Thank you so much for the support and love! It means so much ❤️ It seems like others can relate to my experience (and if you can’t relate, that’s ok!) You all are the best!!
We had the same experience with TGATB. It was too overwhelming with little to no practice and review. “Going wide but not deep” is the perfect way to describe it. ❤️
Perfectly summed up, my little one looked at me so confused when I would try and ask about what she was learning, they don’t drill and repeat enough for it to really stick.
Your comment about TGATB being wide but not deep is 100% our experience as well. We did Abeka many years and switched to TGATB and regret it immensely. We *almost* chose all Abeka again for next year but have decided to try BJU instead. I like that BJU is still very thorough and rigorous like Abeka but it goes deeper into conceptual thinking instead of rote memorization. You didn’t fail, your daughter didn’t fail, just a bump in the road! Just have to find the right fit and it doesn’t happen over night. Maybe look into BJU? I really like their teacher guides. Can’t wait to see what comes next for you guys! Your daughters are so bright and intelligent and love seeing you all here on TH-cam!
She loves the BJU spelling and we grabbed that up! I know what you mean about conceptual thinking vs rote memorization. That’s how BJU math is (as opposed to Abeka) and I appreciate that way of teaching so much.
We love TG&TB. I have four boys and they were severely overwhelmed by the amount of LA in public schools, I decided to homeschool. TG&TB LA is short, sweet, and to the point. That is exactly what we needed. I use "vocabulary spelling city". We input the spelling and vocab words in the website, they then get to play games while learning the words from the TG&TB word lists. This was huge for us! My little kids can not do flash cards, they just don't absorb the info.
THANK YOU! For your wonderful video and going in detail with each resource workbook. You are an AMAZING MOM and I wish you the very best in all your endeavors. I know all your children will do GREAT in life. Best wishes to all!
100% agree with you on the LA falling short of our expectations. We have enjoyed using it for the last year and a half but I started realizing that I needed to supplement in other things to complete the all in one course. I didn’t feel like we did enough writing or even learned how to write. Spelling and vocabulary weren’t emphasized in this course either. We are switching to BJU for English and Spelling next year and using Abeka for Reading. TGATB is a great curriculum but it just didn’t cover all of the bases for that. We have to do mandatory testing at the end of the year and that really highlighted the short comings for us as well. Big hug to you for putting yourself out there. It’s so easy to feel like we have failed somehow when something doesn’t work well but we have to remember why we are doing this in the first place and how much time we put into trying to do it the best way that we can.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Not that testing is the end-all be-all, but it is interesting to see other peoples experience regarding that. I know BJU is strong too so hopefully it’s a great fit for you!
Definitely not a failure! You're such an inspiration, I really admire how diligent you are when working with your three. Thank you for sharing this, I think this can happen to anyone. It’s not the mom's fault, or the curriculum and of course, neither the child and I believe this has given you a great learning opportunity for next homeschool year. Lexi is such a bright kid and she'll probably move on normally and just finish wrapping up this year’s learning onto next year.
Thanks so much for your kind words…it’s means so much 😌 I agree…it can happen to first year homeschoolers or people who’ve been homeschooling for 10 years. I think it’s all par for the course.
Totally hear you! Our incoming 2nd grader had similar test results (our state requires test of my choice every year when they turn 7). He did awesome is math and reading but language not so much. I had bought TGTB La for him and my rising 1st grader for next year but I sold them and bought Abeka. My daughter hates Abeka phonics but I do feel like they review SO much and it is effective. But I am still holding out hope that TGTB had more review in their new versions! I love the all in one concept. And I think their new phonics looks great. But the lack of grammar/language review in the current versions was concerning to me since my kids need lots of review with that. Lauren you are doing a great job with your girls!!! Be encouraged!!
I have 10 kids and my oldest child is a senior. We have used every level of TGATB. I just wanted to say that grammar repeats through ALL the levels. High school even reviews grammar, so I just wanted to encourage you in that aspect. Grammar is important in order to be a good writer and it comes into a deeper understanding as they make connections in writing.
What a good thing to note about the curriculum being wide but not deep. My son is not old enough for schooling yet but I still love your videos for the honest information. I think seeing how you felt in the moment then coming back a few days later to remind yourself and others this type of situation does not make you a failure is something that I’m going to keep close to heart. I am sure those feelings are felt by many homeschool moms at times and it’s so encouraging to hear you push the failure thoughts aside. I really hope you had a better week and I hope your daughter didn’t feel down about it.
I am so glad that as homeschool parents we are in this together and never alone. I have considered incorporating Abeka once more into our Arts & Literature since I felt the same frustrations as you did. God is so faithful. Therefore, I am determined that my kids will prosper. The same with yours and all of ours if we continue to pray and put our hearts into their education. Thank you for your videos. I'm a fan and love that you're such a help! God bless.
I had a similar situation with my first grader this year after doing TGTB LA 1. Reading and math scores on his Iowa standardized test were superb but the language (mechanics, grammar, etc) were not as strong. Now, I will say that this is my math minded child. He intrinsically does really well with numbers and math. I did decide to separate out all of language arts and I am now piecing together separate grammar, literature, spelling, writing/composition, handwriting, etc….instead of an all in one approach to language arts. This way I can pinpoint what he is strong with versus what exactly he needs to work on.
Just something to consider-public school teachers spend WEEKS of their school year teaching students HOW to take their end of grade standardized tests. If your daughter didn’t do well on the assessment, I would say that it was likely the unfamiliar format of the test rather than her lack of knowledge. I’m not sure why the TGTB assessment was difficult for her though…maybe her learning style is different?? I’m sorry you’re having doubts. I know that’s hard. Can’t wait to see which direction you go in next year!
I've never used TGATB LA but my friend did this year and she had similar concerns as you. So I think your feelings are really valid here. They are also a newer program so maybe they will continue to develop. I do love Jenny's vision anyways though, hopefully she will continue to work out the kinks!
Thank you for the honest reviews and sharing your heart. I’ve been reading The Successful Family Homeschool Handbook by Raymond and Dorothy Moore and have been reworking some of my internal pressures around homeschooling. Right now I feel very confident that when the time is right, the content will click in. I believe I t’s our job to expose them to information and experiences. It’s their job to synthesize it all however they are going to in a useful way for themselves. Don’t know if that helps but I offer it as encouragement ☺️💜
I didn't learn the writing process or dictionary skills until I was at least in 3rd grade. The expectations of students in school have gotten more and more rigorous, which I feel has led kids to hating school or being in tears. My kids being "behind" a grade or two doesn't concern me much (although it took years for me to shake that fear), but I live in Texas where the homeschool laws are very lax. If it's a state requirement for your kids to be at a certain level then your concern is totally understandable.
Yes!! My son went to Kindergarten in Missouri (public school) and his teacher would say “college talk” to the class while teaching language arts. He was five!! Grammar concepts are gone over every single year, too. It’s not something most littles master so young. The Analytical Grammar program starts grammar from scratch in 6th grade - the philosophy is interesting.
I completely agree that too much is expected too soon these days. I was just sharing that the assessment included those two things that she had never seen before, not necessarily that I felt she needed them at this age.
I know this isn't a recent video and I have actually watched alot of your more recent videos but I just want to say Thank you for your honesty and I think this video is going to be meaningful for so many moms that will go through the same thing. Put their child through a curriculum just to realize it didn't work for them and then feel all the mom guilt but it will help so much to hear another parent have that realize,.and to know also, it's going to be okay, they did not fail their child. Also you too are a great mama, making wonderful content for moms out there.
I wouldn’t be super concerned about her not remembering the parts of speech right now. Grammar and parts of speech are tricky. They also are repeated every single year so don’t worry if she isn’t a master this year. They will go over it again and again as the years go by, no matter what curriculum. Also a lot of grammar is just a natural thing to native English speakers, it’s like you know it because you just do, it just sounds right if that makes sense. You guys did a great job and she has a lot of time to learn! ♥️
In response to the theme of comments here about standardized testing... As much as we always want our kids to succeed, standardized tests do not gauge whether our kids are well-rounded/moral/creative/lifelong learners; they rank kids in terms of math and grammar. With consistency and our continual self-reflection, grammar or other issues will work themselves out in the long-term. If it means changing curriculum, so be it. We have enough perception to know when things need to change or supplement. Thanks for the video.
I had the same experience! We used TGTB language for 2 years. A few days ago when I went to put everything in our storage tote I saw old Abeka sheets and I wanted to cry!! I feel like my kids have stayed in the same grade and have even forgotten some things.. so last night I ordered all Abeka again for this next year!
@Kayla Henderson yes you really can’t beat it! I try to follow a more charlotte mason style but what I’ve learned is I really want a more traditional approach for reading, writing, and math because it just works! And that’s the joy of homeschooling! I hope you find what works for your family 🤎
So, I was just listening to this video and my 21 year old son was listening in so I told him that we had this happen a few times between my three older kids needing to do some gap review work in both English and Math. He pointed out that there are studies that show that kids retain the most if they find the work interesting/enjoyable and understandable. He told me neither of those could be applied to his English.....ever, no matter what the curriculum was. He never enjoyed English and he had a difficult time understanding any of it. He liked math better, loved history, enjoyed science and tolerated spelling. So he excelled about exactly like that in all those subjects. Interesting! It could be that in order for your daughter to retain more, she needs a different layout/presentation or simply to slow down and have a little tutoring. Good work on catching this and being such a proactive mom!!
Our oldest took his first standardized test this year. We did no test prep- just wanted to see how he would do. Honestly, I felt the same in that I took his performance as a reflection on me versus a reflection of how much he knew. It was kind of an eye-opener for me in terms of what they expected a first grader to know in the areas of writing and grammar since they are still learning to read. All that to say that I feel like he has time to learn all those things, but still made me feel a little guilty, like I didn't do enough. So, hugs. We are all doing our best
Your opinion on TGAB LA is what I keep hearing from a lot of mamas on TH-cam over and over, which is why I always stayed away from that whole curriculum and just stuck with Abeka for LA and Math, we also love their spelling as you said, it's been working out so well for us! And as they say, "if it ain't broke don't fix it." I saw you nearly tearing up towards the end and I just wanted to say I don't think you've failed at all, you are an inspiration for me in my own homeschool and I am certain that all your girls are going to excel with such an incredible mom and teacher! Look to the new year as a fresh new start to try to move in a different direction, it's never too late, you've got this and you'll do great!
