Trying to decide between TOG and Veritas Press...

[Luanne]

Can someone give me pros and cons of both programs?

Thanks

[OhElizabeth]

Well I use VP, and when I've looked at TOG, to me TOG has everything of VP, but on steroids. If you need all the extras (notes for high school, this and that), then do TOG. If you just have elementary or middle school and wanted a pared down, non-overwhelming version, get VP. VP has that same format (topic of the week, suggested books and readings, writing assignments for a variety of levels, inclusion of some art and ancillary topics), and is equally flexible to use whatever books you have. For me VP is ENOUGH, kwim? I don't NEED all the other stuff TOG has, not for elementary; VP is plenty. TOG is fine, just more than I need.

Oh, and VP gives you the songs and cards to hang their memory work on, something TOG doesn't have. Of course you could do them with TOG. Remember there are lots of ways to use a curriculum. You could use another book (MOH, SOTW, whatever) as your spine and just use the VP songs/cards. You could use VP fully, as it's intended, writing the worksheets, doing the extra writing and research assignments, and the memory work. You could use the VP cards as a spine and flesh it out with TQ. VP is really very flexible to be whatever you want it to be. My only caution with TOG is that sometimes it turns out to be MORE than people want it to be and they get overwhelmed. At the right stage, all that extra stuff in TOG would be very helpful, but for certain people or certain grades, it's overmuch. Know yourself.

There are samples of both online btw. VP has a video you can download and TOG lets you sample an entire unit. Try 'em, watch 'em. Print that TOG unit and see if it looks like it would be a good fit for you. If you're still confused, remember you can buy just a unit of TOG, rather than taking the plunge for a whole year. Both TOG (even the units) and VP are going to have excellent resale value.