TOG read-alouds

[amyinva]

I am trying out TOG Yr2 Unit3 Redesign, and trying to decide about making a permanent switch. The only objection my kids have so far is that the read-aloud is so boring (they got used to Sonlight read-alouds and loved them so much). The Read aloud book for the ENTIRE unit is the same book (Colonial Living)! I have dropped that and am reading a SL book instead (Witch of Blackbird Pond), so that is working for now. I am curious though, do the read alouds for later units get better (or are my kids and I the only ones who think Colonial Living is pretty dull)? Has anyone else used SL read alouds with TOG and had that work well?

 

thank you!

Amy

[brandyb]

We are using Y2 and have had sort of, the same issue. In unit 1, the read aloud is Famous Men of the Middle Ages, informative? yes...exciting? not exactly...:tongue_smilie: I am currently choosing additional read alouds from the additonal reading schedule in the guide (if you look on that page, it lists more historical-fiction type books you can add in for the kids to read, I've just been finding the ones we have at the library and using them as an additonal read-aloud). I have the unit 3 guide, as we will be starting that this summer, it does include a few more "fun" type books for read-alouds, but I figure I can just add in books from SL, WP or the All Through the Ages guide that fit our topic if I feel the need. TOG is so in depth in every other way that looking for a few extra books to read to the kids isn't a big deal to me!:001_smile:

[amyinva]

I don't mind choosing a read-aloud outside of the listed books, but I am concerned that I won't have time to do the scheduled read aloud plus an additional one. Dropping Colonial Living has not been a problem, but I wonder if I will be able to do that if they continue to be dry or will they miss important information. I was kind of hoping things would get better. :)

[bethben]

We're just finishing year 3. A few of the read alouds weren't anything like Sonlight read alouds - I never got to them because of new little person #4 joining our family. I have heard that people sometimes use UG/dialetic literature books as read alouds. You may find some real winners there. I know that for example, a lot of the UG literature for year 4 is the core K read alouds. Of course they read it themselves - it's not read to them.

Beth

Beth

[Elinor Everywhere]

I am trying out TOG Yr2 Unit3 Redesign, and trying to decide about making a permanent switch. The only objection my kids have so far is that the read-aloud is so boring (they got used to Sonlight read-alouds and loved them so much). The Read aloud book for the ENTIRE unit is the same book (Colonial Living)! I have dropped that and am reading a SL book instead (Witch of Blackbird Pond), so that is working for now. I am curious though, do the read alouds for later units get better (or are my kids and I the only ones who think Colonial Living is pretty dull)? Has anyone else used SL read alouds with TOG and had that work well?

 

thank you!

Amy

 

I tried Colonial Living but we couldn't take it. I switched to SL books with no problem at all - I had a bunch from SL 3 & 4 anyway, and the kids are enjoying hearing them again. If the book seems too fresh in their memory, I substitute a book from Ambleside, my own childhood reading, or just skip the read-aloud!

[johnandtinagilbert]

We have rarely completed the listed read aloud, instead we use literature selections as read aloud. If there is one that I know is a great story, we'll use it from the D selection. I also find the biographies in the church history are just the combo of boring and good story to get them ready for bed :) and save story time for bedtime story!

[siloam]

I don't even look at their recommendations but just do our own thing. We also do a lot more than just history RA's.

 

Heather

[laurad1125]

We just bailed on the Y2U1 read aloud (Famous Men of the Middle Ages) today.

 

I.Just.Couldn't.Read.Another.Page.

 

If (and that's a big if) I even add a read-aloud back in, it will probably be some literature book from the alternate selections or from some other source. I shouldn't have too much trouble finding something from the middle ages that my 6 and 11 year olds enjoy. :D In face SL might be a good place to look. They have some pretty good reading selections.

[jewel7123]

Are all the TOG books dry and boring? Just seems to be a general consensus.

[johnandtinagilbert]

Are all the TOG books dry and boring? Just seems to be a general consensus.

Not at all...just some of the read alouds :)

[Renaissance Mom]

The read alouds often contain fascinating information. We've done them all -- both the drier non-fiction titles as well as the historical fiction. My younger LG isn't interested in most of the non-fiction. My older LG has loved it all (except Colonial Living). My D loves everything we read so that's never an issue. She and I actually did all of the Colonial Living readings and they ended up being one of our favorite things about that unit. We had quite a few "I didn't know that!" moments and she became interested enough in several of the things we read about to do a display board about one and an oral report on another. I have to admit that during our last rotation, we couldn't make it through Colonial Living either -- but my now D was only UG then. So don't give up -- maybe the same book will work well next time around.

