HOD vs. My Father's World

[MrsPhelps726]

We are almost finished with our K year with MFW and have really enjoyed it. I'm not sure that my dd (almost 5) is mature enough to begin the rapid pace (or so I've read about) of the MFW 1st grade program. I would love to go back to that, but am considering using LHFHG beginning in the Fall. Anyone used MFW and HOD and what are your thoughts on the differences of the two curriculums. HOD seems like a winner and I already love MFW. Thoughts?

[John'smom]

Maybe this this thread will be of a help to you.

[Heidi in AK]

What a great thread, Edwena. It makes me so thankful God has gifted so many both in developing curricula for people with like minds and hearts but different focuses, and for those who can communicate such differences so eloquently! (thanks, Julie!)

[Bramble]

Welcome to the forums! I have used MFW K, 1st (twice), ADV, and ECC. This year we are using all HOD programs. I think LHFHG fits in well between MFW K and 1. I have considered doing the same, except that every time I look at MFW 1st TM I can't bear to bring myself to use it again. It is a great program, just not a good fit for us. I should sell it and may do so soon as I try to raise funds for our new curriculum and other financial needs. Anyway, it does move rapidly in the phonics. The way everything is tied together if you try to slow down the phonics, you also have to slow down the Bible (which is the history.) You could keep moving in your math and science. That being said, I think the authors of MFW are wonderful people who love the Lord and have written a nice program that works for some. I am glad we have lots of options in hs'ing.

[erin.kate]

Welcome to the forums! I have used MFW K, 1st (twice), ADV, and ECC. This year we are using all HOD programs. I think LHFHG fits in well between MFW K and 1.

Love to read this. I have used MFWK and MFW1 and we are looking to move over to HOD ... ADV and ECC are not quite what I am seeking ... anyway. I am curious about your thoughts on LHFHG being between MFWK and 1, and about Beyond.

I am thinking of doing MFWK with my middle two next year and then the following year with Beyond and MFW1 phonics/Bible only. Since you have experience with both MFW and HOD, would that be realistic or just too much? I do love MFW phonics and since we've had good success with it and I already own both, I'd like to use it again for teaching reading, but HOD for all else.

I'd be grateful to hear your thoughts.

[Bramble]

I have not used Beyond, yet, although I do own the guide. We will be using it when we finish LHFHG. Beyond allows you to use any phonics program you want to use, so I don't see why you couldn't plug in the MFW 1st phonics. Do you not want to use LHFHG? Will your children fit the placement chart for Beyond? Proper placement is key to success in HOD. I was just wondering how it might look to use LHFHG w/ the Bible/phonics from MFW 1st? Because a lot of LHFHG's history is Bible. hmmm....I am an open-and-go person so I can't wrap my mind around combining programs.

[erin.kate]

I have not used Beyond, yet, although I do own the guide. We will be using it when we finish LHFHG. Beyond allows you to use any phonics program you want to use, so I don't see why you couldn't plug in the MFW 1st phonics. Do you not want to use LHFHG? Will your children fit the placement chart for Beyond? Proper placement is key to success in HOD. I was just wondering how it might look to use LHFHG w/ the Bible/phonics from MFW 1st? Because a lot of LHFHG's history is Bible. hmmm....I am an open-and-go person so I can't wrap my mind around combining programs.

Me either.

It wouldn't be combining the two ... rather, it would be HOD and the phonics program would come through MFW, instead of TRL or RME. Not all the activities or timeline, etc., just the phonics, and since I already own this it will save me some money, too.

MFWK will be a better fit for my adopted son ... he will not grasp the history or Bible stories or even science at first ... at least to the depths that are presented in LHFHG. The structure of MFWK will be more in keeping with his needs. I've also taught it before and now there is an awesome lit pack to go along, so I feel it is the best fit for our Kinder year next year. But, when my next son, and maybe next (we'll adopt again), come up to Kinder, LHFHG would be great I'm sure.

