Considering the Sonlight curriculum?
If you are looking for a literature based homeschool curriculum that avoids traditional textbooks, you might absolutely love Sonlight!
How the Sonlight Program Works
The purpose of this homeschooling program was really to go and take the best aspects of different homeschool approaches that are available and turn them into one of the best curriculums anywhere. Whether you are Christian or not, you and your children will benefit from this program.
The format of the program is a literature base. The curriculum includes numerous Newberry award winning books, as well as historical fiction and classic literature all scheduled around the different themes that are taught with Sonlight. Traditional textbooks are avoided….just “real” books here!
Whether you want your first grader to get a better understanding of the Bible or want your 17 year old to learn about the U.S. government…the Sonlight curriculum can do both.
“Core” Programs
Sonlight can be used to children grades K-12. However, they spilt their years into “cores” that are roughly based on age. (However, these do match to traditional grade levels that a child would be in a day school program.)
Cores can easily be adapted for children slightly younger or older. The core programs include Read Alouds, Bible, Readers, and History. Their complete program also includes your choice of Science and Math programs as well.
Language Arts uses assignments that tie into the history core once the child is in Core 3 or above. The program does an excellent job at tying in many different styles of writing.
Instructors Guide
One of the biggest benefits for the parent is the Instructor’s guide that provides day to day lessons that are very structured. So you don’t have to be the best or most organized teacher in the world to provide your child with a top-notch education.
The guide includes background notes, narration questions, comprehension questions, vocabulary word help as well as a number of creative extracurricular activities and the objectives that enhance the learning process.
Advantages to Using the Program
There are a number of advantages to the Sonlight Curriculum such as the fact that they take care of all the scheduling and planning for you. (Some moms still create your own lesson plans many parents only use the guide as a frame work and then “tweak it.”)
The instructors guide really provides you with everything that you need to teach your child regardless of your teaching experience and where your child is at in their educational process. This program proves that it is never too late for you to start homeschooling your children.
Other benefits:
- Children learn and retain history better from reading great books than from traditional textbook teaching.
- Cuddling with their kids over a good books is a lot more appealing to some moms than teaching a text!
- Children in this program are exposed to some of the greatest books ever written!
Program Drawbacks
The main drawback is that if you and your child are not avid readersthis program is going to be a challenge for you and them. Sonlight is based on literature, and you should be prepared to do a lot of reading to your child and for yourself.
A second drawback for the Sonlight Curriculum is that it requires more study time than some other programs…on average about 3.5 to 5 hours a day for the child’s studies.
That time doesn’t take into consideration Math or any other instruction that you would like to give your child. This also does not include the teaching time. For a middle schooler, expect to spend about 6 hours with your children a day using this program.
The final disadvantage is if you have a large family or if your children span several core levels. This would be a big commitment of the parent’s time to teach two or more Core levels at the same time.
You Might Love It
Overall Sonlight Curriculum is an excellent homeschooling curriculum. If you love great books that make history come alive…this Homeschool curriculum will really appeal to you!
Every curriculum has it’s drawbacks, but, for many families, Sonlight’s advantages far outweigh the few drawbacks that it has.
To learn more, visit Sonlight’s website, at Sonlight.com
