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I don't think we have "plus" just the regular. It is free in SC for homeschoolers. I mostly use it for videos for the kids. They have really loved the videos, even the baby (2 1/2) does. It may be because they don't get to watch alot of TV so most anything makes them happy in the way of videos. There is definitely alot of educational material. I can see where you could find anything pertaining to the subject you are on at the time. I plan to schedule them with our studies next year, we didn't have it when I planned this year out. They also have lesson plans & print outs to go with some of the videos, although I haven't made use of this yet.

We are almost at the end of The House at Pooh Corner. It is difficult when you come across the mispelled words to figure out the pronunciation, etc. It has caught me quite a few times. I also let the boys (6) watch an original Pooh movie since they were not familiar with Pooh and all the personalities. And I try to develop a different voice for each character along w/ faces to relay the story. However, it has not held their interest like other read a louds have.

Excuse me please for jumping in on an old post & posting a question. We are finishing SL Core A, now purchasing MFW Adv. Can you tell me how it went for you? Also, they suggest getting ages 3+ their own student sheets. What do you think? We have the twins 6 doing MFW Adv and the baby will turn 3 as soon as we start MFW Adv. :lurk5:

I don't think so. I think they were just never taught, then just passed through. I think.

Thanks so much!

Thank you! I have contacted both suggestions for further information. Hopefully one will work out. My concern is that they don't have computer skills. still open to any & all suggestions! :bigear:

Can anyone recommend, or know of a program that an adult could use to teach themselves to read? I know of an adult who can't read but despirately would like to. They have made attempts through the years to learn; however, I think embarassment and/or lack of commitment have gotten in the way. I was hoping someone could turn me on to a program that used videos, cds etc that they could use independently to learn. I feel it would be life changing for them. Background: this person is- older has no computer skills has little newer technology skills has nobody close by to assist in teaching has learned survival reading skills (like drive through menus, etc) can write

We switched to SL for 1st after MFW K also. It was really nice having everything you need already in hand since SL sends everything you could possibly needm but it also costs about 2xs as much. We are a ways from the library, so that made MFW K a bit of a stretch to get books so often. However, after w/ SL we are seriously thinking of going back to MFK for 2nd. MFW is IMO very easy to omit/add and increase/decrease depth of subjects as you feel necessary for your family. They offered alot of hands on activities for K (IDK about higher grades, I think so) and the activities were fairly simple to do, most of them were quick - 10 mins, made the lesson it was linked to memorable for the kids, not labor intensive, and were using things you most probably had on hand. But yes the whole rounding up books was a minus. They both were pretty much open & go, taking into account you had your books and/or craft supplies. With SL alot of times, I go the glazed over look from my children. I think besides the books, the main difference is the Classical vs Charlotte Mason. I think it would benefit to find which style was the most beneficial for your 4. While SL is Classical, MFW is CM with a little Classical. I realize some maybe 1 way or the other, but try to narrow it done to the majority then work with that. If your kids need hands on activities to concrete information, you want an open & go program, then seriously consider MFW if you can deal with the books. You may want to go through and decide which ones you'd like to use throughout the year and consider buying them used, that may end up cheaper than another program like SL that you buy the books. Or get a Nook to read some of the books on?

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2 part question: 1) We are looking at MFW Adventures and the suggest PLL & a math for a complete curriculum. Is that all we need? 2) I am considering PLL for our LA program. Is PLL all I would need for LA, or do I need an add'l spelling, etc? Also should I purchase the TG for PLL? (We already do SM, LOF, and going to start MM for math - however I'm always open to suggestions :bigear:) ***any add'l advice welcomed!

Then they switch to Spelling Power in 3rd. (I've never used SP because we were already using something else that we liked when we found MFW. I've always been intrigued by the optional box of SP activities that you can get to go with it, though, and might still buy it for my youngest.) Sorry to jump in here, but could you please clarify. We are looking at Adv for our 6 yr old boys. :bigear: thanks!

Then they switch to Spelling Power in 3rd. (I've never used SP because we were already using something else that we liked when we found MFW. I've always been intrigued by the optional box of SP activities that you can get to go with it, though, and might still buy it for my youngest.) Sorry to jump in here, but could you please clarify. We are looking at Adv for our 6 yr old boys. :bigear: thanks!

