Does anyone here use Sonlight?

**tightwadmommy** · 11-22-2005, 02:16 PM

I've been thinking about this for my 8 year old DS. He loves to read. Was wondering exactly what all is involved.

**Early Bird** · 11-22-2005, 03:23 PM

I have used Sonlight for 5 years; and, while I like it very much, I'm using it in my own way.

First, you should check out the Sonlight forums at www.sonlight.com/forums

You'll find lots and lots of information.

Second, you might contact Sonlight and request
* a catalog [TONS of info in the catalog]
* A booklet (free) "About Sonlight Curriculum." I reread mine every couple of years.

Now, some of my lessons learned. YMMV.

* Sonlight stresses History and Literature. You'll need some other program for Math. Sonlight sells their own language arts program, which I find to be advanced for the grade level. For example, I would use their "K" program with a first grader. You can order a lot of extracurriculars from Sonlight too. But I find Rainbow Resource to be a cheaper source for most things I want.

* Once you get to Sonlight 3, History, Readers, and Read Alouds all dovetail to some degree. And the Language Arts ties in to the Readers slightly. For example, you're reading History about Colonization; your child is reading a Reader on Pocahontas; and you're reading "Sign of the Beaver" as a Read Aloud. The Lang Arts lessons use dictaction that was taken from the Reader.

I eventually caught on that this is too much of a good thing for us. I might stick w/ Sonlight's History, but I like Readers and Read Alouds to be things that my kids find interesting.

* Each subject can be used independently -- for example, you can buy and successfully use JUST Sonlight's Readers + Instructor Guide. Having bought 'complete cores' in the past, I think, in future, I'd just pick and choose.

* The Instructor's Guides are worth the money to some people; to others, nope. I'm one of the latter. The guide was very useful my first year; after that, I chose my own schedule.

* Sonlight is rich. Very rich. Some people compare it to Thanksgiving Dinner. So, don't feel bad if you go Sonlight and can't get it all done. I have taken 2 years to do Core 3. And we skipped some of the books. I am SLOWLY working through Core 4.

* My academic focus is math and language arts. Then science. And music. So, for me, Sonlight is nice, but it focuses on what I consider 2ndary subjects. We enjoy it -- but only after our Math, LA, Music Practice, and Spanish are done for the day.

* In future, I'll be buying some Sonlight. Probably. But I don't use their Bible; and I'm finding better Language Arts. I like to choose my own Read Alouds; the kids choose their own Readers at the library. And there are some books I just don't like. So, I'll be buying some books on their History list. I might buy their Instructor's Guides for higher grades. But I doubt that I'll be buying complete Cores again.

* BTW, their 4-day program is PLENTY full enough for my family, even w/ schooling 5 days/week!

* One of the beauties of Sonlight is that you CAN tailor it to fit your family. For us, it's a nice-to-have, but some people make it their primary focus. Lots of homeschoolers use bits and pieces of Sonlight; some actually do everything the IG recommends.

**Valerie in WA** · 11-22-2005, 03:38 PM

Jean, you've asked a very broad question and I think EarlyBird has given you a good overview. I second her recommendation to check out the SL forums and get a catalog. There are three things I can think to add. One is that SL is not a 'hands-on' curriculum. It's mostly read and discuss. That doesn't work well for everyone. Secondly, you mention your ds loves to read, but you should know that SL is dependent upon the parent reading to the child as well. Thirdly, SL is completely prepped out for you. If you choose to use it as packaged, you'll never spend more than a few minutes in lesson-planning.

Please feel free to ask more questions.

**owiebrain** · 11-27-2005, 12:42 AM

We tried it a few years back. I agree with everything the others said above. It's a great program but it's not for everyone and it's very expensive (for us). Do check out the forums, ask a lot of questions, and see if it's a good fit for your family. It wasn't for us but I still think highly of it.