Name: Spreading the Feast Gathering
Start: 2025-07-11T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-07-12T23:59:59-05:00
Location: LaGrange, KY

Tagged: Before Five in a Row

This topic has 10 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 12 years ago by caycecronk.

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

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May 11, 2013 at 3:58 am
caycecronk
Member
I know many of you know of Five In A ROW OR FIAR! I am thinking of getting the book for preschoolers that you use before actually using Five in a Row. It’s a book called Before Five In A Row. From what I hear it’s a book of suggestions for things you can do with your preschooler and not actually lesson plans, etc. I like how they focus on one book and do different activities relating to that one book for a while! Anyone ever use this book! I haven’t been able to find it except on Amazon and the price is high. Is this book out of print? I think this will be good for my three year old because he is really enjoying books right now! Anyone have experience with this?
May 11, 2013 at 12:14 pm
RobinP
Participant
The Lamberts sell their manuals through Rainbow Resource now. I love FIAR and used it with all my boys including the almost 23yo when it first came out. FIAR is what introduced us to learning with living books and we haven’t looked back.
May 11, 2013 at 1:38 pm
Anonymous
Inactive
I love love love FIAR! I even have a FIAR cookbook and have bought FIAR lapbooks from thier website. However, I was not that crazy about BFIAR – would not use it for a child older than 2 or 3.
It did not even really cover that many books.
Have you tried a used curriculum sale or http://www.homeschoolclassifieds.com ?
HTH
May 12, 2013 at 1:21 am
MountainMamma
Participant
We did FIAR for a few months this year and my DS really enjoyed it. He just turned 4 and the Before FIAR seemed too young for him as a 3 year old. We started right into the regular FIAR and it was just right for him. Each book gives you many options and ideas of things to talk about and do so it is easy to pick one that matches your child’s level.
Did you do a search for the FIAR books at your local library? I had to wait a few weeks, but they were all available at our library. I planned ahead a few months at a time so I could return the book when it was due.
May 13, 2013 at 6:53 pm
melindab72
Member
I just wanted to chime in about my love for FIAR! Before a friend introduced me to it I was lost in workbook land. FIAR was so fun for us, and my girls still occasionally ask to do it again…and they’re 8 and 10! I think fo rthem it was so wonderful to really digest a book inside and out.
FIAR was also what led me to Charlotte Mason style learning.
May 13, 2013 at 8:56 pm
MissusLeata
Participant
I’ve used BFIAR. For my oldest, it was great at 3. My second wasn’t ready for it yet at that age. But it’s a great program and we’ve really enjoyed it.
May 14, 2013 at 12:44 am
Threekidsmom
Participant
You may check to see of your library has it (mine does) for the chance to check it out thoroughly to help you decide! 🙂
May 18, 2013 at 2:11 pm
caycecronk
Member
Just wandering if the Before five in a row would be too easy for my three year old? We are already reading the books suggested in the early readers section of SCM! Would be going to Before five in a row be too young or should we just go with the next one (Five In A Row)! Thanks for the suggestions! I didn’t even think that it might be at my library!
May 18, 2013 at 3:23 pm
sheraz
Participant
The B4FIAR and FIAR books are great for 3 year olds as they have great pictures and simple, sweet stories. I just added them in with the SCM Early Years suggestions.
Mine love to “read” them all by themselves. 😉 I think that they enhance my dd’s desires to read and learn even if we are “too old” by building their tastes for good literature AND art instead of twaddle. We used the lesson handbook and several of the lapbooks and my kiddos still play with those lapbooks often while I am busy with the older kids.
Our copies of these books are left out as free reads and they still ask me at 4& 5 yo to read their favorites with/to them. =)

May 20, 2013 at 3:59 pm
katafus
Participant
We LOVED BFIAR. I think it’s perfect for three year olds. My six year old still loves many of those books (though he’s moved on to more advanced books). We bought and read all of the books except for a few that are out of print and not available at our library. They are treasured friends at our house. My BFIAR guide book was purchased used, online. I don’t remember where. Have you tried AbeBooks.com? (I’m assuming you’ve already checked Amazon for used copies…) And have you checked the Five in a Row website? I thought they sold it there, but I haven’t checked recently.
May 24, 2013 at 4:52 am
caycecronk
Member
Katafus,
I think I have settled n doing the BFIAR with my three year old starting this summer! I’ve planned to spend a lot of quality time with him so this will really work well for us. I would definitely prefer to buy a used copy and save some money!