Tapestry of Grace

[jec3113]

If you use or have used TOG, please talk to me about pros and cons. Looking at it for a 12 year old girl.

[sweetpea3829]

We just started Tapestry of Grace, after a quite long period of time where we wanted it, but couldn't afford it (due to DH being out of work for an extended period of time with an injury). So far, I LOVE it!

 

There are some very minor things that I haven't loved...printing from the digital edition is weird and it kind of messed with my printer...and others have said the same thing has happened to them, where it didn't print properly, or wouldn't print. In our case, it prints, but it takes forever. Apparently, this is because of Lock Lizard, which they use to protect their copyrights. In my opinion, they take their copyright protection just a bit too seriously...though I totally understand why.

 

Another con is the cost...it's very expensive. For us, we are unable to reliably obtain the literature resources from our local library, and because our library has a limit on interlibrary loans (only 3 at a time), it makes it harder. Which meant I had to buy most of the literature resources...added $$$$.

 

It took quite a bit of time to navigate what they call "the fog." This is the initial period of time where you first get the program, sit down and go through it. There's a LOT of information and it can be very overwhelming. I found a Tapestry yahoo group called Tapestry Loose Threads, and they have been wonderful in working through that fog.

 

I'm still very new with the program...we've had it in our home for about a month now, but have only just started the first week of Year 1, Unit 1 last week. Others around here would have more insight, I suppose. :-) Good luck!

[jec3113]

Thank you for the insight. We are currently using TRISMS and it is a nightmare. There isn't any teacher info. I might as well be writing my own. At least this seems to have lots of teacher info. even if there is a "fog". LOL It does seem pricey and we have the same issue with the library. However we own so many history books at this point that maybe I will already have some of the ones on the list. Hope some others will chime in and give me more insight. I am also nervous about the DE as our interenet is a bit sketchy. The print version costs so much more.

[sweetpea3829]

Gosh, do we live in the same neighborhood? LOL, doubtful, given that most of our neighbors are mennonite. Anyways...we have sketchy internet as well. TOG will send you a CD-ROM to download the interface. Otherwise, TOG would have been out for us, because not only do we have sketchy connection, but we use a MIFI and the data is very very limited. To be honest...I *might* just go ahead and order the print version next time. I haven't decided yet. A lot will depend on how useful I find the DE. If I could get the curriculum itself in print, and just keep the appendixes, and supplements on DE, that would be fine.

 

As for the book resources...TOG uses this program called Bookshelf where you can order the literature resources, if you choose to buy. But I found all of the books for a better cost at either Amazon, or Rainbow Resource. Sometimes it was just a little bit less...othertimes it was a few dollars.

 

One other thing I'm doing to get around the library issue is I'm having my husband take out a library card for a library that is on his way home from work. He commutes over an hour, and the library he's going to hit up is in a much bigger system and has unlimited ILL...so I think we'll be good. That, and my kids are all getting library cards...lol. With a limit of 3 for each of them, I think I can figure it out.

 

I will say...I MISS my hometown library so much. We just relocated to the country a year ago, leaving behind Rhode Island and the convenience of having multiples of whatever we needed, whenever we needed it, never more than a few minutes away. Our library there was fantastic. Our library here is your typical teeny tiny small country town library with fewer books in the whole thing, than our other library had in just the children's section.

 

Oh well...you lose some to gain some. :-)

[Just Jane]

I just got TOG today! :D

 

I spent a couple hours looking over it and all the books today. It's exactly what I've been trying to do for years. I don't have any BTDT experience but I love the looks of it. I'm spending this week figuring out how we're going to actually use it but it doesn't look to hard. I've also read how rigorous and time demanding it is but I think it could be used in a much more relaxed way but still rigorous and that's how I plan to use it for the most part. I am really excited and so are my kids. :001_smile:

 

Also wanted to add I had to buy the books too because I'm not friends with library when it comes to using books for curricula. It never works out for me. I definitely think it's worth it.

[AngelBee]

I just got TOG today! :D

 

I spent a couple hours looking over it and all the books today. It's exactly what I've been trying to do for years. I don't have any BTDT experience but I love the looks of it. I'm spending this week figuring out how we're going to actually use it but it doesn't look to hard. I've also read how rigorous and time demanding it is but I think it could be used in a much more relaxed way but still rigorous and that's how I plan to use it for the most part. I am really excited and so are my kids. :001_smile:

 

Also wanted to add I had to buy the books too because I'm not friends with library when it comes to using books for curricula. It never works out for me. I definitely think it's worth it.

How is TOG going for you? :)