Sonlight - readers and cores, help me think this through.

[one l michele]

My older two have what I consider to be the "ideal" age gap to combine Sonlight. Each year, one is at the oldest and the other at the youngest recommended age for the core.

This year we are doing Core C, my boys were 5 & 7 at the start of the year.

Next year we will do Core 1, I'm not interested in doing Core 1+2 which is recommended for ages 7-9, because my youngest would get more out of it if I do core 1 next year and 2 the following, this also works well in our long term history picture.

My concern is with readers. This year my oldest started with grade 2 readers and my second oldest K readers. They both didn't care for the SL pace of the readers and were ready for more. I tried to "hold them back" and supplement with other materials (my oldest went through the Pathway grade 2 readers, my second oldest went through a emerging reader list). Anyway, this second half of our school year I let them set the pace, and both have comfortably read the weeks worth of reading in one day and then still other reading from their book basket. So my oldest is now well into the 3rd grade readers and second oldest halfway through the 1st grade readers.

What would you do when they run through all the SL readers (2nd, 3rd, and 3-5) before Core 3?

Also, could you clarify the Core 3 + readers for me - I believe the readers begin to match the history topics. What is regular vs advanced? Say for Core 3, my older two would be 8 & 11. Would I have the 8 y/o do regular and 11 advanced? Is the reading schedule and pace different so that they wouldn't be on the same book the same day?

Any advice?

[Josie]

Once they finish with the SL readers I would just let them read from the library. You can let them pick or you can guide them using other lists (from Paula's Archives, VP suggestions, etc.) There are several lists that have books for each level that are divided by historical categories.

Starting in level three the readers are tied to the history being studied. If you buy the advanced readers you will get all of the regular readers PLUS others. They aren't a completely different set like in cores K, 1 and 2. Will they be reading the books on the same day? The advanced reader schedule does change up the book order a bit from the regular readers, so they won't necessarily be reading the same book on the same day. They don't have to.

It sounds like they are doing fine, so relax and be thankful they enjoy reading!

[Rhonda in TX]

She's right. Just fill in with books from the library. If you want good books, there are tons of book list recommendations out there.

You do not want to start the Core 3 Readers before they start Core 3 because they are tied to the history. Other than that, I would go for it. What wonderful books your children are going to read!

[Marie in Oh]

There are just about 10 more books. That would help kids who cant get enough. But I wouldn't start them til you are in Core 3 as the other ladies said-- they are tied to the history. Thre are many books you can have them read not on the lists from the library. And, you could have them read some of the earlier read alouds-- Like my Father's Dragon (there are actually 2 more in this series) and the Boxcar children series. That would keep them busy for a while.

[Chris in VA]

I loved Sonlight, but found the readers too light--I agree you can add in more. You might even explain your situation to Sonlight, and ask for them to credit you for the readers that are too simple, before you buy the core.
And, as the last poster said, you can give them the read alouds occasionally, either from the previous cores or even in the core you use.
Plus, you can certainly add in books on the WTM lists. There are tons of lists out there.

[one l michele]

Do most simply use the regular readers or if you have a child at each end of the age range, would you use both regular and advanced? Advanced includes the regular, just adding ~10 books and at a faster pace right?

[happy2homeschool]

We are using Core 3 for my kids that are 9 and 10. We use both the regular readers and the advanced readers. In my opinion the advanced readers are rather easy to read (with maybe 2 exceptions) -- both of my kids read them. I highly recommend the advanced readers for both of your kids. But, if you find the advanced readers too difficult for your younger child then you may want to use the regular readers for one child and both the regular and advanced readers for the other child.

The Sonlight instructor's guide lists each day with the read-alouds and history that you read and then it separately lists the chapters to be read by your kids -- determined by whether your children are using the regular readers or advanced readers. The schedule for advanced readers includes both the regular books and the advanced books. If one of your kids is using the regular readers and one is using both readers then your kids may be reading a regular reader at the same time or within about a week of each other.

Although we use both regular and advanced readers our schedule differs from the Sonlight schedule because my kids like to finish one reader befor moving on to the next one. So sometimes we are ahead or behind. Don't worry about following the Sonlight schedule exactly -- use it to fit your needs.

Good luck!

[Oak Knoll Mom]

I stressed about this at the beginning of this year. I am also using Core C with my sons in second grade and K5. I too plan on doing Core 1 and Core 2 for the next two years. My 2nd grader is currently using the grade 3-5 readers.

