I need your help...

[Steve Lambert]

Over the next several weeks I'll be recording a series of YouTube videos which will become a permanent part of the FIAR website. The purpose of these videos is to answer the most "Frequently Asked Questions" that people have about the program. (FAQ)

After 15 years of talking to potential FIAR users at conventions, by phone and by email I FEEL LIKE I have a pretty good handle on the top 40 or so questions that always seem to get asked.

BUT- I want to hear from you on this thread. Tell me about the questions which concerned you the most, or which were most confusing to you as you began investigating FIAR. Or, perhaps, tell me what questions you STILL have about how the FIAR curriculum is intended to work, etc.

Ready? Go!

I'm listening,

Steve (with gratitude)

[Barb Cash]

My most pressing question has always been, "Why can't Jane come teach the lessons because I just love to listen to her?", but since I realize she can't...I dunno! :o

I guess maybe trying to guage the time a lesson would take each day as well as the nuts and bots planning of Beyond which Becky did such a great job summarizing a few years ago!

Good job, Boompa! Your encouragement and wisdom is SO appreciated! \O/:group:

[Rachael]

I would love to see a short demo of the FNLs, how much there is and how to incorporate it with the lessons. :thumb:

I think this is a great idea! I am not much of an instruction reader. I love for someone to say, "Hey, watch, this is how you do it". It seems so simple and doable then! :clap:

[Paige Poland]

I think a lot of people ask about the manuals -- is this *all* you need :D They also ask if you go through each volume individually or jump around the volumes.

[Barb Cash]

I would love to see a short demo of the FNLs, how much there is and how to incorporate it with the lessons. :thumb:


Ah, yes...I DEFINTELY need a demo on this, too! It is so fun to know us visual learners will have these videos to watch! :clap:

[Jen in SC]

I remember coming on here and asking what a story disc was before I had my manual. And if I would need a map and what kind.

Those may not be earth shattering how-to use FIAR questions, but they seemed to matter at the time. :lol:

[DebB]

I am a VERy visual person so actually seeing a series of lessons would be very helpful to those like me. Basically a visual of what FIAR is.

[ShaunaCO]

A few of the questions I have either had myself or seen others ask at one time or another:

What if your child doesn't want to read a title five times in a row?
How can I tell if my child is retaining the information?
Since some of the recommended ages for BFIAR, FIAR, and BYFIAR overlap, how do I know which level to begin with my x-year-old?
How long should it take to row a book?
How can I incorporate timelines, lapbooks, notebooks, and other learning activities with FIAR, and are these elements necessary?

[rachelmn]

I think a lot of people want to know how to juggle teaching multiple levels at once, like beyond and fiar, or fiar and before.

[Kendall in GA]

1. Is FIAR appropriate for my dc if she can read? What if the books are below her reading level?

2. What if my child has already read the BYFIAR titles? Can we still use it?

[Faith]

I have struggled over the years with organizing the student products. I've tried notebooks, folders, lapbooks, etc. and still don't feel like I "get" that particular aspect.

[carriejoy]

transitioning from reading the story to DOING the activities
a visual of the "supplies" Jane recommends (pastels, water colors etc)
example of "going deeper" with the older student
example of Jane's basic notebook suggestion (choices a writer can make etc)

[Esther-Alabama]

How do I show what my child is learning?
Do I need to include additional books as we learn about a subject?
Is this really enough?
How to use this product with multiple ages?

Cannot WAIT for these videos!!!

[Hollie in SC]

How do they do with testing?

How do I meet state requirements re: portfolio, meeting with teacher, giving my curriculum information to the state.....

Re-rowing

With Beyond---how to lesson plan, how long per book--(Becky did a super job presenting that info at the 2004 Conference!)

With Volume 4--When to start? How old is too old? How young is too young? How long per book?

What if the child doesn't like the book? doesn't want to read the book daily?

Go-alongs, Archives, Overwhelmed with it all

[Heather W]

I have one I revisit now and then...

If I want my kids to work together in true unit study fashion AND I have students in all levels of FIAR, what does that look like from the author's point of view?

I've heard your audio about having kids all at the same table doing different things so that they are essentially still alone and not in relationship.

How do you avoid that scenario and still use B4, FIAR, and BY in a school day?

[shonda in ca]

How do you transition from reading the story to DOING the activities (Thanks Carriejoy!) and still make it "natural".
Example of Jane's basic notebook suggestion (choices a writer can make etc)

[SandraC]

What I'd like to see most of all is one you doing a lesson with a student. I'd like to see this with FIAR, V4 and Beyond. Sometimes we have a lesson and my kids are like, "Uh, huh." Not always of course :lol:, but it happens. And I feel like I am pushing information, instead of having a teachable moment.

