Anyone NOT like MFW?

[sarathan]

Can you tell me what you didn't like about it exactly?

Thanks! :)

By the way, if I haven't introduced myself, I'm Sara and I have two boys, 3 and 5. I've been lurking here for quite a while, but I'm not even sure if I've ever posted, lol. :D

-Sara

[Cadam]

I love MFW but I can try to repeat some of the criticisms I have heard of it for you.

You have littles so I will start with the early programs...

K - phonics moves to slowly, or , "my kid already know his letters/ how to read". Wether or not this is really relevant depends on your perspective because there is so much more in there.

1st - the math is informal (although I have never heard someone say their child wasn't ready for grade level math after completing MFW-1st) The phonics moves to quickly, or, my child already knows how to read.

Adventures - It gets a little repetitive

ECC - year 5 - Most often people will ask if it is really rigorous enough because the learning isn't as painful as other programs. You don't buy as many books as something like Sonlight. Although you have all the books you need to do the program you don't get 100 books or something like that. The up shot is that many of those books can be gotten from the library and used to supplement so you can read them but not have to buy them. It saves a lot of money! :D

I can't think of anything else and if you want more extensive rebuttals of these points let me know.

[Tiffani]

Welcome!

First let me say that I'm using 1st grade right now (along w/ Explode the Code). BUT...


We've used ECC, K (for a little while) and I started Creation to Greeks.

The key reasons I don't use MFW are:

1) ECC-I didn't like spending an entire year on geography (that's just me)

2) Our library is 20 minutes away in another town so it was hard to keep books for "book basket" and our library is not that great!

3)**The main reason I don't care for MFW is I don't like the book selections they use nor do I like to "jump around" everyday. If we read one topic in Kingfisher, I don't want to read about it in Streams of Civ. too. (But some people really like that aspect)

Is it a good curriculum...yes! One of my best friends has used it for years and loves it! Me...I love Mystery of History. I like the "open and read it" concept for History.

HTH!
Tiffani

[momofkhm]

I loved K. I loved 1st. I even enjoyed ECC. Then the issues started for us. BUT I was in a much different perspective than you are!

K - I only had my K'er home. I also had the thought "If I can teach him how to read, dh will let me bring my other 2 home." Those other 2 were in a private Christian school at the time. I loved K.

1st- I only had my 1st home when we started. The phonics did move fast but ds was able to keep up because we had also done other things with K. (B/c I wanted to, not b/c we needed to.) I did not use the math. We used Miquon b/c ds asked to do more math than was written into the program.

ECC - this was the first thing we did with all three home. Oldest was 6th grade, middle was 4th grade, youngest finished up 1st and then came along where he could. This was a great for our first year with everyone home. It was laid out nicely. It was open the book and go. It told me what to do when. I had to ramp up the science for my 6th grader.

CtG - kids were now 2nd, 5th and 7th. About 7 weeks in, my 7th asks when we will be doing history and keep asking. I finally switched to TOG for history thinking I would do TOG with oldest and keep younger 2 in MFW. BUT after a week or so, I switched them all. I kept MFW for science (youngers), art, music, and vocab. Oldest was already doing her own science. BUT when it came time to do standardized testing, middle dd said there was stuff she'd never seen.

At your kids ages, I think you will fine! K and 1st were great. You'll also do Adventures which I didn't. Then I think ECC, CtG, RtR, etc will be fine as your oldest ages. With my oldest being in 7th grade, it just was rigorous enough for her.

[Sue G in PA]

With my oldest being in 7th grade, it just was rigorous enough for her.

Did you mean to say that it was NOT rigorous enough for her? My dd will be in 7th next year and we're doing ECC...using the 7th/8th gr. supplement for her and planning other act. as well to "beef it up". As far as our next year, which would be RtR (b/c we already did Anc. this year w/ MOH)...would it NOT be rigorous enough for her? I'll also have a 6th grader then. Should I consider switching to TOG? OR, could I just add in an extra History component for dd who really liked MOH. I could give her MOH2 to do basically on her own in place of MFW RtR History. What do you think? Again, sorry to hi-jack. You can pm me or email me if you don't want to clutter the thread w/ my question!

