Adventures is an optional program - Explain?!

[angie in IA]

What exactly does "Adventures optional" mean?
thanks, angie

[cbollin]

Let me try to add to the confusion a bit. Second or third graders with OLDER siblings should skip ADV and go directly into the Five-Year Cycle joining in their siblings' current program. This ensures that a parent does not have to teach two different programs for 2nd - 8th graders. That is why it is "optional" for younger students.

However, MFW still recommends ADV for the oldest child in the family if that child is in 2nd grade (or sometimes even in 3rd grade). Customers, like me, found that we pushed our oldest too hard in 2nd grade while using ECC. The oldest child probably should do ADV in 2nd grade (or in some cases, it is in 3rd grade.) Younger siblings will be listening in and having fun.

However, we tend to treat our younger children differently (yes we do) and adjust. Therefore, ECC and the other history cycle programs are easily adjustable for younger siblings.

But, you do NOT need to do ADV and another 5-year cycle program at the same time. It makes it easier on you as a teacher and allows the family to be in one history program to learn together.

Younger siblings will get their turn at the history content of ADV. This will happen in EX1850 and 1850-modern. You will not be teaching from two programs at that point because the lesson plans for younger students are built into the teacher's manual in the upper program (year 4 and year 5).

--crystal

[Homeschooling6]

We are doing ADV with a 3rd, 1st, K,Pre-K & Pre-Pre-K or 8.5yrs, 7yrs, 6yrs, 5yrs & 4yr. old. My kiddos are having a blast with it. My two older ones do the notebook/timelines and all the others listen in.

I went with ADV for my 3rd grader because I wanted my other kiddos to be a little older for ECC. I think it's working out great.

And using ADV is not a waste of money IMO, even if I were to use it one time only I would still not consider it a waste. My kids love it and so do I. My children are learning and love learning. They beg for me to keep reading. That is priceless =)

Blessings,
Linda<><

[angie in IA]

well this is what I was thinking...I am planning to start in the fall. I will have a 6,7,7,so 1st and 2nd grade. I was planning to get MFW1 and adding the 2nd grade resources. then for next year doing ADV with everyone so that would be 2nd and 3rd grade. What do you think of that?
Angie

[cbollin]

I think it sounds good Angie. It is one possible path and a good one.

Quoting a post from the archives from MFW author, Marie Hazell

The next year (1st and 2nd)
1. Teach MFW-1 as written to your 1st grader. Let your 2nd grader join in the Bible, science, art, and hands-on projects. The year's focus will be the Bible stories and science topics in MFW-1. Use the Deluxe items in First Grade this year with both grades--Honey for a Child's Heart (to select literature), Drawing with Children, Come Look with Me, and Introduction to the Orchestra.

2. For your 2nd grader, add math, spelling (Spelling by Sound and Structure for Grade 2), and language arts (Primary Language Lessons). Let your 2nd grader practice reading with lots of easy readers from the library.

So you would need to purchase:
First Grade Student Materials (and teacher's manual too)
Primary Langauge Lessons, Spelling by Sound and Structure for Grade 2, and 2nd grade math

The year after that (2nd and 3rd)
1. Both children have finished phonics instruction and are 2nd and 3rd grade, so they can go into the same multi-age program at this point. They would move into the Adventures program for 2nd and 3rd graders. Add math and language arts. This program is designed so that all your subjects can be completed in 3 hours or less.

So you would purchase:
Adventures in My Father's World
math and langauge arts (you only need to buy Writing Strands Level 3, Spelling Power, 2nd grade spelling workbook, and reuse books from last year)

The following five years
Now both children can enter the five year cycle, beginning with Exploring Countries and Cultures and you can teach them together, except for math and language arts.

--crystal

[TurnOurHearts]

Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 1:42 am

I just wanted to add, having done ADV & now doing ECC, that I am really glad we did ADV for 2nd grade. ECC has been perfect for my 3rd grader, but it's a big jump from MFW1, in my opinion. Honestly, ADV seemed like quite a jump, but in reality, that was more ME adjusting to the grid format, different subjects/different textbooks, moving from teaching from the TM, etc.

ADV is an absolutely FABULOUS program and, in my opinion, the perfect "bridge" year between 1st and 3rd. Starting ECC in September, we were ready. I think the transition would have been more difficult had we jumped into it in 2nd grade.

HTH!