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Wendi DeGrandpr
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| Posted: Jan 05 2007 at 7:55am | IP Logged
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Given my "burn out" I am wondering if this is a good path to travel right now? A friend dropped off her books yesterday totally unsolicited so I am wondering if I should delve in - maybe they came at the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I have never used FIAR and am wondering how intense or relaxed it is.
Thanks,
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God Bless,
Wendi
Mom to four blessings
"We can do no great things - only small things with great love." Blessed Mother Teresa
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Donna
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Go for it Wendi! I think it's an answer to your prayer.
FIAR makes our school day fun, exciting and interesting.
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Donna
DH, Keven
Jason, Stevie, Marie, Jackson, Clara, and Aaron
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Moments Like These
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TracyFD
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We began FIAR Vol.1 over the summer with my 6yo and had just implemented lap books. Then we began a modified Sonlight curriculum. My dd keeps asking to do FIAR again and I am seriously considering switching mid-year to appease this challenging child of mine (bright but pokey, shies away from challenging work, but reads extremely well, loves lapbooking).
I am a novice, but so far it seems to me that FIAR can be relaxed or intense to meet your needs. In addition to the suggestions in the book, there is a FIAR message board with additional activities and resources for each book:
http://www.fiveinarow.com/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi
There is also a supplemental cookbook and Christian character book (haven't tried these) and lots of suggestions on this board as well.
From what I understand, it is best to continue a math and phonics program in addition to FIAR. Any suggestion here - which math and phonics work well with FIAR-type learners?
Can't wait to read more comments as I am facing the same decision mid-year!
Tracy
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Schoolrmacres
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We have used FIAR since we begin our homeschool journey.
We used Before FIAR when my dd was 3 and have continued using FIAR since then. We love it but after rowing the FIAR Vol.1-3 twice through we are moving on to Vol 4. I imagine that FIAR will always be a part of our school day.
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Darlene, wife to Shawn and mamma to Haleigh Elizabeth, our Gift from God through adoption.
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http://achampionfamily.blogspot.com/
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Martha
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I love FIAR for my younger ones. And the older kids will chime in at times.
For K/pre-k I do MCP math and penmanship (abeka cursive or HWT) and phonics (seton or LSFLF) in the mornings.
Then at naps time, I do FIAR. Sometimes all I do is read it. Most of the time I do the art and history (my personal favorite FIAR parts). Other times, I go all out and do more. For Another Celebrated Dancing Bear, I went all out and we made a paper mural along the dining room wall and had a Russian tea party.
I don't use the bible study suppliment, mostly because I have a ton of Catholic stuff and don't a protestant item on this.
The only problem I have is all the cooking suggestions, which is a problem here too. I just cannot afford to buy special grocery items, many of which I can't even be sure will be eaten. I rarely bring food into our studies for this reason. I'm working tea time into our day, but it's a real adjustment and seems to disrupt our entire day.  I'm going to keep at it though until I find what works for us. I think daily tea time is just too hard for me. But maybe a few times a week will be better.
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Martha
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1floridamom
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Wendi, it is absolutely worth a shot.  We have all of the manuals and many of the books and have gone back to it many times over the years. I did find that one child or another wasn't as enamored with the schedule. For instance, the concept of reading the book for five days in a row shouldn't be difficult, but my boys especially balked at having to "hear that book again."  They always liked the activities, especially cooking. The cookbook that goes with it is fairly simple, but it puts it all in one place for those of us not creative enough to figure out what foods to eat with a book.  I agree with Martha's point on the wasted food, but if there is some way to try something smaller than a meal it really helps drive home the cultural lesson of a story. Their message board is helpful, too, for even more ideas if the ones offered don't suit you or your family.
Five in a Row
Enjoy!
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Monica in FL
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Wendi DeGrandpr
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Wow! Thanks for all the great input - very encouraging. I am thinking my kids will enjoy having the same book read over and over - I actually try to do that now as I think it helps them with their language and comprehension. I will take a look at the books and "be back" with any specific questions I may come up with. Thank you Tracey for the FIAR website.
