I'm still working on year one, but looking ahead to next year. I have an UG and a LG child. I've heard that Year Two is one you should consider dividing into two years. Can anyone tell me your thoughts or experiences on that? We are plugging along pretty well in year one doing things on time.

Thanks,
AnnM in Texas

Hi,
If you are using Redesign, it's unnecessary to spread Year 2 out over two years because we've been very careful to make sure assignments aren't too much for each level. That said, there are many people who did this with Classic with great success. I doubt that as many people will do this with Redesign, but it is still certainly an option.

Blessings,

Thanks so much for the input, Dana. I'd rather stay on schedule doing one year of Tapestry per year, but didn't want to overload my children. It sounds like this issue has been addressed already in Redesign Year 2.

AnnM in Texas

I am using classic and we do three units a year. This allows us to stop and smell the roses, take time for illnesses etc. I make sure my high schooler does some of the indepth, worldview etc. to get the required hours.

Great advice. I will think about that...we may not get finished with 4 units this year...it depends on how "life" goes second semester :-) That is a great option; I really appreciate the input.

AnnM in Texas

I started YR 2 with the Classic and we did really need 2 weeks per lesson. This year - I am using the booklist from RD YR 2 (still ahead of the release but at least I can find the books!) and yes you can tell a big difference in work load. We are zooming along well and I actually have added a few books so we DONT move so quickly. The kids love history and so it is not a problem adding books. THat way we will have history through May

T

Hi AnnM in Texas,
I am using the Redesigned TOG Y2 with a LG/UG child. I too had heard that it should be spread out over two years because there was SO MUCH! So I scheduled accordingly...

Well, I am finding that now we do not have enough to do in that 'second week'. We still have ALL afternoon to play, do another project, or whatever!! With redesign it really is very do-able in a 1 year school year!! I will not spread out Y3 and am not going to spread out the rest of Y2 either!!
Blessings,
~Evelyn Mae

we are doing yr 2 in 2 years and it is the best decision I ever made! There is so much packed into it. We did units 1&2 this year, and will do 3&4 next year. My kids will be 7th&8th grade"ish"
and from what I have seen in private schools, world history and US history is broken out the same way. (if comparing, sometimes I do)

The kids had more time to enjoy what they were learning instead of cramming it all in. And since I was less pressured, this has been our best school year ever!

We enjoyed the story of the world with the streams of civilization for our spines.

I did not bother with the memorization of the kings or popes once you get into Unit 2. More of the focus on why things were happening than who was who.

One more thing - Netflix is a great resource for DVD's. the Medici series on instant view got us through a lot of the Italian renaissance.