Homeschooling Shift
I’ve spent the better part of the last three days going through homeschooling curriculum. It has been bittersweet. I’ve gathered together and prepared for sale the last four Sonlight Cores (2,3,4 & 5) that we’ve used. These are history/world culture books that we’ve loved and cherished. But it is time for us to do something different.
I’ve listed everything for sale (and I’m still not done yet) on the Sonlight Forums. One core has sold, another has interest, and I’m sure the other two won’t last long. Our books are in very good to excellent to like new condition and I’m not penny pinching on the price.
Now, what to do instead? I am looking for a history/world curriculum that involves one — yes one — read-aloud. My top choices are Story of the World and Mystery of History. While I am leaning toward Mystery of History, the Story of the World is much simpler to implement. So I don’t know yet what I’ll do.
Because of not using Sonlight for the Core or the reader-related language arts, there are other things to figure out. What books should the kids read for their readers? What workbook approach to follow for language arts — grammar, vocabulary, language mechanics, spelling? I have some options there. A friend recommends Daily Grams and I’m almost certain we’ll use those. I’ve looked at the ACE English workbooks, which would seem to be perfectly comprehensive for Naomi and Mikah, while terribly boring and babyish for Haniya.
Science may see changes, too. Our resident science teacher (Jeff) has such a breadth of science knowledge that he sees flaws in just about every science lesson we cover from the God’s Design series (sold now by Answers in Genesis). Those may go up for sale, too. What to use instead? Are the kids ready for Apologia? What about Biology 101?
The idea behind all these changes is to focus more on the kids’ basics, which in our opinion are these areas: Reading/Writing, Math and Science. Of course, Bible is a daily topic no matter what. History will be as I mentioned before, in the form of a daily read-aloud. So you see, I have some things to figure out.
I was thinking about using Sonlight for Tot. How did you like it? What are the good/bad points?
Hi, Kristin!
You and Tot would love it so much. The good points are: great books and lots of fun and lots of exposure to literature, the world, poetry, and much more. At the age of your Tot, it would be wonderful! The only bad point is that it requires time (especially as the children get older) but at Tot’s age, it isn’t so much and it is all fun. My best memories of when the kids were little were of sitting and reading Sonlight books, exploring the pictures and ideas. Haniya really got a great education! She’s the one who got to “explore” with Sonlight the most fully.
One of the main reasons we are shifting now is because it requires so much time to do it fully, leaving us with not much time or energy to devote what we should to the basics. For the younger age, when exploration is the most thrilling, most important part of schooling, I think Sonlight is a great match! I think it would be a good match for us now, even, if our life wasn’t so full from living in the country and the self-sufficiency projects we have going. I don’t have enough time to devote to all the readings to get the most out of the programs. And it seems like the kids don’t either. There are “life” projects we need to have more time to accomplish. That will be learning as well.
I hope I’ve helped. I think, with as great a reader as you are, and as much a book-lover as you are, Sonlight would be a very good match for you and Tot. I hope you let me know what you decide.
Love, Wardeh
I understand what you are going through, Wardeh. I am also selling things and changing things. I think I am pretty settled on what to use for the everything, except 2nd grade English. I have used Rod and Staff for years, but I think my youngest might need something else. I hope you figure out just what you need.