Thanks for your kind words ❤️❤️ it’s funny you say you’ve heard that from other TH-cam moms…I haven’t really run into that! Haha I thought it was just us!
Try not to be too discouraged about the language arts assessment. Remember that with homeschooling you have the freedom to even wait until she’s much older to learn all the grammar concepts and she’ll probably master it quickly ❤️
First, I just want to say how much I appreciate your honest opinion. I have never used TGTB LA but am considering it for next year (LA 2), after my daughter finishes Abeka LA 1. I will say that after watching lots of review videos on TGTB, I think that they take a slow/gentle approach for writing. I am going to guess that includes grammar and mechanics. So I am not surprised that it fell short in those areas. I definitely think that you hit the nail on the head that they try to cover too much - going broad but not deep. If I do plan to use it next year I may need to supplement with something else. Thank you so much for your videos! You are one of my go-to homeschool mamas to watch.
Thank you so much! And if you decide to use it next year, you can always make it your own to fit you and your child. But it’s good to have these things in mind
They are learning to write sentences/short paragraphs in Kindergarten in TGTB LA. I don’t feel like anything about their LA curriculum is a gentle approach. It’s known for being robust. Now their Math is a different story. My kids love it but probably because it doesn’t challenge them much.
I love TGATB la- my first graders finished level one and then tested 3rd and 5th grade , and my 3rd grader finished and tested 4/5th grade on LA. BUT- I also supplement with various pieces of other curricula and writing so there’s that lol. Having seen TGATB 3 and 4, the topics spiral back around and go deeper and deeper so I wouldn’t be too concerned but it has to be something that makes you feel confident as their teacher too. That’s WHY we homeschool!
I'm observing the same thing as I continue with level 3. The grammar concepts get emphasised on more and circled back to. They are also gently built upon.
I agree…the concepts will come back around and she’s still pretty young so thankfully it should all work out. I think it was more of the surprise that it didn’t stick. And you’re right…supplementing to fill in the gaps helps for sure!
@@lmcr9903 I do writing workshop with my kiddos from Lucy Calkins. So we’ll spend an extra 30 min or so on writing each day and throw in mini lessons of grammar review as well
You did not fail 😀 It takes years for abstract concepts like parts of speech to be mastered. I wouldn’t expect ANY 2nd grader using ANY curriculum to have it mastered by the end of second grade. It takes multiple years of exposure and practice to master language arts skills.
@@faithfullyinfertile when deciding curriculum for next year (back in March) she asked to go back to Abeka for 3rd grade, BJU spelling and worldly wise vocab
Oh no!! 😔 So discouraging for you. I honestly am worried for my 5th grader come Fall. I decided to put her in tgatb LA (new version) but honestly I am really concerned about what you just talked about. We didn't do that great with their 4th grade math- not enough practice. I did buy supplemental writing and spelling. I really want this to work out because it is so beautiful it captures her eyes, no tears etc... but the bottom line if it doesn't work it doesn't work. I do want to say you are doing a beautiful job with your girls. You have their best interest at heart and they are really going to flourish. I promise you! I was told by a veteran homeschooler when I just started out (13 yrs ago- I have 2 in HS) that when you do everything you possibly can, God will step in and fill in any gaps. So far, it seems she was correct. I hope this encourages you at least a little.
Thank you so much for this encouragement, Donna! I actually just heard something along the same lines recently and hearing it again really makes it hit home for me. Our experience was that level 4 LA was a lot different…not only was it independent, but it had a LOT more review. My oldest loved level 4 that we just went ahead to level 5 and I’m hoping it has just as much practice as level 4. For math, supplementing helped to get in that extra math practice.
Thank you for your heartfelt reflection and honesty. I’m homeschooling my 3 girls next year (3, 6, 9) and still deciding on what curriculum to use. I’m between Abeka and TGATB, and your video helped me so much!
Both cover similar things but Abeka is far more systematic and provides excellent review. I will say, Abeka below third grade has a very bulky and time consuming teacher manual, but can be modified to fit your needs. I've also used TGTB LA, and it is visually beautiful, but lacks adequate reinforcement of concepts, at least for my children.
You have to decide what’s best…I can’t tell you what will work for your family. I just share our experience and how things work for us. With that said, hopefully through these videos you can get a good feel for both programs to get a better idea of what might be the best fit for you guys! Thanks so much for watching ❤️❤️
@@MusingsofFamily I feel like for my daughter going into 1st grade, she will definitely need lots of reinforcement. For my 4th grader, she may not need as much. At the end of the day, I guess I just need to experiment and find what works!😃
I totally understand.. We dealt with tbis last year with Masterbooks which is more mastery. I realized that they were "behind" in both math and LA. So we switched to BJU for both math & la. And realized how much my kids need spiral and the deeper vs wider on things. I was super disappointed in myself because I felt like we lost a whole grade year 🤷♀️ but I learned and God is faithful!
Man I know that feeling ☹️ (that happened to us our first year) it does all work out though…but it still is frustrating for sure. Amen, God is faithful 😌😌😌
As a 20+ yr homeschooling mom, I have had those times where the deer in the headlights moments happen. It just serves as a gauge as what needs to be stressed and reviewed and what to keep an eye on the next year. Thank you for the raw honest review
We found the same thing with La with TGATB. We switched to MasterBooks for LA next year. We are already excited to start it. We had a hard time with the first two levels of LA and I kept just thinking it was her abilities but over the last 6 months I realized it was more the curriculum than her abilities.
I was thinking of switching to masterbooks for LA! I switched my 5th graders math to MB. I heard they are very gentle and are also behind grade level- but she's already behind as is and am hoping this will fix what's struggling with and we can build up.
Thank you for your honesty! The way you said that TGTB goes wide, but not deep is so true, on our experience as well. My son also sailed through independent work without much difficulty, but couldn't identify nouns/subjects versus verbs real well.
I did lvl 2 G&B LA w/ my son & had to quit halfway thru the year bc of those same issues. Super happy they’re upgrading the curriculum, & I think I’ll get the new lvl 2 for that same child of mine. I ended up supplementing with Memoria’s Grammar Recitation 1 & Traditional Spelling 2 materials. Explode the Code looks like something good for us to try as well. 😊
I felt the same exact way with TGATB Level 2 this year. Her reading is amazing which I feel is their strong suit, but her spelling and writing are struggling which I feel are the things they really lack in. I know exactly what you mean by not realizing there was an issue. She could finish her lessons no problem every day, but there was no retention outside of the time she was doing the practice. You're spot on with the too wide not deep enough. Next year I'm going to be breaking language arts up and use a spelling, a grammar, and a writing curriculum instead of something that tries to teach it all at once!
Thank you so much for sharing such a vulnerable and emotional lesson with us. This reminds me of how important it is for us to define our homeschooling vision and goals for our children, then choose curriculums that matches. For instance, if it’s your plan or it’s mandatory for the child to take standardized test then you should ensure that the curriculum covers the common standards according to recommended grade levels and in a timely manner. Be mindful that some curriculums cover core areas at a gentle and slow pace. In March I took my kids out private school to homeschool. It’s my goal to keep them on par with private schools and standardized testings so I’m comparing curriculums accordingly. The Practical homeschooler have been an inspiration since I’ve started my homeschool journey. I’m sure you will figure this out 🤗Blessings!
You make a GREAT point! My goal isn’t strictly to be on par with state standards but if the child has the mental bandwidth and are capable of it, then that is preferred. But if they’re struggling in an area, then it’s a different story (that’s just how I view it personally). Great reminder of that!
We all love TGATB for the beauty and the good. However, I think you had the right instincts with math: It needs extra practice. I‘d still use TGATB because, for me, TGATB is good for the soul. At the end of the day that is what truly matters (We can and should get extra practice elsewhere). Not all is lost though! You have the reading and spelling down, writing doesn’t really start before grade 3 anyway, so it seems like all you need are worksheets for grammar / punctuation. Totally doable over the summer. ♥️
TGTB is good for the soul…man, I completely agree! That’s why despite this, I actually still like it haha 😂 I LOVE how you worded that! So poetic. It’s funny, because I didn’t even focus on the writing portion of it…we MOSTLY focused on the grammar part of it 🥴
This happened to my son when we did just Gather ‘Round only plus math. His LA was super lacking. So, this past year we switched to Essentials in Writing for his LA and it’s been great. This coming year I’m going to have him do Fix It! Grammar daily and only so the writing part of EIW because he needs way more practice on writing. Do you think you will switch your daughter to something else for grammar/LA?
I’ve heard great things about EIW! And we’re doing fix it grammar this year with my oldest! And yes…she didn’t dislike TGTB necessarily, but she wanted to switch back to Abeka for 3rd grade
You are doing so great friend with the kiddos !!! Keep up all the great work!!! As moms we always feel like we let the kiddos down in some way or another. But we are rockstars none the less !!! 🥰
I used TGATB for two years and Masterbooks Math (before TGATB created math courses above PreK & K) for my son. I thought it was just us, as well, when it didn’t work out because I had so many friends using TGATB successfully. However, my son has high functioning autism and is a “just give me the facts” kid. I chalked it up to me being a beginner homeschooling mom, trial and error, and so we adjusted moving forward. He just finished 6th grade and tested this year right on track, after using a different curriculum the past three years. Your girls will make up the difference, too!
We really struggled through TGATB 1. I’m glad they decided to revise it and hopefully it fixes the issues for people but we just had to go so slow and review the lessons over and over that we decided to stop and regroup. We’re doing IEW for writing and grammar, All About Reading for reading, and Spelling You See for spelling and FINALLY we’re seeing some progress. We also found the depth to be an issue for TGATB Math 1 as well…not enough review of some concepts and I had to supplement. We made it all the way through and then decided to switch to Right Start Math. It makes me sad because there are so many things I love about TGATB…but this year it was really a struggle for us so we’re moving on.
I have had a similar experience with my daughter. Not only with TGTB language arts but also with the new math unfortunately. I feel like both the math and language arts covers so much but doesn’t go in depth with any of it just like you were saying. It has taken me a while to figure out where her lack of confidence was coming from, but I finally realized it is the lack of depth that they cover things in is the problem. I really love TGTB & not trying to speak negatively of them! 😊. After using their curriculum for several years we are going a different route for our 3rd grade year. Thank you for all you do with curriculum reviews, flip throughs, etc. It helps more than you know!
