Opinions of MFW K?

[Stacey in MD]

Hi,

I am currently homeschooling my 2nd & 4th gr ds's. They both went to private school through K, so I haven't had to do that grade yet. We are currently using MFW ECC and are really enjoying it. I am leaning toward hs'ing my Pre-K ds for K next year and was thinking about using MFW K. My other boys will be doing MFW Rome to Reformation (we already did Ancient Egypt last year, so will skip Creation to Greeks) Any opinions of the MFW K curriculum would be greatly appreciated! Also, is it enough or do I have to supplement it with other curriculum?

Thanks!

Stacey

[dhudson]

We love MFWK. All of mine were reading by the time they got to K so we just supplemented phonics and reading with Abeka. I loved it and it gave my kids a real joy of learning and a firm Bible/Character foundation.

[alilac]

It's a been a while, but I do remember that we loved MFWK! It was just right!

[Linda]

We didn't use it as written (I had something else for phonics), but I recall LOVING the science and Bible. Sweet, gentle, fun . . . great memories.

[Psm73]

We are only 3 1/2 weeks into it so I don't know that I have a good feel for the entire program yet but here goes...

I was using Abeka K4 with my 4 yo ds. Let me put it nicely ... it was like pulling teeth. Both he and I HATED to do school each day. This stunned me because I used Abeka with my dd and she loved it and progressed rapidly. So here we are in early-March and have done only about 2 weeks of real preschool with Abeka K4. Is this the worst thing in the world? No. But I did want to be doing something with him throughout the year and was very discouraged that we were not doing anything. But I just could not fathom trudging through Abeka. So I ordered MFW K on a whim just over a month ago.

My son and I both LOVE it. I love the approach - very hands on. This is the perfect curriculum to supplement with if you choose to do so. My ds is a wiggly worm so I don't do a lot of supplementing (at least not yet). An hour a day for school is PLENTY for him. He just turned 5 but is not ready to "do school" for much longer than 2 30 minute blocks of time. But I like the big, colorful letter flashcards, the multi-sensory approach to learning and writing letters, and the science "experiments". He thinks it's pretty cool we are making raisins right now.

It would be so easy to supplement with additional reading, experiments, handwriting assignments, etc. The weekly topics are so basic (we're learning about the sun this week) that there is so much you could do to expand the topic/schoolday if you'd like.

So I think as with all things, different curriculum works with different kids but I will be forever grateful I switched to something that my son is enjoying. He's learning a lot and that makes me happy. For kindergarten, I think it is more than enough! Especially if you continue to do readalouds throughout the year. My children love being read to and for children learning to read, I think that is the best "curriclum" choice of all.

With that said, there is much more prep work than I'm used to for K and it does include weekly trips to the library. It is also a 6 day a week program with the 6th day a CM approach ... you go outdoors and enjoy God's creation. So that works fine for us so far since we're typically outside on Saturdays anyway but I hope it doesn't wear thin later into the year.

All in all, I really like the program and think if you are enjoying what you're doing this year, you will love MFW K.

[mommysweird]

We really enjoyed MFW-K! It was fun, gentle, yet so rich. God is faithful to direct us to the right thing if we just ask. Sometimes I forget to ask. . . ;)

[Nakia]

I've used MFW K this year for my middle dd, and we all love it!

ETA: The only thing I've supplemented with are the ETC Get Ready for the Code books. Those have mostly just been for fun since Emma loves workbooks!

[3lilreds in NC]

I *loved* MFW K! I can't imagine a better K program, honestly. I love pretty much everything about the program - the math, phonics, science and Bible/character and wonderful. I don't think it needs supplementing, personally. For me, as a homeschooling newbie, it seemed perfect. It is multi-sensory, truly something for every child, and lots of hands-on stuff. Also, the MFW message boards have TONS of great ideas for extra activities if you want them. We did some of them, because Abbie was in preschool and we had some extra time - they weren't necessary, just fun.

The best thing about it for Emma was that I didn't have to say, "Now we will do phonics." "Now we have to do math." She would cry when I got out Phonics Pathways, and I was trying to do K a la WTM, and she just hated it. MFW made school FUN. We had certain activities to do each day, and we got into a great routine, with mostly no fuss. I had gone online to search for a K Bible curriculum, and found MFW. I just have to say, God ROCKS for leading me there!

We're using Living Books Curriculum now, but I still plan to use MFW K with Schmooey.

[Renai]

It is also a 6 day a week program with the 6th day a CM approach ... you go outdoors and enjoy God's creation. So that works fine for us so far since we're typically outside on Saturdays anyway but I hope it doesn't wear thin later into the year.

I just wanted to clarify that MFW K is not 6 days a week. Each theme is done for 6 days, that 6th day is just carried over to the next week. Done this way, the 6th day falls on different days of the week, and you get the full 160 school days (plus the creation theme).

[Stacey in MD]

Wow! Thank you all so much for all of the information! It seems like it would probably be a good fit for my son. We have really enjoyed ECC, so I have no doubt that we'll love MFW K also.

Again, thank you so much for the help :)

Stacey

[cbollin]

It is also a 6 day a week program with the 6th day a CM approach ... K.

Maybe someone else said this already, I didn't read all of the answers. edit to say.... I should have seen Renai's answer, but didn't see it originally. blame it on distractions in the house. Sorry renai!

********
MFW K is NOT a 6 day a week program. :)

It is unit study where the units have 6 days of instructional material. Big difference. It is not M-S, 6 day a week at all.

We're enjoying it. Middle gal did it a few years ago. Youngest is doing it now.


-crystal