Tapestry of Grace and Institute of Excellence in Writing (IEW) explained

I know this post was promised last year.  Can you believe what I can do to put off things?

Today, I am working on doing just that.  I look at Writing Aids (the Red pages) on the Tapestry of Grace week.

As you all know the first few weeks, instead of writing suggestions, they have "set up notebook times".  So this year, to pursue excellence in writing, we will be using Poetry Memorization.  I purchased the  Linguistic Development Through Poetry Memorization  through IEW.

The biggest treasure is found by joining the Yahoo group.  IEW Families  is an active group for all IEW teachers, especially home educators. With over 10,000 members and a monthly average of 500 posts, this group provides significant support to IEW parents and teachers. It is open to anyone who wants to learn more about how to teach children to write. Of particular benefit to members is an extensive Files archive with a vast array of resources from years past, with everything from lesson plans to grammar resources, all available in .PDF format.

Once you join that Yahoo Group (you will need to make an account).  Then you click on the left hand side to the tab labeled "FILES".  You scroll down and click on the file labeled "Comparisons and Using IEW with other programs" Then you click on "Tapestry of Grace".  Yes, you have made it.

1. join IEW Families  from Yahoo group
2.  click on "Files" (left hand sidebar)
3.  click on Comparisons and Using IEW with other programs
4. click on "Tapestry of Grace" on the top

Enjoy many source text for all the years of Tapestry.  I know have all the source texts for Key Word Outlines for the entire year for TOG 4!  Yes!  Thank you "busymom77772000" for putting together sources for good writing all year.

After talking with Danielle, she recommended doing the "Following Narnia" (IEW) for the Middle school kids.  I am so excited.  It will be a great blend and enough writing for all three children.

Why I enjoy homeschooling.

 Why I enjoy homeschooling is best written during the two weeks break. There are things I don't like about homeschooling, but more on that later. 




1.  Find their loves.


How many of you were stuck in a class that was just not you? You longed for something different, something extraordinary. I want my children to explore the uniqueness of the way the Lord created them.  If that is inventing things or just caring for others.  Homeschooling gives them more freedom to do the things that they love.

2. Specialized training.
The good and the bad. My children get to see God's grace as I fail and make mistakes.  They have seen me on my knees after being too critical or spoke harshly.  But, isn't that life too.  To teach them that God loves us NO MATTER WHAT.  Both in the great days, and in the days I should of slept in :)
  

3. Flexibility.
  
I enjoy the flexibility to take a break to get outside whenever we feel the need.  Our flexible schedule means that we can take a day to go on a field trip whenever an opportunity comes up. We can do more hands-on experiential learning.  Even visiting people in the hospital or caring for others.

  4. Love being with them.
I must admit the days when we explore the world and see their eyes open up to something new and exciting.  I love to be apart of it. Teaching them each to read was a so much fun.

What I use:


For my reading, history, Bible, worldview, geography, spelling, and literature:  I am currently on my fourth year of using Tapestry of Grace.  It has been an adventure.  I love it because it is "literature based" with great books.  It is a classical education with a chronological teaching of history.  


Math U See & Teaching Textbooks for Math


Science: We are currently on our 5th Apologia Science called : Swimming creatures which is a biology study.


Etiquette Factory


English from the roots up: basic latin/greek root words study


Institute of Excellent in Writing 


Learning Language Arts through Literature: (Bronwyn only)


Easy Grammar


IXL online Math (extra)


National November Writing Month (in November)


Character First (sometimes)


Ateiler Art 


When my children were young I loved:  
Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons
Five in a Row