Quite possibly, though, come first grade for my middle two, LHFHG would be best, with the first grade supplements and again, MFW1 phonics only. Then, Beyond for second. My bio daughter is a very young Kinder and my adopted son will be delayed a bit.

It's good to hear that someone else thinks that plugging in MFW phonics only would work in lieu of RME or TRL.

Thank you!

[mercymom]

We used MFW- K, and this year we were using MFW 1st. I got more than half way through and it really wasn't working for us. We switched to LHFHG three weeks ago and LOVE it. I posted on my blog some of my thoughts before switching and more thoughts after the first weeks.

http://onelittlewordsheknew.blogspot.co ... ching.html

http://onelittlewordsheknew.blogspot.co ... eek-2.html

Since we were most of the way through the blue MFW 1st grade phonics book, we're keeping on with that. It works perfectly to do that instead of other phonics. I like that now we can slow down the phonics if we need to, it moved a little fast when it was all tied in with MFW 1st. Since you already have it and like it, sounds like a good option for you. I did add an Explode The Code workbook that we do a couple of pages in because I wasn't sure if she was retaining all that got thrown at her in MFW 1st. We are really loving HOD. Hope that helps!

[erin.kate]

We used MFW- K, and this year we were using MFW 1st. I got more than half way through and it really wasn't working for us. We switched to LHFHG three weeks ago and LOVE it. I posted on my blog some of my thoughts before switching and more thoughts after the first weeks.

Since we were most of the way through the blue MFW 1st grade phonics book, we're keeping on with that. It works perfectly to do that instead of other phonics. I like that now we can slow down the phonics if we need to, it moved a little fast when it was all tied in with MFW 1st. Since you already have it and like it, sounds like a good option for you. I did add an Explode The Code workbook that we do a couple of pages in because I wasn't sure if she was retaining all that got thrown at her in MFW 1st. We are really loving HOD. Hope that helps!

These were really interesting to read. Thank you! It's tough. Both are such special curricula. My daughter in MFW1 is a bit older than yours, she turned 7 at Thanksgiving, so she I think that is why she is loving it more. I can see where it would drier if the child were 5ish. LHFHG would be just too slow for her, but Beyond would likely be a good fit if I were to switch today, but I'm happy with MFW1.

Not sure if you've seen the R&S phonics ... we will use Units 2-5 for review once she reaches day 124 in MFW1. Just a thought if you are investigating phonics materials to follow up MFW.

Thank you again, so much! Hope you continue to love HOD!

[erin.kate]

Oh, Christy--I also meant to say that your reasons for switching to HOD that included the open-and-go quality of HOD and the way you felt a little lost sometimes with MFW ... especially with discussing and applying the Proverbs ... I am right there with you.

Anyway, glad I'm not the only one who at moments feels discombobulated ... and it does seem to get very light as the year progresses.

Thanks for your .02!

[doubleportion]

I will just quickly list the things that I saw as differences between the two. I used MFW ADV, ECC, CTG (didn't complete). I have LHTH and PHFHG and the Guide for LHFHG. I am using LHTH and PHFHG right now.