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God Bless,
Wendi
Mom to four blessings
"We can do no great things - only small things with great love." Blessed Mother Teresa
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JuliaT
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FIAR can be as relaxing or as intense as you want or need it to be. I always use FIAR for K. For my ds, I will also be using it for Gr. 1 as well. I love FIAR. I think you will, too.
Blessings,
Julia
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Juliainsk
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BrendaPeter
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Nothing cures a case of burnout like reading many wonderful books to your children!
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Brenda (mom to 6)
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Martha in VA
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Would this be too "young" for my 2nd grader? She is emotionally challenging and I'm thinking she might really benefit from some snuggle time with some good books.
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1floridamom
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Martha, I enjoy the picture books, and between FIAR, this list, Elizabeth's book, and lots of other great resources, we've included picture books in our studies for a lot of things. Using the manuals gives you the experience to "row" other books; that's the term used to read and explore other picture books in the same manner as described in FIAR. They do have manuals called "Beyond FIAR," but they are for a detailed study of a few books. I have the first one, but we have yet to use it that way.
That snuggle time is the best with any book, too! 
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Monica in FL
dh Steve, Sean (14), Ethan (13), Emily (10), Kylie (6), Ashley (5) and Lindsay (2)!
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Tina P.
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I hope you don't mind a little shift in conversation, but I had trouble shifting from FIAR to BYFIAR with my kids, which is part of why *we* started to have a more structured, burn-me-out curriculum.
Does anyone here use BYFIAR? How do you like it? Do you read the books to the kids or do you have them read a chapter a day or how does it work?
God bless,
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Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
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Carole N.
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Here is what I did. I used FIAR with my ds when he was younger. Then when he finally decided he could "read" chapter books, I switched him to BYFIAR. At that point I started using FIAR with my younger two dc. They really enjoyed it a lot and so did I.
I was not as persistant with BYFIAR as I should have been. My oldest ds (almost 14) might be too old for the program now. But I really loved the program. I may revisit it again soon.
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 Carole ... in Wales
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cathhomeschool
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Martha, I am of the opinion that you can use FIAR with just about any age child you want, you just have to adjust as necessary. For my 5yo, I cut out some of the language arts activities. For my 11yo, I supplement with chapter books, art projects, and science experiments (suggestions abound at the message board on the FIAR website). We do not use FIAR exclusively, but come back to it regularly. I really think that you could probably use it as written for your 2nd grader.
Tina, I haven't used BYFIAR. There are a couple of comments here.
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Theresa
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Wendi,
I think you would really enjoy it. We are taking a break from our curriculum to do a unit study and I am having so much fun putting it together and the kids are excited about a break from their normal schooling and looking forward to it.
The Father knows what we need and when we need it... I'd go for it!
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Theresa
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saintanneshs
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Wendi,
Go for it! My kids love FIAR! They really remember the books and it's so flexible that it's all I'm using while we wait for the baby and it's all I plan to use this spring when I "attempt" to get us back on track post-partum (maybe sometime in April??  )
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Kristine
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Cay Gibson
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We always turn to FIAR during stressful/burnout periods.
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
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krgammel
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I use the Units here and there as well. Only my pesonality will not allow me to just follow the manuals We usually Lapbook our FIAR. I wish I knew how to link up to that disucssion in Rabbit Trails Perhaps a moderator could bring up that link?
Here's a list of supplemental websites:
Supplemental Booklist
Mary's Mill has some great cards and ideas to add. She also lists ideas for BYFIAR.
FIAR Moms of Plano have all kinds of neat stuff.
The Homeschool Mom also shares weblinks and resources for FIAR.
Books by season, geography and theme is great if you are incorporating with other themes.
And don't forgetHomeschool Shares FIAR Resources
Enjoy!
+Kristen
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Schoolrmacres
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If you do not think that your dc may be ready for BYFIAR and FIAR Vols. 1-3 are not "old enough" for them you might consider FAIR Vol.4 which is what we are using.It is shorter books but it is not an everyday thing like FIAR. It really seems to be a bridge between the two.
HTH
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Darlene, wife to Shawn and mamma to Haleigh Elizabeth, our Gift from God through adoption.
Peace be with you
http://achampionfamily.blogspot.com/
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: FIAR
