Mixing Things Up

Over the years I have drifted towards an eclectic method of education.  For some subjects I love workbooks.  They are simple and don't burn me out.  For other subjects I enjoy living books.  I love stories and being able to add in notebooking and activities.  These areas seem to contrast, but in actuality, we all learn well with a variety.

It's mid-year, and I usually pray about what we have been using and make any changes needed.  This year I had already made some changes.

Megan is doing some workbooks for a handful of topics.  She is working steadily through English and Spelling and math through a couple different workbook curricula.  She is using occasional workbooks for some literature.

She was becoming bored with workbooks for every subject, as I suspected she would eventually.  I pulled out Laura's Heart of Dakota's Preparing Hearts for His Glory.  I have used Heart of Dakota with my girls for years, off and on.

Starting Megan in Preparing would mean she would skip the Bigger Hearts guide.  I don't own Bigger, however, and knew the funds to purchase the guide wouldn't be available for several months.  I started Preparing, deciding that if it was too challenging, I could go back to other things until I had the funds. 

Bigger is such a fun looking guide that not doing it has made me question myself a few times.  However, Megan is doing well in Preparing.  The hardest part seems to be that her writing, both the cursive and putting sentences together, needs more practice.  Technically, Megan is only a third grader.  The reading and narration is not a struggle for her. She is devouring the science!  She loves the Bible time. 

To help her catch up in cursive and putting together the sentences, I've decided to take Preparing at half-speed.  Megan will do daily English and build up her skills in cursive while we take our time through Preparing.  She has her nature readers and lots of books to supplement the areas where she is only working half-speed.  Technically, Meg could easily do Bigger, but her reading is advanced and I would have to add in the Extension package.  I already have all the supplies for what we are doing. 

Next year I will be investing in Missions to Modern Marvels for Laura, beefed up for High School. That alone will be a large investment.  However, I have discovered that the price isn't all that expensive when most of the program is non-consumable. While I love workbooks for certain subjects, it is nice to realize the bulk of our schooling is already purchased, in a crate in our storage closet. 

Heart of Dakota is one of those programs where you can use alternatives if you choose.  It's easy to beef up if it's not challenging enough, or to slow down if it's too challenging. Since I can add my own English, math, and literature, it really is quite customizable.  Since it is working well for my daughter, I plan to keep using it.