Should I get FIAR?

[Amy M]

I used ABeka kindergarten for my firstborn, which was basically the three Rs. We also added Bible and foreign language. It seemed very full. Maybe I could cut the extra writing tablet page every day. I have been attracted many times to FIAR because it seems warm, fuzzy, cozy, etc. I'm thinking about getting it to add to kindergarten for my other children. My concerns are...

 

1--Would it be too much? I'm already going to be homeschooling older children. Will I have time on top of ABeka K to add FIAR? I thought if I got it, it might encourage me to actually take that extra time every day to read to the younger ones and do things with them--make it fun--rather than just racing through essentials to get to all my other tasks. Otherwise I'm afraid I won't read to them. But I don't want to buy extra things that will just stress me to fit in.

2--Is it open and go? Or do I have to cut out/prepare a lot of things? I just finished preparing LOTW for my youngest, and it's taken many hours. Death by cutting! :ack2:

 

I was thinking of getting vol 1 & 2. I have about 7 of the books already for each of those. What do you think? Would it make a really great K program, or will it just be an annoying, time-consuming extra, and I should just read books to my kids?

[....]

Hi, my 2nd grader is almost finished with Volume 2. I plan to use Vol 3 over this spring/summer and work through Vol 4 next fall.

 

I *think* Vol 2 is probably the easiest of the four volumes. Volume 4 is the most difficult (so you could really start with vol 1 or 2). We probably spend about 30 minutes per day on the actual FIAR activities. For example, yesterday we read Harold and the Purple Crayon. We made pies and "sliced" them into fractions. She labeled the fractions on each pie. Then, I printed an activity on travel. She wrote 12 different ways to travel on a paper accordion suitcase and we glued it together. Here's where I've been getting printables for FIAR:

 

http://www.homeschoo...w_resources.php

 

You don't have to do printables or cutting/pasting. Sometimes, my daughter likes that stuff. Most of the activities could be done with a dry erase board and set of a kids' encyclopedias. We have a number of resources at home - Kingfisher, Usborne books, etc (we have the "Explore and Learn" series that someone gave us and I use those constantly with the younger ones). I also use alot of internet resources. For me, it's very open-and-go and I don't spend any time preparing.

 

I hope that helps!

[Acorn]

It is as much time as you make it. We love it here. My focus so far has been the titles set in different countries. We use nonfiction library books to add to the featured fiction.

[elizabeth rose]

It was open and go for me. It can be as short as 15 minutes. My best hsing memories were tied in with FIAR. If I had to choose, I would do math, reading instruction and Fiar for K, that's it.

[Susie in MS]

It is the best part of our school days! We have re-rowed all of vols 1-3 and are on our 2nd go around with vol 4. I agree that you don't want to start with vol 4--it is very meaty. Vols 1 and 2, you are thinking about, are so very precious! FIAR may change the way you think about school. =) <3

[Rasa]

I think you should give it a try. We started FIAR a couple of months ago, roaming through the titles of Volume 1 in a rather informal manner, and I love to see both kids (ages 8 and 5) deeply engaged in a story and discussion, asking questions, responding to my questions with enthusiasm and asking for more... I usually read through all the suggested "lessons" in advance, as I never know where exactly the discussion will go until it actually happens. It is lots of fun.

[Five More Minutes]

FIAR can be teacher-intensive if you set personal expectations of completing a lapbook for every book or something like that. Once I let go of having everything prepared ahead of time so that my dds would create beautiful records of our studies, it was way easier on me and every bit as fun. We ended up doing many activities orally. Our Five In a Row studies are some of our favourite memories.

[Amy M]

I have MFW ADV and ECC and will use that with my oldest for 2014 and 2015 (his 2nd and 3rd grade). I had thought to just have my second boy tag along with whatever he could in that, and have several "book basket" books for that (when he's in K). I wonder if I can handle FIAR along with that, or if MFW would be too hard for him to tag along in. I love the idea of FIAR, just not sure if I should try to do two book-ish programs at once.

[wendyroo]

I love the idea of FIAR, but, so far, it hasn't working out well for us. I think my son is just too asynchronous.

