Biblioplan comparisons to MFW?

[BlsdMama]

I'm not excited about dropping $400 - $500 on MFW, though I think it *is* worth it. But, at the same time, I absolutely KNOW we cannot pull off TOG this year.

 

What I like about MFW:

 

The teacher's guide has specific assignments with checkboxes.

It integrates Bible.

 

 

What I don't understand about Biblioplan:

 

MOH for high school? Seriously? My son (9th grade) might well revolt. SOTW isn't sufficient either.

What is their "Companion" for Ancients? Is this an alternate spine?

 

 

We use separate writing programs so this isn't an issue.

He is VERY much an independent worker and does not like to be spoon-fed. This works well. We will have four children under five this year. He is a very strong reader.

 

DD did MFW (World History) this year. She liked it. She wasn't crazy about Notgrass, but it was good and got the job done.

 

 

Any other comparisons or things to think about would be appreciated.

[mom31257]

What I don't understand about Biblioplan:

 

MOH for high school? Seriously? My son (9th grade) might well revolt. SOTW isn't sufficient either.

What is their "Companion" for Ancients? Is this an alternate spine?

 

We use separate writing programs so this isn't an issue.

He is VERY much an independent worker and does not like to be spoon-fed. This works well. We will have four children under five this year. He is a very strong reader.

 

DD did MFW (World History) this year. She liked it. She wasn't crazy about Notgrass, but it was good and got the job done.

 

Any other comparisons or things to think about would be appreciated.

 

I used Biblioplan last year and I am using it this year as well (Year 1 and 2). The Companion is Biblioplan's own textbook. It is where all the high school work will come from when it comes to the weekly questions, map work, and tests. There are other suggested spines to read along with it. Year 1 scheduled A Beka or Glencoe world history books, but it only told you which sections to read for a whole unit, not which parts to read each week. I chose Glencoe for dd, and she really likes it. Year 2 has others listed, but I still schedule Glencoe myself.

 

The Cool HIstory pages are fill-in-the blank, short answer questions, short essay questions, and one research type question/essay each week. There are maps to do each week with specific labeling instructions as well as geographical information to learn. Several weeks make up a unit. After each unit there is a history test and a geography test. My only complaint about these is that the questions are worded exactly like the weekly work.

 

I chose this because dd wanted to study those parts of history in a more extended fashion than just world history all in one year, and I wanted to know I would have materials for which I would give some objective grades (not just discussion and writing).

 

Dd is not going to continue Years 3 and 4. She is concerned about being independent with learning when she gets to college, so I'm going to have her do BJU dvd courses next year for history and English and be totally responsible for it on her own (other than grading I'll have to do).

 

I haven't used MFW, but I did choose to use their Ancient Literature supplement with BP Year 1. I want literature guides to help me more than I felt she needed it.