Understandable! I think because I add extra math I haven’t run into that with their math (I can see how that would be the case if you JUST used their math). In retrospect since she loves work sheets, I could have added that to her LA independent work, but hindsight is 20/20, right?? Thanks for sharing your experience! Hopefully you’ll find what works for you this year ❤️
I feel the same way about TGATB. My 7 year old finished the old Level 2. While this curriculum is wonderful for many families, it is not for mine. It dosnst go in depth enough with reading comprehension, spelling and writing. There is a huge jump in writing ability between Levels 2 and 3. My 7 year old who is a strong reader is not ready for the writing component of Level 3. We are looking for something different for her and her 5 year old brother.
I did not realize I needed to switch out a math program for months after it stopped working for my kiddo. it has takin years for her to stop hating math. it was 5 years ago and this year she said math is not the bad
We have been using TGATB LA for the last 2 years (k-1 and 3-4) and we are making a switch to Learning Language Arts Through Literature (LLATL). Going to miss the geography, fine arts, and cooking aspect to it… but we will make it work!!
We skipped the pre writing to the kindergarten handwriting for my 4 year old!!! She was starting to copy letters!!! I’m not pushing her into complete kindergarten work tho!!! We find TGTB math awesome and we came in from another program!!! My kids now love math!!! I’ve looked thru the new level K language arts and I think it’s going to be awesome!!! We love apps but the geography starting in level K is big for us as we are an international family!!! We have family in different countries which is why we spent a few years in the U.K.
This is soooo helpful! I’m so glad I found you! I’ve been looking at TGATB for next year (for both kids age 6 and 11) which would be a huge departure from what we have been doing for the last 6 years. My son (6th grade next year) is really “behind” in math and writing (spelling) especially so I was wanting to try something else. We’ve done mostly Saxon math for years and AAS and AAR and Writing with Ease and more. I feel like I’ve been failing my son especially and I just feel lost as to what to use (and not spending a fortune on a ton of curriculum). He’s getting to middle school and has huge goals to be an engineer and I can’t help but think I’m failing him. I’ve never used Abeka or BJU and so that confuses me because I have no insight in to them but I’ll look for other videos you have that hopefully mention those.
That’s so hard! I know it feels like you’re failing him, but that’s not true! How does he feel about things? Is there a certain style of curriculum he prefers or feels like he learns better with? At this age, he can give you feedback
@@thepracticalhomeschooler That’s true. He is incredibly discouraged in math and writing. He has been for a long time and he will express his frustrations (or sense of not being good at something). I need to get him in front of more type of materials and see his reaction. I’m trying Singapore math this year instead of Saxon with him hoping it sounds like a better approach and I’m getting two years “behind” to start with to ease in and then adjust as necessary. I’m still at a loss as to what to try for language arts. He speaks with excellent grammar he just isn’t a good speller and takes forever (I mean an hour) to write much if anything.
I struggled with TGATB for this same exact reason. I stuck with it for 2 years, but I really want her to learn to spell and write. I feel like I failed with spelling because I only used their curriculum and the spelling words just weren't working, and we had skip so much. I had to make my own review and activities for each lesson toward the end so she could actually practice the things the lesson tried teaching. We switched to Masterbooks for next year. Fingers crossed!
Level 2 was tough for us also. I ended up supplementing with All About Spelling and extra writing. Next year I think I'd like to add EIW. So with so many supplements I think it's time to pull away. I'm looking into CLE for reading. I also used used level 2 math and my daughter did well. I did increase the story problems to help with understanding the use of concepts. It is so so hard. The curriculum world is overwhelming and it's frustrating when something isn't working. You're so brave to share your honest thoughts and just know how much it helps other mamas (like me).
We had the same experience with my daughter she flew by with the Language Arts for the TGATB, but I feel like she was missing a lot of review and couldn't remember the different parts of speech. I am switching to IEW writing and grammar as she will be going into 7th grade. We are leaving the TGATB and I am not using it with my younger kids either. I feel like people buy them because everyone is using the curriculum, but I don't want to buy something because everyone is using it. I want to buy what works and what is best for my children so they can learn. We also are going to try Simply Charlotte Mason using their enrichment and History, Geography, and Bible as family subjects.
*Our kids tested horrible when we were using TGTB!!* I had soooo many personal attacks about saying how awful of a curriculum it was. It was hands down the worst experience for us, and previously we used a free online curriculum which my kids tested incredible with? I don’t know what happened when we switched after 3 years, but our kids went backwards. I think because it’s alllll over social media, and how “beautiful” it is, you can’t escape falling for it and believing the lie. Sure, they have beautiful pictures and colors, but that’s it. It does not revisit concepts at all, which is extremely important in the younger years. *I could go on and on, but I hope that you truly know within yourself that it wasn’t your fault, at all!!* I use testing as a guide, if my kids aren’t doing well, it’s time to switch! It doesn’t reflect on my child’s brain or me as a mother. It simply means the curriculum isn’t good for our kids, period. And the most beautiful thing about being a homeschooling family is that you have the blessings of not pushing them through, but helping them be successful! We ended up redoing the grade they failed with a different curriculum which we have used for 3 years now, my kids tested *incredible* both 3 grades above their current grades, and if I had to do over, I wouldn’t have bought it just because people on social media said it was so great 😖. God *IS* faithful to bless those that pursue His ways ❤️. Many blessings to you and your family.
Sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience ☹️ that’s disheartening for sure! Overall I’ve had good success with their math, handwriting and my oldest loves their science and LA, so I think it does work for some people, but doesn’t work for others. So glad to hear your kids are doing better now though!!
It sounds like yo me you’re an amazing mama! We’ve all had those shocking moments when we realize there are gaps in the learning and those are teaching and learning experiences too! Being dedicated and showing up everyday will reap the benefits. You’re an awesome mama with an awesome kid- plenty of time to review and get it all up to date. Thanks so much for the honest review!
That's really interesting about the assessment. TGTB starts what is a noun, verb etc. in Kindergarten- did you use the earlier levels? I wouldn't sweat over it too much as assessments are tough unless you are teaching exactly in order to pass the assessment.
I had issues with TGTB and their review as well. It kinda made me feel the same way. My son couldn’t remember any of the review stuff but I did the same as you and went back and the things reviewed weren’t reviewed much during the lessons. I hope the newer versions are set up better.
I felt the same way about the good and the beautiful language arts. We just finished level four and it just isn't enough review. my son looked at me like a deer in headlights just like your baby. and I'm switching to rod and staff and fix it Grammar through IEW.
So interesting…my oldest just finished level 4 LA and did great with it! I really think it does depend on the child! Better luck with Fix it Grammar and Rod and Staff!
@@thepracticalhomeschooler yeah I think it just depends on the child. My son did really well with the sentence diagramming. I just felt there wasn't enough review for some other aspects. He would remember and then a few lessons later I would have to reteach it. In the end he ended up remembering everything t but I'm just switching just to make sure he has got everything down.
I totally see this within many of the curriculums we’ve tried this year, but why do we think that a k-2nd grader needs such deep fundamentals for grammar?
Like I said, it’s just my personal preference. I don’t think k-2 necessarily need grammar skills so much, more so a strong reading/phonics foundation. It was more of the fact that the curriculum DID cover grammar, but nothing was really retained.
I think if you jump back into Abeka she will catch right back up and their spiral method will fix the lack of review in TGTB! You're doing awesome, Mama! Love your videos!!
For us I actually found the Simply Math wasn't deep enough for my expectations. I really feel like we could have done better in math this year. I think it is good you added Abeka because I'm sure together they would work really well, but on it's own I just didn't find it enough reviews for us! It just goes to show that our kids are all different and require different approaches, we live and learn and can make more suitable choices as we grow in our homeschooling! I hope you have a blessed Summer! 😊
The new and shiny is fun but in my experience, not for homeschool curriculum! We went with Memoria Press four years ago after seeing too many gaps with TGTB and have been happy ever since.
I completely understand where you're coming from. Some of the things you mentioned about it giving a wide variety and not depth is something that concerned me about their LA curriculum. I've heard that mentioned a couple times by others. I'm totally like you when it comes to having a solid math and LA curriculum, especially in the early years. You're learning and growing just like many of us that are only 2-3 years in this. Appreciate your honesty. You got this! I'm sure the Lord will direct you on how to approach this subject with her for next year.
Yes , the level 2 didn’t have a lot of practice for skills !!! I’ve felt that way ! BUTTT the end of level 2 started to pick up practice! I wanted skills practiced more ! It’s still great ! We just found a little things work to do to get that skills in !
Love your curriculum review videos!!! We stepped away from TGATB LA too. I really liked teaching it! But when they combine all the subjects, phonics, spelling, grammar, writing, etc. it just doesn’t work. I can’t choose an appropriate level, because my kids are at completely different stages of understanding in each subject. Either the phonics is too easy and the spelling is too hard. Or the writing assignments are too advanced. I just need each subject to be separate so that they are working at the correct level. We are going to try out BJU Press English next year.
Great great point! You worded that well. And while that method is great and does work for many kids, it obviously doesn’t work across the board. Breaking it up can seem cumbersome because it’s nice to have it all in one, but sometimes that’s necessary to meet the needs of your child.
Maybe a spiral curriculum would help? It would review concepts more than one time just like her Abeka math supplement. We are using CLE, it’s pretty plain, but it is constantly reviewing prior concepts. Another thought, you could make your own as needed spiral with Evan Moor’s Language Fundamental book if you notice her needing extra practice.
If I were to do it again, I think a supplement would have worked out well…especially with her love of workbooks haha. Yes, I’ve heard great things about CLE!!
We struggled with TGAB LA level 1, which made me not want the current level 2 edition, BUT since they are redoing it we are going to give it a shot. We love TGAB but the organization in the previous editions was odd. Not how seamless the Math is, and their other stuff.