I was really stressed about not having Sonlight readers for my son for the next two years, but once I saw how trivial the questions in the instructors guide were, I realized that just reading good books for the next two years would be fine. We won't be missing anything by not having an official list of books to read.

I plan to come up with my own list using resources like Honey for a Child's Heart (http://www.amazon.com/Honey-Childs-Heart-Gladys-Hunt/dp/0310242460), and 1000 Good Books List (http://www.classical-homeschooling.org/celoop/1000-elementary.html) for reading assignments during the next two school years. I'll try to stay away from assigning books he will read in Sonlight in the future.

[paula j]

I agree, just pick good books from another list. Sequels to some of the sonlight books they have enjoyed are a good option too.;)

As far as the advanced readers for core 3, they are just extra readers added in for families who have voracious readers and keep running out of books.:001_smile: They are, of course, good sonlight books and fit in with the history you are studying. The way you describe your dc like to read, I would definately get the advanced readers. As far as whether the advanced reader schedule and regular reader schedules overlap, yes, they do have them reading the same book at the same time sometimes so you can either have them take turns when that happens or order an extra set.
Blessings
Paula

[one l michele]

I could easily use the library, I'm one who likes it to be "official" and follow the program - LOL. They do fine with the questions, so I'm not concerned about comprehension. I'm excited that they both have turned into bookworms this year. I'll have to request the lists you suggested from the library.

Mind if I ask what your plan is with your 3 y/o? My youngest just turned 4. I'm thinking of keeping my older two together with Sonlight, then going back to Core C with my youngest when he's officially a K'er, maybe even 1st. I'm not sure if that is realistic or will be too much to juggle.

Did you find that your oldest got much more out of Core C then your middle did this year? My oldest is very into Sonlight, where my middle tolerates it, but only a handful of readings really grabbed him. This has me hesitating on when to start with my youngest. My middle does quite well with his skill subjects though.

[Heather in VA]

Well I'm probably wrong but I don't allow my dd's to read ahead in "school" books. I used to allow it with my oldest and then as she got older and the books got longer and the assignments that go with them (including writing etc) got more time consuming, she got annoyed that the work was interrupting her reading time. So now I have "school" books that we read on "schedule" and "reading" books which is a shelf full of books that I've chosen that they pick from and can read at whatever pace they choose.

[one l michele]

It's a tough call isn't it? My oldest (almost 8) often says he wishes he had more time to just read with no questions or assignments attached. He reads through at least 2 books a day and I have trouble finding "wholesome" books for his age. I started the year keeping school books only for school. After lugging 50 books a week home from the library and listening to them beg to dig into school books, I caved the second half of this year.

[Oak Knoll Mom]

Mind if I ask what your plan is with your 3 y/o? My youngest just turned 4. I'm thinking of keeping my older two together with Sonlight, then going back to Core C with my youngest when he's officially a K'er, maybe even 1st. I'm not sure if that is realistic or will be too much to juggle.


I think I'll do Core C when my 3 year old is in K5. He just turned three, so he won't be K5 for three more years. He's very bright and actually follows along with a lot of the read alouds even now--he absolutely loved Doctor Dolittle--and can answer some of the simple comprehension questions. Sometimes I wonder if he'll remember all of these books and be board when we do it again.

Did you find that your oldest got much more out of Core C then your middle did this year? My oldest is very into Sonlight, where my middle tolerates it, but only a handful of readings really grabbed him. This has me hesitating on when to start with my youngest. My middle does quite well with his skill subjects though.

My middle son's attention to the read alouds improved drastically this year. At the beginning, he had a very hard time sitting still and listening. He'd just give me a blank stare when I'd ask him the questions at the end, or ask him to tell me three things he learned during the reading. Now he listens and comprehends very well. I don't think I'll have as much difficulty with my 3 yo when he's in K5 since he listens in already.

[siloam]

Do most simply use the regular readers or if you have a child at each end of the age range, would you use both regular and advanced? Advanced includes the regular, just adding ~10 books and at a faster pace right?

Well this one I can clarify, and ignore me if it has already been discussed (I just skimmed the other answers).

The advanced package is IN ADDITION (emphasis) to the regular package. It does not replace the regular.

My oldest was the same way, and I just bought sequels of the readers and the Read Alouds for her to read.

Heather