Apr. 7, 2008
More Tapestry of Grace Q and A
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"I will tell you that my biggest fear with ANY packaged curriculum is that I burn out...I don't like being bossed (Sonlight was a FAILURE for me) ... if something doesn't seem to be working I follow wild goose chases...and I HATE IT ABOUT ME. But, on the other hand...I have really needed help with history for 2 years...and writing for this year...so the excitement of TOG comes back. I'm just afraid that my inconsistency is going to rear it's head and there I'll be, a bunch of books and a whole curriculum that I'm not using at all let alone to it's potential."
For some reason I don't feel bossed by Tapestry of Grace. I think the most important thing to remember is that it is a buffet and YOU are the teacher. I just read in the Simple Start Guide and Marcia often says, you are not supposed to do it all YOU pick what YOUR unique family and children need. I actually think wild goose chases are good.  You can think of TOG as a "freeway" and you may want to get off the freeway and explore some side streets then you can get back on the "freeway". Going exploring is fine! Also as far as using it to its potential. When I start thinking I need to do more, more, more and at higher levels I try to remember that this curriculum was written by a wonderful woman but she went to a prep-school, then in college she majored in History! My standards are a bit lower than that and it is okay. You take your children where they are and stretch them, but don't stress about others standards. OTOH, TOG really does get them thinking and prepare them for the higher levels. I think the #1 reason people get overwhelmed with TOG is because there is SO MUCH there but that is so there is something for everyone. The Simple Start Guide even says NO child will do all the reading and all the assignments, not possible. With your children's ages it is also well to remember the pace. The pace is set for the high school age student and the amount of work is honor's level. If you don't have high school students you don't have to keep that pace and probably won't want to, especially with Year Two. Year Two is the most packed year. It is okay to take more than a year to do a "Year Plan". Are you relaxed yet?  "What's been your favorite lesson or unit so far...and why???"
We started with Year 2 Unit 3 because we were ready for Colonial America and it has been my favorite. That is when we did projects. Tin punched lanterns, a Colonial newspaper, dd made costumes. We did "Colonial Night", put up our maps ate by the light of our lanterns. It was a blast! Didn't really get into that type thing yet with Year 3. I also enjoyed reading about the Industrial Revolution, Sacajawea, and for some reason I found South American geography fascinating. Some of their favorite books have been - Daily Life on a Southern Plantation, The Erie Canal, Diary of an Early American Boy, Johnny Tremain, Calico Captive, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and Around the World in 80 Days.(most of their favorites are the literature books I see  ) We are studying Australia next week and that is exciting! "I did get to read the Simple Start Guide last night...and I hadn't realized that the "full potential" was high school honors level. That makes me even happier...because then it really IS okay to slow down with my little ole 8 year old. I kind of feel selfish because I may be buying this curriculum to increase MY knowledge at this point...but then again, increasing my knowledge will only increase theirs as they grow up." Another point this made me think of was the reason for the four year rotation is so a high school student can cover all of World History in the high school years. So just another reason to relax with younger children about getting through a "Year Plan" in a year. They call TOG K through Mom. Marcia recommends reading the Rhetoric level, especially the Literature, while your kids are younger so you can be better prepared to discuss it with your high school students. If you start at your children's age you can read 1/3 of the Rhetoric assignments a year and be throughly prepared to lead your children through the Rhetoric years. OTOH there are lots of teachers helps so if you can't prepare in that way or if you start later like me you can still adequately use the curriculum with your high school aged students. I love TOG! |
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Apr. 7, 2008 - Untitled Comment
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