The things I like about HOD:
1. It is more Christ centered in every subject. (MFW had Bible as the core but there were subjects I wanted to see more ties with the Bible)
2. HOD is open and go. Your materials are just everyday basic households supplies. (With MFW I was searching at hobby stores for special beeswax, candle wicks etc.)
3. Everything is written out for you. Your key ideas to be taught are written out for you. All the work is done for you, thus much less teacher intensive. (Like in MFW K you have to present info on insects etc. MFW requires searching for a topic or having to add in or take out stuff.)
4. Your dc is taught gradually to have their own Quiet Time.
5. The Guides are age appropriate. (In MFW I was having to tweak, leave out or edit on the fly books that were really intended for an age group three or fours years older, especially in CTG.)
6. The Memory work is set to music! That is a huge hit in our house!
7. The guides build skills gradually from one year to the next. So that means my dc is learning gradually to move toward independent work, while the TM does all that work for me.
8. The lesson times and work load are very doable.
9. You can choose your own English, Math and Phonics programs. So it is flexible, similarly to MFW.
10. Spelling is included in the guides- I don't have to buy a separate spelling program. (no more Spelling Power headaches)
11. Creative writing, poetry and music are included in the programs. I don't have to add it. I would never have done poetry on my own as an additional program. I love the poetry studies and my daughter is learning some wonderful skills. Come to find out she is actually really good at it!
12. HOD is not hard selling you on the program. They are about helping you find the best fit for your family needs and the ladies are truly ministering to others. I saw that this weekend at our local convention. (I've been in other booths where that was not so, even though those other people were selling a Christian curriculum. You could see they were encouraged to really push their products. That leaves a bad taste in my mouth.) HOD is truly about glorifying God in all things, even how they handle their business and selling. I want to be a part of something like that!
13. You get very personal service with HOD. They are a Christian family business. And first and foremost they are a Christian homeschooling family and then a ministry. (They are not some huge curriculum company that is hiring 100s of people to push their products.)

There is much more that I could say about this curriculum, and I have only been using it since December of 2010. You will find HOD a breath of fresh air in your homeschooling. I made the switch and am sooooo glad that the Lord led us here. It has changed the way I homeschool and freed me up to do all the other things that I couldn't get to when I was doing the older guides of MFW. I have little guys also and what I have from HOD is meeting their needs too (and still leaving me time to take care of all the other household and family needs and not wear myself into the ground while trying to do it).

There is a learning curve when switching from one curriculum to another. But really it took us only about a week to get use to the change. I think you will be very pleased with it.

I am looking forward to doing HOD LHFHG and CTC next school year. And in the future when I am up to three guides, I know it will still be manageable. I will know that my children's individual needs are still being met and I am not just smashing them in with their siblings for the sake of "combining". IMO, I am not for combining my 8th grader and 2nd grader. In my experience, with the last guide of MFW-CTG, the older guides in MFW were more written for the older children; and you had to work hard to fit in your younger child (while in reality their needs don't get met really well). It was more work for me and the day was loooong. Now I can look forward to having my day still be a reasonable amount of school time and all my children will be met where "they are at" and the material will be age and skill appropriate. That is huge for me, especially when I have five years between my oldest and my middle. And I am praying that the Lord will continue to increase our family!

Just my two cents!


Edie

Edited to add: I HATED the science in CTG. The science experiments and science in general was tons of work for me as the teacher. Science is sooooo much better in HOD. Experiments are done with household supplies and the work for the teacher is minimal. The science is presented in small doable chunks and very thorough. My daughter has learned allot and I have had to work very little to have that happen. I am not a big fan of science, but HOD is changing my mind on that and I am enjoying it along with my dd. In MFW-CTG I got to the point where science just was not getting done. My daughter does her HOD science completely independently now, even the experiments (with permission of course). I love that!!!

[8arrows]

I have used all the MFW years except Adventures, ECC, and the high school. MFW K and Rome to Reformation were my favorites. I agree with the PP on many points. I do think MFW is a good program and I admire the heart of the program and authors. There are reasons HOD works better for us. I do think Carrie and Julie are more open to their clients using other math, English, etc. I also think they are more open to different family situations and exceptions to the rule in placement. I like the science and writing in HOD much better. HOD also just fits my teaching personality better. I like the idea of gradually encouraging independence. We now see this need with our high schoolers who did not use HOD. Also, the age span did become a problem for me. While I still combine my 3rd, 4th, and 7th grader, I will not include my next child coming up. She would be in 2nd when the others middles are in 5th and 6th. Instead, I will combine her with her younger sister, just 2 years younger. This is what led us to HOD. I tried Beyond with my youngers and was hooked. I think LHFHG is a great pick to use after MFW K. In fact, I have used that sequence successfully.
We are using LHFHG and RTR next year for my elementary student.