[Kissy]

I didn't like MFW. I tried ECC it was our first year of homeschooling and with a 4th grader that loves geography. I had to supplement with other stuff. It was great for geography and had you read Matthew for Bible also a great pace for Bible. All the other stuff we had to supplement too much.

[Susie in MS]

This is coming from someone who has not actually used it. I did own MFW-K and really considered buying it back, but one major problem for me was the HUGE amount of supplimenting that would have to be done. Our library is tiny and never has anything I need. The next one is 30 minutes away and with the price of gas...and it never has what I need. If I were to start buying all of the supplimental books needed to get the most out of the program I would have to spend hundreds more.

The Bible, although relating with the topic well , is very short. I do more with my 2 3/4 yo dd using Little Hands to Heaven preschool than what is assigned in MFW-K. Although the concepts in MFW-K are a bit more mature than what I am using for dd right now.

I feel that the skills levels in the different areas of MFW-K do not mess well. I feel like the phoincs could be mastered at a much earlier age than the science and Bible concepts. I see the phonics as Pre-K.

[GVA]

I considered it in the mix, but in the end I didn't like that I had to come up with the "book basket" materials and when I looked at some of their upper-level books, I realized that their take on American history is different than my own. I also decided at that time that we are not "crafty" people.

Sonlight as written is keeping me sane and getting things done!

[profmom]

We're using CtG this year, but haven't used any other years. I like the focus on the OT, the Patricia St. John read alouds, and the scripture memory passages. We didn't like Genesis for Kids for science (although other years use Apologia), and the book basket didn't work well for us. We have a good library and I found plenty of books. The problem was that the dc didn't like browsing/reading these books. I would rather have assigned reading by level because supplemental history reading doesn't happen here otherwise. (Maybe I could have determined assignments based on the book basket list, but I want help with how much to expect, etc.)

Besides the assigned reading, as my dc move into the logic stage, I want/need more help with helping them to make the connections that we always read that logic stage dc are ready for. I'm moving to TOG next year. I also think that TOG's high school is more what I'm looking for than MFW's.

I'm glad that we tried MFW this year. We've enjoyed the parts we've kept and learned history as well as what we like in curricula.

[susie in tx]

I used CTG some time back. At the time, my children did not like the short lessons. So, I had to combine the history into three days so that they felt like they were doing some sort of school. I felt like it was very simple and easy, though I liked the hands on portion. I don't plan hands on by myself. I need a curriculum to help me with that.

[Hillcrest Academy]

I have completed K and am currently doing 1st.

My dd flew through K (her 1st year of any 'school') and I had to supplement like crazy because she wanted more. It's a very gentle approached to learning the letters of the alphabet and I think my son will do better with the pace so I'll do it with him. They end with being able to sound out CVC words.

However. The jump from K to 1st is huge. Not only in content, but in pace. They go from at the max 20 mins a day of LA, Bible and Math to a lot more and it only takes a couple of months to transition and build up to the greater content/duration.

Also, in 1st, the phonics moves way to fast, covering a new rule every day in most cases, every second day for the rest. It's a lot.

I have had to replace the LA in 1st with HOP. Also, the Math in K was seriously lacking, and in 1st is too informal and bitty for us. I agree that kids need to learn math conceptually at this age, but that doesn't mean it can't be organized and formal. So we've had to switch to Singapore Earlybird for Math.

The science in 1st is VERY light for my science loving kids, and although science is not imperative at this age, it's the part of 'school' that they think is wildly fun. So I'm pulling things together to add to the science theme for the week.

The Bible is great. We are enjoying it and believe it to be foundational truth that they will benefit from learning at this age for the rest of their lives. Of course, along with the Bible, you get some history and the timeline is also wonderful.

