Would this be too silly/crazy???

SoaringEagle · Post by **SoaringEagle** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:33 pm

After praying and receiving the MFW new catalog, I feel led to keep my original plan and start with MFW.

I am thinking that maybe I could use HOD for spelling, art, math and maybe English and then use MFW for the rest. If I need to I could add HOD science if it is something my daughter really likes.

Would this be too crazy??? I am too silly to think this??? I really like both programs...I'll know more about MFW once we actually start it this Fall but I do strongly believe that is what God wants us to use for now as our main curriculum.

joyfulheart · Post by **joyfulheart** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:40 pm

I think if you are an experienced homeschooler, that it would probably be fine!

I think if you are new at homeschooling it might get overwhelming? At least it would for me, and I'm a newbie. But I have no idea what I'm doing, and no experience, and everything scares me. LOL

GOod luck!

SoaringEagle · Post by **SoaringEagle** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:45 pm

no experience really. I'm just doing pre-k right now...I don't think it would overwhelm me trying to do 2 programs. I'll need to add in a spelling, English, math anyway....

Dorla · Post by **Dorla** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:02 pm

Yes, it is crazy! Your life cannot be all about school, school, school. And I send this to you with gentleness and many hugs. But I have been there, done that. Not with MFW and HOD, but with HOD and my own version of whatever else I thought I LOOOOVED. Well, it did not work. Not because it cannot be done, but because I spent a lot of time coordinating things. It might work for MFW, but you will miss the beauty of HOD.

Dorla

Melanie · Post by **Melanie** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:06 pm

Could you clarify a bit....which programs are you wanting to combine?? MFW K or 1st and which HOD program??

Marsha · Post by **Marsha** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:32 pm

Dorla said it well.
I completely agree.

SoaringEagle · Post by **SoaringEagle** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:41 pm

With MFW grade 1 and up. I know in grade 1 they have art in the deluxe package but I won't be using that one that I know and I'll be using Singapore math. Grade 2 I'll have to add in art, English, spelling, math, music...so I thought I'd use just parts of HOD that I would need to add in...what would the difference be between using HOD for what I need and say BJU for math, spelling, English, music, art...would be just as much work, to me anyway, that's the way I'm seeing it.

Melanie · Post by **Melanie** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:54 pm

Once you get past MFW k, you are into some very full programs. I would just do one or the other. What is it that is drawing you to MFW? It sounds like from your post, that you would be tweaking quite a bit. If you're going to be changing so much of it (adding and taking away) then I would seriously ask myself what it is that I do like about it.

Of course, if you feel very pulled to MFW, then you should use that. I would do like Vickie in another post...make a list of all the subjects you feel are important and how you're going to cover them (with MFW or HOD) and use what comes out on top.

Tis the season to be searching ...fa la la la la.....

SoaringEagle · Post by **SoaringEagle** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:44 pm

I know MFW has suggestions for math, English, spelling but you don't have to add those. As far as I can see I could add whatever I wanted for math, English, spelling....So I guess I can't understand why I can't just add what I am missing from HOD....

Melanie · Post by **Melanie** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 3:20 pm

If you just add R&S grammar and Singapore math, you'd have it. You'd basically be buying a HOD manual for the spelling....well, and Carrie's math activities. I think MFW sells their own Singapore math schedule and sells the books.

Would you use anything else from the manual?? I'm not trying to talk you out of it, but it just seems somewhat expensive to use the manual for spelling only.

The music and art in HOD tie into the history, so I'm not sure if those would match up with another program. I think the art and music ideas MFW uses tie into their programs and they use good resources.

I'm just afraid that with either one of these programs (MFW or HOD) that if you start breaking them apart, you lose the whole point and purpose that the authors intended. I still think you should just go with one or the other.

I'm really struggling with how to word this. I really like HOD, but for you, it seems that MFW would be the fit for your family. I would be upset with myself if I talked you into something that wasn't right for you.

I leaving for youth devo but I'll check back tomorrow to see what you are thinking.
Mel

SoaringEagle · Post by **SoaringEagle** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 3:37 pm

I think MFW only has lesson plans for Singapore math, no suggested activities...does Carrie have activities suggested in the manual? Or does it just tell you what pages to do and that is it???

I guess I was wondering if I could do both because I like both but if I have to chose, then I'd have to let HOD go for now...I strongly feel led to do MFW K and Grade 1......I guess I'll have to see as time goes on.

joyfulheart · Post by **joyfulheart** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 3:42 pm

No there are "activities" for the math. Sometimes playing a math game, other things...

Do you live near any of us? Maybe you can look at one of the Teacher manuals closely to get a better judgement about it?

There's alot the sample lesson's dont show, about how it's laid out that makes SOOOO much more sense and makes it really neat.

I'd be happy to let you see my copy.

water2wine · Post by **water2wine** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:03 pm

Having done MFW K for a good while, until I sold it

I really think it would be way too much and way too frustrating. People either love MFW K or they don't but I think all would agree it has a learning curve and within the program there is a lot of page flipping from this to that, I can't think of a worse program to add something to and I am a huge tweaker. It is just not a very flexible program so I would really encourage you that if that is your choice then I would just go full force for that and enjoy it.

netpea · Post by **netpea** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 7:56 pm

I have been trying to respond to your post since it first hit the board but my words never seemed to come out right and I deleted them rather than post them.

I personally feel that if you are drawn more to MFW, then you should try it. If you don't like it, you will be satisfied that you tried it. We did Little Hearts with my oldest and then tried MFW Adventures and hated it. We came back to HOD and did Beyond, much better.... Now my dd is using MFWK (because I bought it when I bought Adventures) and not really enjoying it, she'll move to Little Hearts when we finish. I really wondered if MFW was a better fit for our family than HOD, till I tried it.

If I hadn't tried it, I would always be wondering if I was using the right program. (For some reason the thought that HOD was the only curriculum we had tried kept nagging at me.) Now, I know I am and that peace is worth alot. My kids enjoy HOD, I enjoy HOD. I know that Christ is interwoven through all of HOD. HOD is everything I want in my curriculum.

Little Hearts is a complete program, I never felt the need to add it. There are the supplemental books in the appendix if you want more books.

I am planning to finish out MFWK and then move into Little Hearts, however, I am going to speed up MFWK as the repetition is getting boring and we are rapidly losing interest. I am going to do just the highlights of 2-3 units a week until we finish and skip the rest. I'm not concerned with what we might miss as I know the Little Hearts program will cover that and much more.

When I did Little Hearts with my son, we didn't get bored, it wasn't repetitive. We weren't pushing units to get it over with.

Just my 2 cents

Vicki · Post by **Vicki** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:58 pm

Julie, I understand being overwhelmed with the decision-making process and the choices available. I personally have not tried MFW, though I did look very closely at it. I wanted something more organized and I know I found it with HOD Beyond. Just the change I noticed in my child the first week was worth everything to me! I had been almost to the point of pulling my hair out, and that was not where God wants us to be in our homeschooling journey.

My days are peaceful with the Beyond program. Everything is so nicely interwoven, and there are such great connections to see made. The best thing to me is the happy smile on my child, and tonight especially to hear him singing his memory verse for this week. Precious and priceless!! It has brought peace to his heart and mine, and I don't have to go around looking for more or worry how to tie several things together to make something work.

I wish you peace with your decision. If you need any help with HOD, these ladies are great to answer any question.