 

I started with Before FIAR when my son had just turned 3. Academically he was very advanced and had no interest in Goodnight Moon or The Carrot Seed; he was much happier listening to Frog and Toad. However, he is a very anxious child and hid behind the couch crying when I read Blueberries for Sal or Angus Lost. He spent so much time pouring through nature books that he knew all about skinks and vervets and a dozen varieties of penguins - he had little interest in talking about boring animals like rabbits and turtles.

 

When he was 3 and a half I got FIAR vol. 1 and tried to interest him in a few activities in there. He liked the books better, but many of them were "too scary." Most of the highlighted vocab was too easy (perfectly, windmill, continue). The math and science were good, but the literacy and art didn't work too well with a 3 year old. Personification and the like went right over his head and artistically he was still at the scribbling and painting grey blogs stage.

 

Long story short, we are now doing much better doing FIAR-like activities. I choose books that are right on his level both intellectually and emotionally. If there is a clear setting we discuss it or find it on the globe. We stop to discuss vocab words as we read. We do math, science and literacy activities that will challenge, but not frustrate DS.

 

I think in some ways FIAR is like an other boxed curriculum - it is really hard to shoehorn some kids into a set mold. Obviously, you can always adapt a program to better fit your kids (and I think FIAR lends itself well to that because it often mentions a couple math or science activities so you can choose which is best for your child), but the more adaptation you do, the less open and go the program is.

 

Just my experience,

Wendy

[Stellalarella]

I am yet another fiAR user who did not do lapbooks. It was an open and go curriculum for us, though when I did a little extra prep, I was more motivated to engage with the curriculum each day. My kids were ones who really did (and do) love to read the same story every day. (There are folks, though, who find that tiresome, and that is OK.)

One thing the kids just loved was when I would set up a little display to represent the book. A few times I set up things to represent the book, along with the book on their dresser after they went to sleep on SUnday night. IT was fun for them to wake up to our FIAR book on Monday morning.

I generally tend to get the books from the library first before buying. I don't love all the FIAR selections and I appreciate the flexibility of the curriculum for me to set certain books aside.

I think FIAR is wonderful.

I prefer the older workbook bound style over the spiral binding. Spiral bindings come unwound and the "new printing" is is only a new cover for the outside of the book.

[Susie in MS]

I have MFW ADV and ECC and will use that with my oldest for 2014 and 2015 (his 2nd and 3rd grade). I had thought to just have my second boy tag along with whatever he could in that, and have several "book basket" books for that (when he's in K). I wonder if I can handle FIAR along with that, or if MFW would be too hard for him to tag along in. I love the idea of FIAR, just not sure if I should try to do two book-ish programs at once.

 

If you only read the story and do what is in the manual your FIAR days will probably not go beyone 30 minutes. And those days are days with activities---if you chose to do them. An average day (with nothing added) will probably be 15-20 minutes.

[Susie in MS]

 

I prefer the older workbook bound style over the spiral binding. Spiral bindings come unwound and the "new printing" is is only a new cover for the outside of the book.

 

If there is enough spiral at the ends you can crimp them with a pair of pliers and they won't unwind.

[Irishmommy]

We love FIAR over here and would recommend highly!

[Tracy]

A lot of people do all sorts of planning and preparation for FIAR. But it absolutely is not necessary. All I do for planning is decide which lesson plans to use. I never choose a lesson that requires a lot of prep work, and that is easy to do, because there are so many lessons to choose from. Here is what a typical week looks like:

 

Monday (Social Studies): Put a disk on the map

Tuesday (Language Arts): Discuss vocabulary or a literary device

Wednesday (Art): We sit at the table and draw. I offer a variety of paper and media.

Thursday (Math): We get out our math manipulatives (c-rods or base 10 blocks) and use them to count (or add/subtract/multiply)

Friday (Science): We look stuff up on the Internet

 

There are some differences from week to week, but this is what we often end up doing. I sometimes combine days, because my ds is not as into these books as my dd was at the same age. This and combined handwriting/reading/spelling instruction is all I do with my 5yo right now, and I will add math in the fall.

[Amy M]

I read this review on Amazon (5 stars):

 

"I do have to offer one clarification, of sorts, from what some others have said. It is suggested that the lessons require no further preparation than glancing at this book and then getting started. That isn't true. If you want a curriculum where all the information your child needs is right there in front of him, this is NOT it. Five in a Row suggests *topics* on which to teach based on the book of the week. You may be learning about the Revolutionary War, or Japan, the sense of taste, or ducks. But if you want pictures related to that topic or some information about it on the child's level, you need to supplement with other books."

