What is essential to buy from the company, and what can I get by with purchasing used or substituting (atlas/maps)? We'll be using ECC and high school (10th). I need to get started gathering things for next year. I really want to use MFW but need to see if I can manage it within my budget. Thanks!
Essentially (according to MFW) you have to buy the Teacher Guide & the Student Sheets (1 set per student) from them. Other than that you don't HAVE to buy anything from them. The do NOT like reselling the Teacher Guide OR Photocopying the Student Sheets. I even had to buy a set for my youngest just for the coloring sheets. That did not make me happy. I got a lot of my stuff from Paperbackswap.com, amazon and Used Book Sales. Also, I got my passports from LCMS and I printed my own stickers. We never even ended up using the dang things - so I have three passports and three pages with color print outs of the countries flags or a symbol - if you'd like them, you're welcome to them! LOL I will be selling some of my items at the end of this year, I've gotta go through my stuff and see what I'll be selling. But you could make me an offer once I figure it out (I'm crazy busy the next two weeks, but if you can hold out until next weekend, I might have some time - we have an out of town guest, but my husband's going to be entertaining him mostly....so I'll have down time when they're not here). I know for sure I have all the missionary stories that you'd need. I could sell you all six of those for $10 + S/H if you like (they're usually $6.99 each - to give you an idea). Sigh....just gotta look through my stuff!!!! I could start setting aside a box if you like as we finish up using the stuff...we won't be done done until sometime in June, though, if that's okay?
I can only comment for Kindergarten...so this may or may not be helpful! I just ordered the Basic pkg. and everything worked out perfectly. I did buy a butterfly kit myself and spent about the same $$ (but no shipping), but other than that the basic was fine. For a long time I looked for the Cuisenaire Rods, but never ordered any and she is faring fine in math for her grade lever. I was just looking at the MFW 1 catalog yesterday and deciding what I wanted/didn't want to do for first. I think I'll also order the basic pkg. and add the Peter and the Wolf cd and orchestra coloring book by itself. Several of the books: Come Look with Me and Drawing with Children I ordered used from Ebay at a GOOD price! I will probably get a supplimental math book (Complete Book of Math is suggested and included in Deluxe), but will look for it at Sam's and get a good deal. We've REALLY enjoyed MFW so far! Very enjoyable and tweak-able! LOL! Looking forward to doing 1st - though we're stalling right now (still doing school - just an eclectic mix of things I've put together) so that dd can age a bit and improve her handwriting skills. Hope your experience is just as good!
I may be wrong...but I believe the order form mentions that copying for other siblings is fine if you prefer.
I can't give any advice on high school, but here's my opinion on ECC. Obviously, you'll need the Teacher Manual/Student sheets/etc. The majority of all the other books are reusable, which means you may be able to find them else where used for a lower price. In the past, I've tried piece mealing the basic package together this way and have seldom been able to get it for lower than what MFW offers all together as one price. I have since always ordered the basic package and gotten the read a louds through the local library or our church library as needed. Anything else that was in the deluxe package, we either made due without or substituted something similar. This was my personal decision, though. Also keep in mind, that as my kids have quite an age span between them, we'll be going through each year twice, so the money spent is worth it for us. Oh, just remembered, that some of the books in ECC (Window on the World for example) are used for a couple of years.
Krista, I definitely take the books! I can wait until the end of the year. I have an out-of-town swim meet, a ballet recital, and a birthday/party this month. Funds will be a little tight this month!
Mine doesn't. I actually called MFW and they said NO COPYING under any circumstances. I was very upset when I found out and then had to order two more sets of the sheets (I was teaching three students, and only bought one set b/c I thought that I could copy). Now, it would be great if they changed it for future years. One of my peeves about that. Although, I do understand they are in business and they are trying to make money and they give a good amount of their money to missions, so...I try not to let it bother me TOO much. Six - send me a PM with your mailing addy and stuff. I'll set them aside. And as I get to the other stuff, I'll email you what I'm planning on selling (and Yes, what Claras Kids said - there are some books that are worth buying and holding onto - like the Windows on the World)
Sorry for any bad info. I was almost sure I'd seen it stated that you could. I perused the catalog again last night and didn't see it - though I did see an art book (maybe 2nd or 3rd grade) that said it was an option! Again, sorry for bad info!
50 lashes with a wet noodle for the Garden Turtle!!! I hope I wasn't harsh, I sure didn't mean to be. and, yes, they do sell some things you CAN copy...mostly things that aren't theirs!!! LOL!!!