Thank you so much for this!! I’m going into my 3rd year as a homeschool mom and I have a rising 2nd grader. We have used TGTB for kindergarten and 1st and I just didn’t like it. I didn’t feel my son was retaining enough and I thought it was just us. This is my confirmation to move on and try something else. Thank you so much for always being honest and sharing! 💛
It never hurts to try something but after realizing it’s not working…yes, it’s best to move on. I wish you the best of luck landing on something that works well ☺️
You are doing awesome, Momma! Give yourself some grace and know that your child DID learn, even if a test may not show the results you expected. I come from a homeschool background with very little parent involvement and more of an “unschool” approach. As a result, I am similar to you in being very adamant about my children getting the best academic education possible. Due to the manner in which I was taught, I literally didn’t know anything about how to label the parts of speech (verb, what’s that??), let alone diagram a sentence, until I was IN COLLEGE! I didn’t have much math past elementary level, no chemistry, etc. Even with that very basic foundation, I got into college, was on the Deans List with a 4.0, and graduated with my BA while working three jobs. All that to say, your kids are no doubt ahead of the game with all that you invest into them, and this is just a little hiccup that won’t matter in the long run. They are learning, progressing, and have great potential! ♥️
Good for you! That’s awesome you worked hard and succeeded in college 😃 that’s a great encouragement! 😌 and like I said in the video, I’m not stressing out about it, just disappointed that we worked so hard for a year but have very little to show for it 😏
Aww Lauren your feelings are valid! Thanks for being honest and sharing your thoughts! You're an amazing mom and homeschooling mom and thanks for being raw and vulnerable... sometimes certain curriculums might not be a good fit and also sometimes our kids might not master everything... now I'm wondering how my son will do in the end of his assessment 😶 ... we have 10 lessons left for level 2 for LA for tgtb... thanks for sharing your honest review!
We have felt the same way with TGTB language arts. It’s oddly not really a mastery curriculum, but it doesn’t spiral and review often either. I felt like a concept was introduced for 3 days and then never brought up again.
Hello ! Really loved ur honest review. A little more details about Math content and ur child's experience with it would be really appreciated ☺️ Does the book have strategies like compensation, double and. Near double etc Thanks!
I’ve done a whole video (actually a few), dedicated to my review on her math, and showing how we do a lesson, etc. It’s under my The Good and The Beautiful playlist
I just found your channel through this video and am so grateful. Your daughter’s learning style sounds so much like my oldest who is going into 2nd grade next year. Thanks for all of the honest insights! Do you know what you’ll be doing for Language Arts next year? TGTB is a strong contender for us still so undecided--especially since I can see having a similar experience to you with it ♥️
Is there another video after this on how you fixed this? I’m assuming you change her curriculum and so to what? If there is a follow up video for this please send me link. I’m having trouble finding.
I think you finally put into words what I’ve been feeling this past year. I am not sure my daughter has a strong concept of grammar verbs nouns etc nor has she been taught how to even write even though there is writing here and there in the book. I have purchased some supplemental things like a spelling book, and Wordly wise for vocabulary and a grammar book too. But the fact I’m having to use all these makes me question if the curriculum is right for us too. I think this summer I am going to look into this further and see if I need to make a switch. But also, are there really any curriculums that cover everything in depth? Blah! Thanks for sharing!
You’re right…no curriculum will do everything in depth. I think it comes down to like what you said, if nothing is really being retained then it might be time to see if something else is a better fit
Since I’m new to your channel and I’ve been watching several videos a day to catch up 😂 I’m reeling over a decision on planners 🤦♀️ Have you ever done a video on how (or if) you plan? What planner you use, etc. Right now I use a generic planner from Amazon, because this was our first year, it’s Kinder and we don’t have to report Kinder here, so I didn’t bother planning anything. I use it to write down what I lessons actually did each day. But next year I want to actually plan better. If you e done a video, I’d love to watch it. And if not, maybe an idea for a new video?
My son had THE SAME issue with The Good And The Beautiful Language Arts, except he just finished 1st grade. We finished up our school year a couple weeks ago and I was really feeling frustrated too about the fact that my son didn't retain the language arts the way he should have. He does Abeka Math and is extremely strong in math and I think TGATB isn't spiral enough for him, looking back I totally agree with you, they cover a ton of topics but don't do a ton of review and I think for some kids it just isn't enough. Thanks for your encouraging words, sorry you went through the same thing
I can relate! My son did Level 3 and and just finished Level 4 and at first I thought it was just him. But we are now at the end of 4th grade and his writing has not progressed whatsoever. When I really look at TGATB, the way they teach writing is not strong, in my opinion. I also felt like a failure! We are switching to Fix it Grammar and Essentials in Writing.
My oldest just finished level 4 LA and I said “they only had you write one assignment” and she said, yes but they prepared you all year to write one really good paper as opposed to writing a lot of papers without much instruction. So I thought her takeaway was interesting. I think when she gets older we’re going to do IEW for writing! Adding fix it grammar to her LA for next year too!
Highly recommend Christian Light Education. Its amazing! My very independent child thrives. Its very thorough. Her testing she several grades ahead. Its not pretty or exciting looking, but its easy and works. Check it out.
I know that it’s worksheet based and considering how much she loves worksheets, that would have probably been a better fit (especially since it’s independent!) thanks for sharing your experience ❤️
I also used TGATB 2nd grade language arts with my youngest daughter and she was not retaining it as much as she should have. We switched to Christian Light Education for 3rd grade and she is retaining so much more. There is lots of review in it. It's not colorful like TGATB but my daughter doesn't mind it and actually likes it better. If you are thinking of changing curriculum for LA CLE is a great option to look into. 🙂
I agree totally about TGTB LA level 2 is wide but not deep. I found myself supplementing a lot . I had to change curriculum mid year to CLE LA and it was the best decision. It dives deep and that’s just what we needed. No supplements needed now because it has daily review which is what TGTB LA 2 was lacking.
@@heatherwiltshire0182 Yes, I use both reading and language. The language includes spelling and penmanship as well as phonics. It works well for my son because he is autistic and thrives off repetition . It goes at his pace. He is able to do most of the work independently. I also use CLE for math, bible, science, and social studies. Love them all!
We don’t use TGTB anymore because we had the same experience. It’s never concerning until the assessments come and you realize how much you missed. Just switch curriculums, find something great that your daughter likes and it makes a world of difference!
I've been coming to this conclusion as well. It's not going deep enough in some concepts for it to really work for us long term. I like their kinder level and even level 1, but I'm thinking I need to transition to something a little more thorough.
Omg I had the same problem with level 1 good and beautiful LA. I love it but I think it needs more review of concepts. I was thinking of supplementing with abeka work books with it but I'm not sure if that's the way to go. We may go with a totally different curriculum.
Everyone occasionally has regrets about a certain curriculum choice, but kids are resilient. When you realize something isn’t working just try something else. 😀
Thank you so much for the support and love! It means so much ❤️ It seems like others can relate to my experience (and if you can’t relate, that’s ok!) You all are the best!!
Have you ever heard of ACE?
We had the same experience with TGATB. It was too overwhelming with little to no practice and review. “Going wide but not deep” is the perfect way to describe it. ❤️
All the realizations happened at once! And that was one of them
Perfectly summed up, my little one looked at me so confused when I would try and ask about what she was learning, they don’t drill and repeat enough for it to really stick.
I am also adamant about a strong foundation in reading, writing and math.
Your comment about TGATB being wide but not deep is 100% our experience as well. We did Abeka many years and switched to TGATB and regret it immensely. We *almost* chose all Abeka again for next year but have decided to try BJU instead. I like that BJU is still very thorough and rigorous like Abeka but it goes deeper into conceptual thinking instead of rote memorization. You didn’t fail, your daughter didn’t fail, just a bump in the road! Just have to find the right fit and it doesn’t happen over night. Maybe look into BJU? I really like their teacher guides. Can’t wait to see what comes next for you guys! Your daughters are so bright and intelligent and love seeing you all here on TH-cam!
Abeka fits the higher IQ folks. (Not to be insulting, but it’s definitely a trend I’ve noticed for 15 years.)
She loves the BJU spelling and we grabbed that up! I know what you mean about conceptual thinking vs rote memorization. That’s how BJU math is (as opposed to Abeka) and I appreciate that way of teaching so much.
@@thepracticalhomeschooler so are you saying Abeka’s LA is rote memorization? Just trying to understand! Haven’t used it yet.
@@laurene9166 I meant for math, sorry! They do memorize things in Abeka LA too but I think it’s a good thing!
We’ve never used BJU or Abeka. I noticed the “sets” for Abeka were reallly expensive (to me) and definitely not affordable. Do you use the sets?
We love TG&TB. I have four boys and they were severely overwhelmed by the amount of LA in public schools, I decided to homeschool. TG&TB LA is short, sweet, and to the point. That is exactly what we needed. I use "vocabulary spelling city". We input the spelling and vocab words in the website, they then get to play games while learning the words from the TG&TB word lists. This was huge for us! My little kids can not do flash cards, they just don't absorb the info.
THANK YOU! For your wonderful video and going in detail with each resource workbook. You are an AMAZING MOM and I wish you the very best in all your endeavors. I know all your children will do GREAT in life. Best wishes to all!
@@IsabelRodriguez-nv2ue thank you so much…how kind 🥰
100% agree with you on the LA falling short of our expectations. We have enjoyed using it for the last year and a half but I started realizing that I needed to supplement in other things to complete the all in one course. I didn’t feel like we did enough writing or even learned how to write. Spelling and vocabulary weren’t emphasized in this course either. We are switching to BJU for English and Spelling next year and using Abeka for Reading. TGATB is a great curriculum but it just didn’t cover all of the bases for that. We have to do mandatory testing at the end of the year and that really highlighted the short comings for us as well. Big hug to you for putting yourself out there. It’s so easy to feel like we have failed somehow when something doesn’t work well but we have to remember why we are doing this in the first place and how much time we put into trying to do it the best way that we can.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Not that testing is the end-all be-all, but it is interesting to see other peoples experience regarding that. I know BJU is strong too so hopefully it’s a great fit for you!
Was this the older version? Have you had any experience with the new version?
Definitely not a failure! You're such an inspiration, I really admire how diligent you are when working with your three. Thank you for sharing this, I think this can happen to anyone. It’s not the mom's fault, or the curriculum and of course, neither the child and I believe this has given you a great learning opportunity for next homeschool year. Lexi is such a bright kid and she'll probably move on normally and just finish wrapping up this year’s learning onto next year.
Thanks so much for your kind words…it’s means so much 😌 I agree…it can happen to first year homeschoolers or people who’ve been homeschooling for 10 years. I think it’s all par for the course.
Totally hear you! Our incoming 2nd grader had similar test results (our state requires test of my choice every year when they turn 7). He did awesome is math and reading but language not so much. I had bought TGTB La for him and my rising 1st grader for next year but I sold them and bought Abeka. My daughter hates Abeka phonics but I do feel like they review SO much and it is effective. But I am still holding out hope that TGTB had more review in their new versions! I love the all in one concept. And I think their new phonics looks great. But the lack of grammar/language review in the current versions was concerning to me since my kids need lots of review with that. Lauren you are doing a great job with your girls!!! Be encouraged!!
Thank you friend ❤️ I’m curious about the new version too! You’re right about Abeka…tried and true!
I have 10 kids and my oldest child is a senior. We have used every level of TGATB. I just wanted to say that grammar repeats through ALL the levels. High school even reviews grammar, so I just wanted to encourage you in that aspect. Grammar is important in order to be a good writer and it comes into a deeper understanding as they make connections in writing.
What a good thing to note about the curriculum being wide but not deep. My son is not old enough for schooling yet but I still love your videos for the honest information. I think seeing how you felt in the moment then coming back a few days later to remind yourself and others this type of situation does not make you a failure is something that I’m going to keep close to heart. I am sure those feelings are felt by many homeschool moms at times and it’s so encouraging to hear you push the failure thoughts aside. I really hope you had a better week and I hope your daughter didn’t feel down about it.
Thanks for encouragement. It means a lot! I’m glad you found it helpful ❤️❤️
I am so glad that as homeschool parents we are in this together and never alone. I have considered incorporating Abeka once more into our Arts & Literature since I felt the same frustrations as you did. God is so faithful. Therefore, I am determined that my kids will prosper. The same with yours and all of ours if we continue to pray and put our hearts into their education. Thank you for your videos. I'm a fan and love that you're such a help! God bless.
Aww sorry you felt that way. I hope you find something that works better for your homeschool ❤️❤️
I had a similar situation with my first grader this year after doing TGTB LA 1. Reading and math scores on his Iowa standardized test were superb but the language (mechanics, grammar, etc) were not as strong. Now, I will say that this is my math minded child. He intrinsically does really well with numbers and math. I did decide to separate out all of language arts and I am now piecing together separate grammar, literature, spelling, writing/composition, handwriting, etc….instead of an all in one approach to language arts. This way I can pinpoint what he is strong with versus what exactly he needs to work on.
That sounds like a great approach! Definitely sounds like you’re meeting him where he’s at. That was my plan for her next year too
Just something to consider-public school teachers spend WEEKS of their school year teaching students HOW to take their end of grade standardized tests. If your daughter didn’t do well on the assessment, I would say that it was likely the unfamiliar format of the test rather than her lack of knowledge. I’m not sure why the TGTB assessment was difficult for her though…maybe her learning style is different?? I’m sorry you’re having doubts. I know that’s hard. Can’t wait to see which direction you go in next year!
It wasn’t a standardized test, but I know what you mean. TGTB review was hard because the concepts didn’t really stick 😕
My daughter did amazing on her review. 🤔 She isn’t particularly “gifted,” either I wouldn’t say.
I've never used TGATB LA but my friend did this year and she had similar concerns as you. So I think your feelings are really valid here. They are also a newer program so maybe they will continue to develop. I do love Jenny's vision anyways though, hopefully she will continue to work out the kinks!
Or maybe it’s better if it’s supplemented with something?? Not sure! Let’s see what the newer version looks like!
Thank you for the honest reviews and sharing your heart. I’ve been reading The Successful Family Homeschool Handbook by Raymond and Dorothy Moore and have been reworking some of my internal pressures around homeschooling. Right now I feel very confident that when the time is right, the content will click in. I believe I t’s our job to expose them to information and experiences. It’s their job to synthesize it all however they are going to in a useful way for themselves. Don’t know if that helps but I offer it as encouragement ☺️💜
I’ve never heard it worded exactly that way. Thanks for sharing that…it does help thinking of it in that way!
Thank you for showing so many pages. I'm probably going to purchase some of these.
Great!
Thank you for the encouragement. The math for good and the beautiful fell short a lot for me... and so I’m doing a complete revamp for next year.
Bummer 😕 hopefully whatever you decide is a great fit!
I didn't learn the writing process or dictionary skills until I was at least in 3rd grade. The expectations of students in school have gotten more and more rigorous, which I feel has led kids to hating school or being in tears. My kids being "behind" a grade or two doesn't concern me much (although it took years for me to shake that fear), but I live in Texas where the homeschool laws are very lax. If it's a state requirement for your kids to be at a certain level then your concern is totally understandable.
Yes!! My son went to Kindergarten in Missouri (public school) and his teacher would say “college talk” to the class while teaching language arts. He was five!!
Grammar concepts are gone over every single year, too. It’s not something most littles master so young. The Analytical Grammar program starts grammar from scratch in 6th grade - the philosophy is interesting.
I completely agree that too much is expected too soon these days. I was just sharing that the assessment included those two things that she had never seen before, not necessarily that I felt she needed them at this age.
I know this isn't a recent video and I have actually watched alot of your more recent videos but I just want to say Thank you for your honesty and I think this video is going to be meaningful for so many moms that will go through the same thing. Put their child through a curriculum just to realize it didn't work for them and then feel all the mom guilt but it will help so much to hear another parent have that realize,.and to know also, it's going to be okay, they did not fail their child. Also you too are a great mama, making wonderful content for moms out there.
Thank you ❤️
I wouldn’t be super concerned about her not remembering the parts of speech right now. Grammar and parts of speech are tricky. They also are repeated every single year so don’t worry if she isn’t a master this year. They will go over it again and again as the years go by, no matter what curriculum. Also a lot of grammar is just a natural thing to native English speakers, it’s like you know it because you just do, it just sounds right if that makes sense. You guys did a great job and she has a lot of time to learn! ♥️
O I agree completely! I didn’t expect her to have mastered it yet, but just wasn’t expecting that pretty much nothing really absorbed at all.
@@thepracticalhomeschooler You are doing an amazing job!
As a reading curriculum, I love TGTB. As a grammar/writing curriculum, it’s just not enough practice.
In response to the theme of comments here about standardized testing... As much as we always want our kids to succeed, standardized tests do not gauge whether our kids are well-rounded/moral/creative/lifelong learners; they rank kids in terms of math and grammar. With consistency and our continual self-reflection, grammar or other issues will work themselves out in the long-term. If it means changing curriculum, so be it. We have enough perception to know when things need to change or supplement. Thanks for the video.
Great comment ❤
I had the same experience! We used TGTB language for 2 years. A few days ago when I went to put everything in our storage tote I saw old Abeka sheets and I wanted to cry!! I feel like my kids have stayed in the same grade and have even forgotten some things.. so last night I ordered all Abeka again for this next year!
@Kayla Henderson yes you really can’t beat it! I try to follow a more charlotte mason style but what I’ve learned is I really want a more traditional approach for reading, writing, and math because it just works!
And that’s the joy of homeschooling!
I hope you find what works for your family 🤎
I’m so sorry you felt like that 😔
Same here! Traditional for LA and Charlotte Mason(ish) for history and all the others
So, I was just listening to this video and my 21 year old son was listening in so I told him that we had this happen a few times between my three older kids needing to do some gap review work in both English and Math. He pointed out that there are studies that show that kids retain the most if they find the work interesting/enjoyable and understandable. He told me neither of those could be applied to his English.....ever, no matter what the curriculum was. He never enjoyed English and he had a difficult time understanding any of it. He liked math better, loved history, enjoyed science and tolerated spelling. So he excelled about exactly like that in all those subjects. Interesting! It could be that in order for your daughter to retain more, she needs a different layout/presentation or simply to slow down and have a little tutoring. Good work on catching this and being such a proactive mom!!
Thanks for sharing that! It makes sense! I can see how that could and does happen
Our oldest took his first standardized test this year. We did no test prep- just wanted to see how he would do. Honestly, I felt the same in that I took his performance as a reflection on me versus a reflection of how much he knew. It was kind of an eye-opener for me in terms of what they expected a first grader to know in the areas of writing and grammar since they are still learning to read. All that to say that I feel like he has time to learn all those things, but still made me feel a little guilty, like I didn't do enough. So, hugs. We are all doing our best
Sorry you felt like that! It’s definitely not a great feeling! But it’s good you realized that we can move on and just keep going!
Your opinion on TGAB LA is what I keep hearing from a lot of mamas on TH-cam over and over, which is why I always stayed away from that whole curriculum and just stuck with Abeka for LA and Math, we also love their spelling as you said, it's been working out so well for us! And as they say, "if it ain't broke don't fix it." I saw you nearly tearing up towards the end and I just wanted to say I don't think you've failed at all, you are an inspiration for me in my own homeschool and I am certain that all your girls are going to excel with such an incredible mom and teacher! Look to the new year as a fresh new start to try to move in a different direction, it's never too late, you've got this and you'll do great!
Thanks for your kind words ❤️❤️ it’s funny you say you’ve heard that from other TH-cam moms…I haven’t really run into that! Haha I thought it was just us!
Try not to be too discouraged about the language arts assessment. Remember that with homeschooling you have the freedom to even wait until she’s much older to learn all the grammar concepts and she’ll probably master it quickly ❤️
First, I just want to say how much I appreciate your honest opinion. I have never used TGTB LA but am considering it for next year (LA 2), after my daughter finishes Abeka LA 1. I will say that after watching lots of review videos on TGTB, I think that they take a slow/gentle approach for writing. I am going to guess that includes grammar and mechanics. So I am not surprised that it fell short in those areas. I definitely think that you hit the nail on the head that they try to cover too much - going broad but not deep. If I do plan to use it next year I may need to supplement with something else.
Thank you so much for your videos! You are one of my go-to homeschool mamas to watch.
Thank you so much! And if you decide to use it next year, you can always make it your own to fit you and your child. But it’s good to have these things in mind
They are learning to write sentences/short paragraphs in Kindergarten in TGTB LA. I don’t feel like anything about their LA curriculum is a gentle approach. It’s known for being robust. Now their Math is a different story. My kids love it but probably because it doesn’t challenge them much.
