Questions about TOG materials. Please help!

[shanvan]

Those of you who have used them, please help me make a decision. I have just purchased TOG redesigned year 1. Now I am wondering what extras I should order. I have DS (11) who would much rather write about a topic than do any kind of cutting & pasting, and DD(7) who likes to do both.

 

I'd like to make my life as easy as possible, but don't want to order materials that will sit on the shelf while I search around for something different that will work. If you have used any of these please tell me if you liked and would use again.

 

Please tell me your experiences with their ...

 

Map Aids: Do you find Map Aids to be helpful, or frustrating? I thought I read somewhere that some where not happy with them?

 

lapbooks: I have read that some think these are boring.

 

Evaluations: Do they fairly evaluate what is covered in the reading, or ask material that you may not have covered?

 

Writing Aids: Is there explicit instruction and/or exercises dealing with common problems in writing? Or is it more like a collection of graphic organizers and ideas?

 

Pop Quiz: Were these truly helpful to Dad? Do they cover most of what is being learned?

 

 

I know this is a rather involved question. Thanks in advance for taking time to advise.

 

Shannon

[shanvan]

:bigear: I'm all ears!

[siloam]

Map Aids: Do you find Map Aids to be helpful, or frustrating? I thought I read somewhere that some where not happy with them?

 

I love the map aids, mostly because they have the answer keys, and the TOG mapping is detailed enough that we do have problems finding places on our atlas.

 

They are not perfect though. I have had times when a place wasn't on the answer key (just this week the Blue Nile), and once in a while what TOG says and what is on the map aids doesn't line up. The only example I can think of that was a week during the revolutionary war that said not to worry about battles for LG but just map areas around battles, and the map aids had mostly battles.

 

Though I am using classic, so maybe thing are different in the re-design. Overall I am happy with them and have only had a few problems. You can just use the links TOG has and print out maps from online.

 

lapbooks: I have read that some think these are boring.

 

They are just a creative way to do narration or writing. If it isn't your thing move on and don't feel bad about it.

 

Evaluations: Do they fairly evaluate what is covered in the reading, or ask material that you may not have covered?

 

I haven't used these.

 

Writing Aids: Is there explicit instruction and/or exercises dealing with common problems in writing? Or is it more like a collection of graphic organizers and ideas?

 

Explicit instruction? No, though I think scripted. It a description of the different writing forms, has some hints for teaching and some have samples of real writing. The CD does have a ton of graphic organizers, the rubics for grading different types of papers and print outs to give directly to the child on many of the different writing forms.

 

It is hands down more than just graphic organizers and ideas.

 

I used it to work on paragraphs for my dd, so I printed out the page on paragraphs for her to reference, then I would give her the assignments. It worked nicely. I probably could have pull that together on my own but it would get tiring, especially if you weren't focusing one one form like I was. TOG actually schedules multiple forms, especially at the beginning of the year when the child is reviewing and learning new skills. In that case you could be referring to the WA every couple of weeks.

 

Pop Quiz: Were these truly helpful to Dad? Do they cover most of what is being learned?

 

Again I haven't used these.

 

 

Feel free to ask more questions!

 

Heather

[Staci in MO]

Map Aids: Do you find Map Aids to be helpful, or frustrating? I thought I read somewhere that some where not happy with them?

 

I find them useful. I can't say they're perfect, but they're easy to implement. I haven't really looked around at other geography programs to compare. I think it would be a hassle to try to coordinate another geography program with TOG

 

lapbooks: I have read that some think these are boring.

I bought these last year, and I'll probably buy them again. One dd particularly likes to do this kind of thing. If I had to cut something out of the budget, though, this would be one thing that I would consider eliminating.

 

Evaluations: Do they fairly evaluate what is covered in the reading, or ask material that you may not have covered?

I haven't looked at these for a while, and I really only looked at the dialectic level. If I remember correctly, I think they're a fair evaluation, but I was hoping for more of a t/f multiple choice format. It was a lot of essay-type questions.

 

Writing Aids: Is there explicit instruction and/or exercises dealing with common problems in writing? Or is it more like a collection of graphic organizers and ideas?

