It’s no secret that I have used an all in one curriculum for the majority of my homeschool years. \u00a0I have been often asked why I have as I am a curriculum junkie and love planning. \u00a0I was once asked by the author and designer of a curriculum why I would ever use one as I could just as easily put one together myself. \u00a0The answer is pretty simple, time and priorities. \u00a0I did write and put together a year of elementary for Connor and it took me 10-15 hours a week of curriculum design. \u00a0Chores didn’t get done, dinner was often cereal or pb&j’s and I didn’t get to do what I actually loved, teaching. \u00a0My priority was to teach my three kids and if I found a curriculum that matched about 80% of my goals, then I was happy. \u00a0Once I had a base, I could tweak it but it didn’t take me near the amount of time that writing from scratch would have.<\/p>\n
My husband and I had three main goals in the education of our kids.<\/p>\n
1. It had to have the Bible integrated.<\/p>\n
2. It had to be engaging and needed to help our kids to love to learn.<\/p>\n
3. \u00a0It needed to be academically rigorous.<\/p>\n
After that, I wanted it to follow a Classical philosophy of education. \u00a0I wasn’t a strict Classical Educator, nor am I now, but I most closely identify with that philosophy of education.<\/p>\n
At the time, there weren’t as many options that fit these goals as there are now, but I think I probably would choose the same now as I did then.<\/p>\n
My Father’s World<\/a>\u00a0– We have loved My Father’s World and it has more than met all of our goals for our kid’s education, particularly in Elementary and Middle School. \u00a0I still think the Biblical foundation and the missions outreach focus is second to none. \u00a0It helped my kids to love God and to not merely be hearers of the Word but doers of the Word. \u00a0We also loved all the hands on projects, family meals and games that it brought into our lives. \u00a0It was thorough without being over kill and had a short enough day that I could add other things in if I wanted to, while still allowing my kids to explore, play and have a fun childhood. \u00a0My kids were reading by the time we hit MFW K and 1st but we did them all the same while adding in other reading because of the amazing Biblical foundation that they provided. \u00a0They were also a gentle, fun and engaging way to step into education. \u00a0We often ( me included) try to push our oldest kids too far, too fast and this ends in burned out 2nd and 3rd graders who hate school. \u00a0MFW taught me how to allow my kids to enjoy school and not to push them beyond what they can emotionally handle even if they can academically. \u00a0We loved the family learning cycle, and all the hands on projects\/meals\/festivals allowed us to learn as a family and made connections for my kids that just academics wouldn’t have. They remember Roman culture because we made the togas, ate the food and learned about the weapons. It is still my number one recommendation for Elementary.<\/p>\n However, there are others that have come out or been revamped since my kids were in Elementary that I would be remiss in not mentioning.<\/p>\n