Sonlight users...

[ABQmom]

I'm looking at core 7 for my dd for next year when she'll start 7th grade. How much literary analysis is included for the literature the kids read? I'm trying to decide between using Sonlight, to combine our history and literature studies, and Lightning Literature.

[Suzanne in ABQ]

Hi Sydni,
I can't answer your question, but I'm piping in here (from the east mountains) to ask you a question: I'm considering using Sonlight Core 6 next year (my dd will also be doing grade 7). Are you in the middle of the history cycle? Is that why you're doing Core 7 instead of Core 6? I guess I'm subconciously hoping that maybe you're really doing Core 6, and that maybe we'd be able to do some stuff together. I'm not thinking of doing everything together (obviously), but maybe get together for an occasional project or field trip? (assuming, of course, that we meet first, and we like each other, and our kids like each other)

Sheesh, this sounds silly, but I'll post it anyway. :)

[Jenny in Atl]

Not much... We are nearly done with Core 6, and we have used Cores 2-6. None were heavy on analysis. I added LL medieval this year to supplement Core 6 and most likely will do the same if I use Core 7 (trying to choice between 7 & Trisms):eek:

[ABQmom]

Aww... that sounds like fun, but yes, we are in the middle of the history cycle. We are about to finish up medieval/renaissance/ref. I will be doing quite a bit of American history for my younger children in the coming 2 years.

Forgive my ignorance here, but I'm not even sure how far away you are from me. We've only been in ABQ for a little over 3 years, and I tend to stay in my little box in the Heights.

[Heather in VA]

Core 7 is where they start increasing the literary analysis. It's the first core where LA is embedded into the Core itself rather than as a separate product. One thing to remember though is that the actual instruction on HOW to write about theme, character, etc isn't there as much as it would be in a program set out to do just that. But there are a decent number of assignments to practice those skills.

I've only done a portion of Core 7 up until now but I've seen the full IG. I plan to encorporate the 2nd 1/2 of Core 7 with HO Modern Level II next year for a Modern Times study with my 8th grader.

[ABQmom]

Have you found the fact that they leave out the "how" of the writing to be a problem for you? I really don't know if that would be a problem for me or not. Could you give me an example of what you mean by the "how" of writing?

[Suzanne in ABQ]

If you'd like, e-mail me. Just click on my name, above, and you should get an option to send me an e-mail. Maybe we can get together sometime. I'm just on the other side of the mountain, but we come into town regularly.