Mine have often complained about reading the same book for 5 days. In the early days, I caved, but these days, I just continue on for 5 days. It works, so I find it best to just ignore their complaints on this. Still it would be fun to learn better ways to deal with it.

I love this idea! :clap:

[Wendy in SW MS]

Why do you read the book five days in a row?

Is the cookbook necessary? (What if we are vegetarian/vegan/have food allergies? ;) )

Is the Christian Character Bible Study Supplement necessary?

How does this all work for a special needs child (developmental delays, learning delays, ADD, ADHD, etc.)?

[Julie in AZ]

One of my main concerns first looking at the curriculum is that the stories looked old fashioned. :blush: Obviously that isn't the case! ;)

[Rebe]

These are the questions/concerns I still hear sometimes (on the boards and IRL). Much of this relates to educational philosophy, but many times it's just a mom of young ones who doesn't quite get it yet, or is unsure of herself (and we've all been there!):

- Is FIAR enough? It seems too easy.
- FIAR is great for preschool or maybe kindergarten, but not for an "older" child. ;)
- My friends' kids in public school are writing essays and doing amazingly advanced science projects by 2nd grade. My FIAR child must be "behind."
- My hsing friends are doing the classical thing and are memorizing tons of information, studying history chronologically, and everything is so organized and structured. Wouldn't that really be an easier/better way to teach/learn?

Now, for some others that I personally would love to see:
- Teaching multiple ages without going insane
- Using the FNLs
- Transitioning to BY (not needed anymore but I sure did at one time!)

Looking forward to these! :clap:

[Diane E.]

I have struggled over the years with organizing the student products. I've tried notebooks, folders, lapbooks, etc. and still don't feel like I "get" that particular aspect.


this is me too!

[BeckyOK]

What do I do about the out of print books? Why haven't they been replaced in a second edition?

What do I do about those books with sensitive subjects that I feel my child isn't prepared for? Press on or skip and come back later?

When reading the book and the child has a lot of questions during the reading do I stop and chase those rabbits or what?

It would be fun to see you with one of your grands on your lap doing one of the lessons....:clap:

Great idea to do this!

[molly in cr]

I would like to see some art instruction. As in, what does it look like the first time we use a new medium? Are we looking to get a 'finished' product out of it?

[Robin H in VA]

One question is, how to use the Christian Character Bible Study so that the child 'understands' the lesson? And, Do you pick and choose a Bible Study lesson for each day and should the Bible lesson come first, or should the book reading come first??

There is also the question of skipping around in volumes. Should this be done?

What about the lessons in general? I was confussed about how to go about doing a lesson with my ds. I am still not sure I am going it right. :lol:

Can there be a video of Jane or Becky doing a 'teaching' session with some of the grand kids? This would be great to see 'how they do things'.

Organization?? What is too much/too little as far as lapbooks, notebooks, etc go?

What if you have a child(ren) that just won't let you read the story for 5 days, what do you do? (we are not in this catagory now, but I think others might have the same issue)

[Hope]

How do you beef up the lessons for an older child?

[Denise, Guam]

Most of the common questions I have received have been covered such as
+Is this really enough?
+What about testing - how do you know they are learning if you don't test?
+how long does it take each day?
+how much preparation does it take on the teacher's part?
+what if I can't find the books?

Also, I didn't notice the question about doing history chronologically but that is something I would recommend addressing.

I think the Youtube presentations are an excellent idea! :clap:

[Hollie in SC]

Oh, art! Don't forget,

I'm not good at art, how do I teach?
I'm not good at art, I skip those lessons?:D

What about the NATURE studies in the lessons? Help! :eek:

[Candace C]

Well, in my opinion, you have just GOT to get your lovely wife on there doing a lesson with one of the grandkids!! :clap:

Also, as for the FNL...it would be cool to have Heather P (or someone similar) who has created them to show a finished product and how THEY envisioned it...of course explaining all the while that you can do it *your* way too. :)

Also, when I was at the conference last summer, it was VERY neat/helpful to see Mrs. Jane's big FIAR notebook...I think you could go through that notebook (or have her explain) and show video/pictures of it while she describes it.

Can't wait to see some of these, they will be awesome!! :clap:

P.S. I know this isn't exactly what you asked, but I personally would LOVE to see samples of each FNL...maybe you could incorporate that somehow into the youtube thing.