We have done MFW K with my twin boys @ 4 1/2-5ish. The boys knew all their letters, but not lower case nor sounds. They of course, knew colors also and how to count to at least 30. MFW we chose because we wanted something that was hands on, Bible based, & teach the begininnings of phonics. MFW is just that. We did everything by the schedule for probably the first 1/3 of the program then I saw areas we didn't need & eliminated or just didn't do them as frequently as the schedule listed. MFW you are totally able to do or not do things & it still flows. There were alot of cute crafts, that were really things you have on hand any how. Each week you study 1 letter each week(they are not alphabetical, thus you little one can read sooner like bat you'd have to get to T before you could read bat if you did alphabetical) & each letter has a corresponding character value w/ a quote to memorize (not a Bible verse :( though but based on Godly character). During that week the letter has an associated thing like B is for Butterfly. And that week you learn how to write B, you learn the sound of B, you learn about butterflies & read butterly books, crafts, songs etc. Every week there isn't a song & craft etc. They do a nice job of mixing up all the hands on projects every week to match the theme for that week. However, the phonics part is the same thing every week just a different letter and we found that boring after a while. They have very simple games, great book suggestions for each week, activities to teach letter sounds etc. I do wish I would have done more handwriting & an add'l math. But as far as the program it was great. Majority of the activities you don't need to purchase anything add'l, except like A week was A is for Apple and we purchased about 6 different varieties of apples to taste test to find the favorite. Then we made applesauce. Well no normally I wouldn't have 6 different varieties of apples in my home but I didn't consider that a major thing since it was a basic food. But you can omit any craft or just do a different craft or do their craft w/ different supplies, it is really flexible. It was: -fun -economical -they learned to read short vowel words -learned about God's world -learned Godly character -great book list (that you get from library & suggestions for options if you can't find the one they suggest) -adorable, easy but memorable crafts/activities We learned about living water. We got a plant & tore off a leaf then laid it over to the side. My boys still talk about that. They really retained the crafts/activities we did in MFW K. We did SL Core A for 1st, but are seriously considering going back to MFW for 2nd. IDK about FIAR, other than it does look fun :) HTH, best wishes in your search.

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ooohh the whole core? eeeewww what are they thinking?

Yes it's me :) the same one that is stressing over this whole 2nd grade issue- ugh!

Ugh :( I'm not sure we are using them for 2nd. Matter of fact, I'm pretty sure we aren't but I'm still not decided. The change to the IG really doesn't make sense. So the LA for day 5 is like day 5 Science? :( Victoria

I used it with my twins when they were about 4 1/2 & not reading. They learned to read with it, yet that part was repititious so we got bored with it. However, the Bible & Science parts are great and come with great ideas. It wasn't as strong in math as I would like to have seen.

That is sort of what I have been thinking with the twins, let them do MFW Adventures for 2nd & baby will be 3, MFW -3rd ECC Yr 1 & baby will be 4, MFW 4th CG Yr 2 & baby MFW K5, MFW 5th RR Yr 3 & baby MFW 1st, MFW 6th & baby joining in for 2nd, MFW 7th E1850 & baby joining for 3rd, MFW 8th 1850MT & baby joining for 4th, but my thinking here is that actually I will only be combining all 3 for only 3 years. Since 9th+ MFW has a different program. Any ideas there? I thought about just doing SOS starting 3rd since it appears to be so independent & then I could focus on the baby learning more and more so for 4th when the baby will be in K5 and beginning to read. Any thoughts there? I'm not crazy about them learning mostly from a computer, but I figure I could include the twins in on the hands on learning for the baby & beef their part up for their ability w/ readers, facts etc?????

We are almost at the end of our 1st grade year w/ Sonlight - with 6 yr old twin boys. We did MFW for K5 @ 4 1/2. We have another boy who will be 3 when the twins start 2nd grade. I plan to start him @ 5 w/ K when the twins will be starting 4th. There will be a 4 year grade gap between the twins and the baby. Can anyone share some opinions/advice on programs for eventually combining all 3 of the boys? It's difficult with such a large gap and would like to start now to work our way towards that goal. I have considered going back with MFW Adventures for 2nd & for 3rd doing their year 1 cycle, but IDK. Thanks in advance for any insight offered :confused: