The Old Sonlight Switcheroo

Yesterday was a great day!  I actually felt like doing something, so my big kids and I pulled the old Sonlight Switcheroo.

What this entails is swapping out last year’s Core books in the bookshelf with this year’s Core.  The bottom shelf of a bookshelf that stands in our dining room is where these books are kept.  They are marked and readily available so no one has to hunt them down.  Since I am usually ready to begin schooling again a couple of weeks following a new baby, this was a perfect time to get the job done.

The way we do it is actually something Sonlight suggests and has proven to be quite useful.  In fact, before I divulge how we keep our Sonlight books separate, I would highly recommend if any of you use a curriculum that is either chronological or uses specific books for specific years (My Father’s World and Tapestry of Grace are two that readily come to mind), you should try using this method of keeping your books separate, yet handy.

All you need is:
colored paper
a hole punch
packing tape
a bookshelf of some sorts

1.  Choose a color to represent the year’s books. Sonlight makes it easy by providing you with sticky backed colored paper, but you can do it with plain colored paper.

2.  Punch out dots of colored paper with your hole punch.

3.  Cut small strips of packing tape.

4.  Place 1 dot in center of packing tape and then place packing tape on spine of book. Since Sonlight’s paper is already sticky, I stick the dot on the book first and then place the packing tape over the top of it.

5.  Find a home for your books. Preferably a bookshelf where all books can easily be seen.

We then box up our old books to keep them safe for the next round of kiddos.

This is a great project to do alongside your bigger kids!  My kids thrilled over looking through each and every book as they marked them.  It really got them excited to dig into the coming year’s Core.  I must admit, mama was quite thrilled herself!  And when children participate in readying their school things, they end up “owning” that school year.  It becomes something they have a say in.

A little funny side note…as my son was shelving our new books, he said, “Mom, school was boring before Sonlight.”  Now, I know good and well school wasn’t totally boring for him because he has fond memories of our years with Tapestry of Grace; however, I think the biggest selling point for him with Sonlight is that all the books come together, he participates in setting them up for the year, and because he goes at his own pace (for the most part), he feels like he owns the curriculum. {read more on how Sonlight works for us!}

It all goes back to that Lifestyle of Learning I’ve been talking about.  The books are alive to him.  They are meaningful, which in turn makes “schooling” meaningful.  No matter how you choose to educate your children, it is imperative you find a way give them stock in what they are learning.  The Sonlight Switcheroo is one way our family does just that.

So, what do you do to give your child “stock” in their homeschooling experience?