I'm a new homeschooler, gearing up to start using MFW Adventures in the fall with my nearly 7-year-old. I hadn't planned on getting a curriculum like this, as I'd read TWTM and then Latin-Centered Curriculum and was moving in the direction of some meshing of those two...but I went to the Illinois homeschooling convention last month and saw it there, and it seemed to fit perfectly with the remaining holes in my plans, plus it uses U.S. history in the 2nd grade which I liked as a better fit for me for my first homeschooling year. I'm looking forward to see how it all works! I'm writing because I was wondering if there is any sort of MFW support group somewhere on these boards? There is probably an easy way to find it but I'm not sure where it is! :confused: I'm sure there is also something at the MFW website but I come here all the time and it would be nice to be connected to people in this particular virtual universe! Thanks, Helen

Hi everyone, I'm new to homeschooling, planning to "officially" start this fall with my soon-to-be 7 year old DS. I have two other DSs in the house, a 4 year old and a soon-to-be 2 year old. I have been trying to start homeschooling this summer, not even a full plate but basically math (to catch up what was NOT done this past year in 1st grade, it's amazing how little they do in public schools now in math!! My DS is an advanced reader but still has trouble with basic math facts!) and some language arts. We do homeschooling at our dining room table and we start these activities in the morning. As soon as I am at the table with my eldest, the other two come running. I try to keep them occupied with whatever I have on hand--dry erase boards, preschool workbooks, manipulatives--but they are so distracting and make so much noise, and my previously easygoing and sweet toddler has found his voice and screams at the top of his lungs if he is not getting the attention he wants! I am using a combo of Math-U-See and Singapore Math, along with FLL, this summer. But it doesn't feel like there is that much independent work going on--I feel like I have to do a fair amount of shepherding my eldest; I also am doing OPGTR and basic math for my 4 year old. Trying to figure out how to fit these things in and give each individualized attention while keeping the toddler occupied or quiet is proving to be much more diffucult than I had ever imagined! So, I'd love help from those of you who are experienced and used to juggling multiple children. How do you fit it all in, what are your tricks to keeping toddlers in particular occupied, what concessions/decisions/tradeoffs did you have to make in order to effectively school your different kids? Any and all nuggets of wisdom would be appreciated! I am feeling a little like I have bitten off way more than I will be able to chew! I do firmly believe God has called us to homeschool and that He will provide the necessary wisdom and patience that I need, but right now I could also use some practical suggestions to keep from tearing my hair out and to not grow weary of homeschooling before we even really begin! FYI, we'll be using MFW Adventures in the fall. I'm not sure how hands-on/independent it is, so it will be interesting to see how that works with my current situation. Thanks in advance for any help you could provide! Blessings, Helen **** Married to wonderfully gifted classical pianist, 13 yrs Blessed mom to three amazing DSs, 7, 4, and 2 New homeschooler hoping to stick with it past year 1!

I'm a new homeschooler starting officially this fall, with my 7 year old DS (and more informally with my 4 year old DS)...just chose MFW Adventures at the recent Illinois homeschooling convention...wondered if there is a place/thread here for those of us using this curriculum or if it is found at the MFW site? Would love to stay connected with others of you who are using MFW Adventures this coming year. Thanks!--Helen

I'm a new homeschooler, and I have been trying to figure things out for my 2nd grader. I just went to a big homeschool convention last week, not knowing what to choose for math/history/geography/Bible so sounds similar to you. I was thinking of choosing between Saxon, Math-U-See, and Horizons; I already have Singapore Math here at home as well but felt like I needed to supplement with someone or use Singapore as the supplement. Going to the convention really helped me to figure it out--looking through the books and talking with the reps gave me a better understanding of the options. There is only so much research you can do online! I did end up going with Math-U-See and also discovered Right Start at the convention, so bought some of their math games as well. I'd say I have enough math curriculum for now. :001_smile: As for the history/geography/Bible...I, too, ended up with My Father's World! I was not planning this at all...although I like WTM overall, I have always been a little unsure of starting with Ancients or Middle Ages at a young age. Especially since this is my first year of homeschooling, I wanted to start with an area of history that I'm more familiar with and that would be U.S. history. (I was swayed by Cheryl Lowe's article on this topic: http://www.memoriapress.com/articles/July08/historynotchronological.html). And I was thinking that it would be great to find a curriculum that would start with U.S. then move into the traditional classical sequence. Voila! I found it at the My Father's World display. They have a curriculum called Adventures for 2nd graders that starts with U.S. history, and it also has materials for Bible, geography, science; they say they are a curriculum for those who prefer the classical/CM approach. I'm very excited to start with this in the fall. So, going to the convention helped me solidify plans...I think if you go in with specific goals and spend your time at the exhibits to help you wtih those specific questions (vs. wandering and spending endless hours at every exhibit, which was very tempting!), the convention experience could really help you finalize your questions. That was the case for me. I spent less time in the sessions--as I just bought the audio files to be able to catch the sessions I missed later--and more time in the exhibit hall. Good luck and let us know how the experience went for you and if you were able to find what you were looking for!

