What books are necessary for TOG2-Redesigned?

[Pajama Mama]

We are using Tapestry of Grace-Yr 1 Redesigned right now. I am also using SOTW1 with it. I plan on using TOG2-Redesigned with SOTW2 for the fall. I figured I'll start buying a little at a time until the fall. My kids will be 7(2nd grade) & 11(6th grade). Which resources are necessary for those ages? We have an excellent library system so I think I would only need resources for multiple weeks. I will use SOTW2's audio CDs since we have them and also their map pages since my kids love them. I guess I'm mainly looking at TOG resources for the 6th grader. Are the lap book kits worth it? Writing Aids?
Thanks in advance

Nancy

[Shelbelle7]

We are using Tapestry of Grace-Yr 1 Redesigned right now. I am also using SOTW1 with it. I plan on using TOG2-Redesigned with SOTW2 for the fall. I figured I'll start buying a little at a time until the fall. My kids will be 7(2nd grade) & 11(6th grade). Which resources are necessary for those ages? We have an excellent library system so I think I would only need resources for multiple weeks. I will use SOTW2's audio CDs since we have them and also their map pages since my kids love them. I guess I'm mainly looking at TOG resources for the 6th grader. Are the lap book kits worth it? Writing Aids?
Thanks in advance

Nancy
Hi Nancy,
I'm using Y2 this year. Are you planning to put your 6th grader in Upper Grammar or Dialectic? Have you looked at the Bookshelf on TOG's website? They have a great Power Search option now that would enable you to look at all the resources that are used. You can search by grade level or by subject or by individual book titles. I'd suggest that you go and look through that.

I think the lapbook kits are a lot of fun. We used them last year. Personally, I think they are a bit difficult for the LG kids, but I think they're perfect for UG kids. My boys did them at the D level and thought they were a bit "babyish" but they still learned things with them. The Writing Aids book is by far worth every penny, IMHO. It is also a one-time purchase that would span all your years and levels. Once you buy the Writing Aids book (that comes with a CD for graphic organizers), you don't have to buy it again, no matter which yearplan you are doing. It is a fanatastic help if you plan to use TOG's writing program.
hth,

[Pajama Mama]

I'm leaning towards UG for my 5th/6th grader. He's very smart but immature for his age. He still enjoys SOTW1 with his little sis. We used SOTW1 when he was in 1st gr and he still remembers things from it. Besides if we use UG books my 1st/2nd gr'er can probably join in. I may dip into the D level if he wants more. Any specific suggestions would be great. Thanks again!!

[Shelbelle7]

I'm leaning towards UG for my 5th/6th grader. He's very smart but immature for his age. He still enjoys SOTW1 with his little sis. We used SOTW1 when he was in 1st gr and he still remembers things from it. Besides if we use UG books my 1st/2nd gr'er can probably join in. I may dip into the D level if he wants more. Any specific suggestions would be great. Thanks again!!

SOTW is an alternate resource that you could use as a spine if you want. I used it last year (doing Y1Redesigned) with my D level boys. They absolutely *hated* Streams of Civilization (which was the recommended D level spine). I figured that since SOTW and Streams were alternate spines and I was just wanting to use it for an overview, it didn't really matter *that* much which one I used. If the boys were open to SOTW, I figured they would learn more from it, so we used that instead.

I think I would stay with UG if you feel your ds is a bit immature (I sometimes feel my boys are *still* immature! :rolleyes:). The reading difficulty between UG and D is not tremendously different, but the processing of information is. I pretty much hold to the opinion that I don't want to rush to bump my kids up a level in TOG. There is so much to glean from each level. Here's a loose guide I use just for placement purposes:
K-3: LG
4-6: UG
7-9: D
10-12: R

I'll probably stick with that for all my kids, with the possible exception of my 6yodd, who is special needs and may need to stay in lower levels a big longer. :( The jury is still out on that one.

And the added benefit that you mentioned of being able to combine your ds and dd is a big one. Sometimes I will choose a D level lit selection to read aloud instead of requiring my boys to read it independently. I'm surprised by how often my little girls will choose to listen along and also by how much they pick up and remember. My boys get annoyed when we begin to discuss something at dinner and their 8yodsis will answer before they do! :D

I love being able to feather in some books from another level like you mentioned. I think that's a really great way to begin to transition them without making a complete jump to the next level. This year, I've added in a few R books here and there for my boys to chew on. Next year my older ds will make the jump and it's really nice to be able to see now how he handles an R book here and there without giving him the pressure of doing all R work. That's one of the biggest strengths of TOG. The flexibility is fantastic! (Can you tell that I just LOVE my TOG?? :p)