Any thoughts on "Sonlight" curriculum - Pros & Cons are welcome!?

Question

Specifically for pre-K and Kindergarten. Are there any other curriculums that you would recommend for this age group?

Answer 1

I didn't use Sonlight for pre-K or K, but I bought their LA1 and Science 1 and 6 guides this year. I haven't been happy with either of the science curriculums, primarily because the reading and the hands-on (experiments) are not related (in 1st, we were reading about weather and climates, but experimenting with buoyancy). I also dropped the LA curriculum, but not before gleaning ideas for D-I-Y curriculum (copying sentences from his daily reading and covering grammar from this, making spelling lists from the Explode the Code lessons).

We, too, have used Explode the Code, but not the pre-ETC series (Get Ready..., Get Set ..., Go for the Code). I didn't like the fact that NO vowel sounds were introduced until the first ETC book. We used an online program called Reading A-Z for beginning phonics, then migrated to ETC at book 2.

For pre-K and K, I didn't do much "work". We focused on reading/phonics and basic math - anything else we completed (science experiments, for example) was icing on the cake.

I will continue to use Sonlight for literature suggestions, but doubt I'll buy more teacher's guides from them (ok, maybe 7th grade science and up, where they have a schedule for Apologia science).

Answer 2

My little sister used Sonlight for kindergarten, and it went well for her. Now, my mom just orders some of the books used by Sonlight from education magazines, such as Lakeshore. One particualar book that has helped 4 of my siblings learn to read was the Explode the Code series. It teaches the alphabet and sounds one letter at a time. We also use the Scott Foresman Math books. (I'm not sure if sonlight still offers them or not.) They have worked well for me from kindergarten to Grade 11 (where I am now)
Sonlight, however, is a highly structured program, so if you're doing it for a pre-k or K child, don't expect to get everything done pronto. Let the kid work when they want to, and make it enjoyable so s/he wants to do it.

Answer 3

We haven't used Sonlight but I had a friend that did and she and her daughter's loved it. Another literature based program can be found here at http://amblesideonline.org , this site is geared towards following the methods and philosophy of the 18th Century Educator, Charlotte Mason. The lesson and curriculum plans are free and many of the books can be printed and downloaded. You only need to add a math curriculum. I bought Ray's Arithmetic, the complete volume on CD. The series goes from elementary to advanced mathematics including Calculus and Astronomy, all 12 years for just $59.

Answer 4

I, too, have spent time pouring over the Sonlight catalog, what a great curriculum, but cost is a factor.
If you have the money and the desire to go in that direction, I think you have a solid choice in front of you.
Since you asked about others, have you looked at My Father's World. I have a friend that used that for the little guys and she really loved it. Another solid, literature based program.
Great question. I'm always happy to see real homeschool questions in the homeschool category.

Answer 5

We used Sonlight for YEARS and loved it. You don't have to do everything, it's a guide, as any curriculum is. Now, 1 is an English high school teacher, 1 a pastor and 1 manages a restaurant. I was very happy with it.

Answer 6

I drool over Sonlight but have never purchased it. We're just not structured enough for the expense to be worth it. I've heard wonderful things about Sonlight and think that if you want something interesting yet structured, it's the way to go.

Answer 7

best cons: a million. loss of on my own time for the parent (and the youngsters) 2. with reference to the cost: loss of 2d income while one parent remains homestead to homeschool. (some human beings truly do want 2 earning to get with the help of. We do and no i do no longer go purchase wonderful new issues. We tension 2 cr*ppy previous autos.) no longer each older toddler is acceptable to working at homestead 8 or 9 hours an afternoon on a similar time as the two mom and father are long gone. 3. via fact is self directed, there is way less comments. A homeschooling relatives can think of their toddler is academically progressed and getting an effective coaching, while in actuality, it is greater generic. comparable is authentic of social skills. no person will propose you that your toddler is in actuality having social adjustment subjects, once you suspect he/she is in basic terms wonderful. What some human beings think of socially greater others discover awkward or stressful. i've got heard some extremely rude solutions from homeschooled youngsters right here...even though it is nameless. professionals: there are various. See those indexed above with the help of the different solutions. in basic terms make certain you're taking income of them. Homeschool is like college: what you're making of it. it is not that homeschooling itself makes youngsters academically, it is that those youngsters and their mom and father decide for and get an effective coaching. in spite of the undeniable fact that, some do no longer.

Answer 8

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