Can any of you who use/have used Sonlight..

[Brier Rose]

please explain how this works to me?

I have been reading a little over on the Sonlight Forums, and boy is my head spinning!

It's just all very confusing to me!

My DS is 7 and my DD is 14, so I use two different Cores for them right?

What do most of you use, the basic Core, Core Plus, or Core Ultra, and what exactly is the difference?

I've noticed that like with Core K it says from K-2nd grade. My DS would be in 1st grade this year, so do I move up to Core 1 after finishing Core K, or do you use Core K over 3 years?

 

[skoi]

Okay- I'll do my best with this. We use Sonlight. We started with Core 3 when dd (an advanced reader and very easy to teach) was in the middle of 4th grade. We bought the basic core- which is all they had then. We also bought their language arts and science, and used Saxon for math. You have to retrain yourself to not equate the core number with the grade. This was hard for me. I just started talking about them by historical subject- example- US history 1 for core 3, US history 2 for core 4, etc. That helped me a lot.

Yes, for that spread of years, you'd use two cores. You might be able to use two that went together: for example 1 and 6 (though that might require supplementing 6 for your 14 year old) because both are World History 1. Or if they still have the world history in one year at both levels- I think it was called core 1/2 or Alt 1 and for the older kids alt 6. Or you could do what we do and choose two cores that you think are best for your kids, whether the subjects are in sync or not. That's what I do. Dd was finishing up US history (core 4) when I started ds on core 1. She did World Cultures (core 5 and a great core, IMHO) this year, while he finished up world history with core 2. This year, ds is taking a year off because he's a late reader, his writing is horrible, and he's not ready for the amount of work (especially writing) in core 3- even at the regular reader level. We're doing Alpha Omega third grade instead.

There's a lot of reading in Sonlight- including parents reading aloud to the kids. No dd didn't like me to read to her, even the more complicated books, so I don't anymore. The first year (core 3) we read Johnny Tremaine out loud together, and Walk the World's Rim. She had no trouble with any of the books, but she was reading The Hobbit in first grade. Ds is the opposite, and I read a lot more aloud to him, which is what you're supposed to do even across history and science at the K-2 core levels.

I personally would pick a core based on where my children were in reading and history. I don't know about the 14 year old. I'm not crazy about the high school level choices Sonlight offers. History of the 20th century has some very heavy books, history of the Church looked interesting, but I don't know how helpful that would be in meeting requirements, and the social science doesn't cover some of the topics I'd like to see addressed. The 7 year old- if he's a very good reader and likes to write, core 3 would be all right. There's a big leap in expectations between 2 and 3.

I have no idea what the ultra cores, etc are. When we started they didn't have those. I chose a core, got the LA to go with it. Dd was always one level up in science - so we did core 3, LA 3, Sci. 5. I then picked a math curriculum. Last year I bought some of the art programs, but we rarely used them because my kids don't like to do art. We do music on our own.

Sorry for the rambling reply and extra advice you didn't ask for. I'm sure I just confused you more. I tend to do that.

I'm sure someone more concise can really help you out.
Julie

 

[Brier Rose]

Thank you! I really appreciate all of your extra imput!

I still have NO idea what I'm going to order. I've been doing research on it all day, and have gotten some advice on the Sonlight Forums, but still!

I did find out what the college my DD will most likely be attending her first year requires, so at least I can use that to make sure she gets what she needs.

To be honest, I didn't realize she had to take the SAT 2, with the minimum required scores being:
English Writing - 520 ?English Literature - 530 ?American History & Social Studies - 560 ?Math IC, or Math IIC - 500, or 570 ?Biology - 540 ?Chemistry - 590 ?Physics - 540

In other words with this being her last year of middle school, I just want to make sure I start laying the proper ground work to get in all her required courses.

I feel like a have a little more time with DS to figure things out.

It was suggested to me that for DD I should go with Core Alt 6, then Core 100, Core 300, Core 400, and finally Core 530.

Or if I start with Core 6, then do Core 7 next, and combine Core 400 and Core 530 for the last year.

Would you mind giving me your opinion on this?

?

 

[skoi]

If the later cores fit what the college is requiring, then that sounds good. My daughter was briefly considering West Point or Annapolis, so we have to tailor our high school to that. What college is your daughter looking into? I don't know what colleges are requiring in terms of history, definitely not as much as they do in science and math, that's for sure.

I also don't know much about the SAT's since I haven't taken them in a long time. Thanks for the heads up on that.

I think the Alt-6 would probably be better, rather than trying to fit in two more advanced cores in a year. Most schools do world history in one year. Sonlight is very thorough, and I'm sure the one year WH core is very good. My kids love history, and thankfully we have the time to stretch it out.

Julie

 

[Brier Rose]

She will more than likely spend at least at year here at Augusta State University.

We thought that it would be ideal since it's so close, and it's a small school, so it would give her a chance to kind of see what it's all about in an enviornment that's a little more familer. She can either live at home, or we'll get her an apartment here..her choice. I don't want her to feel like were trying to keep her here forever. (though I feel like I would like to sometimes )

After that the plan is to attend University of Georgia, and spend some time with their study abroad program as well.

She's really hoping to make the Georgia Equestrian team, but it's highly competitive.

They have a team at Augusta State that would give her a good lead in I believe.

Thank you so much for you help. I really appreciate it!

 

[Pixiedust34]

Hello!

We enjoy using Sonlight. We've used cores 1 & 2, and now we're on core 3.

I bought the "basic" core and added my own extras through Rainbow Resource and other places. The difference between the core levels is what is included with each core. The basic core contains history, reading, and read alouds. Up until the '06 catalog, Bible was included with the basic core. Other core levels may include language arts, math, science, etc. If you decided to go with the basic core, make sure you add materials for other subjects when you complete your order.

Each core is appropriate for an age range because the cores do not perfectly match a grade level. Therefore, if you have 2 or more children close in age, they can share a core. You might do some modification (easier readers for the youngest, more writing for the oldest, etc.) if your children share a core. If your kids are far apart in age, then you could do 2 cores at once.

Sonlight's history, reading, and read aloud are a great fit for us! I think that reading living books (literature instead of textbooks) make history come alive for my kids.

If you post on the SL Forums, I'm sure that a lot of the moms and dads there can give you specific advice about the core(s) you are considering.

 

[Brier Rose]

Thank you!

I'm really happy to hear how much you are enjoying the History.

That's my favorite subject. Makes me excited to get started!