Tapestry of Grace...

[Pata]

Ok ladies, help me put this to rest. We are very happy with Sonlight. I have already bought Core 1 used for next year so that is set because I don't have to budget to change. A little background, I only have one dd so I'm not afraid of planning. So, I do plan on using SOTW instead of CHOW and had planned to continue using SOTW and the AG along with the following Cores. I am also planning to modify Core 6&7 to use MOH as a spine since we will have done SOTW. And, I'm not so sure about Sonlight's HS cores, but that's so far off, I'm not to worried about it now.
I like what I see with TOG, but we are moving overseas. There's so much there and I could really make it my own. Please tell me it's not possible without a library so that I can put this to rest, or if it can be done, how do you do TOG while overseas? The plans alone are $225, plus the extras, how much do the books run for the year? What do you have to get outside of TOG to complete your curriculum? Has anyone used all the levels, then returned to level 1 again and found that it worked? How are the discussions compared to Sonlight? Like I said I need to settle this in my mind, it's driving me crazy! Thanks for your help!

[siloam]

I buy our books. Haven't been to a library in about 4 years.

Have you see the book order form (http://www.lampstandbookshelf.com/Merchant2/popup/of1.pdf)? Somewhere there is also a PDF that has, "bundles" of their first choice of books that they sell as a package like SL. The order form will include more options.

With my SIL I walked her through the online system, and it does work pretty well. You can walk through it without adding anything to your basket. If you want to see the totals on an order then walk through it and add them to your basket.

It can be a bit much for younger kids, but I sure has worked better for me than SL. By the time you add SOTW and MOH the SL schedule will pretty much be obliterated. The only risk I see that you run is getting board with TOG about the time you can really make the best use of it (high school).

Heather

[WTMindy]

expense at first, but the books have great resale value to them, I have found, so you could easily sell them when you are done to buy the new ones. But, it sounds like you have a good plan and can rest easy in the fact that you have made a great choice.

[Pata]

Thanks guys! I did go on and it seems like TOG is a big investment. But in the long run it might equal out.

Siloam, do you order all the books listed? If you don't, how do you choose?

[WTMindy]

I go through and figure out what our library has and make a list of the books I want. Next, I try to find them used if I can. If not, I order the rest in a lump sum. When I'm done with them I will sell them. I have really loved TOG, and although it takes a while to figure out how to best make it work for your family, it is full of wonderful resources, and I look forward to using it in the upper stages.

[siloam]

Thanks guys! I did go on and it seems like TOG is a big investment. But in the long run it might equal out.

Siloam, do you order all the books listed? If you don't, how do you choose?

Paige,

I am still doing the classic, which has more choices. First I look them up on amazon, and look at the reviews. Luckily a lot of the same authors start popping up and you get to where some you just know you would like. You don't even consider the options. Sometimes it comes down to cost and I get the cheaper book. :D

They used to have a PDF brochure where they prepackaged all their first choice books for each level. If I were you I would call in and ask if they sill allow people to order that way. If not then you can decide whether to just order the TM then the books (it is easier to figure out your books with the TM in hand), or if you can manage the online form they have now. By the way if they say they don't have the packages anymore, I would ask them in the mail in form has just the main books, or if it also had the alternates. If it has only the main books then you would choose all the LG books. End of choices.

Ok I was just looking at the mail in form (http://www.lampstandbookshelf.com/Merchant2/popup/of1.pdf) (because I am curious). The first page has your year plan. You want the whole year, so ignore the unit part. From there you decide if you want the Map Aids (I recommend them for at least the first year, it just cuts down on things to do), Writing Aids (love them, but I don't start formal writing till 3rd grade), and a tab set. I haven't seen the TOG tabs, but I page protect. Once you put page protectors on you can see a SL tab set because the pages are now a half inch longer. I just use post it tabs and write the weeks on them.

I don't see any multi year LG books, so skip step 2.

Step 3 is multi unit books. Here is where I get confused. I know you probably don't need all those craft books. I would post and ask on the yahoo boards or TOG forums, or call and ask a representative. This is where seeing the TM, what projects are used from which books, allows you to see what book(s) you would get the most value out of.

Step 4 is unit books. Unit 1:

You would want the HC books, hands down. This is the base of the study.

HID are optional. They add to the study, but they also add volume.

Lit you would want all of those. These are used as readers if possible, but read-alouds if not till the child can use them as readers. Right now my oldest two does them as readers...and well my 6yo doesn't do them as RA's either, LOL! She gets enough listening to the group history, so I don't worry about it.

Step 5 is add-ons:

Lapbooks are up to you. I don't start them till 3rd grade, because my kids don't like to write. If you do get them the unit I did use had 2-3 lapbooks a week and most of the time there were not lines for the child to write on.

The English components are up to you. I continue to use SL then move to Classical Writing.

I do like her CD's but they aren't necessary.

Hopefully that helps a little.

Heather

[Pata]

Heather,

Thank you so much, it gives me a much better idea of how to order TOG. I have read some of your older posts on the Sonlight forums about TOG and learned quite a bit. Thanks for the wisdom. I think that TOG is definately in our future, I just need to figure out when. I already have SL Core 1 and I don't have to money for TOG next year, but maybe after that, or we may do SL Core1-4 and then pick up TOG for the second and third rotation. Just thinking out loud!

Thanks again(you too Mindy)!

[siloam]

Heather,

Thank you so much, it gives me a much better idea of how to order TOG. I have read some of your older posts on the Sonlight forums about TOG and learned quite a bit. Thanks for the wisdom. I think that TOG is definately in our future, I just need to figure out when. I already have SL Core 1 and I don't have to money for TOG next year, but maybe after that, or we may do SL Core1-4 and then pick up TOG for the second and third rotation. Just thinking out loud!

Thanks again(you too Mindy)!

Paige,

That sounds like a good plan!

Core 3 and 4 seem to be favorites among WTM users (I own the Landmark texts and love what I have read). There are also a lot of TOG users who think SL does work better for younger kids and TOG for older, given TOG was designed with older kids in mind. To be honest only my oldest uses the extras in TOG. My younger 3 just listen on as if we were doing SL. :D Well except the crafts, which is why I don't do SL anymore. TOG's weekly theme gives me a topic to revolve crafts around. SL I was always so lost on how to schedule crafts that it just didn't happen, and when you have kinesthetic learners that doesn't go over well. ;)

Anyway...(rambling aren't I? LOL!)...enjoy the journey!

Blessings,

Heather