Well I don't know much about combining anything since I'm barely getting HS done right now (see my post if you want, lol) but I wanted to say that I just started FIAR and really love it. I think when we do finally get the kinks worked out of homeschooling I will probably do some SCM along with the FIAR and switch to full blown SCM when the kids are a bit older. We were doing Stories of America initially and it was a totall washout with my 6yob (he was not interested at all- but I'm wondering if this was because I had to read the curriculum out loud over my toddler crying. :/)

Anyway, they are both great curriculums and I'm not big on following a specific philosophy- I'm more about content. So if you want the content of both I think you can mix it up and do both somehow.

I'm planning on using both next year.  I'll be using FIAR with my K'er along with some math and phonics.  I'm planning on spending 30 minutes/day with her so we will keep it very simple...just a quick lesson from the manual and no add-ins, printables, or go-along books.  I'm planning on spending 10-15 minutes on FIAR, 10 on math, and 10 on phonics.  

I am also hoping to use B4FIAR a bit with my 2yo, but probably not every day...we may just read a non-FIAR book or do an activity on some days.  

My older two (7 and 10yo) will be following the SCM curriculum guide and my 5yo will probably join in here as she chooses...I'm pretty sure she'll be joining in for at least the science and art portions!  Basically, my plan is to use FIAR for my littles and SCM for my bigs.  If they listen in on each other's lessons, that's fine too.  ;)  I was toying with the idea of adding FIAR volume 4 in for my older two, but I can't figure out how that would work...maybe we could use it on our "breaks".  

I use both B4FIAR/BYFIAR and SCM but haven't used them at the same time. SCM has has been teaching me to cut out the busy work and enjoy FIAR more. We turn any work the children do into a lapbook folder (notebooking really).

Like RobinP mentioned we tend to do a couple of weeks with FIAR and a few weeks with SCM modules. If we are particular enjoying one or the other we stick with it longer.

With ds10 we do either BYFIAR or SCM Module plus:

Spelling Wisdom, Intermediate language Lessons, Teaching Textbooks and Life Of Fred, Copywork, Narration, Science &/or Nature Study - Outdoor Secrets or Apologia Flying Creatures, phys ed, typing, handicrafts and extra Literature.

dd5 uses B4FIAR plus:

Delightful Handwriting, Maths, Outdoor Secrets and various books and games. It is too expensive to order (we are in Australia and the postage is just too high) Delightful Reading so I am reading up on CM's ideas through her Homeschooling Series and will work it out as we go.

I feel like we will do this for as long as the children love it but can see us, as the children are getting older using only SCM guides. I am trying to be opened minded about change but I have seen so many benefits to both FIAR & SCM that for the last 3 years they are our favourite go to places for homeschool.

All the best.

Warmest Wishes, Renelle

What many families in my lending library do is their regular "curriculum" and FIAR as an "every now and then" thing when they want to take a week or so for something different.  Maybe you could do SCM for 4 weeks or so and then take a week off to do a FIAR unit. 

I like them both, and both use excellent literature for the children but then their similarity diverges into different paths of philosophy and approaches.  I cannot see them combining very easily.  I kept the wonderful books for reading aloud and free reads, but switched to the SCM Curriculum guide for a more comprehensive 12 year plan.  It has worked wonderfully well for us.  

Does anyone else try to use FIAR within the SCM curriculum guide? 

This year I started using the SCM History/Geography/Bible module and much more of the suggestions in the curriculum guide.  I thought I could continue using FIAR alongside all of this, but I'm feeling really disjointed.  I have been using FIAR for five years and am reluctant to give it up, but it's starting to feel like it's either FIAR or SCM, not both.  Has anyone else tried to use both of these guides? 

Well, I have just started FIAR with mine and they love it. Doesn't CM advocate re-reading / re-telling favorite stories in the early years? I'm "targetting" my 6 and 4 yo boys, but my 8 yo listens in and enjoys it. And my 6 yo is expected to listen and start to narrate along with my 8 year old. Right now, I want to teach them to love books. Anyway, it works for us. I guess I'll have to label us as CM + LCC (Latin centered curriculum) + FIAR now... LOL.

I too love FIAr but CM is enough, in more ways than just academic. The way i would incorp. it is do so many weeks of CM, like 6, then 1 week of FIAR, and back to 6 for CM to finish the term.

Imo they are too much together.

