I am a little confused. We just got the yellow book and the go along books that go with it. What are these books "The White Stallion", "Madeline", etc. for? I thought they were incorporated into the lessons? I can't find them anywhere. Are they meant for the child to read themselves? If not how are they supposed to be used? I am also confused on how much to do each day. I thought they broke the lesson into days and it looks like it would be six days if that is the case. How is it supposed to be broken up? Do you do a page a day and have school on saturday too? Thanks, Micah

Thanks Coffeefreak :) I love that by the way... I am a coffeefreak too :)) My children are going to be 5 & 7 and in K & 2nd grade when we start MFW we are going to be doing adventures and 1st grade (slowly w/ k'r) next year. My main reason for asking about the social studies is because if it is on the standardized tests I want to make sure they are learning it at the sequence that will be on the test so that they don't bomb it. I guess I could print out the Oregon Education guidelines for each year and make sure they are getting what they need each year... I was just thinking I would ask on here to see what others have noticed on test scores for MFW including social studies, vocab, history, etc.

At what levels does MFW cover social studies? Is it incorportated into all levels? Or should I add grade appropriate social studies for the younger child who is just tagging along with her older brother?

O.K. Mommyjen, and others who are interested. Here is the link http://www.ohen.org/oregon/compliance here is what is says: your child must take an approved standardized test by August 15th of the year that your child completes grades 3, 5, 8 and 10

Thanks! I guess I am most likely too worried about it. I don't even know if you have to turn them in or if it is just for your records... Sorry I don't know if they take it at the end of 2nd or 3rd? That is a really good question. I may look into that and I'll let you know what I find. I would be interested in hearing from others still on how MFW students do. Thanks to all who have replied so far :)

I was wondering how others children who use MFW have done with state testing? Unfortunately Oregon requires state testing at grade 3 and I am afraid my daughter will be behind becuse she won't really get much from ECC until fifth grade when we cycle back to it. Does doing things out of sequince like this affect their test results? If you use MFW or have used it did you use all the suggested add ons for LA & math or another and how did this work with test results as well?

I agree with Shannon. OPG gets them through until at least the end of first grade reading/phonics instruction so there isn't any need to buy the first grade program... just let 4&5yr old do the other parts of K together and continue with OPG for the 5 yr old. On another note. I have a 5yr old who is advanced in reading as well and since I already own the first grade program I am planning on doing adventures with my 2nd grader (7yr old) and using the first grade MFW spread out and at a really slow pace for my 5yr old. The bible reader that goes with MFW 1st is challenging and I think for a 5yr old you would definately have to go slow... I know we will have to. I was told that it wasn't a good idea to do the MFW 1st with a 5 & 7yr old??? That was my original plan but after hearing so many people suggest otherwise we changed that plan. You can do a search for my recent post on this... I think it was titled "using MFW 1st with a K'r & 2d grader" If this would work I would love to know.. .I was afraid that my 2nd grader would be bored... even if he has his own LA & math instruction. I wish you the best in finding what works for your family :)

I just wanted to say THANK YOU! Donna, you were a huge help... you must have used MFW for most of homeschooling to know so much about it. I really appreciate your input. All of you other ladies, thanks to you too... without all of your help I wouldn't have been able to make a decision that I felt comfortable with. We have decided to go with adventures and use the first grade with the K'r for LA, Math & maybe bible.. we will try and stretch it out for two years with her so that she won't feel pressured... after all Kindergarten is supposed to be layed back and fun. So, thanks to you you all :)

I have gotten advice from fellow homeschoolers on this site that didn't think this would be a good idea... which I understand and appreciate :) I was just wondering if anyone HAS ever done this before and what the experience was like.

Hi, I too am thinking of using the MFW teachers guide for singapore math and when I called and asked the office they said it gave a few suggestions on enrichment activities but doesn't really walk you through what to say. They said that singapore is pretty self explanatory so they leave that up to singapore. Have you used the Home instructors guide from singapore? Or just the textbook and student workbook? I was thinking of getting the Home instructors guide from singpaore and the MFW lesson plans to see which one I like better. The MFW lesson plans for level 2 singapore are only $6. Micah

My thought was that I could use first for both K'r & 2nd and then next year adventures with both when they are 1st & 3rd graders and then the year after doing ECC when they are 2nd and 4th graders. I am concerned about putting a first grader into ECC... I realize she will have her own LA & Math but wouldn't the other material be to advanced for her... I thought that ECC was for 2nd at earliest? Also My thought was that the bible portion of MFW 1st is SO important and it would be good for them to get that foundation before moving onto Adventures. I know I am being kind of stubborn about it... sorry. I just love the first grade program and thought it would work well for us and save some money. I really appreciate all of your advice and realize that you are more experienced with using MFW so that is why I am hesitant to do it the way I had planned maybe you are all right and I should take your advice... I guess that is why I am asking. Please know that I am not trying to be argumentative just wondering why this wouldn't work. It really seems like it would to me. Is that just because I haven't used the program? Thank you all for your time and input on this.

If we did combine them in adventures. What would we do to combine them the next year? They would then be 1st and 3rd graders?

Donna, The second grader would be doing Level 2A singapore or RS Level C and LLATL 3rd grade program so that would be handled for him elsewhere. The only thing he would be using in MFW 1st would be bible and science. My K'r would be using all of MFW 1st subjects. I worry about doing Adventures with the 2nd grader and 1st with K'r because then that would be two years I would have to teach them seperatly in all subjects... right???

In the back of the FIAR books I have they have what month is suggested to read each book even which week would be best.

Would it be way too hard to use both? Teach with RS and use the singapore workbooks?

I recently began using RS with my 1st grader and am a little worried about the untraditional approach of RS.... so I started looking into Singapore and am wondering if this is a better fit for us. Does anyone know if Singapore does a thorough job of guiding the parent in what to say while explaining to the student? Or does anyone have any points they would like to make for RS? Thanks

Hello, I was wondering if anyone has ever used MFW 1st grade for an advanced K student and a 2nd grader (with his own grade appropriate LA & Math)? I am wanting to combine it to make it easier but don't know if this is the best way to go about it. I am worried about it holding back my 2nd grader in the science, bible & history areas. If anyone has ever done this successfully could you let me know. Thanks Micah

Hi, I really want to use LLATL with my son next year but when I read reviews on it they were all bad. Does anyone on here use it or used it in the past? What do you or did you think of it? Do you have to supplement it with more spelling and writing? My second choice is the First language lessons... but this one doesn't seem to teach spelling and I really like the idea of LLATL. Thanks Micah