TOG - Crazy question. Does anyone use this *just* for history/geography?

[Hoggirl]

I just cannot find the "fit" for history next year. I don't want to do *all* of TOG as I know it will be *too* much. I feel like MOH is too sparse and moves at too slow of a pace (even though I love it). I feel like Diana Waring is a bit too *loose* for me (even though I love the audio tapes). We have already done SOTW 1 - 3 and ds does not want to use those again. I know it is expensive, but I was just wondering if anyone used TOG for history and geopgraphy only.
TIA!
Cynthia

[5wolfcubs]

If you just want history (not sure about the geography), have you looked at BiblioPlan (http://www.biblioplan.net/)?

[supermom]

We have been TOG with 4 children for just history and, more than anything, using the booklist and the reading assignments. I keep thinking it's just too much to spend for just the history reading and have looked into every other program out there, but I believe I have finally concluded to stick with TOG forever.

I'm embarrassed to say that it was just a couple days ago when I posted here that I was just sure I was going to quit using TOG and try to throw together my own books using another textbook as my guide. But after just a couple days of planning, I decided it's too much stress on me to try to do that...trying to pick my own books, schedule reading assignments, and read another textbook as my guide. The teacher's notes in TOG are easier for me to read than the textbook I had chosen. It was more work than I thought! So rather than give up TOG, I am going to try harder to incorporate the other aspects of TOG (literary analysis, writing assignments, vocabulary, geography) so that I will be getting more for my money and maybe my life will actually be less complicated when I get it all down. I am going to do that gradually. I'm in my 18 month of TOG, so you could say I'm very gradual :o). I really like TOG and admire all of you organized people who get it all down in a month or 2. I'm not sure how you do it....especially those of you with more than 4 children.

Monica

[Holly IN]

I use it for History, literature and geography. I really wish I can do it all. I decided that I need to reserve "do it all" for high school and for grade school/middle school to just focus on History, Literature and geography. On some weeks if the interest is real high we do it all.

HTH
Holly

[Lisawa]

I just cannot find the "fit" for history next year. I don't want to do *all* of TOG as I know it will be *too* much. I feel like MOH is too sparse and moves at too slow of a pace (even though I love it). I feel like Diana Waring is a bit too *loose* for me (even though I love the audio tapes). We have already done SOTW 1 - 3 and ds does not want to use those again. I know it is expensive, but I was just wondering if anyone used TOG for history and geopgraphy only.
TIA!
Cynthia


Yes, people have and do. Its just so expensive.... Although it really is in a league of its own and you can teach all your children too.

I have found utilizing the basics in it History, Literature and writing helps stream line those subjects and keeps it simple.

Have you really looked at TOG before? I would print it out and look over one of the free 3 week trials. The thing is…. Redesign is not out for year4. Year 3 will be out this fall…. and if you were going to start TOG and only use History…. I would go w/ redesign because the lists can easily be updated and at no extra cost. Classic TOG will be phased out eventually and the book lists will be outdated.

I’m just thinking of it as an investment because of the initial cost for you.

[Hoggirl]

I had forgotten about this. If you use this program, for what ages do you use it, and do you schedule it as is with three days per week? How much time do you spend per day on this?
TIA!
Cynthia:)

[siloam]

I just cannot find the "fit" for history next year. I don't want to do *all* of TOG as I know it will be *too* much. I feel like MOH is too sparse and moves at too slow of a pace (even though I love it). I feel like Diana Waring is a bit too *loose* for me (even though I love the audio tapes). We have already done SOTW 1 - 3 and ds does not want to use those again. I know it is expensive, but I was just wondering if anyone used TOG for history and geopgraphy only.
TIA!
Cynthia

Cynthia,

Yes you can, but I recommend you look at buying used. I purchased Year 2 for $65 and year 3 for $85 with the reproducible CD. I did go back and spend another $15 on a used year 2 Map Aids and bought year 2 Map Aids at the full price of $25, but that is still much less than TOG redesigned.

Heather

[5wolfcubs]

Cynthia -- I'm not using BiblioPlan, I'm actually using TOG Yr 1. :) But I'm reconsidering my options for next year...I started off very strong w/ TOG but it has become less & less as the year has gone by.

What year are you looking at? Year 4, since you've done SOTW 1-3 or are you planning to go back? Some other history options (to muddy the waters) are History Odyssey (http://www.pandiapress.com/) or Beautiful Feet Books (http://www.bfbooks.com/).

[Hoggirl]

We did SOTW 1 - 3 in through grade 3. We then did a year of American history in grade 4 using VP 1815-Modern. This year we are covering ancients through MOH Volume 1. I really like MOH, but I wish the pace were a bit quicker (it is five year instead of four), and we would only be able to use the first three volumes anyway, since they are not out yet. Ds does do well with more fact-type stuff. We read historical fiction, but a whole-books approach doesn't seem to be "it" for us. I want him to read some historical fiction, but not everything he reads. I have heard WP is rather disjointed in its use of MOH 2, and he is not into notebooking. He has done all the pre-tests and exercises with MOH 1, and he likes doing those. I wonder if outlining Kingfisher in conjunction with Biblioplan might be a good fit. He needs to "do" something with the information, kwim? This is why I think the quizzes and exercises are good from MOH. He is just not THAT into history, though. So, I am considering (thanks to your suggestion!) perhaps doing Biblioplan M - W, a writing assignment on Th, and something "fun" on Friday such as listening to the Diana Waring tapes. HO seemed liked too much to me when I looked at it, as did Beautiful Feet. It would be one thing if he were "into" history. Sigh. Thanks for your suggestion. I have everything else figured out for next year, but planning history has been my nemesis!
Cynthia