Anyone used MFW high school and regretted it?

[Excelsior! Academy]

I think we're using it next year and I want to know any pros and cons before purchasing.

[thepoteetteam]

You have no idea how :bigear: I am about this!!!!!!! Please someone respond!

[Blueridge]

:lurk5:

[cbollin]

I'm only 7 weeks into AHL (year 1) and do not regret staying with MFW in high school. I've been happy with them and continue to like it in high school. So, I'm the other side of the coin. Using it and not regretting it so far.

 

Another forum that I visit, there is one lady who "strongly dislikes" MFW high school. So, maybe I can summarize some of her reasons even though I am the total opposite in thinking of her points.

 

She did not like to have any controversial books in her high schoolers plan. (I like "controversial books" as long as I'm the mom and my kids are the students.)

 

She didn't like including mythology at the level MFW does it, even if it is in the context of history, and being compared to Old Testament. (I'm ok with learning it.)

 

I get the idea from her that she doesn't like the reading comprehension questions in the Judson Poling book for the Old Testament readings. I think it is out of some connection that Mr. Poling may have had at some point in his life to another writer out there.

 

I never really understood why the other person didn't like that book with Old Testament reading comprehension questions. It's just questions with no answers and the student has to think for themselves. You can interpret scriptures. I like that MFW really suggests that one of the parents use the MFW bible reading guide and do Bible lessons with student. I do it like a once a week meeting. My daughter and I both keep up with our Old Testament readings (uh, ok, I'm behind to be honest), then we get together and use the questions for parent/student discussion and we talk about what we believe. I use the reading plan for my personal quiet time. I like this one time my daughter read one of the questions and replied in her journal "duh, it doesn't say that!" :lol:

 

 

I'm sure the other person had more reasons than that, but those were the biggies for her that she said out loud.

 

 

Back to why I like AHL and am glad we're doing it:

 

*opportunity to read through the entire Old Testament and discuss it with my daughter. I really like that part of it. It's a real joy to our day and week to talk about more of it.

 

*I like that my daughter is stepping up to the plate and staying on syllabus with the program and that I don't have to teach the lessons.

 

*I'm thankful for the literature and composition supplement. Oh did I mention I'm thankful for that? It's really step by step instructions for essay writing and how to grade them.

 

*I love that the plans provide for extra reading if the student loves to read.

 

*I love that the plans include how to assign grades in each credit and gives a master list for the year to track it.

 

*I like the blend of books being used. It's not just the Notgrass stuff. There are other resources.

 

*I don't mind having my child read Purpose Driven Life. That's a controversial book to some and not a big deal to others. I like having the opportunity to read something like that and discuss with her. Others leave the book out. I'm ok with it.

 

*The writing assignments are varied. It's not just writing argumentative essays all year. You have some free style history writing assignments in the Notgrass book too. And then, some other writings in there. Grammar is reviewed.

 

*it's plenty to do each day for her with all of her courses.

 

*Given how there are answer keys, I don't feel the need to keep up with all readings. I have had some weekends where I've skimmed Notgrass book and Unwrapping Pharaohs. But I don't feel the need to read every page to be able to assess how she is doing.

 

*She's enjoying her timeline book. (edit to add, and the map activities)

 

I like the reminder to do service projects. She's enjoyed lots of that.

 

It's a good fit for us.

 

I hope that someone can give the reasons why they dropped it so you can hear that side.

 

Any specific questions?

 

-crystal

Edited August 20, 2010 by cbollin
add something

[sandalwood]

Resurrecting this thread because I googled "regretted using MFW high school" to see if I could find any cons & found this thread.

 

I am very interested in it, but Cathy Duffy's review (I read the thread to MFW response so I see the reasoning) makes me wonder if the way MFW does credits spread out is a con for some (like US history over 2 years). I like integrated Bible but I wonder if it's "too much" Bible for college purposes and not enough "regular" history. I am so torn. I have spent the entire summer obsessing about curriculum. Nothing is "knocking my socks off" to use.

 

 

I keep flip flopping between something like this and then something like Notgrass for history along with IEW, etc.

Any thoughts since the high school has out a little longer now?

 

Thanks :)

[Lori in MS]

I love MFW high school for all the reasons Crystal mentioned. The only con for us was that it did not include enough writing instruction for me and my ds.

 

I am hoping that WHL is better. I am weak in writing and struggle with teaching it. I am loving WWS for my middle schooler. I wish that there was something like that for high school. My ds did very well with IEW SWI B and SICC B. I wanted him to do SICC C but it is too much with MFW. I don't want to give up MFW's plan and format. If there are too many substitutions the beauty and simplicity of it being planned out for me is lost. I love the integration of the literature, history, and Bible.

 

So I am planning to do MFW and hope that I can figure out the writing. I was thinking of doing some of the Lively Art of Writing along with AHL for my 9th grader.

 

I just wish that writing wasn't such a struggle for us!

 

 

As far as the credits, I am just formatting the transcript by subject rather than year.

[Donna A.]

I love MFW high school for all the reasons Crystal mentioned. The only con for us was that it did not include enough writing instruction for me and my ds.

