I've just started reading the Well-Educated Mind and am about to start tackling the reading lists. I wasn't quite sure how to approach the lists though. Do I read all the way through a particular genre list before beginning the next? Or do I read the first book on every list before reading the second book on every genre list (chronologically)? In other words, do I read each genre chronologically or do I read strictly chronologically across all genre lists?

TOG is history and language arts, so it wouldn't be switching phonics methods. I just wanted to know if the two would build on each other the way I want them to.

This is exactly what I needed to find out. So, what do you do for supplemental reading--A Beka readers? or library books?

I found out about TOG from the blog confessionsofahomescooler.blogspot.com and really liked what I saw from the samples. I have read from the Well Trained Mind and knew that was the approach we wanted to take. I love how TOG doesn't just teach history but teaches context--for Bible, science, art, music, language, etc. It gives a framework for everything else that they are learning. Also, it teaches them to learn, that the answers are ought there. Right now, I'm just doing preschool and have personally found Abeka curriculum stifling. So, I use their materials along with materials from the blog I mentioned above and have come up with my own plan. I know that TOG is a lot of planning on my part, but I'm not afraid of coming up with my own lesson plans and love the freedom to explore that it provides, without deviating too far from the structure that is important to my husband and myself. I do really like Abeka phonics and will stick with their materials (and my lesson plans) until he has a firm reading foundation before implementing TOG, at least that's the recommendation I have received. I just want to be sure I can make the transition without any major bumps in the road. Glad to hear from all of you.

I was home schooled with A Beka and am now beginning to home school my own children. I want to use A Beka for kindergarten this year but really would like to transition to TOG in the first grade. Has anyone done that? What will my challenges be? Any tips?