Sunday, April 5, 2009

Wanna know a secret...

...I am not using Tapestry of Grace Year 3 next year. There. I said it.

I got it in that mail last week, looked it over, began planning a little and realized that I was not excited about it. It wasn't what I wanted to be studying. And I know that if I try to teach something that I am not interested in, it won't get done. I know. Might be a bit selfish, but in these first years (the grammar stage) that is just the way it is going to be. I will have many years ahead of me to teach things that aren't of interest, so right now, I am going to do it my way.

So, what are we going to do? Well, we are going to continue working within the same time period, early modern, but we are going to concentrate on American History. We are going to learn about the Revolutionary War, the Pioneers, Lewis and Clark, and end with the Civil War. I am planning to use the Homechool in the Woods Time Travelers Unit studies on The American Revolution, The Early 19th Century, and The Civil War. I am in the midst of planning some of it and researching different books we might use. I am really loving the books by Betsy Maestro and will use them. I also hope to have Magnus read some historical fiction from the Landmark Series. I purchased the Artner Reader's Guide to American History published by Memoria Press. I am anxiously awaiting it's arrival so I can see what books they suggest.

I do plan to go back to TOG when Magnus hits the Ancients again in a few years. I love the program and will need more guidance as the boys hit the dialect and rhetoric stages. Until then, we are just going to do things my way.

Wow...it feels good to get that off my chest!

4 comments:

Lori C., Texas said...

I am not sure what we are going to do after TOG yr 2. I am excited to use Yr.2. Year 3 and 4 are don't look as fun. I am really starting to like the idea of Unit Studies. I never really thought I would but we are loving Galloping the Globe and we are only using half of what it suggests. We are going to use their USA one next and maybe add in some extra history.

Z said...

I'm having history angst too. Glad you seem to be finding your way.

Just some guy... said...

I'm telling Charlotte Mason.

Karen said...

I made a similar history decision last week. We started the year with TOG2 and are right now just doing SOTW2. I am planning a study next year focusing on American History too - right now, I am only planning up to the Revolutionary War. I realized the my middle child is getting too old for many of the great resources available and my youngest is getting ready to join in the study. Now is the perfect time.


Enjoy your study and your planning.