Yolanda

Hi,

I love CM. I also think that FIAR is a quality, beautiful way to homechool and agree that you still use alot of CM methods with FIAR. I would definitely use FIAR for my dc if it wasn't so hard to obtain (due to shipping, availability of books etc as we are in Australia).

I think it is really important to do what feels good for your family and not feel confined to a method as such. As time has gone on we have used more and more of CM methods and advice, but I have had to let God lead us in our homeschooling because my children (our whole family) do not fit into one method (or box) of education.

Your children will learn and develop regardless of what they are using, if you are a parent who loves them and looks for what suits your family. To grow in a love for living books in those early years is priceless. If you are just starting FIAR would be a great way to help you get into the swing of things. There's a little more leg work choosing and carrying out CM, in saying that it is all very gentle, remembering to keep lessons short and bring them to an end before the child starts to feel fatigued with what they are doing. If you can end a lesson while they are still on a high and enjoying it they are more likely to get back into it next time with enthusiasm & without moaning! This is a lesson I've been learning the last 18months. My first child is really the guinea pig, poor thing.

We have a couple of FIAR books and occassionally look for the manuals (on sale) and would still consider using it down the track - and this from an avivd CMer.

Don't be afraid to be your own style. You cannot go wrong either way and variety is a wonderful thing.

Blessings, Renelle

FIAR is definitely a unit study which CM is not.  BUT, that said, it was FIAR that gave my children and I such a love of books.  I schooled my three older ones together using FIAR and those memories are some of the most precious homeschool memories to both my children and I. 

I now have a a 6 yr old and for some reason, we could not make FIAR work with her and our life.  But I still have al the books and now my dh reads them to her before bed. 

You could incorporate alot of CM methods using FIAR, like narration, copywork, etc...  There are alot of great ideas in FIAR and I think it was definitely a blessing to us at that time. You could look at the books recommended for your child's age here at SCM and incorporate those into your day as well.   It is an easy transition from FIAR to CM as your children transition into chapter books.  It gave my children such a love of learning and a love of books.  So, if you have FIAR and it's working for you, I'd say enjoy it!

Just wondering....Is the Five in a Row method compatible with CM? I bought these long ago, before I decided to educate CM style. I do still like FIAR but I see them now as unit studies. Is that right? Is anyone using FIAR in a CM way? I'd appreciate any thoughts and ideas.

Thanks!

We are also combining FIAR and CM - I have a 4 and 6 year old.  I am transitioning into the CM part now and it's working great.  We are planning on replacing the Literature portion of CM with the FIAR reading/activity, and then tacking on poetry, nature, hymn, and music studies, as well as math (we are using Math U See but hoping to transition to Math on the Level), Apologia Science, Egypt through Deuteronomy handbook/curriculum for Bible/History/Geography, Spanish exposure through cd/dvd,  A Child's book of Character building (1 story ever week, so 4 wks per trait (48 wks total), this we will start early and end late as we are adopting the CM (3) 12-week terms), Pathway readers (my 6 y.o. LOVES this!).

For FIAR, I am planning on 2 weeks per book, using it 3x/week (read and one activity).  My girls have loved looking through their lapbooks this year so I thought by spreading it out to 2 wks per book that we would have time to do the lapbook activity along with all these other subjects we have added through CM.  For Kindergarten, we did strictly FIAR+math+phonics, and for us that was enough.  What I've outlined is probably a bit heavy for K, but to answer your question, yes, there are others combining FIAR and CM, and it's an easy transition to add the CM suggested curriculum once you are doing FIAR.

I am curious if anyone does Five in a Row AND the literature for CM... how are you fitting all of this in???

Thank you so much!  Your suggestions really help and I'm happy to hear that it sounds like FIAR will work well with CM.  I can't wait to dig in and get started! :) 

One thing I tried to incorporate with FIAR was narration.  After the first reading, I would have him narrate the story.  We would also do some narration with go-along books.  Keep lessons short, which is easy to do with FIAR.  If you will be having her write, you could do some copywork with a line or two from the story when she's ready for it.  FIAR has art lessons with most of the books.  If the art from the books are in the style of a great artist, use that opportunity to do an artist study of his other works.  Composer study would also be easy to tack on.  Make sure you don't neglect nature study.  Jane Claire has written some wonderful nature studies for each season.

Hi there!  I will be starting kindergarten with my daughter this fall and am going to use Five in a Row.  I would also love to use CM but I'm not sure how the two would fit together.  Has anyone done this?  Any advice would be greatly appreciated! :)

Thank you in advance! :)  Traci