Note: Our family is no longer using Sonlight, but I am keeping these posts available for those who are interested. For more information on why we have changed course, READ HERE.
Part 2 – How We Chose a Core
I thought I should explain how we chose a Core to start our Sonlight
journey because it offers some insight into our homeschool philosophy as well as how I teach (or plan to teach) multi-levels of children.
I have always been drawn to the Classical cycle of homeschooling. There is something right and good about following history chronologically, even when it causes me angst. This year we were supposed to be starting world history over from the beginning. I got just a few short weeks in to it and realized I could not follow the path that ominously stretched before me with the curriculum I had chosen. All I could see was a big black forest. Overwhelmed would be an understatement!
This is when I began researching and researching in my obsessive manner. I knew I could not let go of the chronological format, but I had to let go of something.
Once the decision was made to go with Sonlight, I had to choose where to start with a 3rd grader and a 6th grader (our preschooler and kindergartner are homeschooled a little less conventionally). I wanted so badly to start with the beginning of time where we had already tried to make a start, but in Sonlight those years are Core 1 & 2 or 1+2 (which was too young) and Core 6 & 7 or Alt 7 (which would be too difficult for my 3rd grader). This is where I had to give myself permission to be flexible and take a different approach.
I chose to look at my children as a whole. Someday each one of them will be added to the equation. I needed to think about what the future would look like and find the simplest solution to the problem…
Child #1 (age 11.5) & Child #2 (age 8.5) will continue to be homeschooled together.
Child #3 (age 5) & Child #4 (age 3.5) will also be homeschooled together.
Child #6 (age 1) is the odd man out right now and will be on his own unless another baby makes it’s appearance in the next year or so.
That means, at some point in time I could be looking at 3 different levels of teaching. I already feel overwhelmed! How could I manage something of that magnitude? I knew I needed to find a way to streamline. The best way to do that was to set a course that smoothly transitions each learning level into the same time period as the learning level above it so mama is never teaching more than one time period in history.
To do this with Sonlight meant starting my oldest level of homeschoolers in Core 3+4this year, moving them to Core 5 next year, and then when the next level of homeschool students are ready to join a formal schooling atmosphere (as formal as it gets in this household), everyone is on the same page…Core 6 for the olders, Core 1 for the youngers. Both groups studying world history from the beginning in their own level. Bliss for my little chronological heart. *happy sigh*
So, that is how we arrived upon Core 3+4. Next post in this series will deal with how we make Sonlight work for different ages and abilities and how I’ve learned to master the curriculum and not the other way around
Sonlight series:
Part 1 – Why We Bought Sonlight
This post is Part 2 – How We Chose a Core
Part 3 – Making the Curriculum Work For You
Part 4 – Every Curriculum Has Its Cons
Kristy says
Since I don’t homeschool, some of this is a bit confusing to me – but praise God you found a way that works for you and for your little ones! It sounds like a wonderful thing you have there!
Jenn @ A Country Girl's Ramblings says
We use Sonlight also! I have been using it for 8 years actually! Currently I am using Core 5 for my oldest and Core 2 for the next two and my 3 year old just goes about her business!
Sarah...the Momma! says
We started out with Sonlight but have slowly transitioned to Winterpromise because it was easier to keep the kids together with all their ages. Just another idea…your plan sounds good though!
Luke says
I’m enjoying these posts a lot [smile].
~Luke
Anonymous says
nice post. thanks.
Camille says
Thanks for sharing your journey with us Amy ~ It sounds like something to look into.
Keep in mind that the high school years become more independant in their learning…if you want them to, that is. So by the time baby #6 is in hands on teaching mode, your older ones will be in high school!
Don’t get overwhelmed…take it one day at a time keeping the BIG picture in mind! Hang in there!!
Blessings,
Camille
Amy says
So funny reading this, because it made perfect sense to me! I also love studying history chronilogically, and we started with my oldest when he was in first grade with Core 1. Then I ran into trouble adding the other kids,because it was never perfect for any of them! One of them was ready to join us right when we were fighting the Civil War. This really bothered me, but it was a boy, so he loved it! Go figure.
MolleenCarie says
Have I read this before? It all sounds so familiar. Did you post this somewhere else, maybe part of it? Maybe at MOMYS?
Maybe I just need more coffee.
I’m glad it’s all working out for you with Sonlight, and hope it continues to!
I am blessed! says
I went through this same obsessing a few months ago and did go with core 6 for my 10 and 8 yr olds, but they struggle with some of the books. Occasionally I switch the readers and read alouds or take one book at a time if it’s a little more difficult and we read it together and separately. This way they never get too lost. We’ll do core 3/4 next year with oldest 3. I’m really hoping my almost 7 year old will be able to handle it, but I’ve already started collecting the books and have noticed some are much easier than others. Plus we’re planning on going to Washington and Virginia next year. I’ll look forward to learning more from you since you’re doing now what we’ll do next year!
Lisa in Jax says
Sonlight 5 has a big maturity level. I know that both of my older gifted kids weren’t ready for it before 5-6th grade. You may have trouble keeping your first two together if you do it next year.
There is a big jump in reading level and the topics are more complex.
We loved SL5, it is by far one of our favorite years. SL2, the old one, it’s now SL1+2, was our favorite. I can’t wait to use it with my littles in about 2 years. 🙂
Blessings,
Lisa in Jax
Keri Brown says
Hi Lisa! It’s probably odd to you to be receiving a reply to a comment you made almost a year ago, but there’s a reason that I ended up here. We just found out yesterday that our almost-7-year-old daughter falls into the highly gifted category. The information we gained about where she is academically has me now trying to figure out how to meet her needs next school year.
I’ve considered using Sonlight in the past, so I did a search on “Sonlight and Gifted Kids,” and here’s where I ended up! I’m very interested to learn about your experience using Sonlight with your gifted kids. If you’re willing and able to share any insights with me, I’d love to hear from you via email.
Thanks!
Keri Brown
Keri Brown says
Oops! I thought my email address would appear on my reply, but it doesn’t. It’s willowmama@hotmail.com .
Marla says
I’m new to sonlight and re-homeschooling after a several years away. Could you tell me if you think it would be ok to cover a core over 2 years. I will be doing 100 with my 7th grader and I know the public schools do american history in 7th and 8th grade. She came from the gifted program in public school. My younger one will be dong core 3 and she works a little slower. Would we be missing something doing either of them over 2 years if we felt it was all too much?
thank you!
Amy says
I know many families who take 2 yrs to do a core and it seems to work very well. Good luck with it!
Keri Brown says
Hi Amy! I just came upon this post because I searched on “Sonlight and gifted kids,” and one of your comments came up in my search results. (I replied to the comment to seek some guidance from the commenter.)
Your blog looks like a nice place to stay and visit a while. 🙂 I don’t have the time to do so right now, but I’m bookmarking you and hope to poke around here some more tomorrow!
Blessings to you!
-Keri Brown
Amy says
Welcome!