These are two history curriculums I am looking at for next year. I was wondering if any of you could give me pros and cons for any of them. I really need to start ordering stuff but am having a very difficult time deciding what to use. Help me please!!!!!! Sabrina
Sabrina, How old are your children? What is your preferred teaching and evaluation method? Do you want lots of hands-on activities, lots of literature and read alouds, easy teacher prep? They are both very good curriculums with plenty of positive qualities. It really depends on what your goals and needs are. Sue
I want minimal prep. More hands on and less text book stuff. My kids are a girl age 7 and a boy age 5.
I've never used either of those but have you ever considered Story of the World with the Activity Guides? Your children are close enough in age that they could work through the four-year progression together and that would save on your prep. The Activity Guide is great for things to do. They've kept the relative cost of doing things to a minimum.
I have heard of those, but haven't used either one. We also used SOTW and loved it! The Activity Guide has lots of great ideas! So I guess I'm 3rding SOTW, and you didn't even ask about that one. Sorry!
I have minimal planning time. I want something biblical and with most of the lesson planning done for me. I also want to purchase a package with all the books included. I don't have or want to spend a bunch of time searching for books.
Sonlight does it all too. Everything is laid out for you, when you buy your package it's ALL inclusive. I have a friend who uses MFW and loves it. I only heard of WP this year....so I know nothing. I have many friends who use Sonlight and, again, love it. HTH.
I would have to second Sonlight although it is not activity based but literary based. You can get the whole package through them. I am using them next year since I will not have much planning time for dd.
MFW fan here, just finishing up our second year. I'm not familiar with the K or 1st grade - will be doing those next year. So far, we've done Adventures and ECC. Everything is planned out! Except for math and spelling, so that you can choose your own program and plop them right in. They even recommend a math and spelling program that you can buy directly through them. We use something else and it still works fine. Everything is Biblical based and connected together. For example, recently we studied France. In Bible, we learned about missionary work with the Gypsies. We cooked a French dish. Learned a few French phrases. Science was the type of trees and forests in western Europe. Made the French flag. Etc, etc. All required books are included in the Basic Package. For a higher cost, you can get the Expanded package which includes all the extras that really help with the year's study, but are not totally necessary. The teacher's guide also comes with a list of recommended library books to round out the study, but if you have limited access (which we do), it isn't necessary. The other advantage to MFW is that it is designed for multi-age use. Once your child is 2nd grade and older, they are using the same program. Good to remind myself that as my kids get older, it will actually cost me less. MFW website have a message board where you can ask questions and read about other's experience. Very helpful. I've also spoken directly to the MFW family, and they are always very helpful. Okay, obviously we are a huge fan of MFW. Not familar with Winter's Promise, but I've heard good things about it also.
Thank you all for your replies. I have looked at Sonlight, AOP and BJU as well for history. For a couple of reasons that I don't want to get into I have decided against them. I believe that they are all very good curriculums. I am not really looking at doing a classical curriculum right now. I will do that later but not at this time. I have a little boy who will be in first next year that is a very squirmy little boy. That is why I am looking at something that is more activity based. But I also want literature for my to be a 2nd grade daughter. I felt these two programs do what I want for both of them, activity and literature. The co-op at our church uses Tapestry of Grace and while I really like it, I don't feel like investing that much money at the moment. Actually I can't invest that much money at the moment. This is what I have come up with right now for both of them. MFW Adventures- activity and literature based, able to do some work independently, includes art, music, Bible, history, and science. Just need to add language arts and math. Cost is fairly cheap comparitively. I don't necessarily like that it covers a state a day but we are going more in-depth with certain states over the summers. Winter promise - activity and literature based, able to work independently, would need to add art, music, Bible, science, language arts and math. More expensive. I do like that it deals with native americans as my great grandparents were full blooded native american.
Hey TOG has a new way to purchase stuff - unit by unit I believe which makes it more affordable since you aren't paying for it all upfront. So maybe you can do something like that?
Just to add I am another SOTW fan. My kids love it! My dd asked to use SOTW next year and has actually developed an appreication for my most loved subject, history.
re the mfw and wp, taking a look at the WP they only have up to 4th grade? This is a question. And where is My fathers World found?
