AHL - Can you share how it is working for you?

[Julie in MN]

High School Year 1 - can you share how it is working for you?

I have enjoyed using MFW for the last two years. I like what I see for the high school years as well, but there is so little discussion about it on the boards, I wonder if more than two people are actually using it!

Can you please share how year 1 is working for you, what you like, what you don't like, and if there is any of the specific curriculum recommendations that you have changed or altered. Thanks!

You may know this, but there are hundreds of MFW families that don't use the boards at all! You'd have to ask at the office about how many actually use high school, but I know it's more than Lucy & Dawn I've talked to MFW high schoolers at convention, including of course the Hazell kids, plus other high school kids who work at the MACHE booth, but also customers with MFW high schoolers.

And remember there are several levels of high school users:
- Pre-pilot users
- Pilot users
- Users of the final version (year 1 this year)

Julie

[cbollin]

I was just as curious as you about how many families are using AHL. So I asked. It's over a hundred this year.

I thought it might be helpful to explain some of the reasons that you don't see a lot of chat about the high school program.

Year 2 of MFW's high school program is being piloted this year. So, users of the program make their updates, and reports and all of that directly to MFW. So you're just not going to see them in cyber space talking about it.

Year 1 of high school is just on the open market this year. But, not everyone who uses MFW (or any program) visits message boards and forums and all of that. It is most likely that the actual users are just not internet chatter box types. :) It's a lot like with the year 5 program, 1850MOD, there are lots of users who just don't visit the forums. I know that's hard to believe for those of us who enjoy the relaxing and socializing of it. LOL!!!

I do wonder though if I called a friend of mine whose high school senior son is using the program if perhaps that son would chime in a bit about how using MFW high school has impacted his life?

...I spoke very quickly with my friends who have a senior (and a freshman too , I forgot that) using MFW's high school. It might be a week or so before they can get back to me. They aren't chat board types and they are busy right now this week with some things at the husband's work and an upcoming retreat. But I'm still hoping they might be able to get back to me about it. I know this much from quickly talking the other day...

Their son is an advanced kid who is really growing in his worldview and walk with Jesus. He plans to attend a university known for engineering. So, they are really loving the strong Christian focus and strong academics in MFW. They like that it is written to the student to do more on their own. They really like that it includes time to do service so it is something the kids are thinking about. Their son works hard at school and still has a life with friends when he gets school done. Sweet family!!!

-crystal

[MJ in IL]

We are using the Ancient History HS program--it's been a great experience for us. Let me know what specific questions you may have.

Dd14 feels the Old Testament Challenge is very valuable; she is enjoying reading through the OT and the questions are great for review and application. The literature has been interesting...with her favorite being the Greek and Roman Mythology. For history, she has most enjoyed the Notgrass materials and Unwrapping the Pharoahs. The New Answers book is a bit more challenging and less engaging...but she admits she is learning information she was previously unfamiliar and/or not as well-versed in.

I miss everyone working together... However, she loves her "independent learning time." I have greatly appreciated the weekly meetings...although they take longer than I expected at first. Some weeks we have quite the discussions! She also has had a learning curve figuring out recording time taken on subjects (I have her record it on the lesson plans.) The format has been helpful for her in learning how to best manage her time and stay on task.

Our main struggle has been completing the work in a timely manner while attending a weekly co-op. She takes her math, science and several electives there. MFW tends to schedule Fridays to be lighter, but we do struggle to stay with the week's work. (This, however, is quite typical of our life in general...it is in all likelihood not the curriculum!) This semester, we have lightened her load a bit at the co-op, hopefully to help us stay on track a bit better.

Let me know if you have other questions!

Edited to add: You asked about other curriculum...she is completing Apol Phys Science and Saxon Algebra 1 at our co-op. She is also in a lit class (her fav!) She loves the group discussion the teacher poses for the group. B/c of this, I do eliminate a paper for me if she has a lit analysis due that week. We haven't really made any other changes to the MFW portions.

[gressman9]

My dd who is really suppose to be in 8th grade (if she was public schooled she would have missed the cut off for 9th by 3 weeks due to her birthday) is doing MFW highschool ancients this year. We are also using Apologia biology, ACE paces for math, SOS health, and Rosetta STone Chinese. She is a very independent sort of person and LOVES the curriculum. She may take two years to get Biology done....as we are an extremely busy family with 7 children. She somehow manages to get more than a day's work done by 2pm every day! She also dislikes the Answers in Genesis book...but she loves the Greek and Roman mythology. She is very creative and loves to write, but has struggled a little with someone else tellling her exactly how to write...ie. the argumentative essay assignment. This has been very good for her, however. The biggest drawback for us, which isn't mFw fault....is that I I don't get to sit down and really talk with her about stuff every week like I am suppose to.

Over all...this is the best curriculum that I have seen out there. I am very excited about what she is learning and I wish I had time to read it myself!

Carylee
mom2 seven
homeschoolblogger.com/drawandwritehistorymom

[Lisa M]

Carylee, I am totally with you on being very busy and not spending as much one on one time as I "should"! I have 4 children and it is difficult enough to keep up with individual needs. I really am learning to be careful about which areas of their training are important enough for me to be one-on-one, and which can be more of a group effort. Every curriculum that is "best" is usually terribly teacher intensive, so I have to make trade offs - like I opted to never do an actual grammar program, but instead am working with my 6 and 8 graders on diagramming sentences for 5 minutes, 2 days a week (parts of speech) andI break them into appropriate groups for daily copywork or dictation (mechanics and word usage). I've cut out an entire subject because of priorities. I also don't spend much time discussing their history work because of the driving time I spend for sports - it is important to us not because we are sports junkies, but because my kids tend to become overweight if I don't keep them active - health is taking precedent over history.

What a juggling act!