 

I don't know about explicit instruction, but it's more than graphic organizers. I think it's superior to Writers Inc. I'll probably be using it quite a bit as my dc get older. Right now R&S along with outlining, narration and dictation is keeping us busy.

 

Pop Quiz: Were these truly helpful to Dad? Do they cover most of what is being learned?

 

I'm buying these again. My dh really likes them, when he remembers to listen to them. :tongue_smilie:

[Joyful]

We also find the Mapaids really useful. DS 7 is a total geography buff and he loves labeling in all the student maps! And for DS 5, I just have her color in the teacher's maps, and somehow she seems to retain quite a bit of information. I've observed that my kids enjoy geography much better now that they get to "make" their own maps. :001_smile:

 

We actually have 1 unit for the Pop Quiz and the evaluations. But I just haven't gotten around to trying them out... We already have plenty to do with the year plan, and even then, we don't do everything. That's OK because TOG is designed for the family to pick and choose what works for them.

 

Hope you get more input about the TOG supplemental materials!

[specialmama]

Map Aids: I find it helpful to have all the maps there. I print off the student and teacher maps in the summer and it's easy to implement. No searching for appropriate maps. Do you know how hard it is to find all the maps on-line or in an atlas? I mean, the Promised Land alone... the divisions of the Isrealites changed several times... arg... I can't imagine finding all the maps, deleting or whiting out all the answers, making sure it truly meshes with the curric. and time frame. Bah. Map Aids has it all there at the click of a mouse.

 

lapbooks: Depends what kind of learners you have. You dd likes cutting and pasting, so getting one CD of one unit should give you a good taste of it. We used them all last year and my dd loved them. They make for great evaluation tools, and keepsakes! Are we doing them this year? Nope. We just figured we had to save time somewhere, so this little treat is gone for the year, to return for a unit or two next year.

 

Evaluations: Own it, but it's a dust collector. Didn't use it even once. The only people I know of who use this, are people who need test scores to show dh or the state/school, etc. If you need to accurately measure what they are retaining, then get Eval., but otherwise, it'll sit on your shelf.

 

Writing Aids: IMO, Writing Aids is FANTASTIC. It will streamline your writing teaching, everything is there. For all grades, all writing genres. There's your run-down on how to teach it, and the CD has print outs for you to give your child so that they can look back and have notes on the topic. The rubrics are great: thorough and easy to use, and the graphic organizers are very helpful. One thing WA has that you won't find in another writing program, is the samples of writing at the back that actually pertain to what the child is to write about. There is not a sample for every genre at every grade level, but I do appreciate being able to show dd a real sample that she can relate to.

 

Pop Quiz: These are very helpful for dad, again, when he actually listens to them. My advice is for mom to listen to it as she starts the week, and dad can listen at the end of the week. Why? Because there were a few times when my dh asked my dd a question that he got from PQ, but we didn't cover that material. :glare: SO... mom should be aware of what PQ will prompt dad to ask! Lesson lived = lesson learned. Here's one of the best reasons to get PQ: there is nothing more de-masculating for a man than when he has to ask mom not only the questions he should ask dc to have an intellegent conversation, but when mom needs to tell him the answers because he doesn't know! It truly puts mom in an awkward position, and if PQ is used, dad becomes who he should be: a smorgasborg of cool information! The kids will be amazed at all the neat things dad knows! Mom can fold her arms, sit back, smile, and quietly thank Pop Quiz for making her man a hero in the eyes of her children! WHOOT WHOOT! I loooove Pop Quiz!

 

All in all, if you're on a budget and trying to discern what you should purchase and what you shouldn't, then I'll tell you what I told people at our TOG booth last year: Map Aids and Writing Aids are uberbeneficial... the rest is icing on the cake. If you can swing PQ and you think it would be a nice fit, then do it! But if you can only get 2 things, I'd get MA and WA.

Edited March 26, 2009 by specialmama

[razorbackmama]

Map Aids: Do you find Map Aids to be helpful, or frustrating? I thought I read somewhere that some where not happy with them?

 

I found them frustrating. However, I think they have updated them since I bought my copy. Maybe?

 

lapbooks: I have read that some think these are boring.

 

They're OK. They are geared toward the UG's readings, so in your situations (one LG who would enjoy them and one UG who wouldn't), I would not recommend them.

