I am really contemplating switching completely to MFW. The main reason is that I love there teachers manual. It is exactly the style I want. The other thing is I don't feel like they overwhelm you with books. They offere core books but then you chose other books for a book basket from your library or that you personally own. I like this. Although I love some of the books in Winterpromise we never read them all. So now I am trying to decide if this is what I want to commit to. I guess my main problem is trying to commit to anything. I don't want to continue jumping around with curriculum. I want to figure out what we are going to use and use it. So give me your opinions. You can tell me what you think about MFW or other choices. I want something with a CM approach so keep that in mind and I don't mind the biblical content so either secular or not is fine with me. The other thing I would be interested is would be computer based. So what do you think?

Although I haven't used MFW, I think we would like it too. The draw back for us would be going to the library on a regular basis or spending the money to get the extra books. We do go to the library often, but I shy away from going because I "need to." Sounds silly, I know. We have used Sonlight in the past and it just became too much so we switched to Winter Promise. And even though I am irritated with WPs "growing pains," we are sticking with it for now because the kids really enjoy it and the load seems just perfect for us.
I think as long as you are not jumping around too much in your scope and sequence, it is okay to try out different styles to see what is the fit for the current year. What works one year may not work the next because kids learning styles and needs change with age. Hope you find the best fit for now :)

I am right there with you Robin. I have the same thoughts as you. I've been looking at the middle ages package.

With computer learning, I found that after a couple months that my DS started to just click away to get through the stuff.

I am right there with you Robin. I have the same thoughts as you. I've been looking at the middle ages package.

With computer learning, I found that after a couple months that my DS started to just click away to get through the stuff.

Ok that is my exact fear with the computer plus I don't know if I want to turn all their learning over to the computer, KWIM?

But I have to tell you I envy people who say I am using so and so and I love it and would never dream of switching. I want to be that person but I just can't quite get there. One thing that I am loving about MFW is that I am really at the perfect time to start it with the boys ages. I am actually playing around with a possible schedule and it is totally doable. But there are some books that WP offers that I wish MFW scheduled. I know I could add them in on my own but really I wish (in my head) that I could find the "perfect" curriculum. (Oh and my dh wishes it too.:lol:)

Do you like MFW's teacher manual better than Heart of Dakota's? I am thinking Heart of Dakota might be more like what you have in mind (with all the books scheduled), but maybe I'm way off base.

The nice thing about HOD is that the younger programs take so little time and are so inexpensive that you can do a separate program with each child (unless you have children who are very close in level). I was thinking about using Preparing Hearts for His Glory when Joshua is in grade 4, but now I am leaning toward doing WP's Sea and Sky then. HOD is expanding to cover grades PreK-8, one year at a time starting with grade 3-4 or so this year. Their sequence has American History for the early years (up to grade 3), getting more in depth each year. Then they have an overview of World History, and then they will be releasing a 4 year cycle.

Ok that is my exact fear with the computer plus I don't know if I want to turn all their learning over to the computer, KWIM?

But I have to tell you I envy people who say I am using so and so and I love it and would never dream of switching. I want to be that person but I just can't quite get there. One thing that I am loving about MFW is that I am really at the perfect time to start it with the boys ages. I am actually playing around with a possible schedule and it is totally doable. But there are some books that WP offers that I wish MFW scheduled. I know I could add them in on my own but really I wish (in my head) that I could find the "perfect" curriculum. (Oh and my dh wishes it too.:lol:)


What I did...... When I got "Burned out" DS did computer learning until I got refreshed (about 6 weeks). Then we canceled, easy enough. It gave me the break I needed and then I just continued on with our curriculum.

We all wish we could find the perfect curriculum. There is not one curriculum I can say, I love it all.

Do you like MFW's teacher manual better than Heart of Dakota's? I am thinking Heart of Dakota might be more like what you have in mind (with all the books scheduled), but maybe I'm way off base.

The nice thing about HOD is that the younger programs take so little time and are so inexpensive that you can do a separate program with each child (unless you have children who are very close in level). I was thinking about using Preparing Hearts for His Glory when Joshua is in grade 4, but now I am leaning toward doing WP's Sea and Sky then. HOD is expanding to cover grades PreK-8, one year at a time starting with grade 3-4 or so this year. Their sequence has American History for the early years (up to grade 3), getting more in depth each year. Then they have an overview of World History, and then they will be releasing a 4 year cycle.

You are not supposed to give me something else to consider.;pot: I will check out HOD but I am pretty sure that I am going with MFW. I really like WP Sea and Sky but want to wait and see if that is something that will interest the boys before I try to figure out when to schedule it.

Oh and what I like about MFW is there is actually a place in the IG for all subjects not just the history. Plus like I said I think the schedule of books is more doable for us. Now I am looking at HOD, just what my dh wanted one more thing for me to consider.:hahaha:

What I did...... When I got "Burned out" DS did computer learning until I got refreshed (about 6 weeks). Then we canceled, easy enough. It gave me the break I needed and then I just continued on with our curriculum.

We all wish we could find the perfect curriculum. There is not one curriculum I can say, I love it all.

What computer programs do you use?

What computer programs do you use?

Time 4 learning and some education cd's we got at costco.

I am right there with you on switching.

I am using SL now (we just got it) and I've attempted WP in the past and I've used MFW.

I think I would love MFW for the "cycle". Combining all of my children really appeals to me. Plus I think they have more hands on and I prefer their IG too.

But for now we are with SL! LOL!

Oh and we also took a break and used T4L. Whit liked it fine but she likes learning in other ways better. She does really love the bigmathtime.com (which seems a lot more boring to me, but whatever! lol).

Well I looked at HOD and it didn't appeal to me as much. I am kind of hands on so it might be different if I could see it in person. I am pretty much decided on MFW. I am going to look at time4learning and bigtimemath. I know that G would love both of them, he loves the computer and I really think he needs to be doing more. But I keep telling myself that it will balance out. That the boys will only be little for a short while. Thanks everyone.