 

Is this true? Do I need other books to supplement with, outside of the list of books already suggested? I am in Africa and don't have a library. I had hoped the curriculum could be self-contained between the TM and the picture books. How many and what extra resources would I need? Usborne science books? Maps? Do they give you a map?

 

Also, I used to be able to see samples at www.fiarhq.com. Now I can't get on that site. Anyone else having trouble? I did find www.fiveinarow.com, but it doesn't show samples, and directs to Rainbow Resource to purchase.

[Susie in MS]

Considering the age range target for FIAR it is NOT necessary to add to it UNLESS you want to. The person with the 5 star review is one that WANTS to add to it based on her desires for her child. And this coming from me ----who does add. The info in the manual is pretty basic till you get to vol 4, but again consider the targeted age. Most children in this age range don't remember who killed who in what war or understand most science.

 

If you do want to add to it my suggestion is to add a book about cultures around the world, some Let's Read and Find out topical books. Books like that. You do want to have a world map and a US map. These can be as large as wall maps or as small as place mat maps. I do both: the smaller when I travel. If you have vids about the history or science topics they can be good, simple additons.

 

There are very brief samples at RR.

 

I am pming you.

[Tracy]

Is this true? Do I need other books to supplement with, outside of the list of books already suggested? I am in Africa and don't have a library. I had hoped the curriculum could be self-contained between the TM and the picture books. How many and what extra resources would I need? Usborne science books? Maps? Do they give you a map?

 

This depends a lot on what age you are using it for. I have used it for each of my kids at 4yo, and I did not supplement at all. The only thing I ever did that required a little prep was to print out pictures of landmarks in Paris to go with the book Madeline. I have seen a lot of people complain about the prep work in FIAR, and I have always been very confused about this. :confused1: If you are doing it with a 4yo, what more do they need to do when they are learning mapping, a literary device, new vocabulary, an art technique, a little math, and a science concept, all in the same week out of the same book? To me, that seems like a big week for a 4yo, and I don't see any reason to supplement. Occasionally, if something in a book really strike's my dc's fancy, I will get extra books from the library or look things up on the internet, but that is all frosting and not at all necessary to the program.

 

If you are using it for children at the upper end of the age range, you might need to supplement. It is definitely not a full curriculum for ages 7-8.

 

You do need a map, and the FIAR books do not come with one. You could easily just use printable maps from the internet if you do not have access to a wall map or atlas. The FIAR books come with disks that you are supposed to put on a wall map. I don't see any reason you couldn't adapt that to a printable map.

[Jennay]

I read this review on Amazon (5 stars):

 

"I do have to offer one clarification, of sorts, from what some others have said. It is suggested that the lessons require no further preparation than glancing at this book and then getting started. That isn't true. If you want a curriculum where all the information your child needs is right there in front of him, this is NOT it. Five in a Row suggests *topics* on which to teach based on the book of the week. You may be learning about the Revolutionary War, or Japan, the sense of taste, or ducks. But if you want pictures related to that topic or some information about it on the child's level, you need to supplement with other books."

 

Is this true? Do I need other books to supplement with, outside of the list of books already suggested? I am in Africa and don't have a library. I had hoped the curriculum could be self-contained between the TM and the picture books. How many and what extra resources would I need? Usborne science books? Maps? Do they give you a map?

 

Also, I used to be able to see samples at www.fiarhq.com. Now I can't get on that site. Anyone else having trouble? I did find www.fiveinarow.com, but it doesn't show samples, and directs to Rainbow Resource to purchase.

 

In my opinion, yes. But I think you could cover your bases with a set of the DK First Books (DK First Atlas, DK First Book of Animals, etc.) or the Usborne equivalents. The Usborne Science Activities books are also helpful - there is a chart on homeschoolshare that shows with science experiements go with some of the books. It would be best to have a laminated wall map.

[Jennay]

FIAR is a great curriculum but if you like things to be sytematic and chronlogical, or like to feel like something is "completed", or have a hard time deciding between supplemental resources, then FIAR might not be for you.