I love TGATB la- my first graders finished level one and then tested 3rd and 5th grade , and my 3rd grader finished and tested 4/5th grade on LA. BUT- I also supplement with various pieces of other curricula and writing so there’s that lol. Having seen TGATB 3 and 4, the topics spiral back around and go deeper and deeper so I wouldn’t be too concerned but it has to be something that makes you feel confident as their teacher too. That’s WHY we homeschool!
I'm observing the same thing as I continue with level 3. The grammar concepts get emphasised on more and circled back to. They are also gently built upon.
I agree…the concepts will come back around and she’s still pretty young so thankfully it should all work out. I think it was more of the surprise that it didn’t stick. And you’re right…supplementing to fill in the gaps helps for sure!
What did you supplement with exactly?
@@lmcr9903 I do writing workshop with my kiddos from Lucy Calkins. So we’ll spend an extra 30 min or so on writing each day and throw in mini lessons of grammar review as well
You did not fail 😀 It takes years for abstract concepts like parts of speech to be mastered. I wouldn’t expect ANY 2nd grader using ANY curriculum to have it mastered by the end of second grade. It takes multiple years of exposure and practice to master language arts skills.
Totally understandable! I didn’t expect anything to be mastered but it would have been nice if any of it was actually a little bit retained 😕
@@thepracticalhomeschooler yes 😂 I’m curious if you plan to use TGTB next year.
@@faithfullyinfertile when deciding curriculum for next year (back in March) she asked to go back to Abeka for 3rd grade, BJU spelling and worldly wise vocab
Agree!!! There is a reason it’s covered for years and years!
Oh no!! 😔
So discouraging for you.
I honestly am worried for my 5th grader come Fall. I decided to put her in tgatb LA (new version) but honestly I am really concerned about what you just talked about. We didn't do that great with their 4th grade math- not enough practice.
I did buy supplemental writing and spelling.
I really want this to work out because it is so beautiful it captures her eyes, no tears etc... but the bottom line if it doesn't work it doesn't work.
I do want to say you are doing a beautiful job with your girls. You have their best interest at heart and they are really going to flourish. I promise you! I was told by a veteran homeschooler when I just started out (13 yrs ago- I have 2 in HS) that when you do everything you possibly can, God will step in and fill in any gaps. So far, it seems she was correct. I hope this encourages you at least a little.
Thank you so much for this encouragement, Donna! I actually just heard something along the same lines recently and hearing it again really makes it hit home for me.
Our experience was that level 4 LA was a lot different…not only was it independent, but it had a LOT more review. My oldest loved level 4 that we just went ahead to level 5 and I’m hoping it has just as much practice as level 4. For math, supplementing helped to get in that extra math practice.
Thanks for your honesty & sharing your heart. You are a rockstar mama!
Awww thank you ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for your heartfelt reflection and honesty. I’m homeschooling my 3 girls next year (3, 6, 9) and still deciding on what curriculum to use. I’m between Abeka and TGATB, and your video helped me so much!
Both cover similar things but Abeka is far more systematic and provides excellent review. I will say, Abeka below third grade has a very bulky and time consuming teacher manual, but can be modified to fit your needs. I've also used TGTB LA, and it is visually beautiful, but lacks adequate reinforcement of concepts, at least for my children.
You have to decide what’s best…I can’t tell you what will work for your family. I just share our experience and how things work for us. With that said, hopefully through these videos you can get a good feel for both programs to get a better idea of what might be the best fit for you guys! Thanks so much for watching ❤️❤️
Agree!
@@MusingsofFamily I feel like for my daughter going into 1st grade, she will definitely need lots of reinforcement. For my 4th grader, she may not need as much. At the end of the day, I guess I just need to experiment and find what works!😃
This is very helpful. I have been debating switching from Logic of English to TGAB language arts. I think I am going to stick with LOE now.
I totally understand.. We dealt with tbis last year with Masterbooks which is more mastery. I realized that they were "behind" in both math and LA. So we switched to BJU for both math & la. And realized how much my kids need spiral and the deeper vs wider on things. I was super disappointed in myself because I felt like we lost a whole grade year 🤷♀️ but I learned and God is faithful!
Man I know that feeling ☹️ (that happened to us our first year) it does all work out though…but it still is frustrating for sure.
Amen, God is faithful 😌😌😌
Yes!!this is where every believing homeschool mama needs to land after experiencing “failure” …God is FAITHFUL!
As a 20+ yr homeschooling mom, I have had those times where the deer in the headlights moments happen. It just serves as a gauge as what needs to be stressed and reviewed and what to keep an eye on the next year. Thank you for the raw honest review
Thank you for saying this 😌😌 (and not just telling me as a 20 yr homeschool mom to just not worry about it lol) I appreciate it!
We found the same thing with La with TGATB. We switched to MasterBooks for LA next year. We are already excited to start it. We had a hard time with the first two levels of LA and I kept just thinking it was her abilities but over the last 6 months I realized it was more the curriculum than her abilities.
I was thinking of switching to masterbooks for LA! I switched my 5th graders math to MB. I heard they are very gentle and are also behind grade level- but she's already behind as is and am hoping this will fix what's struggling with and we can build up.
Hope it’s a good fit!! ☺️☺️
Thank you for your honesty! The way you said that TGTB goes wide, but not deep is so true, on our experience as well. My son also sailed through independent work without much difficulty, but couldn't identify nouns/subjects versus verbs real well.
Sorry you had the same experience! Hopefully you found something that works better for you both!
I did lvl 2 G&B LA w/ my son & had to quit halfway thru the year bc of those same issues. Super happy they’re upgrading the curriculum, & I think I’ll get the new lvl 2 for that same child of mine. I ended up supplementing with Memoria’s Grammar Recitation 1 & Traditional Spelling 2 materials. Explode the Code looks like something good for us to try as well. 😊
I felt the same exact way with TGATB Level 2 this year. Her reading is amazing which I feel is their strong suit, but her spelling and writing are struggling which I feel are the things they really lack in. I know exactly what you mean by not realizing there was an issue. She could finish her lessons no problem every day, but there was no retention outside of the time she was doing the practice. You're spot on with the too wide not deep enough. Next year I'm going to be breaking language arts up and use a spelling, a grammar, and a writing curriculum instead of something that tries to teach it all at once!
Sounds like a good idea. Sorry it didn’t work for you guys!
There is a placement test for explode the code. First books A-D focus on the phonics.
Thank you for all your videos! I enjoy your videos and I've learned several tips and pearls from your videos.
So happy to hear that 🥰
Thank you so much for sharing such a vulnerable and emotional lesson with us. This reminds me of how important it is for us to define our homeschooling vision and goals for our children, then choose curriculums that matches. For instance, if it’s your plan or it’s mandatory for the child to take standardized test then you should ensure that the curriculum covers the common standards according to recommended grade levels and in a timely manner. Be mindful that some curriculums cover core areas at a gentle and slow pace.
In March I took my kids out private school to homeschool. It’s my goal to keep them on par with private schools and standardized testings so I’m comparing curriculums accordingly.
The Practical homeschooler have been an inspiration since I’ve started my homeschool journey. I’m sure you will figure this out 🤗Blessings!
You make a GREAT point! My goal isn’t strictly to be on par with state standards but if the child has the mental bandwidth and are capable of it, then that is preferred. But if they’re struggling in an area, then it’s a different story (that’s just how I view it personally). Great reminder of that!
We all love TGATB for the beauty and the good. However, I think you had the right instincts with math: It needs extra practice. I‘d still use TGATB because, for me, TGATB is good for the soul. At the end of the day that is what truly matters (We can and should get extra practice elsewhere).
Not all is lost though! You have the reading and spelling down, writing doesn’t really start before grade 3 anyway, so it seems like all you need are worksheets for grammar / punctuation. Totally doable over the summer. ♥️
TGTB is good for the soul…man, I completely agree! That’s why despite this, I actually still like it haha 😂 I LOVE how you worded that! So poetic. It’s funny, because I didn’t even focus on the writing portion of it…we MOSTLY focused on the grammar part of it 🥴
Thank you for sharing all of this! You do so much, and you do it all so well! Glad you are not beating yourself up. It’s not your fault!
❤️❤️❤️
This happened to my son when we did just Gather ‘Round only plus math. His LA was super lacking. So, this past year we switched to Essentials in Writing for his LA and it’s been great. This coming year I’m going to have him do Fix It! Grammar daily and only so the writing part of EIW because he needs way more practice on writing. Do you think you will switch your daughter to something else for grammar/LA?
I’ve heard great things about EIW! And we’re doing fix it grammar this year with my oldest!
And yes…she didn’t dislike TGTB necessarily, but she wanted to switch back to Abeka for 3rd grade
You are doing so great friend with the kiddos !!! Keep up all the great work!!! As moms we always feel like we let the kiddos down in some way or another. But we are rockstars none the less !!! 🥰
❤️❤️ thank you!! That means a lot! Thanks for the encouragement 😌
I used TGATB for two years and Masterbooks Math (before TGATB created math courses above PreK & K) for my son. I thought it was just us, as well, when it didn’t work out because I had so many friends using TGATB successfully. However, my son has high functioning autism and is a “just give me the facts” kid. I chalked it up to me being a beginner homeschooling mom, trial and error, and so we adjusted moving forward. He just finished 6th grade and tested this year right on track, after using a different curriculum the past three years. Your girls will make up the difference, too!
So glad to hear that!!
We really struggled through TGATB 1. I’m glad they decided to revise it and hopefully it fixes the issues for people but we just had to go so slow and review the lessons over and over that we decided to stop and regroup. We’re doing IEW for writing and grammar, All About Reading for reading, and Spelling You See for spelling and FINALLY we’re seeing some progress. We also found the depth to be an issue for TGATB Math 1 as well…not enough review of some concepts and I had to supplement. We made it all the way through and then decided to switch to Right Start Math. It makes me sad because there are so many things I love about TGATB…but this year it was really a struggle for us so we’re moving on.
Sorry to hear that you struggled for a year…no fun at all! But glad you’ve found things that seem to be working! Such a relief when that happens!
