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 3 – Making the Curriculum Work for You (and not the other way around)
If you have more than one child and you’ve homeschooled for more than a couple of years, you’ve more than likely heard the term “multi-level teaching”…and it struck fear in your little bitty homeschooling mama’s heart.
I always knew there would come a day when my oldest was not the only child I was teaching. I clearly remember the panic I felt when I added Child #2. However, she was such an enigma (and continues to be…remember the sponge analogy from this post?) and homeschooling her has just now, at age 9, taken on something resembling “normal” schooling. (why is it I cringe when I type the word normal?)
This year saw the addition of Child #3. However, her schooling was more about giving her a love for learning than it was about formal schooling. With this in mind, I knew our Sonlight 
purchase would be for my older children. That was where I needed to put my energy when choosing a Core.
I explained why we chose Core 3+4, but I did not explain how we’ve made one Core work for 2 very different children.
Core 3+4 is right at Meg’s level as a 3rd grader. She is a voracious reader, but easily overwhelmed by extra busy work. She prefers to do her work orally when possible, and despises competition.
Blake is a 6th grader, so Core 3+4 is technically “beneath” him. He is also a voracious reader and loves a good discussion. He works well independently AND corporately. He’s an easy-keeper when it comes to academics, but is easily bored if there’s not enough substance to what he’s doing.
I stressed over choosing a Core that was “beneath” my oldest son, yet the books included were good books I wanted him to read. Come to find out my stressing was all for naught. The history lessons have been relevant and solid and I’ve easily been able to supplement both the kiddos reading lessons with extra books I gathered from lists found in a wonderful book entitled All Through The Ages. (Please go check out this book!)
I’ve also learned I don’t HAVE to do all the things suggested in the Instructor’s Guide, especially on the days when Megan feels overwhelmed. I do all the questions from the history and reading selections orally in more of a discussion-like atmosphere so no one feels bogged down by more writing assignments. And I use the chapter assignments listed in the IG as guidelines rather than set-in-stone requirements. Some days we read more…some days less.
There is very little extra fuss to Sonlight. No extra projects cluttering my lesson plans, no extensive books lists making me think I HAVE to force my children to read every single book or they will somehow have missed out. All of it is there, in an easy-to-read format with extra space for me to write in MY projects or extra book suggestions.
Honestly, much of my ability to make Sonlight work for me rather than the other way around has to do with maturity as a homeschool mom. There truly are no perfect curricula out there (my next and last post will deal with some of the cons I see in Sonlight and my thoughts on those), but when you gain a certain level of maturity as a homeschooler (which has nothing to do with age and everything to do with finding your niche), you realize just about any curriculum will work IF it is designed with your particular personality in mind. When mama finds a good fit, she can make it fit the entire family. But you HAVE TO give yourself permission to be the master of the curriculum and not the other way around!
Sonlight Series:
Part 1 – Why We Bought Sonlight
Part 2 – How We Chose a Core
This is Part 3 – Making the Curriculum Work for You
Part 4 – Every Curriculum Has Its Cons
Erin says
I appreciate your point about “finding your niche” as a homeschooling parent – its so true! Thank you for also sharing your thoughts on choosing a Core “beneath” your oldest’s level, as that is something I go back and forth on. Can I ask what you plan to do once the oldest gets to HighSchool age? Thank you again for posting this series!
Sandi says
We are in year 5 of our homeschooling journey. I would overwhelmingly agree that you can make anything work that works for you as an individual.
I think I should be doing more from the teachers manuals not less. LOL!
I have long let go “getting it all done”. What is ALL anyway. They will finish school in our homes with tons more to learn. Just as long as they know how to learn and love doing it….they can do whatever they want.
Vicki says
Excellent post! Now for part 5.. Why I will (or wont) choose Sonlight again.. LOL! No really great post I’ve enjoyed the series. 🙂
Stephanie says
I have to admit, I do not yet consider myself a “mature homeschooling mom”, as you put it. My oldest is 3rd grade with his sister being in 2nd…and we have a whole crew to follow (hopefully by then I will have learned from some of these battle-scars). I have found myself far too pressured and anxious in the past, although, thankfully, it is subsiding (have to admit,though, living in PA does not help that). I can take to heart what you say about being the master of my curriculum and not the other way around – excellent advice! Thanks!
MolleenCarie says
I forgot to mention your book recommendation – All Through the Ages. As if I needed *another* choice! It’s a blessing, really, how much curricula choices we have. I just have to keep telling myself that, LOL.
Thanks for linking it.
MolleenCarie says
I’ve also learned I don’t HAVE to do all the things suggested in the Instructor’s Guide.
I’m not there yet, which is why, after 2 consecutive years with MFW, I didn’t buy Adventures this year. I needed a break from the TM!
Honestly, much of my ability to make Sonlight work for me rather than the other way around has to do with maturity as a homeschool mom.
There’s the golden ticket. I’m not there yet. I’m in my eclectic phase, I guess. 😉
But you HAVE TO give yourself permission to be the master of the curriculum and not the other way around!
Duly noted.
I am blessed! says
I have to say I’ve enjoyed core 6 this year as much as my kids have. I love to read so it’s a natural fit for us. I have wondered what to do with the kids during all those read aloud hours. I know Kimberly at Raising Olives lets her kids work with their hands, but we’re not so talented. I’ve started trying to round up some unit studies that correspond to the books we’re reading, like Roman Empire, or Middle Ages, etc. That way they can color appropriate pictures, trace, or draw during read aloud. We’ve started keeping portfolios and rather than adding something “extra”, we’re just being a little more efficient with our use of time. Rather than waiting until the end of the reading for question time I ask them questions as we go along to make sure they’re following the plot and nuances. I also pause at words I’m pretty sure they don’t know. Next year we’ll add Sonlight language arts. This year we’re still hit or miss with Wordly Wise, Grammar Ace, and others. I’m looking forward to moving toward the Charlotte Mason style of incorporating LA into our reading with summarization, narration, dictation, etc.
Luke says
Good thoughts. Look forward to hearing about what’s not working for you!
~Luke
Karen says
This was an interesting post. I have friends that started with Sonlight. This is my tenth year homeschooling. My fourth will begin kindergarten next year. I am doing 100 Easy Lessons which is working so far. But I am finding there is too little mommy to go around. Hmmm…I am very interested in your next post.
Amy @ Raising Arrows says
Erin,
Here is what I “anticipate” happening…
Next year will be Core 5, then 6, then 7 (in which my son will be a 9th grader). From there, I’m thinking I’ll go to 100 and still continue to have both children at the same level (son being 10th and daughter being 7th) Knowing my daughter, the reading won’t be a problem for her, but if I find things that are “above her” in that level, I’ll just omit them for her.
She’ll then continue on after her brother is finished with either the levels he didn’t get to do or repeat some, adding back in the books she would be better able to handle at an older age.
Of course, this is all speculation…but what I am thinking would work.
Hope that helps!
Amy
Jeff and Sarah says
And we’re doing Core 3 this year and our entire family is having a TOTAL BLAST!
Why, why, WHY did we wait 4 years to try Sonlight?
Jeff and Sarah says
Hi Amy! I just realized that you have a 3rd grade daughter named Megan…so do I!!! Isn’t that too funny? 🙂
Lord bless you!
Sarah
Jen says
So, I just noticed that this post is from 2010. I am interested to here if you are still using Sonlight and if you are happy with it?
Amy says
Hi Jen! No, we are no longer doing Sonlight. I believe there is a post here that explains why. We went back to Tapestry of Grace.