The books that are recommended for Math and Science I have found to be mostly out of print and hard to get so this is a big problem for a town who's library has just shut down.

I also don't like not being able to say "For History we're working on this, and Science is this..." etc. There are so many "activities" that cover more than one subject at once, and that is supposed to cover your hours/requirements in both those subjects. I, however, think I would like to take the opportunity and do a different thing for each subject, and be all the richer for the additional learning/experience, KWIM?

For a boxed curriculum, I'm having to pull a LOT together. I love the idea, I love the approach, but for US it is not everything we need in a box. That being said, I don't know if we're going to move on with adventures. I'm nervous about starting down this path, paying for a "complete" curriculum and then having to pay out for doubles. I'm also nervous about focusing on one area for such a long time, and having to fill the gaps if we move to something else at a later stage with content that should have been learned but is not known.

[Cadam]

Just a note.... I don't even do book basket at all, we just never get to it and I think my kids are getting tons from the program. I think it depends on your perspective and goals.

I am also a LCC girl so we do a week's worth of a content subject in one day (science day, bible day, geography day, lit./project day) and we do a lot of Latin. I won't do the hands-on projects and cool books my kids like unless the TM tells me to so that is a big reason I got MFW.

[Michelle My Bell]

I posted my thoughts on MFW on my blog. I have used it for several years and have recently switched. I agree with the 1st grade program comments btw.

Michelle

[Susie in MS]

I posted my thoughts on MFW on my blog. I have used it for several years and have recently switched. I agree with the 1st grade program comments btw.

Michelle

Link??

[momofkhm]

Did you mean to say that it was NOT rigorous enough for her?

Yes! I missed the "not". CtG just was not rigorous for a 7th grader, IMO! I did not go any further than CtG so I have no idea about the rest of their programs. I have heard they get harder as they go on, to the point that there is a supplement for 2nd and 3rd graders doing the final year.

I can say that we are loving TOG! No question of it being rigorous enough. I'm even reading the Rhetoric stuff some weeks.

[Angel]

Just for another perspective, I am currently using MFW Rome to Reformation with my 8th grader (and 1st grader). I find it plenty. There are some lighter days (15-20min history) and then there are heavier days (45-60 min history). My dd is not using the science, though. She is working through Apologia's General Science.

It really does depend on what you are looking for. I was looking for something that wouldn't overwhelm my aspie dd, that I could bring together both the younger and older for history and was completely planned out for me. MFW really incorporates a Charlotte Mason style with shorter lessons (I think). That fit in with my own school "philosophy" so it worked out fine.

Though Tapestry is planned, I don't feel it's "completely" planned because you, the parent, still has to decide what to pick and choose to do from parts of the curriculum. Plus Tapestry would overwhelm my dd. All of my homeschool friends are currently using it and like it (some love it), but most agree that there is still much to do. MFW is really pick up and go, other than the book basket.

We do not use the book basket as it is written. Like someone else mentioned, my kids just can't seem to get the hang of "browsing" through books for 20min or so. I usually have them around, but if there is something that I really think is important (like "Anna of Byzantium") then we use it as a read aloud.

Dd will be in 9th next year and as we haven't completed the history cycle (didn't start homeschool till 5th and didn't find the history rotation till 6th and then spent way too much time in ancients:)) I will be going with something else for high school because I don't want to go back to the ancients yet. I am seriously considering putting my younger in Adventures in 3rd (a year from now) and then having her go through the MFW cycle till 8th, because I have enjoyed MFW.

Angel

[attachedto4]

My dd is using 1st right now and we're really getting sick of it. So much of it depends on the child and what you're hoping to get out of it though.

My dd likes the activities, but I find that I don't get to them most of the time- there are just too many other kids here I'm hsing at the same time. So I learned something about myself- thought I liked crafts and hands-on but am finding I prefer them as something we seek out when we have time and not as part of the curriculum. So that's just personal preference.

