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Sonlight for Good Readers


I try to be very careful about what curriculum I recommend, because different approaches will work for different families, but Sonlight is one of the curriculums I have made a point of praising, because we used it in our homeschool for about five years, and really enjoyed it.  The only reason I stopped using it was because I had prolific readers and they read all the books!  I especially recommend Sonlight to people that are new to homeschooling, because I find that their curriculum is one of the easiest curriculums to find. If you’re interested in Sonlight, you can find a link on my website, and they’ll know that I sent you.

Sonlight is very literature-based, so at the high school level the books can be pretty tough reading.  It’s important, then, that your student is a good reader. Even if your child doesn’t like to read but is still a good reader, I think Sonlight can still be a good fit, because the books are so varied.  With such variety, Sonlight offers more of an opportunity for students to learn, because they are more likely to find things that interest them.



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Comments 5

Guest - ME on Friday, 15 June 2012 15:16

Last year was my first year of using Sonlight. We are so glad we did. It's not perfect; we made some modifications, but that's one of the things we like about Sonlight. It is easy to modify. The spelling didn't work, so we replaced it with what did. The only thing I do not care about is the age Sonlight seems to keep the students in. Last year we used Core E and though my son doesn't fit in the "age" group listed, this core was too easy for him. I chose this core based on conversations with the admin and their suggestion of choosing the core based on the Math level and the science level. Math was head on, because it's what we'd been using all along, (Horizons), and the science was mainly review, but got better towards the end. The reading was way too easy. Language Arts has also been supplemented. But we are using it again next year and we are excited about it. The amount of time I save on what to teach, I get to spend with my child learning too.

Last year was my first year of using Sonlight. We are so glad we did. It's not perfect; we made some modifications, but that's one of the things we like about Sonlight. It is easy to modify. The spelling didn't work, so we replaced it with what did. The only thing I do not care about is the age Sonlight seems to keep the students in. Last year we used Core E and though my son doesn't fit in the "age" group listed, this core was too easy for him. I chose this core based on conversations with the admin and their suggestion of choosing the core based on the Math level and the science level. Math was head on, because it's what we'd been using all along, (Horizons), and the science was mainly review, but got better towards the end. The reading was way too easy. Language Arts has also been supplemented. But we are using it again next year and we are excited about it. The amount of time I save on what to teach, I get to spend with my child learning too.
Guest - Homeschooling Mom on Friday, 15 June 2012 14:20

Lee, what do you recommend for highschool students whose reading speed is less than ideal? I took a look at the Sonlight highschool programs and the list of books to be read is HUGE! I can't imagine getting through all those books in one school year! We do well to get through in-depth studies of just two or three books per year!

My son understands and remembers what he reads, its just the speed that is the problem. He has never enjoyed reading, although I've read to him since his baby days.

Lee, what do you recommend for highschool students whose reading speed is less than ideal? I took a look at the Sonlight highschool programs and the list of books to be read is HUGE! I can't imagine getting through all those books in one school year! We do well to get through in-depth studies of just two or three books per year! My son understands and remembers what he reads, its just the speed that is the problem. He has never enjoyed reading, although I've read to him since his baby days.
Guest - J W on Friday, 15 June 2012 14:18

Sonlight - fantastic for the first child, disaster for the second :-) Second child is special needs, but even when I started Sonlight 1st grade for 4th grade, it still didn't work. Some of the 1st grade books are still a bit beyond 2nd child at 6th grade. Oh well :-)

Sonlight - fantastic for the first child, disaster for the second :-) Second child is special needs, but even when I started Sonlight 1st grade for 4th grade, it still didn't work. Some of the 1st grade books are still a bit beyond 2nd child at 6th grade. Oh well :-)
Guest - Renee L. on Friday, 15 June 2012 12:23

I think Lee makes a good point. But I thought I'd add to that.
Our family has used Sonlight for 11 years now. We have some avid readers and some struggling readers among our 7 children. All of my children use Sonlight, and we adapt or supplement it to meet each student's needs. The avid readers get additional books from the library or book stores as needed. The struggling readers are read to and and just use what they are ready for. Like everything it has pros and cons,but overall, it has been an excellent curriculum for all of us.

I think Lee makes a good point. But I thought I'd add to that. Our family has used Sonlight for 11 years now. We have some avid readers and some struggling readers among our 7 children. All of my children use Sonlight, and we adapt or supplement it to meet each student's needs. The avid readers get additional books from the library or book stores as needed. The struggling readers are read to and and just use what they are ready for. Like everything it has pros and cons,but overall, it has been an excellent curriculum for all of us.
Guest - Kelly (website) on Friday, 15 June 2012 11:11

I'm a brand new homeschooler and we started our kindergarten year with Sonlight last week! May I ask what you have switched to since Sonlight? Curious because I suspect that I will oneday have some voracious readers too..

I'm a brand new homeschooler and we started our kindergarten year with Sonlight last week! May I ask what you have switched to since Sonlight? Curious because I suspect that I will oneday have some voracious readers too..:)
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