Just a quick note: This review was originally written on 04/27/09 and is being transferred here, my new site. The pricing may not be up-to-date, therefore, please click the links below to find the most current prices. Thank you.

 

Tapestry of Grace DE

One of the final reviews I have for the TOS focus group is Tapestry of Grace (TOG). For those of you that have not heard of TOG, it is a Christian, classical education, using a guided unit-study approach with history as the core theme. I’ll begin by telling you about TOG, and then about the curriculum we received.

Who & What is Tapestry of Grace?

TOG has recently adapted their print version to a digital edition (Tapestry DE) which is what we in the group received. This version is exactly the same as the print version, with a few bonuses which include: affordable, printable (you choose what & when to print), instant access (download to your computer instantly), compact (CD’s instead of binders), and never becomes outdated (TOG offers free update downloads). TOG teaches based on stages or levels, and not ages. This method allows parents to “successfully teach humanities subjects to all their children simultaneously because the content has been well organized.” TOG covers history, church history, literature, geography, fine arts, government, philosophy, and writing & composition. It does not cover science, math, spelling, grammar, or a foreign language.

TOG uses visual, auditory, and tactile learning styles and all of the lessons can be modified according to each family’s individual needs.  This is a wonderful aspect of Tapestry of Grace.

TOG is a 4 year curriculum that covers history from Creation to the 21st Century. Each year has 4 units and each unit is then broken down into weeks. It really is quite organized!

On to the curriculum:

We received Year 2 Unit 3, Of Crowns & Colonies. We chose this because we really like Colonial America. We have been to Williamsburg and Yorktown, VA and loved all of the history there. This unit encompassed so much information. It is incredible. One of the crafts we were able to do was to make a model of a ship. This was a lot of fun and both kids enjoyed it. My kids love crafts and would create all day long if I let them. The crafts were great, but that was only part of what we enjoyed. The facts and information given throughout the curriculum is incredible. It is very thorough and complete.

The digital version of TOG comes to you as a .PDF file that is secured by LockLizard. It’s a fairly simple download, and there is fantastic customer service available if there are any problems.  After you have read, at least once, the Start Guide and The Loom, then you will open the curriculum. You will find all of the information well organized (I said that before, lol), which allows you to jump to where you want to be, or print what you want. You will need to have access to a library or you can purchase the reading requirements from BookShelf Central, through Tapestry of Grace (click here to view). There are a lot of reading sources necessary to have in order to complete this study.

Before you start the program, it is crucial to read the Simple Start Guide and view The Loom. Both of these will help you tremendously to understand TOG and how it works. The Loom offers book updates, corrections, tips and helps, and general resources. Another source to read before you start is Setting up Tapestry. This provides 5 simple steps to take before starting. There are also forums that you can link into and be connected with others using the same year. Like I said, TOG is very organized. 

What we thought:

Overall, I will say Tapestry of Grace is an incredibly in depth curriculum that can serve your family many years with moderate changes from year to year. It can be used for children of all levels and together. This works well for families with a range of ages. However, there is so much information it can be easily overwhelming if you are not used to the style, which I was not. Definitely reading the recommended resources first is a must, otherwise, you may not be able to understand and/or navigate through the file. I have to say, as much as I admire unit studies and would like to use them more often, I am not a unit study kind of homeschooling mom. I guess I like separate subjects usually. I do like unit studies when we want to take a break from our normal routine for a few days. There is also a lot of teacher preparation time required, which I do not often have, unfortunately. Those that do, I am sure, will like TOG very much.

What's the bottom line?

The cost is just $45 a unit or $170 for the full DE year. The printed version is $225 for a full year. There are bundles that you can buy, too. Tapestry of Grace also sells MapAids, Writing Aids, Evaluations, and much more. You can see all that they sell here.

You can try Tapestry of Grace out here for a free 3-week trial. This will give you a good idea of what TOG is and you can see just how it will fit for your family. I also invite you to read other Crew member’s reviews here.