Tapestry of Grace





	Classic and Redesigned Year-Plans What is the difference between Classic and Redesigned Year-Plans? How do I buy books for Classic Year-Plans? How do I buy books for Redesigned Year-Plans? Speaking of books, I hear there are more in Classic than Redesigned. Will I be missing out? Do I need to buy all of the books on the Reading Assignment Charts? How can I see a list of the books that are recommended for each Year-Plan? What is a “Retrofit Package”? What are the copyrights of each Year-Plan? What are the release dates for future Redesigned Year-Plans? RETURN TO FAQ PAGE What is the difference between Classic and Redesigned Year-Plans? Below are answers in brief: Classic was first; Redesign is being released in units. Click here for a release calendar. Classic was award-winning, and still works great; Redesigned is the newest, latest version. The approach is the same in both: the whole family studies one topic a week, and we try to give moms as much help as possible in teaching that week's topic to all students in her home. Content-wise, here are the differences, in brief. Redesigned has these things that Classic lacks: Guaranteed, in-stock books that our Bookshelf stocks for one-stop shopping for all the core resources you'll need for Tapestry studies on all levels. (As each year-plan is redesigned, the corresponding book list is brought online.) A more guided approach to reading lists is offered, yet they retain flexibility. There are an equal number of books referenced in both volumes; Redesigned book lists are spread over two pages, so there appear to be less, but in truth, there are not. An online Resource List replaces Classic's print-only version, allowing users to access and sort, print, and copy the list for shopping or reference use. Redesign plans have Writing Assignment Charts integrated into each week-plan; Classic volumes separate out the Writing Assignment Charts into the BASE unit. Redesigned plans have added history discussion outlines for dialectic (Jr. High) level students. Both Redesign and Classic have discussion outlines for the rhetoric level. In editing Redesigned volumes, and in deciding to sell the primary resources we recommend, we have been able to tighten up the questions/answers that we ask students in preparation for discussion. We did not assure parents using the Classic volumes that all the answers the student needs are in his resources (if you use the exact books we recommend and sell). Most questions are answered in Classic volumes, but not all. (And most questions are answered by alternate history, fine arts, and classic literature volumes; but not necessarily all.) Redesigned rhetoric-level literature is completely reworked and enhanced by a literature specialist. Via The Loom we plan to offer updated pages perpetually to Redesigned customers, thereby solving the age-old problem of books going out of print. As books do leave the market, we plan to publish online replacement pages highlighting fresh resources that those who own Redesigned Tapestry volumes can print and substitute into their volumes. In this way, we hope to avoid forever the problem of needing to reissue entire updates or revisions in future years. Read more about The Loom here. Concurrent with Redesigned Tapestry volumes, we are producing Writing Aids, which is integral to the program, and Evaluations, which are optional but helpful tests and quizzes. (You can see samples at these links: Writing Aids, Evaluations 1) We learned a lot in fashioning Redesigned Tapestry of Grace. This product represents the best of all the constructive feedback that Classic users gave us over eight years of use. We are grateful for the feedback, but hasten to say that Classic Tapestry volumes are still serving thousands of families worldwide. Classic and Redesign have different layouts, and these lend themselves to different features. Classic volumes are produced by copiers on colored papers. This makes them cheaper. Colored paper ensures that users can easily find the section they need. Redesigned volumes are produced in full four-color offset printing. While they are slightly more expensive, overall they are easier for the first-time user and more inviting to the eye. These resources work for Classic or Redesigned volumes equally well: Map Aids discs: these give you custom-drawn maps for all levels of study and teacher answer-key maps. Time line aids sold on the Bookshelf. Lap Books (custom designed for Tapestry units, and sold on the Bookshelf.) Writing Aids: currently an online project, which is slated to become a book/CD combination product in July of 2007. Classic users can access a 50%-off coupon that enables them to step up to Redesigned volumes in the years ahead. There is no expiration on this coupon, and those who buy Classic used or on sale still qualify for the discount. Read in even more detail about the differences between Classic and Redesigned volumes, and the history and educational philosophy of Tapesty by perusing our 32-page color brochure (online or download & print). Since this takes awhile to load, we offer it in four parts here as well: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 You can also call us and purchase a printed copy of this 32-page color brochure with a one-hour DVD (that features authors Scott and Marcia Somerville as well as veteran Tapestry users telling explaining the program) in an inexpensive media pack combination, or order the media pack online. Return to the top of this page How do I buy books for Classic Year-Plans? Amazon book-buying pages are discontinued for Year 1. See the Bookshelf instead. Click here for Year 2 (Note that in 2007 with Redesigned, this list will be revised and removed) Click here for Year 3 Click here for Year 4 Return to the top of this page How do I buy books for Redesigned Year-Plans? You can see the books on our Bookshelf that are primary to the program. You can easily substitute books for History, Fine Arts, or Classic Literature (editions, not titles) from either your public library or your home library. Return to the top of this page Speaking of books, I hear there are more in Classic than