Outside the Box

Aug. 19, 2009

Blog Spotlight

This last week I've been working on a new project - learning how to create and update a blog roll. I've never done this type of thing before but it really spoke to my heart. Since this was a conversion from an existing roll the opportunity arose to visit over 70 blogs in a short time. As this is still in the process of updating, I get an opportunity to look at new blogs as they present their names for admission to the blog roll, they are incredible. As I looked at one of the new admissions today, the thought came to do a Blog Spotlight. There is no order to this just what appeals to my heart at the time. I may have to go with two. :) Over at the Golden Oak Academy they are learning using Tapestry of Grace Year 2 units 3 and 4. She has great pictures. My favorite is a little girl on the beach with binoculars - very cute. The second blog I would like to spotlight is Rockin C where home improvement is taking place. She is participating in Not Back to School Blog Hop. Ooooh the rooms these ladies are improving. WOW! Not having a dedicated space for homeschool room is sometimes a challenge staying content especially when I see rooms like these. They are on to introducing their students this week. Check it out.

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Aug. 13, 2009

Tapestry of Grace and Homeschool tracker

Posted in Home Education

There are several posts out there about scheduling TOG (Tapestry of Grace) in Homeschool Tracker. These directions differ from them in that it includes multiple students all on different levels and how to keep it simple. GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE: Peakmore Academy Tapestry of Grace and Homeschool tracker Plus and Harmony Art Mom There were a few others but now I can't find the links. Umm I'll update this as I find them. If you know where they are please let me know. I began at the Maintenance screen on the main page. Add your students, school information etc. Add your subjects, This is our list.

Literature
Church History
History
Social Studies
Language Arts
Science
Fine Arts
Math
Health and Fitness
Foreign Language
Life Skills: Cooking
Life Skills: Sewing

Next Add in the Courses. For Tapestry of Grace, I do it this way.

Year, Level, Subject, Subcategory

IE: Y2, D, HIS, C

Translation: Year 2, Dialectic, History, Core

From HST - shots From HST - shos This was done because I have 3 levels and they began to all blur when inputting information especially adding the word grammar. Not good. Each of the grades would look like this together. Y2 R History Core or Y2RHISC Y2 D History Core or Y2DHISC Y2 U History Core or Y2UHISC Y2 L History Core or Y2LHISC As you enter the course, select the student the course will be assigned to. That places book lists for end of ear reports in the correct place. Next: Lesson Plan Names [Maintenance> Other] In drop down box select Lesson Plan Names

Add all the plans in this manner for each level you will be using. IE Rhetoric, Lower, Upper

TOG Y2 Dialectic Unit 1
TOG Y2 Dialectic Unit 2
TOG Y2 Dialectic Unit 3
TOG Y2 Dialectic Unit 4

Breaking it down by level year and unit is two fold, it becomes too much in file to sort through for assignments for each child. (I don't always assign everything) and the number of levels I have going at the same time and in the future, there will come a time when I'll go through this with fewer children. It is already done. When that time gets here all I need to do is open year, level and unit and all the assignments are at my finger tips.

Click Add:
Plan Name
Plan Objectives - I leave Blank

From HST - shots

Next: Assign Terms/Years This is so personal to each family. We are taking 2 week breaks at the end of every unit. This will allow us time to catch up if we get behind and one week for unit celebration preparations. Our breaks are approximately. A screen shot is below.

Mid October
End of December
Mid March
End of May

From HST - shots

Next: Resources [maintenance>Library] Add resource titles and authors. This screen is father than adding it in during your lesson plan. Grab your list of purchased books and library resources and add until you are finished. I do this one unit at a time as your children may change levels during the year. Next: Lesson Plans [Teachers>Lesson Plans] Since I have the Digital Edition of TOG, I also open the first week. I re size the pdf and my HST so the screens are side by side. I start with the lowest level and work my way up. I enter the plans as I have time usually one week at a time. During the entry process I give basic information as I don't want to duplicate information listed on the Student Activity Pages (SAPs) I include, books, chapters, page numbers.

Next: Submit Assignments to the grid. If there is a particular part that is unclear, please let me know and I'll do my best to clarify it for you.