Amy in OH Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 Hi, Looking for the pros and cons here...is it worth the cost? Thanks! Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
two2homeschool Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 I hope someone can answer this because I'm am thinking of buying it too. But it is so expensive and I'm not sure... I have found that the expensive items don't always translate into the best items... Trish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 I have it and think it is worth the expense. However there are pros and cons. - I had no lit analysis in school. I had no clue how to teach it, this program helped. - My ds is in 5th. We won't start in depth lit analysis until 7th grade. I could have waited until then to purchase. - I would not order the program without the DVDs, the book is handy, but it truly goes along with the DVDs, imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 I would not order the program without the DVDs, the book is handy, but it truly goes along with the DVDs, imo. How about the other way? I'm seriously considering ordering the DVDs without the book... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 (edited) How about the other way? I'm seriously considering ordering the DVDs without the book... He refers to the book and has you do some of the exercises. there are also the examples in the book. You could watch without the book, but to me it would be an exercise in frustration. You would also miss the list of Socratic questions as reference. ETA: My goal with this program was to allow me to help ds analyze without the help of a traditional study guide. If you factor $8-10 per study guide times the number of books your dc will read, it makes the TTC look more affordable. Edited March 8, 2009 by elegantlion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in OH Posted March 8, 2009 Author Share Posted March 8, 2009 Thanks for the replies so far...anybody else? Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydusk Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 My friend bought the whole thing and I just bought the book and we did it as a study together. He did do some classroom example things on the video, but if you can recognize literary devices and have had some literary analysis before, I *think* you could work through the book on your own (it had the charts, sample readings, etc. and text of what he said in the book). To me, the real value of the book is the list of questions, book lists, and the glossary of definitions. I would say don't buy the videos without the book because I might watch the videos a couple of times, but I will use the book all the time. If you buy it from IEW you could review it and return it if you're dissatisfied ... they told my friend I could return it even if I had written in it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kisa in CA Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I think TTC is amazing. My son was so excited, he watched the DVD's too! IMHO, you HAVE to have the book. It has the resources in it that you will continue to use. You can check the DVD's and book out from inter-library loan from the BJU library. This is what I did. But I wish I had had my own copy of the workbook while I watched the DVD's so I could take notes in it. I just bought the set used for $65 because then I can re-sell it for the same price! So, you might try checking it out from the library first. I think it's well worth the money since it has great re-sell value. HTH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda (Australia) Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I think this set is excellent. I'd suggest purchasing both, and then take a little time off, just for you, to work through the DVDs and the workbook on your own. I had absolutely, not one clue, as to how to go about teaching literacy analysis - I didn't even know what that meant! But this programme arms you with the tools you need to tackle any piece of literature. I'm curious, though - for those who have worked through this seminar and workbook - do you then work through the various examples with your children, or select different literature straight away? Have you also had your children watch the DVDs and work through the examples given? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 He refers to the book and has you do some of the exercises. there are also the examples in the book. You could watch without the book, but to me it would be an exercise in frustration. You would also miss the list of Socratic questions as reference. Hm. I do already own Reading Strands, which has a list of Socratic Questions for Literary Analysis in it - can I just use that for reference? :tongue_smilie: I mean, techincally I should just use Reading Strands, since I've got it sitting there (I've even read it!), but I know that I personally will get a lot out of watching it in action, rather than just reading about it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I made the mistake of not buying the DVD just the book and now regret it as I am finding that just reading the books isn't enough for me to "get it" but they don't sell the DVD separately which sucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I think TTC is amazing. My son was so excited, he watched the DVD's too! How did that go? I was thinking that might be a really good idea, to have the kids watch with me... but not having seen the DVDs yet, I wasn't sure. Are there certain parts of the DVDs that would be better/more useful for the kids to watch than others? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I made the mistake of not buying the DVD just the book and now regret it as I am finding that just reading the books isn't enough for me to "get it" but they don't sell the DVD separately which sucks. Yes, they do - that's what I was going to get, till now everyone here has me rethinking it... Here's the link - the DVDs alone are $69. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Yes, they do - that's what I was going to get, till now everyone here has me rethinking it... Here's the link - the DVDs alone are $69. Oooh thank you. All the suppliers I normally order from don't sell the DVD alone so I assumed it wasn't available that way. I will have to put an order in for the dvd on Friday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kisa in CA Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 How did that go? I was thinking that might be a really good idea, to have the kids watch with me... but not having seen the DVDs yet, I wasn't sure. Are there certain parts of the DVDs that would be better/more useful for the kids to watch than others? I was not planning on having my son watch the DVD's. He simply walked in the room while it was playing and was captivated. I would pause the DVD so he could answer the questions and he really go off on it. His little brother kept begging him to come play Lego's but he wouldn't! This is my son who would rather be shooting Nerf guns than doing school. The schematic that TTC gives is fun to use. We do it together on the white board. I'll be using this for co-op next year and think all the kids will get a lot out of it. I came away thinking, "I missed my calling! I should have been a literature major!" Yes, certain parts are better than others depending on your childs' age. Any kid could watch the Peter Rabbit teaching. But a few examples are higher levels. You could wing it. TTC also offers guides for a few books. I'm going to buy a few of those for use with our co-op next year. I think it is like anything; the more you do it, the easier it gets. HTH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah CB Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I have TTC and definitely think it's worth the money - and I loved doing lit analysis in high school and college. I actually rewatch the DVDs every year - usually in August or early September. That refreshes my memory and gets me excited and motivated again about literary analysis. I've used TTC in co-ops two years in a row. I usually start the year off with a book that Adam has already gone through (Bargain with Frances or Ferdinand) and then have the kids in the class bring in their favourite picture books. Both years I taught kids in the grades 5 to 8 range. After we go through the basic elements of lit analysis using picture books we move on to novels. The last year I taught I started with a completed study by AA and then moved on to my own book choices. I think TTC is a great investment and I'd encourage you not to only watch the DVDs once. I seem to pick up something new from them each year I watch them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTMindy Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I agree that it is best to get both pieces. I think that the best part of the DVDs is that AA models it for you, AND I think his enthusiasm is catching. And, the list of questions in the book is amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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