And as far as you know at this moment, you will plan on using it all the way through your children's high school years?

Thanks for all the input, gang! I'm the original poster with the questions and have another thing to say... I am not sure if we will be homeschooling all 12 years for each child - we just can't determine where we will be in future years and/or if there will ever be a classical school in any location we ever move, etc. It's certainly difficult to determine the future and how/if our plans would ever change one day. For that reason - alone - buying TOG makes me hesitate. It seems like the POSITIVES of TOG are extreme positives and naturally draw me in big time. It almost makes me think it's worth it for sure to start them on it young and see what happens. Then the practical side of me (and I'm not even that practical, i just married a practical guy who has rubbed off on me ;)) thinks that it really is a steep price tag IF we might not stick with TOG. And therein lies the rub, for me. Ugh. If I summarized the above comments it sounds like it's FABULOUS and worth it, but that one could find other options for the younger years if we were unsure what the future might hold... other options that would still be very good. But still, there is such a draw to TOG for me... BLEH!!!!

Is it wise or unwise to start teaching grammar to a first grader if they don't fully know how to read? ((Shurley English is what I will/would be using)).

I loved reading that post! Thanks SO much. I see you have older kids and maybe that is why it works with your younger, eh? Did you start your older ones when they were LGers or did you just start your youngest in LG since you had picked TOG up when they were older?

How come? Do tell!

SO much info out there... mind boggling to read everyone's opinions and I know it's really a matter of preference. But. Um. It looks incredible to me and I've read through the samples. I will have 2 in LG. Any of you who have had LG or started in the LG care to share how you loved it or moved on b/c it was too much ... or whatever...? Thanks!!

Bible, Geography, Singapore Math, Riggs (WRTR), AO Yr 1, Shurley Level 1, maybe History.

....does it take for you to get school done? I have 2 early elementary kids this fall and trying to "guesstimate" time.

THANKS so much, guys! Sounds like it's doable but hard - which is what I expected. Thanks for the info and tips!!

How many of you successfully work part-time while also homeschooling? I have a semi-flexible schedule with my work (I work from home) but there are times the doubts creep in that I will be able to handle doing both. I will have two younger elementary aged kids in the fall.

Thanks so much guys! This DOES help. :)

Leaning towards self-paced. Anyone done both and like one over the other? I will have 2 kids using the program.... maybe the younger sitting in rather than actually literally doing it in earnest.

Helpful readers to use that coincide nicely?

You guys!!! This has been SO helpful to me. I've spent many hours reading, reading, reading the AO website. Love it. Love the CM approach and know that children will make connections between things and don't necessarily need a 'unit study' approach {though I like that too in one sense}. I know 'free' is not entirely right either :) but at least you're not buying an actual curriculum with AO. We were thinking of starting Y1 next year and doing it with both my K'er and 1st grader. We are already reading and/or have already read many of the Y2/Y3 books but dabbled mostly. Anyways, I need to look more at SOTW - I also heard Veritas Press was excellent and even though it's technically for 2nd graders, it works well for younger ones. Thanks again to all who responded!!

I find myself in agreement with you, big time! I want to keep things simple and know others using SOTW and enjoying it. Does it have lots of activities {student activity book? coloring pages?}. My 1st grader {next fall} is majorly into hands on and projects and all that jazz while I am not so much. Blissfully he also LOVES being read to, and I love reading, so that is why I thought TOG would be a good combo; but no, I am not sure I am going to use TOG through high school. I just cannot look that far into the future and don't know if my kids will be doing public school or what for high school. So, that indecision may be why TOG isn't best for us. My question about Ambleside is that there isn't much to "do" other than read. I LOOOOVE reading and my kids love it, but are there any groups that have suggestions on stuff other than reading to do with them... or is just reading the literature, history, etc going to be just fine for their age along with nature studies etc. Hmm... thinking out loud.

