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Another question… Hope I am allowed to ask?
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If I’m not allowed to ask this, please forgive me and delete this post.
Are there any former Sonlight users here? If so, can you explain to me how you made the switch to SCM? What I mean is, I had just bought the Core 5 to start using in the coming Fall. I paid too much for this to let it sit on the shelf.:(
I’m trying to figure out a plan to use some of the books for DS (will be 11, starting 6th grade). But, I’d like for DD (who will be 5 3/4, starting K) to start listening in on our history readings, so we can all adjust to doing most of our school work together. Any ideas?
By the way, the Sonlight Core 5 is mostly a geography course, with some biographies. I was thinking of getting books on DD’s level from the library on the different country that DS will be studying each week. Am I even close to a plan?
Thanks again!
One confused Mom!!
Hi Jean,
We used Sonlight for a few years (cores Pre-K, K, 3, 4 and 5) and just last year have made the transition over to CM. We still use many of our books left over from core 5 -mostly as leisure reading and narration. To be honost with you, I recently sold a bunch of Sonlight curriculum on ebay -including our Instructor guides. We’re now enjoying CM and this has been the best year of homeschooling so far. My kids are much more relaxed and enjoying our “school” time together. Unfortunalty I tried to incorporate the “CM” style even while I used the IG, worksheets, etc and it just didn’t work for us. Instead, I continued with some of the books that we were interested in from Sonlight, readaloud , assigned independant reading, required narration, copywork and some dictation- from there we just took off and let go of all the other stuff. I hope that makes sense. The neat thing is that it seemed to be so “simple” – the transition, I mean, that I don’t even know how it happened. I made up a schedule using the template on this site – putting us together for Bible and History and it has worked wonderfully. Though I’m still newer at this than many of the others here, I would still be happy to continue to share our experience with you and answer any other specific questions you might have(if I’m able 🙂 ) This SCM site is truly a blessing because it has “simplified” our life. I’ve said this before but it has been like a breath of fresh air.
HTH at least a little.
Heather
Heather,
Thanks so much! You made me feel so much more at ease. We have done Cores Pk, 3, 4 & we have 5 for next year. But, I really feel in my heart that I need to just pack up the instructor guide & the books we are truly not interested in.
May I ask the ages of your children? Mine will be 11 & 5 3/4 when we start school back in the fall. The reason I ask, is because of the Sonlight state-of-mind, is that they are too far apart in age to do atleast history readings together. Are they?
I’m praying I can talk DH into the switch. 🙂 He truly believes in Sonlight, although I’m the teacher in the house. He’s always supportive of our schooling, he just likes to have things planned out ( instructor guides), to make sure we don’t have any “holes” in the children’s education. Does this make sense?
The past year I was so stressed all the time because I felt I had to check all the little boxes on the IG. Know what I mean?
Any advice is GREATLY APPRECIATED!
Blessings!
I do not have any experience with Sonlight. I can answer two of your questions, though.
First, yes, your 11 year old and your 5 3/4 year old can both do history together. One way to enjoy history together is to choose books for your read-alouds that both children will enjoy. Choose some that are for the younger (you’ll be amazed at how much you learn from the seemingly more basic books) and choose some for the older. Don’t be concerned that the “older” material will be over the head of your younger child. It is amazing what they learn. Also, anything your younger child is not ready to learn will not be “caught” at this time. Then, assign a few books for independent reading for the older child.
Second, remember that every child’s education, whether public school, private school, or home school, will have some holes in it. That is okay! Not everyone is going to learn the same things. Oh, you may cover the basics but your choice of books and my choice of books will be different and that alone will create “holes” in both our families.
I’m not telling you not to plan well. You CAN plan things out to make sure that you cover the basics. (Have you taken a look at Sonya’s new planning book?)
I hope that helps you in your decision to switch a little.
Karen
Karen,
Thanks for the advice. Yes, I actually purchased Sonya’s ebook this morning.
I printed it out and have been reading all afternoon. It is wonderful! 🙂
It has helped me alot. I’ve actually started going through my bookshelves and trying to decide which Sonlight books we will keep to use next year, and trying to decide which other books we want to either get from the library or purchase.
Tomorrow I will pack up the Sonlight books we will not be using along with the instructor guides I have. After going through Sonya’s book, I just felt like a big weight was lifted off my shoulder.:)
One more question, please?
Do most of you combine the family for just history, or is it possible to also add in maybe science also? I know each family is different, I’m just trying to get a feel of things…
Blessings!
YES you can add in science as well. Your 5yo will naturally not “get” or do as much as your older child, but you can read together, help include the younger child in experiments or activities. There are several resources you can use to include various ages in together.
I’m so glad to see Karen mentioned–EVERYONE HAS HOLES. Public school leaves huge glaring holes! No one can learn everything there is to know by age 18. 🙂 Holes can be GOOD–I can think of a lot of things you DON’T want your child to know. 🙂 But if you give your children a rich and full education–Charlotte Mason said it was like offering a banquet–and then help them to choose the best now, then all their lives they’ll be able to learn themselves whatever it is they need or want to know.
