FIAR vs Moving Beyond the Page

[Fairy4tmama]

Any one want share the differences and similarities between these two curricuiums with me I have FIAR v1 and am looking at MBTP.

[KathleenSLP]

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[ALittleBitCrunchy]

We started K with FIAR and started 1st with MBTP. Didn't finish either year with either curriculum

FIAR. I liked the idea. I could see cuddling up together and reading books and exploring learning. In reality, my son was bored to tears by most of the books. Some are OOP or hard to find. It also turns out that while I do feel that unit studies are wonderful, I didn't like the jumping around. I like more of a learning path. After doing a few books, I realized that I could do FIAR on my own with books that we would like more, so that's what I did. I designed my own unit studies and we did that for the rest of the year, with a structured math and reading program. Plus, while FIAR isn't Christian, the support forums were...and it was just too conservative for me. With a secular group and some more recent books, we would have done more with it.

MBTP. So, knowing that unit studies are good for us, I wanted to a new format for it. I stumbled across MBTP and ended up ordering the 6-8 set. I liked that it is completely laid out and even has supplies listed by section - much less planning and set up then FIAR! I liked it, as did my kids, except for the writing. Way too writing intensive for my son, but we adapted it. I really liked how easy it was to adapt MBTP without it changing the lesson. My schedule changed at work and we just didn't have the dedicated time for it, so we ended up switching to T4L. My son absolutely loves it, so I don't think we'll ever get to go back to unit studies. Maybe for my daughter Anyhow, I liked MBTP. We were going to do their measurements unit in January and it was horrible. For some topics/themes, they are exactly what I wanted. FOr others, not so much. My primary pet peeve is the homemade-ness of the curriculum. Hand-drawn (and not by an artist!) images, no spellcheck, etc. We did a brief map section and they actually had a page on "contenents." Seriously. They can't spell continents but want to sell curriculum?!?

So that's my opinion on both Hope it helps!

[elizawill]

Originally Posted by ALittleBitCrunchy

We started K with FIAR and started 1st with MBTP. Didn't finish either year with either curriculum

FIAR. I liked the idea. I could see cuddling up together and reading books and exploring learning. In reality, my son was bored to tears by most of the books. Some are OOP or hard to find. It also turns out that while I do feel that unit studies are wonderful, I didn't like the jumping around. I like more of a learning path. After doing a few books, I realized that I could do FIAR on my own with books that we would like more, so that's what I did. I designed my own unit studies and we did that for the rest of the year, with a structured math and reading program. Plus, while FIAR isn't Christian, the support forums were...and it was just too conservative for me. With a secular group and some more recent books, we would have done more with it.

MBTP. So, knowing that unit studies are good for us, I wanted to a new format for it. I stumbled across MBTP and ended up ordering the 6-8 set. I liked that it is completely laid out and even has supplies listed by section - much less planning and set up then FIAR! I liked it, as did my kids, except for the writing. Way too writing intensive for my son, but we adapted it. I really liked how easy it was to adapt MBTP without it changing the lesson. My schedule changed at work and we just didn't have the dedicated time for it, so we ended up switching to T4L. My son absolutely loves it, so I don't think we'll ever get to go back to unit studies. Maybe for my daughter Anyhow, I liked MBTP. We were going to do their measurements unit in January and it was horrible. For some topics/themes, they are exactly what I wanted. FOr others, not so much. My primary pet peeve is the homemade-ness of the curriculum. Hand-drawn (and not by an artist!) images, no spellcheck, etc. We did a brief map section and they actually had a page on "contenents." Seriously. They can't spell continents but want to sell curriculum?!?

So that's my opinion on both Hope it helps!

we are totally doing the same thing, lol. as you know, i used MBTP at the beginning of the year. we bought the 5-7, but it was too easy for my dd. it required me to supplement a lot, so i finally sold it and gave up. i almost bought the 6-8, but it's just too expensive! plus, my ds will start K with me next year, and i want something i can do with both of them. i have FIAR volumes 1-4 & the cookbook for next year, but plan to use it very loosely...probably for a little science and social studies only (it was given to me). ...AND we just got T4L last week! lol. my dd absolutely loves it, and i am completely surprised that i like it too. ...but....we shall see!

[ALittleBitCrunchy]

Elizawill, I think of you as my MDC twin! *laughing* Except that I only have 1 dog

My 7yo is loving T4L. So much so that my 5yo was jealous of his "computer school" and wanted to do it, too. We just signed her up for it and are doing the K stuff. She loves it, but is frustrated by the delay on every step while it shows her how to do everything. And the voice...ugh...it is a tad obnoxious. But, since she likes it, we'll keep it up until she's bored. I'm curious to see what you think of it if you start K on it, too! Since you are my twin and all

[Fairy4tmama]

thanks ALittleBitCrunchy&elizawill! Can you give me some examples of how MBTP differs form FAIR. From what I can tell from lookin at MBTP on line is that you dont read the same book for consequtive days or there is not an emphasis on it, there are less books, and the books are different. It also apears that maybe MBTP is a bit more in depth?

I liked 5 in a row but some of the books are hard to find , some my kids just aren't into, som had religous content that dh and I were not comfortable with and that left us with ajust a fraction of the books. My kids found reading the book 5 days in a row tedious. I may still try it again in the fall but, I would end up doing a lot of tweaking. I just started working evenings and weekends so I really need something with less planning.

