3froggies wrote:Hello! I am considering using MFW this year with my 8th grader 4th grader (who would probably enjoy the 2/3 supplement) and young 2nd grader. I would use 1850-MOD, because we have not studied it yet. Also, I have a 3yo and another due in July

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When I take a look at the sample, I get overwhelmed! It seems like so many different books being used, and seems like it would be time-consuming to read all aloud to everyone. Also, my oldest (8th) has really enjoyed being independent for her history.
My question is, can I do the bible and read alouds together, and then split up the history according to age/ability? For example, listen to SOTW as a family, but have the oldest read some of the history reading assignments independently, include the 4th grader in on some, have her do the book basket, and then have her and the 2nd grader do the supplement? Ugh! It's making my head hurt just to think about!
My next question is, if I can do this, which history books would I use with which ages?
I'd really like to make this work. I'm just having a hard time imagining how it would all play out with such a big age gap.
Also, are the resources not repetitive? Are they on the same subject, but different viewpoints?
Can I do this if I am not a mom who enjoys doing hands-on projects much? We used ECC 4 years ago, but had a baby halfway through the year and lost focus and steam...Too much hands-on or prep for me (making the geography games, getting books from library for different countries, etc.)
Okay, I think that is enough questions for now! Thanks!
Beth

Hi Beth,
I'm going to try to give the conversation a start. I copied what I see 5 questions above.
1. Also, my oldest (8th) has really enjoyed being independent for her history.
MFW isn't really set up for K-8 kids to do Bible or history on their own. It's a philosophy of parent teaching for those. Of course, every family will be different. But an 8th grader should have plenty of opportunity to be independent in math, English, and science. When my son pushed for more independence in those grades, sometimes it was just so he could get-it-done-and-forget-it, which wasn't the same as my goal. Other times, he was ready for the chance to work on his own, but I really held on to the opportunity to guide him in the areas where there are lots of different viewpoints.
2. My question is, can I do the bible and read alouds together, and then split up the history according to age/ability? For example, listen to SOTW as a family, but have the oldest read some of the history reading assignments independently, include the 4th grader in on some, have her do the book basket, and then have her and the 2nd grader do the supplement? Ugh! It's making my head hurt just to think about!
If you jump into year 5, it is definitely geared towards families with an oldest who is in grade 7-8, so your oldest will have plenty to do. Your 3/4 grader will be in between. And because of the density of modern history, your 2nd grader can be sheltered somewhat during some history readings. So that means that one subject (history) may have you doing a couple of different things to meet your kids' needs. Again, it varies by family of course.
So if you go back to the sample,
http://www.mfwbooks.com/downloads/pdfs/ ... mod_TM.pdf ,
the little black squares are showing you that the history row and the read-aloud row are pretty advanced for grades 2-3, so there is something scheduled down in the 2nd-3rd grader rows at the bottom to do instead. Other things don't have black squares, so you may well do them as a family -- I see during that week there are patriotic songs, a game, and a little about Booker T. Plus there are state sheets that are good for all ages.
SOTW might be enjoyed by the whole family, depends on the kids, it's a lot of history there. The SOTW optional activities are often fun for all ages. But the SOTW outlining probably will not appeal to the littles
3. My next question is, if I can do this, which history books would I use with which ages?
I think the little black squares, and the separate 2nd-3rd grid, will help you figure that out.
4. Also, are the resources not repetitive? Are they on the same subject, but different viewpoints?
A lot of the extra resources during this year seem to be added in order to bring more US history into your studies. SOTW really seems to try to not spend any more time on US history than it does on, say, Paraguay. But those of us who live in the US often want to know more! So Marie adds songs, state/capital games, state sheets, American Heroes (from the book In God We Trust), and some extra US history (Children's Encyclopedia - which is a thorough but secular book, plus the last parts of Exploring American History - which adds a Christian viewpoint)
5. Can I do this if I am not a mom who enjoys doing hands-on projects much? We used ECC 4 years ago, but had a baby halfway through the year and lost focus and steam...Too much hands-on or prep for me (making the geography games, getting books from library for different countries, etc.)
ECC was the most hands-on year at our house. And it was the year that we enjoyed book basket the most. But if you have given any consideration to doing it again, you might be happy to know that the games are pre-made now
There is definitely a component of hands-on in 1850MOD, but I'm sure it ends up looking different with every family. My son really enjoyed the things mentioned above (patriotic songs, state/capital games, cooking), as well as some of the optional activities in the SOTW Activity Book. As an example, I remember he wasn't really relating to the Crimean War, but the optional activity related to Florence Nightingale, and he kept a nurse's log of his heart rate and such for a week, which he remembered far better
Hope that gives you a start,
Julie