I have had a similar experience with my daughter. Not only with TGTB language arts but also with the new math unfortunately. I feel like both the math and language arts covers so much but doesn’t go in depth with any of it just like you were saying. It has taken me a while to figure out where her lack of confidence was coming from, but I finally realized it is the lack of depth that they cover things in is the problem. I really love TGTB & not trying to speak negatively of them! 😊. After using their curriculum for several years we are going a different route for our 3rd grade year. Thank you for all you do with curriculum reviews, flip throughs, etc. It helps more than you know!
I had the same experience with their new math. We love the videos and the way they do math but it just doesn’t go deep enough. Super disappointed.
Understandable! I think because I add extra math I haven’t run into that with their math (I can see how that would be the case if you JUST used their math). In retrospect since she loves work sheets, I could have added that to her LA independent work, but hindsight is 20/20, right?? Thanks for sharing your experience! Hopefully you’ll find what works for you this year ❤️
Thank you for sharing your experiences… the good and the not so good. This is helpful to see as a new homeschool mom.
You’re welcome! Thanks for listening ❤️
First language lessons for the well trained mind and shurley English are awesome together!!
I feel the same way about TGATB. My 7 year old finished the old Level 2. While this curriculum is wonderful for many families, it is not for mine. It dosnst go in depth enough with reading comprehension, spelling and writing. There is a huge jump in writing ability between Levels 2 and 3. My 7 year old who is a strong reader is not ready for the writing component of Level 3. We are looking for something different for her and her 5 year old brother.
I did not realize I needed to switch out a math program for months after it stopped working for my kiddo. it has takin years for her to stop hating math. it was 5 years ago and this year she said math is not the bad
We have been using TGATB LA for the last 2 years (k-1 and 3-4) and we are making a switch to Learning Language Arts Through Literature (LLATL). Going to miss the geography, fine arts, and cooking aspect to it… but we will make it work!!
You're doing such a good job! Your girls are so bright💜
Thanks Erin! You’re so kind ❤️❤️
We skipped the pre writing to the kindergarten handwriting for my 4 year old!!! She was starting to copy letters!!! I’m not pushing her into complete kindergarten work tho!!! We find TGTB math awesome and we came in from another program!!! My kids now love math!!! I’ve looked thru the new level K language arts and I think it’s going to be awesome!!! We love apps but the geography starting in level K is big for us as we are an international family!!! We have family in different countries which is why we spent a few years in the U.K.
My girls all love their math too!
This is soooo helpful! I’m so glad I found you! I’ve been looking at TGATB for next year (for both kids age 6 and 11) which would be a huge departure from what we have been doing for the last 6 years. My son (6th grade next year) is really “behind” in math and writing (spelling) especially so I was wanting to try something else. We’ve done mostly Saxon math for years and AAS and AAR and Writing with Ease and more. I feel like I’ve been failing my son especially and I just feel lost as to what to use (and not spending a fortune on a ton of curriculum). He’s getting to middle school and has huge goals to be an engineer and I can’t help but think I’m failing him. I’ve never used Abeka or BJU and so that confuses me because I have no insight in to them but I’ll look for other videos you have that hopefully mention those.
That’s so hard! I know it feels like you’re failing him, but that’s not true! How does he feel about things? Is there a certain style of curriculum he prefers or feels like he learns better with? At this age, he can give you feedback
@@thepracticalhomeschooler That’s true. He is incredibly discouraged in math and writing. He has been for a long time and he will express his frustrations (or sense of not being good at something). I need to get him in front of more type of materials and see his reaction. I’m trying Singapore math this year instead of Saxon with him hoping it sounds like a better approach and I’m getting two years “behind” to start with to ease in and then adjust as necessary. I’m still at a loss as to what to try for language arts. He speaks with excellent grammar he just isn’t a good speller and takes forever (I mean an hour) to write much if anything.
My daughter loved TGTB LA 1 but we finished it and she learned nothing. I had the exact same experience. We're going back to Abeka for grade 2
Sorry to hear that ☹️ I know that’s frustrating. Hopefully Abeka will be a better fit
I struggled with TGATB for this same exact reason. I stuck with it for 2 years, but I really want her to learn to spell and write. I feel like I failed with spelling because I only used their curriculum and the spelling words just weren't working, and we had skip so much. I had to make my own review and activities for each lesson toward the end so she could actually practice the things the lesson tried teaching.
We switched to Masterbooks for next year. Fingers crossed!
Aww…better luck this year!
Level 2 was tough for us also. I ended up supplementing with All About Spelling and extra writing. Next year I think I'd like to add EIW. So with so many supplements I think it's time to pull away. I'm looking into CLE for reading. I also used used level 2 math and my daughter did well. I did increase the story problems to help with understanding the use of concepts. It is so so hard. The curriculum world is overwhelming and it's frustrating when something isn't working. You're so brave to share your honest thoughts and just know how much it helps other mamas (like me).
That’s for sharing. It is overwhelming, especially when you first start out! Hopefully what you found is a better fit!
We had the same experience with my daughter she flew by with the Language Arts for the TGATB, but I feel like she was missing a lot of review and couldn't remember the different parts of speech. I am switching to IEW writing and grammar as she will be going into 7th grade. We are leaving the TGATB and I am not using it with my younger kids either. I feel like people buy them because everyone is using the curriculum, but I don't want to buy something because everyone is using it. I want to buy what works and what is best for my children so they can learn. We also are going to try Simply Charlotte Mason using their enrichment and History, Geography, and Bible as family subjects.
I hear nothing but great things about IEW!
*Our kids tested horrible when we were using TGTB!!* I had soooo many personal attacks about saying how awful of a curriculum it was. It was hands down the worst experience for us, and previously we used a free online curriculum which my kids tested incredible with? I don’t know what happened when we switched after 3 years, but our kids went backwards. I think because it’s alllll over social media, and how “beautiful” it is, you can’t escape falling for it and believing the lie. Sure, they have beautiful pictures and colors, but that’s it. It does not revisit concepts at all, which is extremely important in the younger years. *I could go on and on, but I hope that you truly know within yourself that it wasn’t your fault, at all!!* I use testing as a guide, if my kids aren’t doing well, it’s time to switch! It doesn’t reflect on my child’s brain or me as a mother. It simply means the curriculum isn’t good for our kids, period. And the most beautiful thing about being a homeschooling family is that you have the blessings of not pushing them through, but helping them be successful! We ended up redoing the grade they failed with a different curriculum which we have used for 3 years now, my kids tested *incredible* both 3 grades above their current grades, and if I had to do over, I wouldn’t have bought it just because people on social media said it was so great 😖. God *IS* faithful to bless those that pursue His ways ❤️. Many blessings to you and your family.
Sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience ☹️ that’s disheartening for sure! Overall I’ve had good success with their math, handwriting and my oldest loves their science and LA, so I think it does work for some people, but doesn’t work for others. So glad to hear your kids are doing better now though!!
Which curriculum did you redo the grade with? Wondering which curriculum you've had success with. Thanks.
@@TacklingTheGiants we had to redo grades 4 & 7, I had 2 kids using tgtb. We switched to ACE paces, and have had incredible success.
@@shegathers6120 thanks!
I just checked out ace but unless I'm looking at the wrong one it's not free? Which curriculum did you use that was free? Thanks again!
It sounds like yo me you’re an amazing mama! We’ve all had those shocking moments when we realize there are gaps in the learning and those are teaching and learning experiences too! Being dedicated and showing up everyday will reap the benefits. You’re an awesome mama with an awesome kid- plenty of time to review and get it all up to date. Thanks so much for the honest review!
Thanks for the kind words ❤️❤️😌
That's really interesting about the assessment. TGTB starts what is a noun, verb etc. in Kindergarten- did you use the earlier levels? I wouldn't sweat over it too much as assessments are tough unless you are teaching exactly in order to pass the assessment.
I had issues with TGTB and their review as well. It kinda made me feel the same way. My son couldn’t remember any of the review stuff but I did the same as you and went back and the things reviewed weren’t reviewed much during the lessons. I hope the newer versions are set up better.
I hope so too!
I felt the same way about the good and the beautiful language arts. We just finished level four and it just isn't enough review. my son looked at me like a deer in headlights just like your baby. and I'm switching to rod and staff and fix it Grammar through IEW.
So interesting…my oldest just finished level 4 LA and did great with it! I really think it does depend on the child! Better luck with Fix it Grammar and Rod and Staff!
@@thepracticalhomeschooler yeah I think it just depends on the child. My son did really well with the sentence diagramming. I just felt there wasn't enough review for some other aspects. He would remember and then a few lessons later I would have to reteach it. In the end he ended up remembering everything t but I'm just switching just to make sure he has got everything down.
I totally see this within many of the curriculums we’ve tried this year, but why do we think that a k-2nd grader needs such deep fundamentals for grammar?
Like I said, it’s just my personal preference. I don’t think k-2 necessarily need grammar skills so much, more so a strong reading/phonics foundation. It was more of the fact that the curriculum DID cover grammar, but nothing was really retained.
@@thepracticalhomeschooler do you think you will try something else next year? Maybe TGTB retains it more and more through the levels?
I think if you jump back into Abeka she will catch right back up and their spiral method will fix the lack of review in TGTB! You're doing awesome, Mama! Love your videos!!
Thank you so much! And yes, she asked a few months ago to go back to Abeka LA for 3rd grade
@@thepracticalhomeschooler Will you stick with TGTB for your older daughter?
@@kadieschaefer2874 yes, she loves it and it worked well for her! More practice in level 4 ☺️
For us I actually found the Simply Math wasn't deep enough for my expectations. I really feel like we could have done better in math this year. I think it is good you added Abeka because I'm sure together they would work really well, but on it's own I just didn't find it enough reviews for us! It just goes to show that our kids are all different and require different approaches, we live and learn and can make more suitable choices as we grow in our homeschooling! I hope you have a blessed Summer! 😊
A math supplement just adds in that extra math practice that can be necessary! They do work well together ☺️
The new and shiny is fun but in my experience, not for homeschool curriculum! We went with Memoria Press four years ago after seeing too many gaps with TGTB and have been happy ever since.
She’s like my son. You can try Easy daily grammar or fix it grammar. These curriculum are mastery base. Spiral language art didn’t work for my son.