 

I agree with other posts -- we use the alt D lit suggestions for read alouds. Adam of the Road in unit 1, Madeleine Takes Command in unit 3, Guns for General Washington in unit 4 (in addition to Pipe, Paddle, and Song and Carry On, Mr. Bowditch).

[bookfiend]

I choose to do read aloud from the alternate history core page. For us in Year 1 that has been SOTW. I've also added in with CHOTW, Picturesque Tales of Progress, and the occasional Landmark Book.

[Melissa in CA]

I pick and choose my read alouds. If I like what TOG is recommending, we read it. If not, I read something else. The read aloud is not integral to the program...it's just there as a recommendation. ;)

 

And no, the Lit books read in TOG are not dry and boring. My ds has liked every single one, even the ones I thought would be dry. ;)

[ABQmom]

I've been following this thread with great interest. But, I just realized that I don't know where the read aloud suggestions are! Where are they? I'm just getting used to the curriculum, so I'm sure it's obvious, but I can't find any read aloud suggestions. :confused:

[laurad1125]

Are all the TOG books dry and boring? Just seems to be a general consensus.

 

 

We find most of them very good. I just don't like the read aloud selections (so far....)

[trisharog]

I am having a "yeah , I thought it was just me" moment. We thought Colonial living was way too dry. Ditto with With Pipe Paddle and Song. However, we have loved many others.

[johnandtinagilbert]

I've been following this thread with great interest. But, I just realized that I don't know where the read aloud suggestions are! Where are they? I'm just getting used to the curriculum, so I'm sure it's obvious, but I can't find any read aloud suggestions. :confused:

Look to the book list (usually pages 4 & 5). It's on the first page after history in-depth

 

I choose to do read aloud from the alternate history core page. For us in Year 1 that has been SOTW. I've also added in with CHOTW, Picturesque Tales of Progress, and the occasional Landmark Book.

I like this idea!

[amyinva]

If you join the TOG Loose Threads yahoo group, there is a book list matching up the SL books by TOG week. I will be choosing a read-aloud from that list every few weeks. Working great so far. :)

[ABQmom]

If you join the TOG Loose Threads yahoo group, there is a book list matching up the SL books by TOG week. I will be choosing a read-aloud from that list every few weeks. Working great so far. :)

 

 

Do you have a link to this Yahoo group? Thanks!

[ABQmom]

Okay, I still don't see any read aloud suggestions. I see literature suggestions which I thought was for the student to read for themselves. Obviously, I would read those aloud to my lower grammar student and possibly my upper grammar student. But, I was looking for something that was to be read aloud to all the ages of students, but I don't see anything that specifically states, "this is a read aloud"---kind of like the way it's done in Sonlight. Am I right, or am I still missing something?

[jewel7123]

If you join the TOG Loose Threads yahoo group, there is a book list matching up the SL books by TOG week. I will be choosing a read-aloud from that list every few weeks. Working great so far. :)

 

Do you know which folder this particular file is in? I've been searching through the folders and can't seem to locate it. Thanks!

[jewel7123]

bump

[susie in tx]

My girls loved the Middle Ages read aloud, but not Colonial Living. My UG/D student read Colonial Living to herself. Most of the girls liked Pipe, Paddle, and Song, but I never did manage to finish it. From what I can see of Year 3, it looks like the read alouds get better. I think they added the read alouds due to user input.

 

I like the idea of using the SL list of books for read alouds or the alternate pages. I may try that this next year if we end up hitting a wall. My girls love to be read to.

[jewel7123]

I found it!

[WTMindy]

We have used three years of TOG and Colonial Living was the ONE read aloud that I dropped!! My kids have enjoyed all the others, but that one was DRY!!

[siloam]

I've been following this thread with great interest. But, I just realized that I don't know where the read aloud suggestions are! Where are they? I'm just getting used to the curriculum, so I'm sure it's obvious, but I can't find any read aloud suggestions. :confused:

In the classic there isn't one place. I think I have seen them both under In-Depth and under Literature, depending on what type of book it was. It just had a note by it to use it as a read aloud. I haven't used redesign so I can't really answer your question, but hopefully I can bring attention to your question.

 

Heather

[ABQmom]

In the classic there isn't one place. I think I have seen them both under In-Depth and under Literature, depending on what type of book it was. It just had a note by it to use it as a read aloud. I haven't used redesign so I can't really answer your question, but hopefully I can bring attention to your question.

 

Heather

 

Thanks Heather. I still haven't found a place that says, "This is a read aloud". But, I haven't been focusing much on the grammar stage yet. Possibly that's why I'm missing it. Probably no read alouds for dialectic?