I would like all of your personal opinions on their programs. What are the strengths and weaknesses? Also how long does this program take you to do daily? Do you find it easier in the long run to just follow the IG? I have found when I tweak stuff I end up drowning myself and have to stop and go back to the schedule that I started off with. Lately I have been really drawn to the who idea of Sonlight. A few reasons are that I am looking for something that is all laid out for me, all the material is there, there is no searching for endless books, or wondering what comes next. Make sense? I am forever trying to make up a history program that uses great books, yet seem to fail when it comes to putting all the books together. Then I started thinking why I am I doing all this work when I can just buy a program that someone already has done it all for me. Now in your opinion what parts of Sonlight are the best to use and why. I mean do you use the Science, History, reading, and LA? If you use their LA is it solid? Or do you feel you need to supplement? I am very drawn to their History and Reading. Is it possible to do just those? Now with the reading one does it incorporate the LA in it? Like is the reading IG the LA IG. I am confused on the whole what IG goes with what, what a core actually is. All of it. I want to make sure I get the right program. I don't want to end up with one that is too easy or too hard. Make sense. I almost feel as if I am reading/ putting way too much into what should be simple. Sorry for rambling. I just really want to make sure I do this right. I have decided to buy new when I do get it. One for the return offer they offer. The other as I stated above, I am tired of searching for items. I want all of it all together with no worries. Way too much of my days and time are devoted to searching, finding, scheduling. When they really don't need to be. They need to be devoted to spending more time with my family. Now do you try to keep the cores like core 1 grade 1, core 5 grade 5? Or do you just do them and go till you are done? I noticed that they have a large grade range to the side along with an age range per core. In your opinion is it easier or better to try to stay in the middle range of those rather then the end making it too easy and the beginning making it more of a struggle? For example Core 5 grade range is 5,6,7,8 age range is 10, 11, 12, 13. Now does this mean an advanced grade 5 and a lower end grade 8 would work with this program? So, maybe it would be better suited for a grade 6 or 7? Please help. I am lost.
I only used the science program of theirs and I only used it through 7th grade and then I switched to apologia. Sonlight uses apologia so it was easier just to switch right over to apologia. I've never used their whole curriculum though.
I love Sonlight. This is my 2nd year (did core 1 with 2nd reg readers and this year core 2 with intermediate readers). I use it for Bible, History, LA and Science. Also how long does this program take you to do daily? Do you find it easier in the long run to just follow the IG? I have found when I tweak stuff I end up drowning myself and have to stop and go back to the schedule that I started off with. Most days school takes us 4 hrs, that includes Sonlight, Math (we use Horizons), Handwriting, Latin, Art/Music. I am a box checker in many ways. I do try and stick to the schedule but I do find sometimes I adjust. last week we doubled up work in prep for a feild trip and a trip to grandma's. Dd is just finishing the majority of week 8th's work. We will be a little behind in our read aloud but plan on doing that over the weekend. Sonlight's plan is really great and for the most part I just follow it straight through. If you use their LA is it solid? Or do you feel you need to supplement? The LA takes a natural approach. I do think it is a solid approach. The level of work increases each year. The way our week works is Mon.- Copy work, Tues- lesson on something like descriptive words, synonmys, onomompeia, verbs, proper nouns.... These are short but usually reinforced in the writing assignment, Wed. prep for writing assignment (brainstorm, graphic organizer something like that) Thurs, writing assignment. I can tell you that with this aproach dd who does not like writing is doing great. I can see improvement all the time and she now even enjoys taking the ideas and doing outside assignments. She also does daily phonics, spelling and weekly vocabulary along with this program. I can say that I may supplement starting next year with Easy Grammar as more of a reinforcement for her but I really like the way Sonlight approaches LA. I am very drawn to their History and Reading. Is it possible to do just those? Yes you can do these seperate. A Core with readers will include the schedule to do that. I know a few people who do this. Now with the reading one does it incorporate the LA in it? Like is the reading IG the LA IG. I am confused on the whole what IG goes with what, what a core actually is. All of it. I want to make sure I get the right program. I don't want to end up with one that is too easy or too hard. Make sense. If you get the core with readers you do not get the LA, that is a seperate IG. The LA does go along a little with the readers. The copy work is sentences that are taken right from the readers. Now do you try to keep the cores like core 1 grade 1, core 5 grade 5? Or do you just do them and go till you are done? For us the Cores are going pretty much along with the grade. I do know a few people who use one core for multiple ages. They just get the readers appropriate for that age or some use something else for reading. Last year we got the core done by the begining of June but there are some people who stretch them out, some even use them for 2 years but that is a little much for me unless you are really supplementing with something else. I do not see the reason to do that since Sonlight is so complete. I hope that answers your questions. If there is anything else feel free to ask.
I'm doing Core 1 with intermediate readers this year and only using the History/Literature core. My son LOVES the Sonlight books and asks to do that first every day. We're actually a couple of weeks ahead on literature because he asks to do more. I generally follow the IG, do the timelines, do the maps, and ask the comprehension questions. My son is in second grade and we're using Core 1 with success. Many people say that it's good to use one Core below grade level when using the whole program.