You are not alone. I was head over heels for TGATB and also had to have my kids assessed for something and it wasn’t pretty. 😬 we do BJU now.
I completely understand where you're coming from. Some of the things you mentioned about it giving a wide variety and not depth is something that concerned me about their LA curriculum. I've heard that mentioned a couple times by others. I'm totally like you when it comes to having a solid math and LA curriculum, especially in the early years. You're learning and growing just like many of us that are only 2-3 years in this. Appreciate your honesty. You got this! I'm sure the Lord will direct you on how to approach this subject with her for next year.
Thanks, Emily! I appreciate the encouragement 😊☺️
Yes , the level 2 didn’t have a lot of practice for skills !!! I’ve felt that way ! BUTTT the end of level 2 started to pick up practice! I wanted skills practiced more ! It’s still great ! We just found a little things work to do to get that skills in !
That’s awesome!!
Love your curriculum review videos!!! We stepped away from TGATB LA too. I really liked teaching it! But when they combine all the subjects, phonics, spelling, grammar, writing, etc. it just doesn’t work. I can’t choose an appropriate level, because my kids are at completely different stages of understanding in each subject. Either the phonics is too easy and the spelling is too hard. Or the writing assignments are too advanced. I just need each subject to be separate so that they are working at the correct level. We are going to try out BJU Press English next year.
Great great point! You worded that well. And while that method is great and does work for many kids, it obviously doesn’t work across the board. Breaking it up can seem cumbersome because it’s nice to have it all in one, but sometimes that’s necessary to meet the needs of your child.
Maybe a spiral curriculum would help? It would review concepts more than one time just like her Abeka math supplement. We are using CLE, it’s pretty plain, but it is constantly reviewing prior concepts. Another thought, you could make your own as needed spiral with Evan Moor’s Language Fundamental book if you notice her needing extra practice.
If I were to do it again, I think a supplement would have worked out well…especially with her love of workbooks haha. Yes, I’ve heard great things about CLE!!
We struggled with TGAB LA level 1, which made me not want the current level 2 edition, BUT since they are redoing it we are going to give it a shot. We love TGAB but the organization in the previous editions was odd. Not how seamless the Math is, and their other stuff.
I hope the new version works out well for you guys!! I totally get what you’re saying!
Thank you so much for this!! I’m going into my 3rd year as a homeschool mom and I have a rising 2nd grader. We have used TGTB for kindergarten and 1st and I just didn’t like it. I didn’t feel my son was retaining enough and I thought it was just us. This is my confirmation to move on and try something else. Thank you so much for always being honest and sharing! 💛
It never hurts to try something but after realizing it’s not working…yes, it’s best to move on. I wish you the best of luck landing on something that works well ☺️
Since she likes to work independently, maybe the Saxon Math workbooks for grades 2-3 are good and push miltiplication
You are doing awesome, Momma! Give yourself some grace and know that your child DID learn, even if a test may not show the results you expected.
I come from a homeschool background with very little parent involvement and more of an “unschool” approach. As a result, I am similar to you in being very adamant about my children getting the best academic education possible. Due to the manner in which I was taught, I literally didn’t know anything about how to label the parts of speech (verb, what’s that??), let alone diagram a sentence, until I was IN COLLEGE! I didn’t have much math past elementary level, no chemistry, etc. Even with that very basic foundation, I got into college, was on the Deans List with a 4.0, and graduated with my BA while working three jobs. All that to say, your kids are no doubt ahead of the game with all that you invest into them, and this is just a little hiccup that won’t matter in the long run. They are learning, progressing, and have great potential! ♥️
Good for you! That’s awesome you worked hard and succeeded in college 😃 that’s a great encouragement! 😌 and like I said in the video, I’m not stressing out about it, just disappointed that we worked so hard for a year but have very little to show for it 😏
Aww Lauren your feelings are valid! Thanks for being honest and sharing your thoughts! You're an amazing mom and homeschooling mom and thanks for being raw and vulnerable... sometimes certain curriculums might not be a good fit and also sometimes our kids might not master everything... now I'm wondering how my son will do in the end of his assessment 😶 ... we have 10 lessons left for level 2 for LA for tgtb... thanks for sharing your honest review!
Thanks friend 😌😌😌 means a lot ❤️
We have felt the same way with TGTB language arts. It’s oddly not really a mastery curriculum, but it doesn’t spiral and review often either. I felt like a concept was introduced for 3 days and then never brought up again.
I think I’m used to Abeka that covers things over and over again.
Hello ! Really loved ur honest review. A little more details about Math content and ur child's experience with it would be really appreciated ☺️
Does the book have strategies like compensation, double and. Near double etc
Thanks!
I’ve done a whole video (actually a few), dedicated to my review on her math, and showing how we do a lesson, etc. It’s under my The Good and The Beautiful playlist
@@thepracticalhomeschooler thank u... I will check that out
I just found your channel through this video and am so grateful. Your daughter’s learning style sounds so much like my oldest who is going into 2nd grade next year. Thanks for all of the honest insights! Do you know what you’ll be doing for Language Arts next year? TGTB is a strong contender for us still so undecided--especially since I can see having a similar experience to you with it ♥️
Is there another video after this on how you fixed this? I’m assuming you change her curriculum and so to what? If there is a follow up video for this please send me link. I’m having trouble finding.
I wonder if the new TGTB has more review.
Good question!
I think you finally put into words what I’ve been feeling this past year. I am not sure my daughter has a strong concept of grammar verbs nouns etc nor has she been taught how to even write even though there is writing here and there in the book. I have purchased some supplemental things like a spelling book, and Wordly wise for vocabulary and a grammar book too. But the fact I’m having to use all these makes me question if the curriculum is right for us too. I think this summer I am going to look into this further and see if I need to make a switch. But also, are there really any curriculums that cover everything in depth? Blah! Thanks for sharing!
You’re right…no curriculum will do everything in depth. I think it comes down to like what you said, if nothing is really being retained then it might be time to see if something else is a better fit
@@thepracticalhomeschooler ha I’m seriously questioning everything now lol
Since I’m new to your channel and I’ve been watching several videos a day to catch up 😂 I’m reeling over a decision on planners 🤦♀️ Have you ever done a video on how (or if) you plan? What planner you use, etc. Right now I use a generic planner from Amazon, because this was our first year, it’s Kinder and we don’t have to report Kinder here, so I didn’t bother planning anything. I use it to write down what I lessons actually did each day. But next year I want to actually plan better. If you e done a video, I’d love to watch it. And if not, maybe an idea for a new video?
My son had THE SAME issue with The Good And The Beautiful Language Arts, except he just finished 1st grade. We finished up our school year a couple weeks ago and I was really feeling frustrated too about the fact that my son didn't retain the language arts the way he should have. He does Abeka Math and is extremely strong in math and I think TGATB isn't spiral enough for him, looking back I totally agree with you, they cover a ton of topics but don't do a ton of review and I think for some kids it just isn't enough.
Thanks for your encouraging words, sorry you went through the same thing
Sorry to hear it didn’t work for him. It’s disheartening to have that happen after you’ve spent ALL year on something.
I can relate! My son did Level 3 and and just finished Level 4 and at first I thought it was just him. But we are now at the end of 4th grade and his writing has not progressed whatsoever. When I really look at TGATB, the way they teach writing is not strong, in my opinion. I also felt like a failure! We are switching to Fix it Grammar and Essentials in Writing.
My oldest just finished level 4 LA and I said “they only had you write one assignment” and she said, yes but they prepared you all year to write one really good paper as opposed to writing a lot of papers without much instruction. So I thought her takeaway was interesting. I think when she gets older we’re going to do IEW for writing! Adding fix it grammar to her LA for next year too!
Highly recommend Christian Light Education. Its amazing! My very independent child thrives. Its very thorough. Her testing she several grades ahead. Its not pretty or exciting looking, but its easy and works. Check it out.
I know that it’s worksheet based and considering how much she loves worksheets, that would have probably been a better fit (especially since it’s independent!) thanks for sharing your experience ❤️
I also used TGATB 2nd grade language arts with my youngest daughter and she was not retaining it as much as she should have. We switched to Christian Light Education for 3rd grade and she is retaining so much more. There is lots of review in it. It's not colorful like TGATB but my daughter doesn't mind it and actually likes it better. If you are thinking of changing curriculum for LA CLE is a great option to look into. 🙂
Do you use CLE for reading and language? Is there spelling in either of those?
@@heatherwiltshire0182 I use both. Spelling and cursive writing are included in the language arts light units.
You rock mamas you didn’t fail her… u thought u would work for her and it didn’t that all lesson learned…
I agree totally about TGTB LA level 2 is wide but not deep. I found myself supplementing a lot . I had to change curriculum mid year to CLE LA and it was the best decision. It dives deep and that’s just what we needed. No supplements needed now because it has daily review which is what TGTB LA 2 was lacking.
I hear great things about CLE! So glad it’s working well for you guys!!
Nikki, do you use the reading and language from CLE? Do either of those include spelling?
@@heatherwiltshire0182 Yes, I use both reading and language. The language includes spelling and penmanship as well as phonics. It works well for my son because he is autistic and thrives off repetition . It goes at his pace. He is able to do most of the work independently. I also use CLE for math, bible, science, and social studies. Love them all!
We don’t use TGTB anymore because we had the same experience. It’s never concerning until the assessments come and you realize how much you missed. Just switch curriculums, find something great that your daughter likes and it makes a world of difference!
Aww man…sorry you had the same experience! I hope your new curriculum is a better fit!
I've been coming to this conclusion as well. It's not going deep enough in some concepts for it to really work for us long term. I like their kinder level and even level 1, but I'm thinking I need to transition to something a little more thorough.
For me it’s opposite, I like it more from level 4 and up! Haha
@@thepracticalhomeschooler That's funny! 🤣 Just goes to show to each their own homeschool! ❤️❤️
@@SummerMeyers exactly!! I was thinking the same thing 😊☺️
Omg I had the same problem with level 1 good and beautiful LA. I love it but I think it needs more review of concepts. I was thinking of supplementing with abeka work books with it but I'm not sure if that's the way to go. We may go with a totally different curriculum.
Hope you find what fits best for you!
Everyone occasionally has regrets about a certain curriculum choice, but kids are resilient. When you realize something isn’t working just try something else. 😀