Redesigned. Will I be missing out? From our online Forum (and unedited): question about whether or not to get Classic/Redesigned: I know this has probably been asked before, but I'm new and contemplating TOG to use all the way through. The book choices you have listed in the classic years 2-4 look great. However, I definitely want the redesigns for ease of use and appreciate the paring down you've done to make it doable! But will the book choices currently listed in the classics still be listed somewhere (even in an appendix or something)so we can add them in if we choose to? I hope all these beautiful book lists you've compiled won't be lost forever! Thanks for any info. Janice wrote: I purchased years 2-4 from TOG, but I picked up my copy of Classic Year One used. I purchased it with the Map Aids CD used for a good price. Then TOG gave me a 50% discount on the redesign, so it really didn't cost me that much to get the classic edition too. It was worth it to me because I have The Picturesque Tale of Progress set. I didn't want to have to flip through it to line up the reading for the ancients; the TOG folks did this in their classic Alternate-Resource section. Honestly? If you are new to TOG, I would just get the redesign and look forward instead of back! Sure there are books that are listed in the classic versions that aren't listed in the redesign, but the same is true on the flip side. There are plenty of terrific books listed in the redesign that weren't available when the classic editions were published. The printing and publishing industry is constantly impressing me; they are cranking out some terrific stuff. Really. Of course I understand that you have to weed through it; there's a lot of junk in the "new books" section of our children's library, but there is good stuff there too. Terrific books with terrific lay-outs. Some of it is very appealing; it really draws my kids into the reading. The redesign hits so many of those "new finds" WITHOUT leaving out those old, not-to-be-missed favorites. I have been very impressed with the balance. Nicely done! And finally - the TOG folks have done a really terrific job of beefing up the teacher's helps in the redesign. I am beginning to prepare for next year with year one of the redesign and I'm constantly impressed. The dialectic portion of the program has been improved. I am constantly coming across assignments in the rhetoric portion that leave me thinking, "Great. That's handled." The assignments are JUST what my son will need. The directions are clear. The grunt work has been done for me. Really. Each week has around forty pages of material for me. It would take me an impossible amount of time to do that on my own. TOG has done all of the thinking, organizing, planning, schedule making, worksheet development (with an eye toward long-term goals), etc for $5 a week. What a leg-up for me! As my kids' teacher, I am free to spend my time mastering the material so I can REALLY interact with my kids. FINALLY! I can stop planning and organizing assignments and mentor. It's huge. Really huge. Classic TOG is great. It really is well done. But my hat is off to Marcia and her crew. They've taken a terrific, meaningful "plan" with classic TOG and have fleshed it out SO WELL in the redesign. (It's like they crawled into my head and found the things about the classic program that were bothering me, and they fixed them.) Every single product/additional-help that I have purchased has left me smiling and thinking, "This is nearly exactly what I would have done IF I had the time." They've done the grunt work for me, AND they've done it very well. I would advise folks to just get the redesign and squeeze as much life out of it as you can. Don't look back and wonder about what you might be missing; look forward. There is SO much available to you in that direction! Enjoy your little people Enjoy your journey Janice Return to the top of this page Do I need to buy all of the books on the Reading Assignment Charts? Not at all. You can easily substitute books for History, Fine Arts, or Classic Literature (editions, not titles) from either your public library or your home library. Fair warning: we guarantee that your children will find answers to our discussion questions in the resources that we recommend. For History, Fine Arts, or Classic Literature, the answers are usually (but not always) found. In general, children's literature cannot be substituted while still using Tapestry aids. Additionally, you are the teacher, and Tapestry plans as written must be customized to your homeschool. You may not choose to use all the resources we recommend each week! Return to the top of this page How can I see a list of the books that are recommended for each Year-Plan? Our book lists are copyrighted; part of the reason you buy Tapestry is to access the skill and experience and hard work of our authors in creating these reading lists. For the purposes of making buying decisions, we post book-buying lists so that customers can get an idea of the types of books we are choosing for you. Return to the top of this page What is a “Retrofit Package”? Books we list go out of print. It's an unfortunate fact of life. Sometimes you can find our recommended books used, and sometimes you can't. For Classic users who wish to "freshen up" their lists, we offer a "Retrofit Package" for each plan as we redesign it that offers them the chance to inexpensively see what newer books they might substitute for the ones listed in their Classic Tapestry of Grace. Retrofit Packages offer a copy of the redesigned year-plan's 36 weekly Reading Assignment Charts and updated literature worksheets by Dana Caywood for books that have changed since the last printing of the year-plan (on white paper, as masters). You must call Lampstand Press for pricing and availability of retrofit packages and order from there. Return to the top of this page What are the copyrights of each Year-Plan? This information is coming soon. Return to the top of this page What are the release dates for future Redesigned Year-Plans? Please click here to see a release schedule. 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