If using TOG or TOG + other stuff, why do you like it?

[ElizabethB]

I will be able to look at both TOG and MFW at our upcoming convention in Arkansas in May, but will have my children with me, so I want to have a better idea about what people like and don't like about each program because I will have limited time to look. I was leaning toward TOG before I read the switched to MFW thread, now I don't know! From what I can see online, I like TOG better, but many people said that the website doesn't do MFW justice.

 

I'm especially interested in knowing how church history and Bible readings fit into TOG and how that's integrated.

 

Also, I read an old thread about someone who combined about 6 history programs, many of them Biblical, a while ago, but can't seem to find it again, I'd be interested re-reading that and finding out how that went, as well.

 

Thanks!

[razorbackmama]

I'm especially interested in knowing how church history and Bible readings fit into TOG and how that's integrated.

 

For Y1 Bible is integrated as a part of history (since it is). We read through much of the OT, the gospels, and Acts. Since it jived with what we were studying in history, it was integrated. Once Y1 is done then it shifts to church history rather than a Bible study, and it's integrated with whatever is going on in "real" history at the time.

 

I personally don't recommend TOG with littles like yours - even when I was a diehard Togger LOL.

[razorbackmama]

Also, are you sure TOG will be there? I read somewhere (can't remember where) that TOG won't be at any conferences this year. Don't quote me on that, but you might want to find out ahead of time.

[ElizabethB]

Also, are you sure TOG will be there? I read somewhere (can't remember where) that TOG won't be at any conferences this year. Don't quote me on that, but you might want to find out ahead of time.

 

You're right! I was looking at 2008, not 2009, it looks like they won't be there.

[razorbackmama]

One thing you can do is to download the samples from TOG. Those will give you a good look at what 3 solid weeks are like. You don't really get anything more for the day-to-day stuff than those - it's the same.

[ElizabethB]

I personally don't recommend TOG with littles like yours - even when I was a diehard Togger LOL.

 

I'm looking more for something I can enjoy and read bits and pieces of to her. I missed a lot of history, it was very poorly covered in my schooling (except military history, I went to a military academy, so that was covered extensively!)

 

This year, I read straight from the ESV Bible to her while she colored in corresponding timeline figures, she really enjoyed that and learned a lot. She likes board books and adult level books read a bit at a time, but does not like intermediate children's books unless they are a factual book about an animal she wants to learn about, or another non-fiction topic she has developed an interest in. Interest is more important to her than reading grade level.

 

My son will just be playing during most of our school again next year, he is a typical boy. (My daughter would have been listening and wanting her own lessons at his age!)

Edited March 20, 2009 by ElizabethB

[Staci in MO]

I like it because I can do chronicological history similar to the way recommended in the WTM and keep all my kids together without having to do ALL the work of planning and choosing books.

 

There's still a lot of planning, but less than having to pull it together myself. Plus, TOG teacher's notes are fabulous.

 

For example, I just finished having a great discussion with my sixth grader about the founding of Pennsylvania, the Quakers, and the Salem Witch Trials. All I had to do is glance through the teacher's notes, read the questions, and go. He spent all week reading, but the notes helped me help him pull all of it together. It was a neat discussion.

 

But, like razorbackmamma said, your kids are a little young. I do very little TOG stuff with my first grader. If you can easily skip over and not feel compelled to do everything that's suggested, and just look at these years as fun years to learn how TOG works, that would be great, but that's VERY hard to do. I started when my oldest was in 5th grade, and that was a good time.

[ElizabethB]

But, like razorbackmamma said, your kids are a little young. I do very little TOG stuff with my first grader. If you can easily skip over and not feel compelled to do everything that's suggested, and just look at these years as fun years to learn how TOG works, that would be great, but that's VERY hard to do. I started when my oldest was in 5th grade, and that was a good time.

 

I do consider history semi-optional at the younger grade levels. We just did history 1 or 2 days a week this year for 1st grade, and there was a month when I just did math and the Bible. (She is reading and spelling very well, otherwise we would have done reading or spelling, too.)

 

However, I want to learn some history myself and next year I should have time to implement a more complicated program and gear it to her. This year, I just had the time and energy to do a few overview history books (I highly recommend Leap Through Time: Transport) and Biblical history which was easy to read straight from the Bible, very little thinking or planning involved. (This year, my husband was deployed for 4 1/2 months and his job is very demanding. Next year, he shouldn't have to deploy and his job shouldn't be as demanding.)

Edited March 20, 2009 by ElizabethB

[Guest aquiverfull]

:lurk5:

 

I'm interested in knowing this as well. :)

[SophiaH]

Hi Elizabeth!

 

You've definitely gotta read Janice in NJ's post from the TOG forums (it's been posted here before)!

 

Here's a post I wrote a few weeks ago explaining how I use it with only LG:

 

I'm using TOG and SOTW with my 1st grader. I'm going by the TOG weeks (because I like the chronology in TOG better), and SOTW is scheduled as an additional resource for Upper Grammar (2nd page of Reading Assignments). I use SOTW as my "spine". I read the first section from SOTW on Monday and follow up with the questions and narration from the AG, and do the same thing on Wednesday with the second section of the chapter.

 

There were some weeks during the stretch of biblical history in which SOTW did not have a corresponding chapter. I just pulled out our VOS Story Bible and read, read, read from that. My dd loved it! She always colors from a corresponding coloring book while I'm reading (Life in Ancient Egypt, Old Testament Stories, pages from SOTW AG, Calvary Chapel, etc.)

 

Some weeks I'll use the map from SOTW and some weeks from TOG, depending on which I like better. I read the General Information page from TOg out loud (the parts that are relevant) at the beginning of the history time on Monday. And we do the literature worksheet from TOG if there is one for that week, which for Year 1 there's not very many. We check out a lot of books from the library on the topic, and read through the Kingfisher Illustrated History of the World book and/or the Usborne Encyclopedia of World History (both of which are scheduled in SOTW). Because I'm not a hands-on, crafty person, I like having so many suggestions for the activities from the two programs to find one that I wouldn't mind doing. :)

 

You could definitely have a great history program with only SOTW resources. TOG is not necessary at this point. But I am wanting to use it more and more as my children get older, so for me, this is a great way to ease my way into the program. I don't feel like I've wasted money even though I'm not using TOG to its fullest potential because I know that it will pay me back dividends down the road when we're fully in dialectic and rhetoric. Everyone's different...do what's right for YOU.

 

I can see how many people would recommend against TOG if you're only using it for LG; however, it exactly fits my personality and the goals I have for us in history long-term. I was able to adjust over the first few months how we use it, and I don't feel guilty if I don't use every piece provided. I think that's what makes it unique (and a good value for long-term) because what we don't do in LG will be there for us in UG, D or R, or for another child in the future who learns differently. It's been GREAT for me in making connections that I never made as well! I'm also reading SWB's History of the World: Ancient Times along with it.

 

As far as biblical studies, TOG Year 1 has been a great OT study for us--especially for me! I have a chart that lines up SOTW, CHOW and VOS, so I use that to schedule out our VOS Bible Readings.

Edited March 20, 2009 by mommahawk
added info

[Staci in MO]

And actually, this is pretty much what I do with my little one.

 

In all fairness, I first tried Tapestry when my oldest was in 2nd grade. I was like you, I wanted to get it early, so I could get used to the layout. But, that was back in the day before the redesign. I couldn't make heads or tails out of the old TOG, and since I didn't have to, I gave up.

 

I think it could be very enjoyable with younger students, especially if you're interested in learning along with them. But, I've also seen mothers of younger ones dive in with full-force too soon, only to burn themselves out. And that's such a shame, because TOG is so rich.

[ElizabethB]

Hi Elizabeth!

I can see how many people would recommend against TOG if you're only using it for LG; however, it exactly fits my personality and the goals I have for us in history long-term. I was able to adjust over the first few months how we use it, and I don't feel guilty if I don't use every piece provided. I think that's what makes it unique (and a good value for long-term) because what we don't do in LG will be there for us in UG, D or R, or for another child in the future who learns differently. It's been GREAT for me in making connections that I never made as well! I'm also reading SWB's History of the World: Ancient Times along with it.

 

As far as biblical studies, TOG Year 1 has been a great OT study for us--especially for me! I have a chart that lines up SOTW, CHOW and VOS, so I use that to schedule out our VOS Bible Readings.

 

Thanks for all the advice!

 

It lines up with my personality and goals as well (although the MFW post did get me thinking, so I'll check out both.) We did mostly Year 1 type stuff this year, so we'd be starting in Year 2 next year as well.

 

What are CHOW and VOS? The abbreviations link is not working right now for some reason.

[SophiaH]

Sorry!

 

CHOW = Child's History of the World by Hillyer

VOS = Catherine Vos's Child's Story Bible

 

If you're interested, here's the chart I use:

http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/chowsotw.htm

[siloam]

I have used SL, MOH, and WP. I could make due with any of them but prefer TOG because...well because it has the most options.

 

SL I would always be stressed about getting to the next level because it takes me 1.5-2 years to do a core. Plus I would need to watch the content of the RA's and add hands on. It was just not a close enough fit. Can do it, but in the end I can do other things more easily. A friend and I plan to do SL together when the kids are out of the house because we both adore it and out kids don't. :lol:

 

MOH I could easily do, and might have gone with it if the Illuminations program was going before I bought TOG. When it was just history, I needed to find readers and read alouds and for that I might as well use WP or TOG.

 

WP worked well here it just doesn't have enough reading for my oldest (who can read a book a day).

 

TOG just has all the pieces I want and yet a lot more flexibility.

 

In your situation you could go either way. You could just do MFW for now and move to TOG later, or go with TOG now. The only risk I see is you might be overwhelmed with it and try to do too much...but you might not either.

 

Heather