I love the idea of your daughter not wanting someone else telling her how to write an argumentative essay - what a great topic for an argumentative essay:-)

Thanks for your response!

[Julie in MN]

I would like to hear from someone who is using this with their average would rather be outside or playing Wii boy. I'm not sure if he will go to college or not. He is smart enough. He comes from a long line of skilled workers. His grandpa owns a machine shop that his dad is now managing. He might work there, but he might take off on something of his own. Just wondering if anyone has used it with a good ole boy from the country - if you know what I mean. I think it would do him good to be prepared for college even if he chooses a different path. I went to college and am now a stay at home mom, but I still think my education has served me well in lots of different situations. I just mostly see reviews from girls or "advanced" boys. I guess that's enough of my ramblings. He is in seventh grade this year. I will try to get to a convention this year so that I can sit down and really look at the high school stuff.

Blessings,

I'm not there yet, but I have grilled David Hazell about this :o) My 7th grade son is doing so well with MFW materials, but he's not the read-a-book-by-himself type. This year, I'm glad we're starting some independence with Progeny Press & stuff, but it's very gradual at our house because he misses so much on his own and I feel he needs a lot of teacher discussion.

Well, David assured me that they have many types of learners in their high school pilots, including their own children who are all different. He said that they provide options such as pre-discussions and audiobooks. Basically, he said if I've trusted MFW thus far, why would that change?! That reminds me of a previous conversation somewhere -- maybe in the High School Archives?

Anyways, my main point I wanted to add is that I want my son to do MFW high school for the worldview and apologetics more than for the college preparation. He also may end up in more of a hands-on occupation, but I want him to be firm in his faith and be able to stand up against the wind. I know that there are many worldview type courses out there, but MFW is different. MFW includes worldview by incorporating God into history and language arts and everything else. It allows my son to defend his faith to his fellow Wii players, not just to people asking searching religious questions :o)

[hsmomof5]

Anyways, my main point I wanted to add is that I want my son to do MFW high school for the worldview and apologetics more than for the college preparation. He also may end up in more of a hands-on occupation, but I want him to be firm in his faith and be able to stand up against the wind. I know that there are many worldview type courses out there, but MFW is different. MFW includes worldview by incorporating God into history and language arts and everything else. It allows my son to defend his faith to his fellow Wii players, not just to people asking searching religious questions :o)

Well said. I created my sons' scope and sequence last year for the first time. It includes using MFW all the way to high school. Until God says otherwise, that's what we are using. :)

[Lisa M]

Some encouragement for mothers of less academic-y kids: Our family's educational goal is that Biblical worldview, understanding the basics of history, communicating effectively through writing and speaking, basic science, and math through Algebra II are all important for any young man or woman, regardless of being college bound or not.

I love MFW because all of these are taken into consideration each year, while still providing flexibility to adjust to our own kids. One child who is a super-driven self starter can get through more material, learn more stuff, and maybe even graduate early. A less focused child may need to back off on the literature, completing only one or two book studies and just 2 or three main writing assignments, take 1.5 years to complete Science, and spend an extra few months on math. Maybe 19 will be their age of completing high school. But slow and steady wins the race. I've been struggling since the beginning with my oldest, who is a wonderful person with great strengths, but has come on late with "academic" skills. Now as a one year delayed 8th grader, she is showing all the readiness for high school, quality work, and self scheduling. The constant struggle has been worth it, when I really could have given up so many times.

Press on toward the goal:-)

[DS4home]

I am considering MWF for high school for dd12, who is now seventh grade and doing SL Core 7. I prefer the content of what I've seen of MFW. Can anyone comment on their opinions of high school? Year 1 samples look very good, with a Biblical worldview. I like that it is written to the student and can be done independently. Any information/opinions would be appreciated.

Blessings,
Lisa

I have a Freshman dd this year doing Ancients. We are reusing the pilot version that my oldest dd did a few years ago. It is a well thought out curriculum. I think you will appreciate the academic side as well as the worldview. They do some nice projects throughout the year and read a lot of the classics! The independent nature of the schedule is super easy for the kids to use - they know exactly what to do each day and check the box when they're done.

I'm not very good at explaining the program overall, if you have specific questions it might be easier to answer. But overall, I think it's a great program and you won't go wrong using MFW!

Dawn

[LA in Baltimore]

We are using AHL this year and are very pleased.
Reading through the entire Bible before our children finished high school was a high priority for us and having it incorporated right into the curriculum is wonderful. I haven't found another program that does that.
Of course, we could have added it on, but a great idea can turn ugly very quickly when you start "adding" too many extras into a high schooler's course load!

MFW AHL is very thorough, Biblical, and thought-provoking. I really love that the work is not just read and repeat type activities. The books chosen really complement one another.

The Purpose Driven Life (AHL), The Fallacy Detective(Intro to Logic), and Money, Possessions, and Eternity (Personal Finance) are all examples of great books that have made our oldest think outside the usual school box!
We are using AHL with a 12th grader and still feel that the books, assignments, etc are all grade level appropriate.

[tiffany]

We are using the 1st year of the HS program this year, and I am so pleased. My daughter has done great working independently. I'm so proud of her! The program seems to be set up very well. I have also been pleased with the quality of her work. I was afraid some of it might be too difficult, but it seems to be just the right amount of stretching (intellectually) for her.

It has been wonderful for me as well, to let her learn on her own. Her being the oldest, and me still having the bulk of my family to teach, it has definitely lessened the teaching load for me. Which is wonderful! I'm so glad MfW decided to continue on in High School. Not sure what we would have done.

Not a lot of details, I know. But we are extremely happy customers!

[cbollin]

I'm so glad MfW decided to continue on in High School. Not sure what we would have done.

yep. That's what I keep saying too.

Thank you Marie and David.

-crystal