I have to say this is concerning-

no spellcheck, etc. We did a brief map section and they actually had a page on "contenents." Seriously. They can't spell continents but want to sell curriculum?!?

is this the only example of this or was it more prevlant

[KathleenSLP]

It's probably right in front of my face...but what is T4L?

Thanks!

[ALittleBitCrunchy]

Originally Posted by KathleenSLP

It's probably right in front of my face...but what is T4L?

Thanks!

Time 4 Learning

[ALittleBitCrunchy]

Originally Posted by Fairy4tmama

thanks ALittleBitCrunchy&elizawill! Can you give me some examples of how MBTP differs form FAIR. From what I can tell from lookin at MBTP on line is that you dont read the same book for consequtive days or there is not an emphasis on it, there are less books, and the books are different. It also apears that maybe MBTP is a bit more in depth?

I liked 5 in a row but some of the books are hard to find , some my kids just aren't into, som had religous content that dh and I were not comfortable with and that left us with ajust a fraction of the books. My kids found reading the book 5 days in a row tedious. I may still try it again in the fall but, I would end up doing a lot of tweaking. I just started working evenings and weekends so I really need something with less planning.

I have to say this is concerning-

is this the only example of this or was it more prevlant

I never read the FIAR book 5 times in a row. My kids just weren't into the books (for the most part) and I'd read it once, look through pictures and talk about the illustrations one day, ask them to tell me a story from the pics one day, and that was it. MBTP uses books but more as a support tool for the topic, if that makes sense. So, we'd read a book in relation to a bigger picture topic and it would serve as support for the topic, if that makes sense. unless you are looking at Peak With Books, in which case the book was the focus for an entire week. We did some of that with my daughter and the books were adorable and had great ideas for 'work'. But, back to MBTP...the books are relevant and more current. And currently in print In my opinion, MBTP is more in-depth as it is written. FIAR always struck me as a great way to introduce big themes but it would focus the work on just a few pieces of it. MBTP has smaller themes within the big theme and provided more focus, simply because several related books are used in series, providing a several weeks long study of the bigger theme. I hope that makes sense.

If I were to go back to one, I would be happy to give MBTP another try. I just really, really wish it was more professionally done. Some of the work was confusing because the pictures (hand-drawn) aren't clear, for example. And the spelling/grammar drove me insane, but I will admit that I am a bit of a nerd and that it might not bother everyone else. It's not so bad that every page has glaring mistakes on it, but it's frequent enough to irritate me. It's been awhile since I've been in the books, but I still have them, so if there is anything you are curious about, just ask I can get them out and look. I sold all of the FIAR stuff or I would make the same offer for it.

[Scullery]

My daughter so far has hated the FIAR books, and none of the activities have engaged her.

We have a unit of MBTP and it's okay, I like it. I wouldn't use it exclusively, more as a supplement.

[PatchyMama]

This thread has been very helpful! I was thinking of doing MBTP but its a lot of money and I really need to try to come up with something on my own I guess.

We tried T4L and my daugther hated it.... I admit the website was confusing for me to navigate so I am sure my frustration with it didn't help.

[Fairy4tmama]

Originally Posted by ALittleBitCrunchy

I never read the FIAR book 5 times in a row. My kids just weren't into the books (for the most part) and I'd read it once, look through pictures and talk about the illustrations one day, ask them to tell me a story from the pics one day, and that was it. MBTP uses books but more as a support tool for the topic, if that makes sense. So, we'd read a book in relation to a bigger picture topic and it would serve as support for the topic, if that makes sense. unless you are looking at Peak With Books, in which case the book was the focus for an entire week. We did some of that with my daughter and the books were adorable and had great ideas for 'work'. But, back to MBTP...the books are relevant and more current. And currently in print In my opinion, MBTP is more in-depth as it is written. FIAR always struck me as a great way to introduce big themes but it would focus the work on just a few pieces of it. MBTP has smaller themes within the big theme and provided more focus, simply because several related books are used in series, providing a several weeks long study of the bigger theme. I hope that makes sense.

If I were to go back to one, I would be happy to give MBTP another try. I just really, really wish it was more professionally done. Some of the work was confusing because the pictures (hand-drawn) aren't clear, for example. And the spelling/grammar drove me insane, but I will admit that I am a bit of a nerd and that it might not bother everyone else. It's not so bad that every page has glaring mistakes on it, but it's frequent enough to irritate me. It's been awhile since I've been in the books, but I still have them, so if there is anything you are curious about, just ask I can get them out and look. I sold all of the FIAR stuff or I would make the same offer for it.

Thanks this is exactly the kind of nuts and bolts info I am looking for. It is so hard to really get the feel of curriculums via the net.

Thanks for all the opinions too, it is helpful to hear others anecdotes.

Anyone eles want to chime in?

[elizawill]

for FIAR, we do not plan to read it 5 days in a row. i plan to read it 2 or 3 times maybe? i will also use www.homeschoolshare.com FIAR resources. we just finished a lapbook from there for FIAR: "follow the drinking gourd" & it was awesome. we watched a lot of videos with it as well. here's a link to our lapbook:
http://www.freewebs.com/mytwomonkeys...lbumid=4690950


we have the "draw write now" books, evan moor giant science book, and most of the "let's read and find out about..." science series. i also have a few of the nature books. homeschoolshare has lots of info in how to incorporate these things with FIAR. i also have a wall map, map book, and globe, etc. we'll use this in conjunction with geography & additional library books and videos from netflix or united streaming, and so far my dd likes T4L...so we'll use that some too. anyway, that's how i plan to use FIAR