[Robin H in VA]

How do you beef up the lessons for an older child?

This is a good one. I am still trying to figure this one out. :clap:

[Melanie]

How do you transition from reading the story to DOING the activities (Thanks Carriejoy!) and still make it "natural".
Example of Jane's basic notebook suggestion (choices a writer can make etc)

These are the two biggest questions I have as well.

[KathleenM]

I haven't read all the replies, so I'll just put a few questions I had when I was starting. Forgive any repeats. :)

Can I make this work with more than one kid/different ages?

There are so many ideas in the manual, how do I choose?

Some people do a lot of extra creative stuff with FIAR, does that mean I'm not doing enough?

[Robin in Colorado]

I haven't read all the replies, but don't forget about B4!

When we first started, it all seemed so overwhelming. How 'bout a little snippet of Jane doing one book for a week with one of the grandkids, so folks can see how to do it? Include the animal cards, etc.

[Rachel Jane]

I remember not getting it at first, then suddenly catching the vision. Perhaps one of the videos could be about the big goal of loving learning and building relationships.

[LeanneNZ]

oh how awesome!!

I am a visual person so would just to of loved being able to see..

I'd love to see a fiar notebook completed

I'd enjoy seeing Janes' story table - eg items she has put on display for the weeks story.

I'd love to see Jane doing a lesson with a kid - just cos I'd love to be that kid.

Love Leanne

[Tammy in Texas]

With it being so different in its approach, one of the questions I had was: Was any thought about state curriculum standards put into the creation of the lessons or were they simply off-the-top-of-your-head, whatever-sounded-good-at-the-time type things.

[Steve Lambert]

With it being so different in its approach, one of the questions I had was: Was any thought about state curriculum standards put into the creation of the lessons or were they simply off-the-top-of-your-head, whatever-sounded-good-at-the-time type things.

I can answer that easily. All 50 states have differing "standards" some of which are quite specific but most are completely nebulous. Beyond that, most state "standards" deal only with the skill areas of learning at the grade level: math, reading, spelling and grammar- none of which are covered by FIAR. By middle school and high school there are more specific requirements.

Since FIAR deals only with the "content areas" of learning there are few standards. And of course the results are in the standardized test results which consistently show FIAR kids testing YEARS ahead of their chronological age.

Blessings,

Steve

[Carolyn in SC]

I confess I haven't ready everyone's responses...sorry for repeats!;)

What about children explaining from a notebook or FNL what they learned from a particular book....for all levels BFIAR, FIAR, BYFIAR, etc. I guess this would be like a book report! I think this might encourage new FIAR families that this is all they will need.

How about laying out all the manuals on a table, with all the book titles for each manual fanned around them, and give an overview of the program. Then talk through choosing a book title, go to the manual and walk through the writing a weekly planner using the FIAR planner, etc. Then proceed to teach a "Day 1" lesson.

An art lesson with a child teaching us how to teach art without setting expectations for the outlook of the project.

Sample baskets (or whatever they are called) with the objects from the book that spark a child's interest in the new book for the week and how to use them to introduce the book.

[KristenS]

Given all these possibilities, you might just want to have a FIAR users contest for Youtube videos of "FIAR in Action" or something. :) Since everyone has a different spin on how things go (only kids vs. big families, lots of lapbooks vs. straight from manual, etc.) it might be fun to see others too ... and take some of the burden off the FIAR staff for creating them all. Or at least clips for a montage video. :)

(NOT volunteering for this ... too shy to be on video ... but would love to see it!)

[Penny]

:hi:Hi,
I would like to see an all enclusive video which shows all Fiar products meched together for a one week unit study.

picked out FIAR unit +
cookbook
timeline
nature study
bible supplement
using the fiar planner to plan your week.

Then, possibly showing the same study including a fold n learn to show how it adds to the experence.

I think the above video would take care of alot of frequently asked questions.

but....

Then I would do a seperate faq's which include the following:

*Is fiar enough?(we all know it is)
*Are Fiar units hard/time consuming to plan compared to other methods?
*What if I have a small child that disrupts "class" time?(not really a fiar question but a valid homeschooling question)
*Can you combine all ages?(I know you can but this is a frequent question)Also, what if one or more of my children is over 8 years old, can I keep them in fiar with my youngers or should I place them seperately in beyond fiar?
*How do you keep records with Fiar?
*How long is the average Fiar school day?
*How do you keep your child interested in the selected story for 5 days?

I hope this help you in your quest. Please let us know when the videos are ready. I love this kinda stuff.

Penny