FIAR volumes.) I haven't used MFW K but have the 2011 TM. I do think the grid update that they have in the newer TM would help it to be more open and go. I was thinking about using it for my next ds for pre-k, he would be 4 1/2. They end the phonics instruction with mainly learning short vowel words. (Remember this is just me looking at it so I could be mistaken.) I didn't want to use MFW 1st grade phonics so that is why I am thinking of using it earlier to do some fun science units and introduce the reading and then move to a different phonics program later. So I guess do you really want MFW phonics or do you want to be able to choose your phonics? That will help to decide. Blessings in your choice!

WOW! I am so glad that I asked this here. You all are great!! I am seeing things a little differently and where I can tweak things. Keep the ideas coming!!!

Ok, I seem for some reason to be at a stand still with getting all of our subjects going. I can't seem to decide the best way to schedule our schooling (daily) so that it isn't as crazy as it was. Maybe I am dreaming and it will just be this crazy for awhile with the ages of kids I have??:lol: My kids are 6 1/2 1st grader, 5 K, 3 1/2 year old, 1 1/2 year old, baby due at the end of October. I have toys and educational things for the youngers but my problem is actually with my older. He fights me a lot and so we were only getting phonics, math, and maybe some copywork and then I was sooooo ready to be done! So I am trying to figure out when the best time is to do these subjects with him and then with my next dd and still manage everyone else without losing it. Can anyone relate? Some options I have come up with: A somewhat strict schedule that lays out what each child is doing at every moment. (Then how do you get them to do that at these ages, right?):tongue_smilie: Try to do a round table with the subjects, get them started, then help the next one, then go back, and so on. Do my sons phonics and math at rest time (not ideal because I would like a rest too). ??? Any other ideas of what has worked with your family when you have many little ones who are unable to do independent work? TIA!

Here is a free curriculum that may have some ideas: http://guesthollow.com/homeschool/curriculum.html Just scroll down a bit and you can look at the American History. I don't know if it would be old enough for your 3rd grader but www.elementalhistory.com had fun easy activities. Their curriculum is $15 for the TM and student notebook. There are chapter books that your 3rd grader could read to add in more. I think you could probably enhance the activities too. Some of them may not be what you are looking for but others I think could even allow your oldest to lead the activities. Not a lot of ideas here but some: http://simplycharlottemason.com/books/early-modern/links-tips/ http://simplycharlottemason.com/books/modern-times-epistles-revelation/links-and-tips/ You can scroll down to see some ideas. Hope these help!

I think you were on the right website. Here is her post for skip counting puzzles: http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2012/07/skip-counting-mazes.html I hope that is what you were looking for!

Keep us posted how it goes!!! I am at the beginning stages of Beyond with my kids but have a hard time with the future plans of sticking with HOD and having it all so perfectly "placed". I want to keep my kids together as much as I can so.... I am :bigear: when it comes to these three curriculums. They are my top picks too.

:lurk5: I would love to hear more too!