My Father's World

I mentioned that I am planning some changes for next year. And then I had some curriculum for sale. So I guess it's obvious that our biggest change is that we will not be using Five in a Row for the older girls next year. I have been using Five in a Row (FIAR) since Rachel was a 4 year old. It is wonderful! Very gentle and easy to use and also very rich in what it covers. I am hanging on to my manuals and all the lovely books I have collected over the years because I assume we will still pick it up and do a unit every now and then. I also assume I will use it with Betsie.

My original plan was to continue in FIAR with Mary Evelyn next year and have Rachel use Beyond FIAR, which is the next step up. It uses chapter books and the units take several weeks instead of one or two. However, I decided I really want to teach the girls together. Yes, I could put them together with FIAR, but Mary Evelyn really isn't ready for Beyond, and Rachel needs to move on. Teaching them separately leaves little time for anything else...unless I skimp on someone's school work. I don't think this is a FIAR problem because I see many people on the boards and through their blogs using it at different levels just beautifully...and I am impressed. However, Jason and I have decided that we want to try something else next year.

Though a few friends I have discovered My Father's World. There is a strong group of homeschoolers in my area that use this curriculum. There is a yahoo group and even a new co-op starting in the fall for those in our area using MFW. I am going to a conference at a local church this weekend to hear the authors speak!

Some of what draws me to My Father's World:

1. Missions focused curriculum. The program we will use next year is called Exploring Countries and Cultures. We will focus on World Geography and in the meantime will pray for various people groups around the world and read through the book of Matthew. We'll also study some of the great Christian heroes like Nate Saint and Amy Carmichael.


2. Keeping the girls together!!! After first grade, My Father's World keeps siblings together who are between 2nd and 8th grade. Ways to adapt the program are right there in the curriculum.


3. A schedule! Some people hate schedules and I used to. I liked planning it all out for myself. However, I think at this season of our homeschool journey, I could use the help! The curriculum is broken into 36 weeks and we will focus on one week at a time. Fridays are scheduled very lighly to make time for catching up or field trips or just life. With art lessons and church activities and occupational therapy, etc., I know this will be very helpful. The schedule doesn't look as heavy as another popular curriculum that totally intimidates me. MFW seems to have a nice balance...a relaxed schedule, if you will.


4. It's a unit study. This means many of the subject areas are integrated. (Five in a Row is also a unit study approach...love that approach.) I mentioned that next year we will be exploring countries and cultures. Our Bible study will focus on people groups and missionairies. We will study geography of course and learn about maps and globes. We will play games to learn how to identify the countries on the map and there will be plenty of hands on crafts and cooking and working on our notebooks. Science will be centered around the various habitats around the world and will correlate to the area we are studying. Nature journaling is also part of the program.


5. Chronological history. I don't think it's necessary to cover history chronolgically to understand it as long as you have a timeline of some sort. But I am excited to know that if we stay with MFW for the next few years we will cover creation to modern times with (and this is very important to Jason and me) a BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW. Eveything I have seen on their website and in their forums leads me to believe that our world view matches theirs. This is a relief!


6. Everything is included...supplemetary book lists, the schedule, the books that make up the main part of the curriculum, read aloud suggestions, scripture memory verses, and more. This will be helpful to me. My friend assures me that there is little prep time involved.

I am not trying to sell this curriculum to anyone who reads this (many are my FIAR friends and they are using an AWESOME curriculum...actually we are still using it for the time being as well). I am just sharing what our plan is. (Family reads this too and I want them to know what we are up to!) I told a dear friend yesterday that I feel so much peace about this decision and I am more excited than I have been in a long time. I was wondering if I had what it takes to homeschool long term. I feel like this is an answer to prayer.

The plan for Betsie is to use a combination of Before FIAR (their program for 2-4 year olds), letter of the week, and some preschool activity bags I have.

I can't wait!!!