Apr. 6, 2008
Tapestry of Grace - Questions and Answers
         
I was asked some questions about the curriculum I use and love, Tapestry of Grace. I thought I would share here.
"So tell me ALL about it...everything..." Okay, I'll give it a shot. "I want to know EXACTLY how long it took from the time you got it until you could implement it???" Just a FYI, because of where we were at in History I am doing the Classic version until next go-round, then I will do Redesign. I don't know exactly, but it didn't take long to get started, but I did start slow. It was about this time last year when I made the switch. When I got the curriculum I read the introduction for the year and the unit I was starting with. Then figured out what books I wanted and if I wanted to buy them (multi-week books) or borrow them from the library and if they were available at my library or though ILL. My library only borrows from three others so I check their online databases. This was by far for me the most time consuming step. If my budget ever allows I will buy as many books as possible because the idea of just walking over to the shelf and pulling off the books I need is dreamy, lol. As soon as I got the books for the first week we were off. We started with just the basic History reading and discussion. Then lighter literature followed close behind. I started my daughter at Dialectic level and I still go back and forth depending on what I think is a good fit for her with the book choices. Mapping was also added in pretty quickly. We did a couple hands on activities but not many, I do anticipate doing more as the little ones get older. This year I have had my 16 year old daughter do harder literature and also some of the government and philosophy work. Just this last semester I have started with the writing assignments. I have also started getting some of the Lower Grammar books, usually the literature selections, to read aloud to my 5 year old daughter. "I want to know if you found that you HAD to buy the books or if you found most of them at the library or if you ended up having to sub stuff out?"
Very few books I HAD to buy. The multi-week books I do prefer to have on hand. Although like I said above I think the more you buy the easier it is. Truly, I spend more time looking for books than planning how we are going to use them each week. I have not done any subbing. I do recommend the Map Aids. "I want to know what you were using before..."
This is a long story. I have to go back a couple years. Toward the end of my daughter's eighth grade year I panicked about high school and to "do it right" I ordered a pre-packaged textbook curriculum and I was to send in the work, get grades and even a diploma. This is not the way I had taught up until that point. I know textbooks work for some but it wasn't for us. (If anyone reading this gets any advice I hope you get this. Don't change what is working for you and your kids because of high school fears and panic.)So by January it was a disaster and my daughter and I were both feeling like failures. In God's great way of working I decided to go to a home school conference. It still hadn't really clicked with me that I needed to make a change, but I sure got my perspective readjusted in a major way and by the end of the weekend I knew things were going to change. I wasn't sure how yet but they were going to start working together again (in content areas)I am not sure how or why but I ordered a Sonlight IG and bought the books used. While I was reading their forums I found a couple of threads discussing TOG and it really appealed to me. I loved the concept of everyone on the same history topic and also the unit study approach. As a side note,I now feel very passionate about it, I believe that studying as much together as possible is helpful to family unity and helping build the relationships between siblings. We did Sonlight about 3-4 weeks before the switch.  "I want to know if it was a hard transition for your kids..."
No but they didn't know what I was going to pull next. I used to be a relaxed, delight directed type homeschooler. Then I panicked and tried to do "school at home", then right after getting Sonlight I wanted to change again. Also, like I said above I started slow and added as we went. We still don't do it all as it is very rigorous and they say completing 100% is an honors credit and 80% is a regular credit. A regular credit is fine with me.  Also, after being all over the map with the my homeschooling philosophies I must say I am most comfortable here. Now I have my relaxed attitude (especially for the grammar levels) and TOG for a plan and guide for direction for every level. I LOVE TOG!!! |
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