I'm a brand-new homeschooler, never even thought about doing this three months ago but now here I am, even fresh from a homeschooling conference (ICHE, for any Illinois folks out there) with armloads of curriculum. My eldest turns 7 in July and we are turning to homeschooling in part because we are dismayed by how little he's learned in 1st grade in public school. Here is my tentative list: Math: Math-U-See (Alpha), supplemented with Singapore IB, Right Start games, Calculadders Language Arts: Classical Writing Primer, FLL; Spelling Power Handwriting: New American Cursive History, Geography, Science, Bible: My Father's World (Adventures) Language: Prima Latina; weekly Chinese school Music: piano lessons; occasional composer studies Weekly co-op classes in art, computers, gym Hoping there will be plenty of time for reading lots of living books and also to play and enjoy being a kid! I'm loving these boards, they are becoming a lifeline for me! **** HLee in Illinois Married to DH 13+ years Mom to DS (almost 7), DS (4), and another DS (21 mos.) http://rowancourt.blogspot.com

Hi everyone--new to homeschooling, trying to figure it all out, want to create a Christian classical education for my kids and am trying to sort through all the slightly differing opinions. Has anyone read Beechick's book on A Biblical Home Education and do you have an opinion on her thoughts about Latin? She seems to think that it's not very helpful and that the grammar one learns from learning Latin doesn't translate all that well to English grammar. If anyone has given this some thought, I'd love to hear your thoughts! Thanks. --Helen Married to DH 13 years Brand new homeschooler to my three little boys (7, 4, 20 mos.)

I'm sorry, I'm not writing to provide an answer, but to support the question! I am starting homeschooling this summer/fall and am totally confused about what to do with writing. I have a current 1st grader, strong reader, but no previous experience with classical methods such as copywork, narration, dictation. Very little phonics experience, or grammar. I've been waffling over CW and WWE or just using FLL? Will look forward to seeing the postings here!

Hi everyone---I'm a newbie, trying to figure out this whole homeschooling thing, leaning towards some version of the classical method/LCC/TWTM/CM (so confusing!) but for those of you who use Classical Writing Primers, do you need to order separate copybooks? And some of you have mentioned supplementing with grammar...are there other language arts curriculum you need to add on? I'm trying to get a handle on all the different LA things you're supposed to do and not quite sure how LCC and TWTM differ here--I think TWTM says you need spelling, phonics, grammar, writing, copywork...probably missing something here...and I'm not sure how much of these are covered when you use CW Primers. Can you see I'm still trying to sort all this out??? If anyone can offer some help here, I'd GREATLY appreciate it!!!!!! Thanks so much.

Hmm, interesting perspective...Katilac--do you think that Cheryl Lowe and company are proposing the American history first as the means to avoid addressing mythology first? I never thought of that! They do hit the Greek myths pretty early, though, in 2nd grade...so I'm curious to hear more about what you is underlying Lowe's perspective. Thanks!

Hi everyone, Newbie here to homeschooling, trying to figure it out to start in the fall with DS (6 yrs old, super reader, in 1st grade right now but I'm sad to say I don't think he's learned much this year!!! Thus the thought to homeschool.) I know the WTM suggests the chronological approach to teaching history, starting with the Ancients. But Cheryl Lowe, the author of Prima Latina/Latina Christiana suggests the following method, which they use at the Highlands Latin School where she teaches: http://www.memoriapress.com/articles/Spring09/teach-history-chronologically.html What do you think of this approach? Has anyone tried it, or does anyone have feedback on teaching history differently than the traditional Classical approach? Thanks in advance for your thoughts. I love these boards! Best, Helen ds, 6, will start homeschooling this summer/fall ds, 4, will start homeschooling next year if I survive this year ds, 18 mos, will start homeschooling if I survive the next couple of years!

Thanks, Erica. I think I read somewhere in WTM that even if you can read, you should go back and do phonics to help with spelling, but your feedback about getting enough phonics in spelling is helpful. Maybe we'll just go ahead and do that, then! How do you like Spelling Workout?

Hi everyone--I have just decided to begin the homeschooling journey with my eldest son, currently in 1st grade. We'll begin this fall but I want to start putting things into place even this summer. I have no idea what to do with phonics for him. He hasn't done too much work in this area even at school, but on a reading assessment I just gave him he supposedly can read at a 6th grade level. Do I need to go back and go through Ordinary Parents Guide to Reading with him, or can I just start him on other language arts book? (spelling, composition, copywork, etc.) Thanks for any input! I have no local homeschooling friends and only a couple nationwide, so reading this forum has been a huge blessing and invaluable for me! --Helen Lee ds, 6, to be homeschooled starting this fall ds, 4, to be homeschooled starting next fall if I survive the year ds, 18 mos, to be homeschooled ???