Sharing HST+ Lesson Plans

[chaik76]

Do many people do this? I'm considering purchasing HST+ (I have Basic) but I've noticed that Edu-track has tons and tons of lesson plans available to download, which is really appealing to me. I'm wondering if HST+ is comparable in this regard.
Thanks!

[Rhonda in TX]

I downloaded one for AO5 and it was a huge timesaver. Here's a link to the group.

HST+ lesson plans (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hstlessons/)

[dymphna57]

There are at least six yahoo groups with lesson plans that we all share. The groups are ordered by subject as the amount of files stored began to be a problem. Lesson plans are added often and if there isn't one there you can ask if anyone has one to share. The lesson plan vary according to taste but I have found them good and also easy to adapt if I want to. I also joined the tracker support group in the beginning as I needed to ask stupid questions. The plus version is much better than the basic. I would say it has been my life saver to have stored lesson plans for future years.

[mommaduck]

The nice thing about the HST+ yahoo groups and lesson plan sharing is that there will sometimes be more than one lesson plan for a particular curriculum/level. The benefit in this is that you can choose which one suits your home best. Also, if you are using a book that there is no plan for in the groups, then after you create your plan, you can share it with others. I have just finished two plans that there were no plans for...I'm going to upload them today :) This is how we all get to take part.

There are limits to lesson plan sharing, however. You will not find for ex. My Father's World lesson plans in the sharing files on the groups. This is because the lesson plans/schedule TM is the heart of MFW and what you are paying money for them already having done it for you. To publicly post such a plan would be breaking copyright in this case, unless the owner gives permission. This is changing all the time as people are seeking permission from various publishers to post lessons plans specifically for HST+ file sharing. However, one may always file share privately. You put the work into entering in the plan into HST+, you may share that with a friend just as you might loan out your manual to a friend.

[LoveBaby]

I just purchased HST + and truly, the difference between the basic and the plus version is like night and day. I'm having a ball inputing things. As soon as I figure out how to upload them, I'll be adding some lesson plans to the yahoo group for some R&S materials.

I chose HST over Edu-track because of the free upgrades. I think Edu-track costs more upfront & you have to pay a certain fee every year for upgrades.

[mommaduck]

Yes, the basic is almost NOTHING like the plus edition. One is only a slight shadow of the other. And the updates! They keep coming up with awesome things thrown in.

[chaik76]

I just HST+ last night and so far I am liking the basic version better! Maybe as I learn more about it, I'll like it more.
I did join the lesson plan sharing groups. I haven't figured out how to make it work when I'm importing though...I also haven't found a lot of the resources I'm using. That's one of the reasons I almost went with Edu-Track. Despite the fact that it's more money and needs to be renewed (and doesn't update often!) I already knew that I would be able to find a lot of the resources I needed. I'm sure as I get to know HST+ better, I'll like it. Right now I'm working out the bugs. I liked the Basic because it was so simple to implement. I really only bought the Plus version because of lesson sharing. Hopefully I'll be able to find some that will be useful to me!

[dcjlkplus3]

What is HST or HST+?

[AllSmiles]

HST is Homeschool Tracker (http://www.homeschooltracker.com/tracker_basic.aspx)and it is a free homeschool recording keeping software program. HST+ is their plus version that costs money to upgrade to, but it contains additional features.

[mommaduck]

Just out of curiosity, may I ask what you are using?

I just HST+ last night and so far I am liking the basic version better! Maybe as I learn more about it, I'll like it more.
I did join the lesson plan sharing groups. I haven't figured out how to make it work when I'm importing though...I also haven't found a lot of the resources I'm using. That's one of the reasons I almost went with Edu-Track. Despite the fact that it's more money and needs to be renewed (and doesn't update often!) I already knew that I would be able to find a lot of the resources I needed. I'm sure as I get to know HST+ better, I'll like it. Right now I'm working out the bugs. I liked the Basic because it was so simple to implement. I really only bought the Plus version because of lesson sharing. Hopefully I'll be able to find some that will be useful to me!

[chaik76]

Just out of curiosity, may I ask what you are using?
Homeschool Tracker Plus.

[Rhonda in TX]

I just HST+ last night and so far I am liking the basic version better! Maybe as I learn more about it, I'll like it more.
I did join the lesson plan sharing groups. I haven't figured out how to make it work when I'm importing though...I also haven't found a lot of the resources I'm using. That's one of the reasons I almost went with Edu-Track. Despite the fact that it's more money and needs to be renewed (and doesn't update often!) I already knew that I would be able to find a lot of the resources I needed. I'm sure as I get to know HST+ better, I'll like it. Right now I'm working out the bugs. I liked the Basic because it was so simple to implement. I really only bought the Plus version because of lesson sharing. Hopefully I'll be able to find some that will be useful to me!

Do a search on "import lesson plans" in the help section of the software.

You can also try asking for specific lesson plans on the yahoo groups. I have a lot of lesson plans that I haven't uploaded to the groups, but I would be willing if somebody needed them.

Good luck! I just love HST+.

[mommaduck]

Homeschool Tracker Plus.

No, I meant curriculum. You said that you could find the plans you needed through Edu-Track but not the HST+ groups. I was wondering what curriculum you were using, because new files are being added regularly at the HST+ groups and you could add any plans you made there. I just added two LP's because there had been none for a couple of the books I ordered

[praisefor3]

I started out with HST+ thinking that importing lesson plans would be one of the best things about the program. I ran into some glitches when first starting to do so, so I ended up deciding to input my own lesson plans. I soon realized that being able to import other people's lesson plans wasn't the best part of the program anyway! I tend to individualize stuff some and like to do things "my way" anyway when it comes to our days so I haven't wanted to import any yet. I have added Sonlight Science 5, MOH Vol 1 (not the whole thing yet), VP Bible, LLATL Orange (first unit), Responsibility for Boys, and a few other things. It really didn't take all that much time to input. And, frankly, even if I would have inputted other people's stuff I would have ended up tweaking it so much that I may as well have started from scratch. Inputting also gave me a lot more practice with the other features of the program which is acually my main point here. I bought the program on a leap of faith that it would end up being valuable to me. For me, the value didn't begin to show up until I stopped trying to input other people's plans and just really immersed myself in the program and got past learning the basics. So...that's my suggestion. Don't base its value to you on importing lessons. Sure, as I get more comfortable with the program I may see something I decide to import, but, for me at least, just choosing a subject that was already fairly laid out anyway and scheduling it to work for us is what helped me get going the best. HTH!