After MFWK and MFW1 ... which Module should I start with? « SCM Discussion Forum: Charlotte Mason Method Homeschooling

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After MFWK and MFW1 ... which Module should I start with?

(11 posts) (5 voices)

Started 2 years ago by erin.kate
Latest reply from erin.kate

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erin.kate
Member

Hello! I am considering switching from MFW to SCM in August ... at that time I'll have a DD7 (Second Grade), DD5 and DS5 (Kindergarten, each with very special needs) and DS2 (tagging along). I'm going to stick with MFWK for my middle two and B4FIAR for my littlest, along with Sonya's recommendations for the Early Years books. All that said ... I don't know where I should start my oldest.

For those of you who did not start with SCM in first grade, which module did you choose to start with, and why? Or, maybe in hindsight if you started with Module 1 you might wish you had started in another time period?

I am leaning toward beginning with Module 5 for second and Module 6 for third, then she's had a solid foundation in American and World history. At that point, my middle two will be in second (I think I will do MFW1 with them, as well, as I love their phonics and Bible very much) and they would all fold in together in Module 1 that year.

I would like to supplement with TruthQuest, as well, so it seems more natural to start with American History since the TQ guide is geared for youngers with the Amer Hist. Also, it's just such a neat time period to explore.

Hmm ... I would be so thankful for your wise words and suggestions.

BlEsSiNgS,

Erin Kate

Posted 2 years ago # Report Post
esoloj
Member

We have used MFW for several levels and I think Adventures (Amer. History) was our favorite year! The kids enjoyed and really had a great intro. to American History. Fast forward a few years, we did Module 1 and Module 2 (condensed into one) this year with a 5th, 4th and 1st grader (and two youngers) and this was our first year with SCM. The 1st grader was doing MFW1st but he also joined in the Bible reading and some history as it coincided fairly well with MFW. And we did add TQ as I needed a little more guidance on subjects to cover for Ancient Greece. With all that said, it worked out really well doing MFW 1st and Module 1.

Maybe consider continuing with MFW Adventures and then starting your older DD in Module 5 or 6 and then everybody in Module 1 the following year. MFW 1st and Module 1 are similar in that they both cover the OT so it makes it easy to do both programs at the same time. Not sure if I got all the timing or your children's grade levels right but hope that helps.

Posted 2 years ago # Report Post
erin.kate
Member

Thank you so much for your help. It makes me happy to hear others who really love MFW and find ways to blend CM as well.

I think that I will do ADV next year and I since it is such a cursory overview of Amer History I am going to either add TQ AHYL1 or selections from Module 5. I'm working on ways to bring it together without feeling overwhelmed. You are right, I could do ADV and Module 5 this year and next year skip to Module 1 when my middle two are in MFW1.

I'll have to jot this down on paper to see what it would look like long term. Thank you!

Oh--if you pop back in--do you add the timeline from TQ or just the commentary? I also started thinking about Beautiful Feet to enrich ADV. Hmm.

Thank you again!

Erin Kate

Posted 2 years ago # Report Post
esoloj
Member

We just did the commentary from TQ. We used the timeline from MFW. Thinking about Beautiful Feet, yes, they have some great stuff but remember you don't want to get overwhelmed. I went through the same thing, trying to combine all these great history curriculums but it was more time consuming just trying to do the planning. I was taking time away from the learning and enjoying. We don't need to give our children every single great option out there we just need to give them a few and then add from there if they need or want more. Feel free to PM me if you have more questions.

Posted 2 years ago # Report Post
Wings2fly
Member

How did you combine Module 1 and Module 2 into one year? Did you do more than one lesson per day or skip some?

My children are young: age 7 boy and advanced age 4.5 girl. We are studying some on Ancient Egypt now from some Usborne books and library books. I felt that Module 1 would be too much for them right now. We are also looking at using Beautiful feet for American History exposure this year. After that, I need to combine module 1 and 2 so I can get through all of the history rotations.

Posted 2 years ago # Report Post
Cindie2dds
Member

Erin,

Just from experience, MFW Adv is plenty by itself. It's really not a cursory overview at all. It's much more in depth than I was expecting, or really even wanted. I wanted something with a quick overview so we could have a jumping off point for our State Study. If you like MFW, you need nothing else.

The hard part is actually choosing between great programs. SCM, Queens, Beautiful Feet and TQ would all be wonderful, just not at the same time. The biggest difference between MFW and the others is MFW is more of a unit study with a lot of hands-on activities related to history. I agree with esoloj, if you try to keep adding, you will get overwhelmed. I certainly did.

Posted 2 years ago # Report Post
esoloj
Member

SarahCPA-

We sometimes doubled up on Bible readings for Module 1 as they were a bit shorter reads than Module 2. We would read two in a row or one in the morning and one in the evening. History was also more than one day a week. Once we got to Module 2 we again doubled up Bible readings doing two a day sometimes (at two different times) and on weekends, so we read Bible every day. Geography is twice a week. We also school year-round so that gives us a bit more time to complete everything.

Posted 2 years ago # Report Post
erin.kate
Member

This is all very helpful. Thank you very much.

I think right now I am wavering between Mod5 with the BF Early Amer His literature pack, and the guide to lead more discussion in addition to the narration.

Or, MFW Adv, again with the BF lit pack and the guide, as this one seems to need more enriching for what I'm seeking. I'm really loving the geography book and mapping in Mod5, so I may use that, as well.

Looking at the TOC in Mod5 ... wow! ... this is a lot of information, and it seems to move quite fast. I respect and like the concept of an overview of Early US history alongside World history, but it sure seems like an awful lot for my 7 (my oldest) to really take in and process.

Our library is terrible, but amazingly, all of the books from Mod5 (aside from the spines) are available, so I could buy the BF lit pack and really make for a good year without the stress of having to find titles from the Appendix in Adv.

Decisions, decisions. Thank you for your advice!

Posted 2 years ago # Report Post
erin.kate
Member

Oh--I can cross post this--

Is there a brief state study woven into Mod5 ... I see some states in the TOC, but this may only relate to the 13 colonies.

Thank you!

Posted 2 years ago # Report Post
Sonya Shafer
SCM Team

Those state names are simply the names of chapters from Stories of America, introducing the colonies, yes.

It sounds like you've downloaded the free sample of Mod5. You might check the Term 1 chart on pages 21 and 22 to see how fast the pace is for covering the books listed. That might give you a more detailed picture than the TOC.

Posted 2 years ago # Report Post
erin.kate
Member

Ah, makes much more sense now. Thank you for redirecting me ... I've been pouring over the TOC. The chart helps quite a lot.

Many thanks!
Erin Kate

Posted 2 years ago # Report Post

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