laura291
- Reviewed on Saturday, January 12, 2013
- Grades Used: 4th - 6th
- Dates used: 2012-2013
This is our first year using Sonlight History. We are using Core D - American History Year 1. We LOVE this program! I do most of the reading to the kids before bed, so this has replaced our old bedtime stories, which they were outgrowing. The kids are always asking me to read "one more chapter!" They are retaining it too, and will talk about the stories of Chakoh and Esteban (native travelers) or Pedro (a ship mate on Columbus' ship) all the time, because these are great stories!
My kids have had some trouble with the readers, especially my 4th grader. I either have to have her read it to me, or I need to read it too, because she's had some trouble with the comprehension. Some of the books are written in old english and when you are not used to that, it is a little tough.
We were not fond of the Language Arts portion, as it didn't go in depth enough. We are using another Language Arts program.
Pros: The kids are engaged and thus, they retain what they are learning. No text books, quizzes or tests. I'm learning along with them! Very mobile, you can bring your book with you anywhere. Multiple age groups can share a curriculum.
Cons: I'm one who likes to keep grades so I know where we need improvement, so while no tests are a pro, it's also a con. Reading multiple books at one time sometimes gets overwhelming, so we sometimes change the schedule up a little.
I am hoping to stay with this curriculum for ever! I absolutely love it!
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handmadejeweler
- Reviewed on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
- Grades Used: K-1
- Dates used: 2011-2012
Sonlight History is EXCELLENT! I enjoyed having thourough lesson plans and Sonlight is very organized. I love how their read alongs and readers even go along with their history. All the work is already done for you!
In the whole year we covered creation to the fall of rome and my boys retained SO much. I found trivia cards that asked about most of the history we learned and they were able to remember all kinds of great facts. Sonlight makes learning fun and manageable. As the parent you must be interactive with Sonlight, it won't do the work for you. We do love it!
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pemberley
- Reviewed on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
- Grades Used: Core D
- Dates used: 2011-2012
We are in the middle of our first year with Sonlight, and I just can't wait until the end of the year to review this.
MAN ALIVE this is good stuff! :-D
We are a family of avid readers, so you need to know that this is right up our ally. I imagine that even if a family isn't full of readers, this will still be a program that makes sense...plus reading as much as SL plans just HAS to be good for a student, right? :)
We have tried other textbook histories. They didn't work...meaning, we didn't retain the information....at all.
At first, I had a hard time understanding how SL worked...after all, all I KNEW was textbook history. After doing my "homework" and really studying this, I realized...THIS is what we needed and I couldn't wait to get started.
Why?
Because we DON'T use a textbook.
Because we read "real/living" books.
Because as we read these living books, we grow attached to the characters. We grow to love the stories. We become part of the books ourselves and we live the story right alongside the characters.
Because when we finish the books, we sigh because we want the story to continue.
Because my children aren't just reading excerpts from great literature, they are reading the whole thing!
Because my children have an UNDERSTANDING of life in the past...and UNDERSTANDING of WHY events in history took place...and UNDERSTANDING of how history has shaped us NOW.
Because it's just plain fun!
Our "history book" can easily be slipped into my purse and taken with us anywhere we go...doctor's appointments...car rides, etc.
I have learned more about early American History than I did in high school or college, and I was a history buff.
That being said, my 4-year old daughter balked at the idea of listening to a chapter book (who can blame her at her age?), so we plan to send HER core back. And really, why did I think that my 4-year old needed a curriculum anyway? She can get plenty of learning through other means. She can begin her structured and formal learning later. :) We'll start her with SL when she is older, for sure!
We plan to use SL all the way through the high school level!!
I hope this helps!
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farSuperior
- Reviewed on Wednesday, March 3, 2010
- Grades Used: 3rd- Highscool
- Dates used: 2002 - current
We LOVE Sonlight History! After trying other "workbook" courses in early grade school and wanting to chuck the books out the window, a friend suggested giving Sonlight a try.
My daughter and son are two years apart in age, but we have been able to use the Core History/Literature combined for the last 7 years. **they do math at their grade level separately in another cirriculum.
We love the Instructor's Guide and use it as exactly that---a guide. It helps us set our daily, weekly and yearly goals. I copy each weekly page for each student and they record their progress as they complete each assignment.
The books assigned to read aloud have been our favorite part of home school. It is a time to bond and often we find ourselves deep in meaningful discussions about many life issues. Priceless!
The History readers have added a depth of understanding that just cannot be "taught" with a textbook.
I am thankful to have discovered Sonlight and it has enabled us to finish the course we began so many years ago----as we race to the finish line of Graduating our daughter next year and her brother the following, a year ahead of normal schedules!
Take time to go to their website and study the core packages they offer. It is the most flexible and easy to use program I have found out there so far.
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