 

I am hoping that WHL is better. I am weak in writing and struggle with teaching it. I am loving WWS for my middle schooler. I wish that there was something like that for high school. My ds did very well with IEW SWI B and SICC B. I wanted him to do SICC C but it is too much with MFW. I don't want to give up MFW's plan and format. If there are too many substitutions the beauty and simplicity of it being planned out for me is lost. I love the integration of the literature, history, and Bible.

 

So I am planning to do MFW and hope that I can figure out the writing. I was thinking of doing some of the Lively Art of Writing along with AHL for my 9th grader.

 

I just wish that writing wasn't such a struggle for us!

 

WHL uses Writers INC for the "writing instruction" along with some other tips and instruction in the MFW lesson plans. For example, the first paper, no wait, I think it's the second, is a research paper done slowly over several weeks, with step-by-step instructions through the process.

 

Then there are about 21 other types of writing assigned throughout the year.

 

As far as the credits, I am just formatting the transcript by subject rather than year.

I'm doing the same. We don't follow a traditional school year schedule, so listing by year (or at least "school year", i.e., Fall 2011-Spring 2012) wouldn't work for us.

 

For AHL I'm calling the Bible part of it "Old Testament and Jewish History", and in WHL, I'm calling it "New Testament and Church History", so that someone looking at the transcript knows it's more than just "reading the Bible" or some type of doctrinal or theological study. In US1 this year, it'll be called "Biblical Worldview".

[cbollin]

Resurrecting this thread because I googled "regretted using MFW high school" to see if I could find any cons & found this thread.

 

I am very interested in it, but Cathy Duffy's review (I read the thread to MFW response so I see the reasoning) makes me wonder if the way MFW does credits spread out is a con for some (like US history over 2 years). I like integrated Bible but I wonder if it's "too much" Bible for college purposes and not enough "regular" history. I am so torn. I have spent the entire summer obsessing about curriculum. Nothing is "knocking my socks off" to use.

 

Any thoughts since the high school has out a little longer now?

 

Thanks :)[/b][/size]

 

I've now done AHL and WHL. We start US1 very soon. I already own US1 and US2.

 

I think when I have read Cathy Duffy's opinion about it, I read it as a positive. She says It won't be a problem . so why did she bring it up? I dunno. maybe to assure that it won't be a problem?

 

 

my opinion? if you don't want to list Bible on transcript, you don't have to. I'm thinking non-religious colleges are probably used to students from private, brick and mortar religious schools having religion on their transcripts.

You can call it philosophy if you want. You can not list it too.

 

World History is there. Ancients will be seen most likely as "strong elective option".

 

US History with part of it in 11th and part in 12th - doesn't seem to be a problem. Some people will even take the CLEP US History to 1877 exam at end of 11th grade. Even if a college doesn't count it as credit, I don't see how it would look bad for the student. That is NOT Bible history. That's lots of history.

 

MFW includes Gov't semester and Econ semester.

 

The people I know who have piloted or used the finished MFW high school have gone to "secular" colleges.

 

-crystal

[cbollin]

 

I just wish that writing wasn't such a struggle for us!

.

 

:grouphug::grouphug:

 

I can't help but wonder if "essentials in writing" (7th grade is currently on market but not the other years in case this gets bumped up in a few years....) would help fill in those gaps. I was fine with the style of essay instruction, but I can understand that other people would like to have a few more practices in skills before the first essay. I do think EIW 7th grade would be a nice summer supplement or "side dishes" to add to MFW without it being overwhelming. It's worksheet practices in basics of more complex sentences, topic sentences, paragraph structure. more point by point on essay structure. and really nice rubrics for assessment. I know with 7th grade on it... it sounds like taking steps back and all of that.... just cover up the grade number on the cover. not everyone needs it.. but it might be a nice thing to consider when the instruction in Writers' Inc is "just too little" and something like IEW is "too much'

 

oh no... LOL. giggle. does this mean I think EIW is the goldilocks of writing. :lol::lol:

 

-crystal

[Lori in MS]

:grouphug::grouphug:

 

I can't help but wonder if "essentials in writing" (7th grade is currently on market but not the other years in case this gets bumped up in a few years....) would help fill in those gaps. I was fine with the style of essay instruction, but I can understand that other people would like to have a few more practices in skills before the first essay. I do think EIW 7th grade would be a nice summer supplement or "side dishes" to add to MFW without it being overwhelming. It's worksheet practices in basics of more complex sentences, topic sentences, paragraph structure. more point by point on essay structure. and really nice rubrics for assessment. I know with 7th grade on it... it sounds like taking steps back and all of that.... just cover up the grade number on the cover. not everyone needs it.. but it might be a nice thing to consider when the instruction in Writers' Inc is "just too little" and something like IEW is "too much'

 

oh no... LOL. giggle. does this mean I think EIW is the goldilocks of writing. :lol::lol:

 

-crystal

 

Thank you, Crystal. I will check it out.

[Holly IN]

I haven't used MFW yet. Senior son doing US2 and Freshman son AHL. I like the AHL so far however I will be adding other books in for literature using WTM suggestions. The Bible portion I still think is a bit over the top. That is just me. We will only be doing the parts that pertain to history. Will not be getting the Poling book or Purpose driven life book either. The others we will use.