 

Evaluations: Do they fairly evaluate what is covered in the reading, or ask material that you may not have covered?

 

I found that they ask material that was not covered. We never used them because they were too frustrating. They actually say to "teach to the evaluations" to make sure you cover those things, but honestly the reading assignments STILL didn't cover what was in them. I gave up.

 

Writing Aids: Is there explicit instruction and/or exercises dealing with common problems in writing? Or is it more like a collection of graphic organizers and ideas?

 

We didn't use WA, sorry.

 

Pop Quiz: Were these truly helpful to Dad? Do they cover most of what is being learned?

 

We didn't use these either. 1) My dh would have absolutely ZERO interest in them (that is putting it mildly LOL). 2) I've heard from some families where the dad would quiz the kids on what they learned, and if they hadn't learned something that was mentioned in the pop quiz, the dad would blame the mom. I guess only you can determine if that is something that might happen in your family or not.

[Melissa in CA]

 

Evaluations: Do they fairly evaluate what is covered in the reading, or ask material that you may not have covered?

 

I found that they ask material that was not covered. We never used them because they were too frustrating. They actually say to "teach to the evaluations" to make sure you cover those things, but honestly the reading assignments STILL didn't cover what was in them. I gave up.

 

 

:iagree: I have not been very happy with the evaluations overall. I had hoped they would be something I could just hand my son to test him, or evaluate him, on what he knows, but many times there have been things on them that he does not, and would not, know just from reading his assignments. I don't think we should have to teach to the evaluations. :confused: We teach so much already, it seems crazy to have to teach MORE, or make sure we teach what is contained in them in order to be able to use them. I don't know. They seem like a great idea, but they are not turing out to be very useful.

[The Governess]

:iagree: I have not been very happy with the evaluations overall. I had hoped they would be something I could just hand my son to test him, or evaluate him, on what he knows, but many times there have been things on them that he does not, and would not, know just from reading his assignments. I don't think we should have to teach to the evaluations. :confused: We teach so much already, it seems crazy to have to teach MORE, or make sure we teach what is contained in them in order to be able to use them. I don't know. They seem like a great idea, but they are not turing out to be very useful.

 

This is disappointing to hear! I wonder if anyone using TOG has put together their own multiple choice test questions?

[King Alfred Academy]

This was my first year using TOG just so you know...

 

Map Aids...for the grammar stage, I preferred using the ones out of the SOTW AG and following what the AG said to label. I thought it was easier to use with my boys. Not sure why, just was. However, I really like the looks of the maps for when they are older. And having the answers is going to be great!

 

Lapbooks...again, this is a personal preference kind of thing. We like lapbooking and notebooking so I combine the two. However, I did not purchase the ones they have f/s. I make up my own or use booklets from lb I have already purchased.

 

Writing Aids...I didn't like it. It was too confusing for me to use and I think I just needed more hand holding. Besides, I was already set to use IEW.

 

Have not used the evaluations or the pop quizes and probably will not just to save $$.

[~Tara~]

Beneficial for me to hear about the Evals. I was considering them next year, but from what I 'hear' here, it's not what I am looking for.

 

I do like the map aids though. I couldn't imagine having to search around and piece together things to go along with TOG. It's a simple way for us to incorporate some geography. Something that would otherwise be left out of our studies.

 

Lapbooks were a dud here. Nobody liked them. But maybe that's because my kids lack in the creative writing department.

[razorbackmama]

Oh just remembered something else. If you do do the MapAids, be sure to get the R level Bible atlas, if you're wanting your kids to actually look up the information themselves. (If you're just planning to use the Teacher's Map, this is a moot point.) There are no LG or UG geography resource books listed. Honestly without just going ahead and buying that book one day in Barnes & Noble, I would have been sunk, since I didn't want to just have my kids copy from the teacher's map.:tongue_smilie:

[shanvan]

I already own the Bible atlas (and many of the other books used), which influenced my decision to use TOG.

 

I'll take a look at all the info in the binders and then make my decision (after my head stops spinning--of course!) as I approach beginning to teach. I'll probably go with Map aids, but I'll think over the rest.

 

Earlier today I realized I can view samples of each of these on the TOG site. I hadn't discovered them in my previous explorations.

 

Shannon