Singingmom Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 (edited) What did you go on to use for 1st? I like MFW K so far ( I'm only 3 weeks in, though) . I'm just obsessed with finding the best resource(s) for us, and wanted to hear what everyone used for first, especially those who started with MFW. I am ordering catalogs from everyone, and will be checking out the booths at the Great Convention here in Long Beach. I'm so curious about Sonlight....it looks like fun, and i love the quality book selections. I also love that everything you need is in one box! But, I don't like that I would likely be using their K curriculum as a follow- up to MFW's K . I don't get the way things are classified at SL. I also am interested in VP, MP, and HOD, but HOD's website is so cutesy and not....professional looking, IMO. Sorry if that sounds harsh....just my honest gut reaction to it. It really turned me off when I was shopping for K curriculum. I know, a web site doesn't mean everything. It's a bummer that they will not be at the convention in LB, because I would really like to get my hands on their IG to compare with MFW. Ok...I'm just rambling now, but would really appreciate any input/ insight about first grade curriculum you could share. Thanks! Edited March 30, 2012 by Singingmom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakia Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 I used MFW K and 1st with my middle dd, and my youngest dd is using MFW K now. I am planning for her to use MFW 1st (it is EXCELLENT!!) and listen in to SOTW with big sis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Singingmom Posted March 30, 2012 Author Share Posted March 30, 2012 Thanks for responding! Did you feel it was challenging enough? Did you have to supplement? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abacus2 Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 We did MFW K, well about half of it anyway. We followed up with Sonlight's P4/5 so the younger could join in. Now we are about halfway through Sonlight core A. Sonlight is a much better fit for us. I had a very, very hard time finding the MFW K books when I needed them and the 6 day schedule was crazy-making for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Singingmom Posted March 30, 2012 Author Share Posted March 30, 2012 Yes...I can definitely see how If you can't get a lot of the book basket books every couple of weeks, the program would be pretty thin. I have often wondered if they have any plans to do literature packages ( similar to the K one) for the other programs. I really like the literature packages ( girl, boy, and classic) that HOD has. I May have to call MFW and see if any plans are in the works to do that. Oh, and as far as the 6 day schedule goes, we have been doubling up one day a week, since it really doesn't take too long per day to get through it all, at least on this level. We did MFW K, well about half of it anyway. We followed up with Sonlight's P4/5 so the younger could join in. Now we are about halfway through Sonlight core A. Sonlight is a much better fit for us. I had a very, very hard time finding the MFW K books when I needed them and the 6 day schedule was crazy-making for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbollin Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Both of my gals who used MFW K also used MFW 1st grade. side note for benefit of those who haven't MFW K.. mfw K is not "6 days a week". It's just 6 lesson days per unit study. wraps into next week as natural review, or at least I thought so. and the 2nd edition sample on their site makes it easier to understand. It's not intended to be a unit per week. lots of solutions on book basket if you don't have "good library"... buy some of the books with asterisks. amazon, booksbloom etc. Ask at church libraries... used book sales. etc. I've seen people in other countries doing MFW without English libraries. doesn't mean that solution fits everyone. 1st grade -plenty of language arts - even for a child who is reading. The phonics are a great spelling time as well. Notebooking with Bible reader is writing. Copywork with Proverbs. Math is good. Science is enough for the age - but at the same time if you like to do more, you can without feeling overwhelmed. there's classical music study. Come Look with Me books - picture study and art appreciation. I guess if a student is getting done too fast in the day, add in foreign language. Schedule the nature walks too. here's a glance at a week of 1st grade if that would help see some of it. It's not complete and I'm sure I missed something when I made that picture, but maybe it would help? http://board.mfwbooks.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6615p64091 lots of good options on the market. glad we used mfw. -crystal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 We did MFW K, well about half of it anyway. We followed up with Sonlight's P4/5 so the younger could join in. Now we are about halfway through Sonlight core A. Sonlight is a much better fit for us. I had a very, very hard time finding the MFW K books when I needed them and the 6 day schedule was crazy-making for me. :iagree: Ditto on the bolded parts. We made it 19 weeks or so b/f bailing. For first grd, we're going w/ TWTM: FLL1, WWE1, biology. We're also starting AAS1 and doing some geography, Bible & art. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrightmom Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 The 6 day schedule is six days per unit and ends up being the right number of days at the end of the school year. It works out beautifully! Not sure why that is an issue unless you thought you should school six days per week. :001_smile: So sorry if that was the case. The new MFW K guide is fantastic. It is such a rich program spiritually with Bible and character, literature wise with a fabulous book basket, poetry, classical music, hands on with crafts, science activities, cooking, games, etc. Your student puts together a notebook full of their work! What a keepsake. Marie has wonderful suggestions and encouragements for the Mom that I treasure. I am thrilled with it. We don't use it for learning to read (although we do many of the activities for fun) but for everything else.:001_smile::001_smile: ETA: My oldest used MFW First Grade and we LOVED it. LOVE. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleIzumi Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 To me, MFW K is more like a Pre-K, and I followed it with this for K: ETC, then switched to AAR Lollipop Logic series MEP Reception & Y1 unit studies by Amanda Bennet tagging along in BFSU and RSO science circle time with scripture, song or fingerplay, and poems Salsa Spanish Signing Time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boscopup Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 I'm following it up with Sonlight P4/5 and our own LA and math. Then we'll do core A for 1st grade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jentancalann Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Mfw 1st really is good. One of my favorites. I didn't use it this go around because I love AAS so much too, and didn't want to overload dd. We are using Phonics pathways to continue phonics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Singingmom Posted March 30, 2012 Author Share Posted March 30, 2012 Cbollin, thank you for explaining about the 6th day being a review day. Somehow, I missed that! Both of my gals who used MFW K also used MFW 1st grade. side note for benefit of those who haven't MFW K.. mfw K is not "6 days a week". It's just 6 lesson days per unit study. wraps into next week as natural review, or at least I thought so. and the 2nd edition sample on their site makes it easier to understand. It's not intended to be a unit per week. lots of solutions on book basket if you don't have "good library"... buy some of the books with asterisks. amazon, booksbloom etc. Ask at church libraries... used book sales. etc. I've seen people in other countries doing MFW without English libraries. doesn't mean that solution fits everyone. 1st grade -plenty of language arts - even for a child who is reading. The phonics are a great spelling time as well. Notebooking with Bible reader is writing. Copywork with Proverbs. Math is good. Science is enough for the age - but at the same time if you like to do more, you can without feeling overwhelmed. there's classical music study. Come Look with Me books - picture study and art appreciation. I guess if a student is getting done too fast in the day, add in foreign language. Schedule the nature walks too. here's a glance at a week of 1st grade if that would help see some of it. It's not complete and I'm sure I missed something when I made that picture, but maybe it would help? http://board.mfwbooks.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6615p64091 lots of good options on the market. glad we used mfw. -crystal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Singingmom Posted March 30, 2012 Author Share Posted March 30, 2012 What is AAS? Mfw 1st really is good. One of my favorites. I didn't use it this go around because I love AAS so much too, and didn't want to overload dd. We are using Phonics pathways to continue phonics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
applesing Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 We loved MFW K and MFW 1st! In 1st, the child practices reading and narration using the MFW Bible Reader. I thought that this was a wonderful way to learn narration skills. The child makes a Bible Notebook containing the narrations and his/her drawings. It is a precious keepsake and something we will keep forever! This is one of my favorite treasures from all of our homeschooling years. As a side note, my children were early readers and still really benefited from the phonics lessons and narration practice in MFW 1st. It is simple to adjust the program according to the academic needs of your student. We have also done MFW Adventures, ECC and CtG, so we are fans of the program here. Hope you find something that will fit your family! Lynne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearWallowSchool Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 What is AAS? All About Spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jentancalann Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 So sorry, All About Spelling. This, along with Writing With Ease and First Language Lessons, would be overkill if used with MFW 1st. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Singingmom Posted March 30, 2012 Author Share Posted March 30, 2012 Ok...that was going to be my next question, so thanks for anticipating it! Do you feel like the L//A component is not very strong in MFW 1 St ? Does it need supplementation, if the child seems to be catching on pretty quickly to things? So sorry, All About Spelling. This, along with Writing With Ease and First Language Lessons, would be overkill if used with MFW 1st. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jentancalann Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 (edited) Mfw is strong in phonics and moves very quickly. I don't specifically remember any grammar, but I don't have the wkbk anymore to look it up. It does go into sing/plural and alphabetical order by day 107, but the parent guide doesn't show more than that. I believe the goal is to get them reading and start grammar and spelling in second grade. Also, composition is done by narration and notebooking from the Bible stories. It's just a different method. Gentler, but still efficient. Edited March 30, 2012 by jentancalann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Singingmom Posted March 30, 2012 Author Share Posted March 30, 2012 That was a great explanation! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abacus2 Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Just to clarify: I know MFW K is not supposed to be completed 6 days a week. I like predictable routines and the moving relaxed book day was frustrating, especially when it fell on a Monday. Ugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakia Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Thanks for responding! Did you feel it was challenging enough? Did you have to supplement? The only thing I added was a separate math program for my now 9 year old for 1st grade. I didn't like the math workbook recommended by MFW. I think MFW K and 1st are plenty (with added math for 1st), but I tend to be more relaxed in the younger years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Singingmom Posted March 30, 2012 Author Share Posted March 30, 2012 Thanks, Nakia! I think I am leaning toward more relaxed in the younger grades, too....I just want to make sure they don't fall behind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Just to clarify: I know MFW K is not supposed to be completed 6 days a week. I like predictable routines and the moving relaxed book day was frustrating, especially when it fell on a Monday. Ugh. Same here. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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