Combining Five in a Row with SCM?

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  • August 19, 2012 at 7:00 pm
    Kris
    Member

    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? 

     

    August 19, 2012 at 10:23 pm
    sheraz
    Participant

    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.  

    August 19, 2012 at 11:25 pm
    RobinP
    Participant

    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. 

    August 20, 2012 at 12:38 am
    Renelle
    Participant

    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

     

     

    August 20, 2012 at 3:32 am
    HollyS
    Participant

    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”.  

     

    October 25, 2012 at 2:17 am
    LauraNthree
    Participant

    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.

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