We are about to start the Bible reader tommorrow and I think that will help my dd get interested again, since it involves drawing and creativity, her strengths. She was already reading above grade level so 1st has been slow and boring for her. I read so many comments on how fast it goes that I thought it would be a good fit for her, but I guess I hadn't realized how well she's already reading. For a child who was at more of a beginning reading stage, I think I would have liked it. I do like the way they teach reading, but I think we could have covered it faster and cheaper with just a phonics workbook for review.

I have Adventures here to do with her and my ds in the fall, and it looks fun, so I'm still giving that a try. I don't think we'll want to use MFW beyond that though. I don't like their book selections and I'm an SL girl at heart, so that's where we'll return to stay soon.

[sarathan]

I posted my thoughts on MFW on my blog. I have used it for several years and have recently switched. I agree with the 1st grade program comments btw.

Michelle

Can you post a link?

[Donna T.]

Hi, Sara! Welcome to the board.

I have used MFW in the past. I used (but didn't complete... atleast not exactly as written) K twice and I've used First and Adventures. I love MFW. I think it is a great curriculum. However, I really don't need or want a complete curriculum with everything planned out to a "t". It was too structured for me and I lacked the creativity to make it more interesting for me as the teacher. In other words, I got a little bored with it. My children weren't bored, but I was. I have issues with Christian Liberty Press - one of their more prominent providers. We don't use modern Bible versions, so the copywork being already planned out, for example (something that would be very convenient for someone else), was useless to me. I think the science is very light in the early years. I'm sure that changes as you go through the upper levels. You can easily flesh it out if you want to, but again, I lacked the time and energy to do much of that. I'm not knocking it. It's a good program and it was definately the right choice for us at the time, but now I know more about what I want and I've found other things that provide that for me. But, really, if you want a program that is almost open and go with very little prep on your part (just gathering a few craft supplies and library books), it's a very good choice. It is very well planned out and has a nice cohesive feel to it. I found out that I do not like unit studies. I prefer to teach subjects and don't want the level of integration that a unit study (like MFW) provides.

[profmom]

I can post a link to the thread where Michelle mentions this on the boards: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14122

HTH!

[Kayaking Mom]

We're using MFW Adventures right now but we won't be moving to ECC in the fall. I have a 1st and K4 aged kids - really 2nd and 1st with academics but I don't want them to get prideful fat heads - so 1st and K4. We're on week 29 - and here's my review:

History - I think the book basket recommendations have been great. I think they are mostly 2-3rd grade understanding, with lots of suggestions for older kids. The flow has been good, and the pace and overview of history reasonable. There is not a lot of tie-in work (this led to that) but it's designed for younger kids and the overview is good. The notebook is neat and makes it easy on the parent to control the paperwork and have something to show for the year. The Pioneers and Patriots has been a HUGE hit here, the other spine is a little sleepy for my kids and we're starting to weed it out.

States - I think these move way too fast, and honestly, it's pretty boring after about 20. The kids are still enjoying it though, and the books they've recommended have been good. So - boring for mom - fine for kids.

Bible - Good overview, but way too light IMHO. This is a huge reason we home school, so we do Bible as a seperate subject and the MFW stuff. We also do AWANA so we've skipped the MFW memory work. We do like the bible version that comes with the kit.

Science - Great for my K and 1st - WAY too light for a 3rd grader.

Read Alouds - Great. Very similar in pace to SL - a chapter or 2 a night. No real fun or silly stuff like SL occasionally throws in, though.

General - Our library is fair - so getting all the "highly recommended" books has been WORK. At first that annoyed me, but we've gotten savvy with substitution and really, they don't need to read 7 books on Ben Franklin. The frequent library trips are annoying and I often wish I could just pull a few more spines at the house.

"Deluxe" Items - Did not use as outlined after about Week 2 or 3. We listen to the America music, and that's about it. The rest has been a waste of $ for us. Others may be more diligent than me! LOL!

