Classic Tapestry and Tapestry Redesigned:
What's the Big Difference and Does It Matter?
As a homeschooling mom of four, I started using Classic Tapestry of Grace a few years ago because I was hoping to find something that would make my life a bit easier trying to homeschool our various children. We used the only version available at that time, Classic Tapestry. We used it for two years (using Years 2 and 3) before deciding not to use it anymore (you can read more about our home schooling journey here). Now, after having bounced around with other home schooling curriculum, we're back using Tapestry Redesigned, and are having our best year ever.
So is Tapestry Redesigned really different? Is it easier to use? Is it worth the extra money?
While I'm no expert in using Classic Tapestry, I want to share with you my honest opinion about Classic Tapestry and Tapestry Redesigned -- what worked for us, what didn't, and share with you the differences so that you can see for yourself which version, if either, might suit your needs right now.
Classic Tapestry
What drew me to Tapestry in the first place? I was looking for...
- a literature-rich curriculum that would be easier to use, I hoped, with four children who were spread out in age,
- tools that would help me evaluate their learning other than just discussions, which are fine, but which would be a bit more objective,
- suggestions for how to help all of my children learn in various learning styles. I was learning in my homeschool journey that not all of my kids learned best simply reading about something; others needed something more hands-on to help bring it home to them.
I came across Tapestry of Grace, liked what I saw, and dived in. We used Tapestry for two years and had some great times. The good points for us? I loved the general idea of Tapestry of Grace...
- the unity our family experienced as we discussed what we were all learning, and that, even though the kids were of varying ages, they could all work on a project together (they still remember their play about Pocahontas).
- the simple overview and questions that were included in each week's overview that allowed me to have both a quick grasp of what we were all going to learn and also fuel for good discussions, all right at my fingertips,
- the ready-made suggestions for projects. We modified one suggestion and made Gothic cathedral out of a tall cardboard box -- complete with stained glass windows.
Classic Tapestry worked well for us in a lot of ways, and I have very fond memories of those years.
So why did we quit using Tapestry?
There were several negative aspects of Classic Tapestry that we found, and that were, perhaps, unique to our situation:
- It was difficult and expensive to buy all the books we needed. With Classic Tapestry, there are lots of choices of books. When we started using Tapestry, we were living in Japan, which meant that we had to buy all the books we needed, usually sight unseen, and ship them overseas. At that time you couldn't buy the books from Lampstand Press, so it was hard (and I think more expensive, too) to buy the books than it is now.
- With Classic Tapestry, there were too many options for books we could use. As I mentioned above, this may a strength for people who have English libraries nearby -- lots of choices of books you could use for Classic Tapestry -- but it was a detriment for us who had to buy all the resources we needed.
- There were times when we couldn't quite find the answers to some of the questions the children were supposed to find. Perhaps this was because there were lots of options for resources and so the authors of Tapestry couldn't tie the answers into one book, but this lead to a fair amount of frustration for both the children and for me (you can read between the lines here...)
- Lastly, by the end of the second year of using Classic Tapestry, I was, frankly, feeling burned out. Looking back, I can see that I was letting the curriculum dictate what I did with my children: I felt I had to do all the geography assignments, do the timelines, read the church history, etc. I guess I hadn't grown enough as a teacher to know how not to feel guilty when I didn't check off at least most of the boxes.
I know, I know, I DID read the directions that said you don't have to do it all! But I guess I didn't feel confident enough -- or know how to set good homeschooling goals enough -- to modify the writing assignments to fit my children's needs, or to cut out a reading assignment if it seemed like it was too much.
For two years or so we spent a few years of not using a structured curriculum. It was then that my husband and I as a couple really asked ourselves a lot of questions about what kind of an education we wanted for our kids, and what our core values about home schooling were. If you are interested in going through a simplified process of this, you can sign up for our free eCourse
where I will guide you through some of the same questions I asked myself to come up with our philosophy of education. Through all this I came to the point where I realized that I really wanted -- and was able to use effectively -- a tool to help me teach my children what I wanted them to learn.
Tapestry Redesigned
I wasn't intending to use Tapestry of Grace again. In fact, I had given away at least a few of the books that, even though I liked, I thought I wouldn't use again. But as I was explaining Tapestry to a friend, I realized that I was describing all the good things that I was looking for in a curriculum. So, again, I looked into the updated Redesigned version and, much to my surprise, we are back again.
I have to say I am delighted with what has been changed with Tapestry Redesigned:
- The Redesigned version makes it very clear which books are needed and which ones are supplemental. I don't have to make so many choices about which books to use, which makes my life that much easier.
- Lampstand Press now sells all the books and resources I need. This saves me tons of time searching on the Internet, and their prices are so competitive, I don't have to worry about shopping around to find the best deals.
- The questions on the Student Activity Pages and discussion outlines match more closely with the students' reading assignments. The Activity Pages are a great way to help children to think about what they've read, and now my children can do them without feeling frustrated. That helps me a lot, too.
- The teacher's notes are a lot easier to use, with color-coordinated symbols for the different learning levels (Grammar, Dialectic, and Rhetoric), and helpful information that my children and I can all find much more easily. There is also a page at the end of each week that lists budget tips and things to be on the look-out for the following week's lessons, including specific page numbers and what the concern might be (disturbing images, nudity in an art book, etc.).
- There is a lot of help available at the forums and website, much more so than a few years ago when I was first using Tapestry. I find the website is user-friendly and the forums easy to navigate. Much of it is geared to Tapestry Redesigned. I have asked a lot of questions and browsed around at a lot of answers, and I have received a lot of wisdom from other users, some of whom have struggled with similar issues, like burnout or having a reluctant writer.
- There are lots more supplemental resources that make teaching easier that are keyed to the Redesigned version. I love how simple it is to use the extra Evaluations and Map Aids they sell, as well as all the information on the Loom.
Conclusion
Classic Tapestry and Tapestry Redesigned really cater to people with different needs. Thus, what some people may love about Classic Tapestry may be something others don't like. For instance:
- Some people may want several suggestions for books to use. If you already own some of those books or if you want to use books available in your local library, having choices can be a huge help. However, those choices may frustrate you if you are trying to choose one book only to buy.
- Some people may feel comfortable using Classic Tapestry as a jumping off point for great discussions but not need specific answers tied to the book suggestions. Others may prefer to have those answers from the assigned books for their children that are used with Tapestry Redesigned.
- Some people may feel the better-designed teacher's notes, specific suggestions of readings, and resources that make it easier to teach are worth spending extra money on. Others may not be able to buy Redesigned or may have a higher personal comfort level with adapting and coaching their children to look at the big picture rather than looking only for specific answers. These people would probably be very happy with Classic Tapestry.
Much of the choice will depend on what you value more: is it worth a bit more money to have the convenience and better notes and resources? Or are you willing to somewhat make-do?
If you are debating between which version of Tapestry would be right for you, I would highly recommend you take a look over the free lessons available at the Tapestry of Grace website and, if you can, look over a copy of Classic Tapestry.
Both Classic Tapestry and Tapestry Redesigned offer an excellent educational experience for your whole family. The two versions really offer strong points aimed at meeting different needs. So, before you buy, look over this page again and be sure to know what your own desires and needs are.
Whichever you decide, I pray that God will bless your homeschooling journey.
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