To answer your questions…..
My school aged boys are 12 & 7. It was hard having to do two cores with Sonlight because of their 5 year age difference. We did do science together the past two years using Apologias Science – Elementary Zoology 1 & 2. It worked out great. I just beafed up some of the notebook projects for my older and simplified them for my younger. We scheduled History together 3 days a week and science 2 days. This summer we’ve started SCM 106 days of creation studies and we’re doing it together right now. Once fall hits however, my son will be turing 13 and is moving up to Apologias General Science. Then, I will have to schedule that for him to do independantly while my younger son and I will be continuing in creation studies.
About your DH- have you shared with him the fact that sonlight has you stressed out? Think about once you have simplified your schooling through CM- how much more available you will be to you husband. Emotionaly speaking 😉 Maybe you could share this with him. I know I’m not much of a helper to my dh when I’m stressed to the max. Know what I mean? What everyone else has said about the “holes” is wonderful! I feared this at first too when leaving Sonlight but I have to tell you that I have seen my kids learn So much more this year – because there is a peace and calm with learning now that was not there before. When there is tension and stress – nobody is happy and learning is a chore- just a checklist to mark off.
I’m so excited to hear you got the book! Yeahhhh – mine is on its way. I really need the DVD as I still need all the help I can get. 🙂
Peace to you and yours!
Heather
Bookworm, (love that name) 🙂
Very well said. There are things I don’t want my children to know.
I’m thinking of combining the kids in history, science, geography, nature study, poetry,and physical education. Then of course, each child has there own math, copywork, reading. DD is starting her phonics this year.
I was trying to search in the book finder last night, and correct me if I am wrong. But what happened to the search by grade levels & subject ?
I thought when I was just lurking a few weeks ago, I could do that. But now, I can only search by subject and NOT grade level. Is it just me??
Thanks again for all your help, I really do appreciate it!
To answer your questions…..
My school aged boys are 12 & 7. It was hard having to do two cores with Sonlight because of their 5 year age difference. We did do science together the past two years using Apologias Science – Elementary Zoology 1 & 2. It worked out great. I just beafed up some of the notebook projects for my older and simplified them for my younger. We scheduled History together 3 days a week and science 2 days. This summer we’ve started SCM 106 days of creation studies and we’re doing it together right now. Once fall hits however, my son will be turing 13 and is moving up to Apologias General Science. Then, I will have to schedule that for him to do independantly while my younger son and I will be continuing in creation studies.
About your DH- have you shared with him the fact that sonlight has you stressed out? Think about once you have simplified your schooling through CM- how much more available you will be to you husband. Emotionaly speaking Maybe you could share this with him. I know I’m not much of a helper to my dh when I’m stressed to the max. Know what I mean? What everyone else has said about the “holes” is wonderful! I feared this at first too when leaving Sonlight but I have to tell you that I have seen my kids learn So much more this year – because there is a peace and calm with learning now that was not there before. When there is tension and stress – nobody is happy and learning is a chore- just a checklist to mark off.
I’m so excited to hear you got the book! Yeahhhh – mine is on its way. I really need the DVD as I still need all the help I can get.
Peace to you and yours!
Heather
Jean,
The appearance of the bookfinder page has recently changed, but I can still get it to search by grade. You should see a grayish area across the top of the page, with fields for a phrase or author, and also for setting, time period, subject, and grade level, then a teal button that says “Search” So you can, for example, search for “Civil war” and “Year 4 to Year 8” or “Geography” for “Year 1 to Year 3”
Does that help?
Michelle D
Heather & Michelle,
Yes, I’ve talked to DH last night about our school situation. He knows this upcoming year was going to be a tough one with trying to teach DD to read.
He says to do what I feel is best. He was very supportive. 🙂
The one thing he was concerned with is that DS would get bored from not reading as much as with Sonlight. I assured him he would still be getting lots of reading, just not quite as much or as fast paced (as we are used to with Sonlight).
I know once we adjust, everyone will be happier (especially Mom).
*Michelle, on the bookfinder, I went back and typed in civil war and hit the gray search button. For just a second (really ! 🙂 ) the grade level search popped up, then went away!!!! HELP!! I can’t understand why it will not stay on my screen.
I really need it. 🙁
@Jean, I’d like to see if I can figure out what is happening with the Bookfinder in case there is a bug we need to fix.
Please use our contact form to tell us what operating system (e.g., Windows XP, OS X Leopard, etc.) and browser (e.g., Internet Explorer 7, Firefox 2, Safari, etc.) you are using. Also, let us know what kind of Internet connection you have (e.g., Cable, DSL, dial-up, etc.) Then I’ll see if I can duplicate the problem and find a fix.
Thanks.
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