Overall I have really enjoyed the program, but like any curriculum it's not perfect. I have no desire to chase books about different countries all through our lame county library system next year (which is not MFWs issue - it's mine!), so we're not headed on to ECC. I have thought about moving on to CtG, but really, my kids are too young for the MFW rotation cycle. We'll be moving on to TOG Year 1 next year, and this year of MFW has really helped me to get ready. I am more confident about paring a large suggestion list down (from the book basket) so I am not feeling overwhelmed heading into TOG. The MFW teacher manual was great, the crafts were appropriate and not annoying, the notebook is great and the Jesus poster is a keeper. I think my kids have a good understanding of general US history and love learning! If you have a good library system and keep to the suggested ages - I think it can be a fabulous fit.

[Michelle My Bell]

Sorry about that. The link is www.homeschoolblogger.com/MichelleMyBell (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MichelleMyBell) . If you click on my name above you will see (Go to MichelleMyBell's Homepage). A lot of us have our blogs attached to our posts that way.

I wanted to add that I have several posts about MFW on my blog. My more recent thoughts on it and my thoughts when I was still using it.

Michelle

[sarathan]

Thanks ladies, your comments have really helped! I really like the looks of MFW, but there's just something about it I don't like that I can't put my finger on....

And thanks for the link to your blog Michelle My Bell! I love the pictures!! :)

[Shannon831]

I LOVE K, but we're not going any further. Mostly because it seems that 1st involves a lot more writing than my ds is ready for. We're going with Hearts of Dakota for 1st because I can sub in more of my own choices.

[Dawn]

Welcome!

**The main reason I don't care for MFW is I don't like the book selections they use nor do I like to "jump around" everyday.

This is a big reason I didn't care for ECC.

I did 2 years of it - one was Adventures and the other was ECC. We LOVED Adventures! The books, activities, everything - thoroughly enjoyed it.

ECC was very different.

I disliked using many of the books and resources in ECC. I used it for my 3rd and K'er. The books were either too advanced, too "dry" (using the atlas as the spine was a good way to put me to sleep LOL), or doctrinally problematic (for us). The three books that were scheduled to read aloud from most frequently are best used as resources only (2 Usbornes, the atlas), NOT as read alouds. The Usborne Science book was way too advanced for a K and 3rd grader. There were a few really great books, but they were used much more infrequently, so it didn't really make up for where the entire program lacked. I really disliked Hero Tales, and the YWAM books weren't great for read alouds either. JMO!

In Adventures, Pioneers and Patriots (historical fiction) was an engaging read aloud and really gave the children an understanding of early American history. ECC had no books like that.

I considered CTG when starting history this year but opted not to because evaluating the book list - I just wasn't impressed. Which is obviously a subjective and individual thing. ;)

HTH some.

[neesek]

I think I could have written Dawn's post! I used Adventures with a 1st grader and I loved it. He got a great overview of American history. We did get bored with the state studies, so we eventually skipped those. Other than that and the science, I enjoyed everything about Adventures.

This year I tried ECC with a 2nd and K, and gave up on it. Everytime we would get out the Living World Encyclopedia, my ds would say "Is that the boring book?" and I had to agree with him. I felt the same way about the atlas. Hero Tales was ok, but with them having no background in world history yet, I found myself having to explain too much about the setting of each story for it to make sense. I think Hero Tales would be much better by using it as part of a history program, plugging in the stories where they fit.

We did enjoy the geography game that is part of the program, but other than that, ECC just did not work for us.

I am also using MFW K this year, and I have mixed feelings on it. I do like the unit studies, Bible integration, and activities that go along with it, but I think the phonics program moves too slow. I have looked at 1st, and think that it moves too fast!

I love the "idea" of MFW and their missions focus, but we are moving on to something different for ancient history and for 1st grade next year. For us, it was just not fitting our family.

[LaMere Academy]

I didn't care for it. I tried Adventures and 1850-Modern when it was a pilot. It's a good program, but not enough real literature for me. I'm a Sonlight girl and nothing else compares, but that's just me. I know a lot of people who love MFW.