 

For US2 I think the Bible is way over the top so we will not be using this one for my son. I do not award Bible credits. I only do that if my kids are wanting to get into the ministry. They have no desire to do so. We are doing something else for this.

 

I will be adding several writing portions to both programs. I will be replacing other books in US2 literature portion due to either already read the book or I think there is a better book to spend time on. I want my boys to read Great Books classical literature. That is just me.

 

What I love about MFW is I can modify it to fit me and the program still flows well. I will not be doing some of their recommendations for other subjects which is fine. I will be following more of the WTM recommendations or modify it to help my boys more. Each one will be different. For ex: My US2 son will be doing both Econ and Gov't this year. That is the way it is set up for colleges. i can do it there way but I like this way better. Will be doing Gov't WTM way not MFW way. ;) Def will do Econ their way though. I love Economics in a box. It is more on the lines of what we believe in re: econ.

 

I think it is very easy to modify and make it your own. :)

 

Again I haven't used it yet. This year will be my first time. Planning for two weeks and I know we are going to love this since I added WTM books suggestions and/or replaced some books to fit WTM recs.

 

:)

 

ETA: my pet peeve for the high school program is the Bible credit. That is the big beef I have with it. Yes we are Christians however ALL children/sstudents should have Bible study no matter what (public,private or homeschool) and not included on transcript. Just my personal belief. ;) For AHL I do fully understand why we are studying OT stuff along with World History. I totally understand that and will do so. However for US2 I do not understad that. I feel the focus should be more on beefing up writing, math and career exploration than Bible. Bible should be done on own time outside of school which my son does anyway. We do family Bible every night. :) They do their own thing in the mornings.

 

Holly

Edited July 29, 2012 by Holly IN

[sandalwood]

thanks for the comments :)

Edited July 30, 2012 by sandalwood

[Donna A.]

ETA: my pet peeve for the high school program is the Bible credit. That is the big beef I have with it. Yes we are Christians however ALL children/sstudents should have Bible study no matter what (public,private or homeschool) and not included on transcript. Just my personal belief. ;) For AHL I do fully understand why we are studying OT stuff along with World History. I totally understand that and will do so. However for US2 I do not understad that. I feel the focus should be more on beefing up writing, math and career exploration than Bible. Bible should be done on own time outside of school which my son does anyway. We do family Bible every night. :) They do their own thing in the mornings.

 

Holly

 

For added explanation..... the point of the Bible in US2 is for the student to develop their own daily habit of getting into the Word and thinking on Scripture, how it applies to their life, praying, keeping a schedule, etc. Yes, theoretically they should already be doing this, and for many families (including our own), having it schedule in their curriculum isn't necessary. But there are plenty of kids out there who've not been shown how to do this or had a model example to follow. From MFW's point of view, this is the final step (possibly a last chance) to train and disciple the student in his/her own personal Bible/devotional time before "going out into the world". If your student doesn't need it, then just skip it. ;)

[Donna A.]

As for the rest of the Bible in MFW high school, it goes to Biblical Worldview and Apologetics. (Not just "Bible reading".) MFW believes that *every* student should have this focused training before leaving the home as a young adult, and while deciding exactly what they're going to do in life, whether they're going into formal ministry or not. We agree with that philosophy, which is why we're okay with it. (OTOH, we don't necessarily like all the extra-curricular books they have scheduled, so we do some swapping out there.) Our belief is that "ministry" for ALL Christians (see 2 Cor. 5:12-21, for example), not just those called to a formal ministry setting.

 

And again, some families already do this, which is great. But not all do. Many parents don't even think of it.

[cbollin]

From MFW's point of view, this is the final step (possibly a last chance) to train and disciple the student in his/her own personal Bible/devotional time before "going out into the world". If your student doesn't need it, then just skip it. ;)

 

raising my hand here.... sadly... if it weren't schedule... it wouldn't happen over here. I've long said that I'm not good enough Christian on that stuff... so... even if I don't put it on her transcript, I'm glad they have it for losers like me.

 

-crystal

[Donna A.]

raising my hand here.... sadly... if it weren't schedule... it wouldn't happen over here. I've long said that I'm not good enough Christian on that stuff... so... even if I don't put it on her transcript, I'm glad they have it for losers like me.

 

-crystal

 

Well, ditto. It's very easy for any of us to do what's right without having it scheduled. :blushing: By getting our kids to establish the habit while they're young, hopefully they'll be better than we are. :tongue_smilie:

[Holly IN]

Sorry...I was just answering the OP questions. :D My point was that MFW is an easy curriculam/guide that you can add to or take away. Just giving my example of how I was making it work for me due to my pet peeve. :)

 

Hugs!!

 

Holly

[Donna A.]

Sorry...I was just answering the OP questions. :D My point was that MFW is an easy curriculam/guide that you can add to or take away. Just giving my example of how I was making it work for me due to my pet peeve. :)

 

Hugs!!

 

Holly

 

No worries! I just wanted to offer an explanation as to *why* the Bible credit is there, for those readers who might not know (and need it). :001_smile: