Hello everyone,
I just purchased TOG DE a few days ago and I am scared of being overwelmed! Does this make sense? I have looked at the material and already feel that I am a bit over my head. I have been reading blogs and so many people have written about being overwelmed that I think I have set myself up to believing that I will be overwelmed, lol! I am so ready for the TOG Beta. I think it will be easier to understand. When should we be looking for the update?
Also, is there any discussions here on the board about starting out with TOG. How to begin?

You may be overwhelmed at first, but don't feed it by dwelling on it. The Tapestry home page has helpful getting started information including Webinars you can download, a Simple Start Guide, and documents on the online Loom. And after all that you have us.

The advice I give to new users is to take your time to get to know TOG. Especially if you have students that are in grammar and dialectic stages, start off your year with using 2 or 3 components of TOG rather that all of it. Get to know how to implement the history, literature, and writing for example and once you feel like you have a handle on those add in geography, then after a time add in worldview, and so on.

Which year plan are you using?

Thank you for the advice.
I'm using Year 1 DE version.

I have twin boys who will be in third grade this year and my daughter is four. I homeschooled the latter part of their second grade year so I am really new at homeschooling.

I started with Tapestry my first year of home schooling. Before you know it you'll be a pro.

Hi Tammy,

I am with you... although I have not purchased yet.. I was waiting till Beta came out and then to purchase. I went to the resources and printed out all the books I needed for Year 1 Weeks two and three for now and am trying to gather them. I was not sure if I should go ahead and purchase the DE, I guess then we can just update when Beta comes out right? I also went to the older three week sample (not the new DE Beta sample) as they have a example of a lesson plan and printed that out to use as a guide. I am only, as I have read in other posts, going to start out planning to do the history part and any bible that may pop in for that week and just get the hang of it, then I may had the writing (I may use IEW) and other supplements so I don't get overwhelmed at the very start just getting used to having to pick and choose books and put them in an assignment each week. That is new for me. I just signed up for the email notifications for this DE forum and hope to help and get insight with others.
Blessings,
Jana

Ladies,

Because of the need to focus staff on getting LAST YEAR's Year 3 into final formats and discs, we then ran into the need to launch Year 4 users for the school year. TODAY, we have released the new "Beta" -- we call it the Updated Interface -- in Year 4 ONLY for users.

Do NOT wait to purchase Years 1, 2, and 3 for the new Interfaces. They are coming along, but it may be well into September before they are released. They are VERY complex to link and check, and it simply takes time. You will be able to upgrade for free if you're using downloads, so don't hesitate to purchase these year-plans in DE and then update your interface when it is ready.

I went ahead and purchased the DE version and we begin our homeschool adventure today. I'm pretty excited. I think I was spoiled seeing the Beta version and had that mindset when I bought the DE version, lol. It does take a good deal more searching but I am finally getting it together. I am just jumping in head first. But let me tell you, I am checking this thing everyday for Beta, lol!!!! I say go ahead and buy the DE version. It has plenty of stuff to go ahead and get you started and on the right path. I think figuring the DE version out first will make the Beta release a TOG Holiday for me. Good luck!

Good decision!

We ARE working along at the Beta years, but they are VERY complex to assemble and proof, and with completing Year 3 digital projects and launching school, we were too busy to complete these. Now, we're putting together Unit 2 of Year 4 for release, though the tech staff is ALSO working along at Beta. I'm hopeful for a September release of at least one of the three year-plans, but if anyone's holding up school for Beta, please don't! You'll get upgraded for FREE, and what's here was good enough for LOTS of folks just like you until we got a "better idea." Jump in!