Tell me about TOG

[Susan in KY]

Hi, all,

My kids are still in 2nd/3rd grade, and so I have been doing MFW with them. I wanted to do the year of geography in particular, which we are doing this year. Next year I start my history cycle, and I don't know for sure about sticking with MFW yet.

So, talk to me me about TOG. How is it arranged? What do you like/dislike about it? Can I use one year with 2 different grades? I am adding in Singapore science to MFW--is TOG all-inclusive?

TIA!
Susan

[Mama Lynx]

TOG includes history, literature, worldview/church history, writing, geography, and for older grades, government and philosophy. It also schedules activities/books for fine arts/activities.

Absolutely you can use one year with two different grades. I'm using it right now with all my kids, grades 7, 5, 2 and 1. The kids all stay on the same topic, week to week, but read books and do activities geared to their grade level. There are four levels: Lower Grammar, Upper Grammar, Dialectic, and Rhetoric. Dialectic is from about 6th-9th grade, Rhetoric from 9th-12th. I think Upper Grammar runs from 3rd-5th and Lower Grammar K-3rd, but I'm not certain of that.

It's set up as a weekly schedule of topics, readings and activities. Within their schedule, there is flexibility - you choose which of the books/topics/activities you want to do. It uses a four-year history cycle.

So far, I love it. I dislike the specifically Christian slant of some of the notes, texts, and questions, but we are not Christian - and I knew what I was getting into when I bought the curriculum. The readings challenge my students at the right levels, and the Dialectic questions foster wonderful discussions.

[Alenee]

Mama Lynx gave a good overview. I chose TOG for the integrated subjects (reading, history, church history, activities). We do not do the writing portion.

The positives as I see them are integrating several levels of students into one program, different reading levels to choose from, Church history, geography.

The only negative as I see it is the price especially if you don't have a good library to choose books from. You could also say that the amount of choices for books is a negative if you aren't good at choosing what you want to do and what you're willing to pass on.

Got to the TOG website and download the 3 week sample. Choose your children's level and try it out for a few weeks.

HTH

[Susan in KY]

Thanks, ladies. I appreciate the input.