Please tell me why I should begin TOG over Ambleside Online next year with my 1st grader and Kindergartener. OR please tell me why Ambleside Online is a better choice over TOG. Throw in Veritas Press History if you want. ;) Please use reasons other than: Ambleside is free; yes, this is definitely a plus. Thanks guys!

Those with Kindles - worthwhile purchase? You and your kids reading from it and using it regularly or is it weird reading some stuff off it? Thus far I have not wanted to take the Kindle plunge b/c I have wondered if I'd be annoyed by the Kindle. I know books are cheaper to purchase on Kindle!

Hmm, this has all been helpful to read... I will re-read and allow to sink in. Another option is to read A Child's History of the World with my 1st grader and K-er next year OR just list to SOTW CD and take a more relaxed approach instead of starting history hardcore. Both of them really do like 'projects' and hands on things so I was drawn to the TOG lapbooks for that reason and feel like we could take TOG very lightly like many do with littles. But at the end of the day, since I don't know what we will do in the long-term, it almost does seem like a waste to buy it if the future is uncertain. Anyways, thanks everyone!!

Thanks so much, gang! With regards to VP, the website is SO confusing. What all do I need? It seems like you can go different ways with it, but can you lay it out for me? Thank you! I'd rather not over-purchase if it is unnecessary, but the website is not abundantly clear. ;)

With Veritas, starting when they are in 1st and K should be fine, right? I know it is written for 2nd or 3rd graders in mind, right? Wondering if it's adaptable just a bit? I know "the 3 R's" are the most important so we'd mostly focus on a very relaxed approach.

I have a 1st grader and K-er next fall. Yes, I'm reading/planning now. Veritas Press starts History in 2nd or 3rd, I believe with their History cards, which I really like. I also love TOG and am leaning toward that. I'd love to start History lightly with basically reading through some books, doing a few hands on projects TOG has. My slight 'catch' is that I do not know that I will be homeschooling all the way through to the end of 12th grade for all my children.... therefore, I'm hesitant to purchase TOG. I know the premise is you basically purchase Year 1-4 and then you're good to go all the way through. What if I only homeschool through middle school or through fifth grade? I wonder if it is a 'waste' to purchase TOG if I am unsure about continuing all the way through 12th. Hmm. Obviously a personal decision, but what are your thoughts about purchasing TOG with an unknown future if that makes sense versus just doing Veritas Press history cards. I'm focusing on these two primarily {not SOTW, etc}. Thanks!

In layman's terms, can someone please describe what this is? My son attends private Christian school but we plan on homeschooling next year along with our next child who will be in K next year. The school where my son attends talked about Common Core Standards and I glazed over because it was a lot of lingo and jargon that made my head spin. Anyone understand what it's all about and can explain simply? Thanks! :)

I have a K-er currently in school. I am planning to homeschool next year and wondered what you thought of starting Saxon 2 with him in the fall or if you think Saxon 1 is better. Also, I will have a K-er next year along with my oldest who will be in 1st grade next year. I would love to do as much as I can with them together - most or all subjects if possible to avoid frazzle mommy with a toddler in tow as well. The second-born is also rather bright and is keeping up with the oldest at this point with the exception of a couple of things, but she picks up rather quickly.

Thanks for your input, folks! Like a previous poster, my oldest son (5) really likes, wants, needs structure and for him the early learning has been a really great choice for him. I started this thread because someone I know says to start much later, especially if they show the slightest amount of "I don't really want to do this" mentality. To me, all kids at one point or another will exhibit this. We have great days where my son is totally excited to get started, learn, he's thrilled when things progress for him. There are other days where it's like pulling teeth to help him finish one concept in math or phonics. My 2nd born is a fast learner a good listener and she is only 3.5. She picks up on things faster than the oldest sometimes. She wants to learn, asks to do stuff with me but I don't sit with her each day to do something... just when she feels like it mostly. Anyways, it is interesting to hear other approaches on the whole when to start debate.