[Amy M]

I just spent my afternoon estimating costs. I figure to get volumes 1&2 and the remaining books I don't have for those volumes (I have 12), I would pay around $126 at least. Then I'd have to ship it over here. I don't know. Doesn't that seem like a lot of money for a "supplement" to my K program? I'm guessing most of you get the books at the library? I was almost sold on the program, but now I'm swinging the other way.

 

Like I said, I will already be doing MFW ADV and ECC, and shipping lots of books for that. And I already have lots of nice picture books that we rarely have time to get through as it is now--just not all the great literature on FIAR's book list. I like the idea of the art, vocab, and science help, but I think my 2nd boy could just tag along in MFW for things like maps and science, just not the literature discussions and art that FIAR provides. But I don't want to be short-sighted. FIAR looks like it would be perfect for when my two babies are K age, and the older two boys are doing harder history/science and it would be over their heads to tag along.

 

When I'm already shipping so many books for MFW, do you think FIAR sounds too pricey for an add-on to a K program? Or is it really THAT great? :) I think I have decided though, that I would not purchase any extra things to go along with it.

 

ETA: That price is cutting 2 books from each volume that were OOP and really pricey. Sigh, there are just too many good curricula! I want to get them all, but I know I'd just drive my kids nuts, because I would try to do them all if I paid for them! (and my husband nuts for having to ship them all)

[woolybear]

It sounds like you've already got a lot with MFW. If you want to supplement a bit, why not pick a few books off the titles used at Homeschool Share? http://www.homeschoolshare.com/

 

You could do just a book occasionally and then not have to stress about it as much. Either use books you already have or pick out a few to buy. I find the picture books done at Homeschool Share are often really well done.

[Tracy]

I just spent my afternoon estimating costs. I figure to get volumes 1&2 and the remaining books I don't have for those volumes (I have 12), I would pay around $126 at least. Then I'd have to ship it over here. I don't know. Doesn't that seem like a lot of money for a "supplement" to my K program? I'm guessing most of you get the books at the library? I was almost sold on the program, but now I'm swinging the other way.

 

 

It is hard to say. We used the library exclusively. FIAR was absolutely magical for my older child, but is just so-so for my ds. Even as magical as it was for my dd, I am not sure it would justify the cost of buying all the books.

[skeeterbug]

Does Book Depository deliver where you are? I would not order all the books to begin with. Just order the manual and a couple of books so that it isn't such a big investment and see how you like it, or just start with the books you have. I order books as we go. Have you seen the Delightful Learning blog? It will help you get a better idea of all you can do with fiar. I always look at her blog post about a specific book before starting. It's easy to pick and choose activities without doing it all, the manual is broken down into subjects. You don't have to do it all!

 

http://delightfullearning.blogspot.com

[Amy M]

Does Book Depository deliver where you are? I would not order all the books to begin with. Just order the manual and a couple of books so that it isn't such a big investment and see how you like it, or just start with the books you have. I order books as we go. Have you seen the Delightful Learning blog? It will help you get a better idea of all you can do with fiar. I always look at her blog post about a specific book before starting. It's easy to pick and choose activities without doing it all, the manual is broken down into subjects. You don't have to do it all!

 

http://delightfullearning.blogspot.com

 

Thank you for the link! I would guess that Book Depository won't deliver here, as I'm in Africa, but I've never heard of it. I thought I'd have to buy it all in advance when we come back to visit America this summer and bring it back with us.

 

Thank you all so much for your thoughtful comments. I'm thinking now of looking for a used volume 2, and maybe 1, and using it with what I have, and not worrying about getting more books. I'll maybe ask for them for presents for the kids from family members through the years. Thanks again!

[skeeterbug]

 

Thank you for the link! I would guess that Book Depository won't deliver here, as I'm in Africa, but I've never heard of it. I thought I'd have to buy it all in advance when we come back to visit America this summer and bring it back with us.

 

Thank you all so much for your thoughtful comments. I'm thinking now of looking for a used volume 2, and maybe 1, and using it with what I have, and not worrying about getting more books. I'll maybe ask for them for presents for the kids from family members through the years. Thanks again!

 

Here is the list of countries that Book Depository delivers to. You didn't say what country, I hope yours is listed! It takes about two weeks to receive my orders here in Australia.