TOG or just follow WTM

[Jeana]

Ok, I was convinced to use TOG and still and pretty tempted. I am actually waiting to hear back from someone about purchasing TOG Redesign 1. However, I have one last question.. Well, maybe a few.....My oldest child who will be going into the D level, My dd will be UG and my youngest son will be LG. My oldest who I am mainly purchasing for isn't what I would say in love with history. He loves Science and wants to find the cure for cancer.:001_huh: Pretty big goal for an 11 yr old, especially, with a mother who only has a high school diploma. I am constantly wondering if I am meeting his needs as you all know too well. Anyway, back on topic. He does like history but doesn't have time to pursue it in depth. This brings me to my questions,

Does Tapestry of Grace take up too much time for what we are wanting?

Ok, as far as WTM is concerned, I have the white Kingfisher and I have SOTW. So, would sticking to what they recommend be enough for us? I really liked the tieing in of biblical history and the questions and the research that is done for you the parent to read in TOG.

What does the HIVE MIND think? Go ahead and buy TOG or stick with what I have?

Thanks to all,

Jeana

[BramFam]

I really like TOG because you can do as little or as much as you want. I obviously only use it as the "icing on the cake" so to speak and barely scratch the surface. I plan to dig in deeper in the R level. If TOG looks like something you'd be interested in, I would suggest trying out one of their 3 week samples on their website.

But, I also think that sticking to what WTM suggests is definitely enough for what you need. Especially, for a child more interested in science than history, IMHO :).

I personally am going to not continue with TOG next year and put it off till the high school ages now, not because it is too much or not meeting needs, but financial reasons dictate so. There are so many products out there that will enrich our children's educational experience, no one product is the ONLY one that will work. Which actually makes the decision harder, because we know that many of the curriculum choices out there are quality choices. ;) We need to look at it from the perspective that our children are receiving 100 times more of a quality education being schooled at home than by being sent to public school.

Blessings in your search ...

[Melissa in CA]

I really like TOG because you can do as little or as much as you want.

:iagree:

I also think that sticking to what WTM suggests is definitely enough for what you need. Especially, for a child more interested in science than history, IMHO :).

:iagree: again. :D

I think either choice is a good one. The nice thing about TOG is that you can have all your dc studying the same thing, but at their own levels. Plus it schedules out your literature books, etc. so that saves you time. And you DEFINITELY can do as much, or as little, as you want. Whatever fits your needs. For your oldest science buff, you can do the bare minimum. The primary resource: History Core book, Lit & worldview plus a few questions and perhaps the Lit worksheet. I don't think that would take him too terribly long to accomplish each week. Half an hour a day?

My son, 11 yo, does both the Core and In-depth history, plus the lit, worldview (bible), mapping, and probably about 60% of the student activity accountability/discussion questions along with the Lit worksheet each week. It takes him about an hour a day, sometimes longer, sometimes less. We don't do any of the activities. Oh, and I also have him outlining a bit of KFH each week too....just for outlining practice. ;)

So, you see, you can make it as in-depth or as lite as your needs require. TOG is great for that.

[Jeana]

Thanks guys for helping me. I don't want to print out 3 wks worth and do that only because I am a begin something and see it through kinda gal. If I commit to TOG I will do the whole thing but as light or heavy as I want. Thanks for your insight.

Jeana

[lovetobehome]

I debated the same thing as you; and I, too, felt like doing the sample would not work well for us--for the same reason you mentioned. I just bought TOG, and it should arrive monday! I had bought the classic vresion when my oldest was in K (!) but it was too much then. Now he is in 4th, and I am hoping his age now, and the redesigned curriculum, will make it the perfect fit for us at this time and forever after (well, a girl can HOPE she will actually stick to something, right?!?!)

I decided to buy now because of the DE issue. I knew I wanted a hard copy, didn't want to print it myself, and knew it would just get harder to find. So, all I can say is, what I did, and recommend the same...I bought years 1 and 2, and if I like it, I will try to buy 3 (if I can find it!)

Good luck! Check back with me monday, and if I have time inbetween doing school and devouring our new TOG, I will be happy to answer any questions I can about it, when I have it in hand. :-) Let us know what you decide, it would be fun to keep up with others who are doing the same thing.

[siloam]

Ok, I was convinced to use TOG and still and pretty tempted. I am actually waiting to hear back from someone about purchasing TOG Redesign 1. However, I have one last question.. Well, maybe a few.....My oldest child who will be going into the D level, My dd will be UG and my youngest son will be LG. My oldest who I am mainly purchasing for isn't what I would say in love with history. He loves Science and wants to find the cure for cancer.:001_huh: Pretty big goal for an 11 yr old, especially, with a mother who only has a high school diploma. I am constantly wondering if I am meeting his needs as you all know too well. Anyway, back on topic. He does like history but doesn't have time to pursue it in depth. This brings me to my questions,

Does Tapestry of Grace take up too much time for what we are wanting?

Ok, as far as WTM is concerned, I have the white Kingfisher and I have SOTW. So, would sticking to what they recommend be enough for us? I really liked the tieing in of biblical history and the questions and the research that is done for you the parent to read in TOG.

What does the HIVE MIND think? Go ahead and buy TOG or stick with what I have?

Thanks to all,

Jeana

Jeana,

Either would work fine.

You don't have to put your 11yo into D level work though. My oldest is a history buff, and I have her doing LG. Volume goes a long way with her, so she is doing the Lit, core and in-depth work. This summer when she is going into 6th I will move her up to D level Lit, but keep her in UG for history, and then when we start year 1, probably in 7th, she will take on full D level work, with philosophy and government.

Like you I only have a small amount of time slotted for history. I personally do like to have some depth. Mostly for me and my oldest, the rest could care less. :001_huh: So we just take longer to do TOG, get the depth we want, but at a pace that works better for the whole family. It doesn't fit into a nice neat box, but it works for us.

Heather

[Jeana]

nt.