How I Chose My Father’s World

Homeschool Methods

As parents, we have been blessed with the privilege and responsibility of raising our children. Every family will have opinions on what methods are best for their families, but hopefully we all have a similar goal in mind. The goal is to raise healthy, happy children who will grow into responsible adults that contribute to society in a positive way. As a follower of Jesus, I also pray that my children will have a personal relationship with Christ and have a strong background in their faith as they enter the real world. Here is a quick breakdown of several popular schooling methods.

• Charlotte Mason

  • This method is based on the writings and life work of Charlotte Mason. CM believed that children to be exposed to a wide variety of living books and liberal arts. She felt that often times education material made for children is watered down. Instead of giving kids watered down versions, we should let them experience great works of all kinds in their true form. This method also focuses on the learning atmosphere, and developing good habits of discipline. Lessons are short and children are exposed to a broad scope of information.

• Classical

  • Classical education is built around three stages of cognitive development. It is a literature-heavy approach that encourages children to learn “how” to think instead of “what” to think. Core subjects are interconnected to build levels of understanding. There is a deep focus on history, literature, and fine arts.

• Unit-Studies

  • This method chooses a topic or theme to study for a period of time. This method works well if you want to include your child in the planning. Subjects are woven in to fit with the overall theme for the unit. This method is flexible and interest-led.

• Eclectic

  • Many families don’t stick with any one style or method. It is perfectly fine to piece together a curriculum that works well for your family!

My Father’s World

My Father’s World combines CM, Classical, and Unit-study ideas with a curriculum that has a Biblical worldview. It is designed to work in a family setting, with adjustments made for each grade.

Each “grade” has 1 teachers manual that outlines lessons for the day with notes. I like that the subjects tie together. For example, while reading through the Genesis and Exodus, we learned about Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. Planning for the week is simple. I read over the teaching notes and see if I’ll need any special supplies for the week. They have basic or premium package options when purchasing curriculum. I went with the premium and like that all the student sheets and books were included. For each child, you add on Language Arts and Math at the appropriate level. I like this having this flexibility. I am able to include my preschooler in listening to stories and Bible readings with my fourth grader, and separate them for more age specific tasks.

MFW also focuses on memory work which I think is amazing for kids. My son is often grumbly when first starting to memorize a verse or poem, swearing that he will never be able to memorize it. But after working on the passage for a week or two he is always so pleased with himself when he can recite it from memory. I love seeing the little confidence boost he gets every time.

Literature is a large part of MFW. We read books at different levels throughout the week. We read the Bible daily (win), we read colorful and informative picture books, we read poetry, and we read personal choice books. Our history text is the closest thing to an actual textbook. Instead of countless worksheets, my son will write and illustrate summaries of events.

Making the Choice

I love the concept of CM and Classical Education. I think that education should explore the best of what the world has to offer. I also think we should encourage our children to be outside enjoying the outdoors. Lastly, faith plays a huge role in our lives. When selecting a curriculum I searched for options that had a Biblical worldview, would fit into our family lifestyle, and would instill a love of learning in my kids. We are loving MFW and plan to continue using it next year.

This is our first year using MFW, and I plan on doing an in-depth review after we complete the year. I’d love to hear what curriculum or style your family is using in the comments!