How structured is Sonlight?

[hsmom]

Also how time consuming is it? Take in consideration this is coming from someone who is very eclectic and relaxed about a lot. Our days are about 4 - 5 hours at the most.

I am really looking into trying sonlight. I want something with some structure for me, also to kind of give me an idea how a "school year" should be planned out.

I am running into the problem that I try to incorporate to much into our year, then we end up way overwhelmed and it seems like less gets done.

So, now that I know how much you all love sonlight, please tell me about the workings of it. How long do they give you to get through all of the books? We are looking into core 6 this year. I noticed that they have SOTW 1 & 2. Can I incorporate the activity guides for them into it?

thank you for all of your help.

[mchel210]

I think I pack too much into my day as well...but we are very laid back on our hours. I switched all the kids this year to sonlight(starting next week)..so I am looking forward to the structure. It seems some follow each day...others bend the schedule. I like that I will do the basics...but I can add in more reading if needed or extend a week etc if we fall behind...but still be on a schedule. I dont mind extending past the 36 weeks if we work lighter. I am looking forward to the change.

I wrote down all our electives as I think we had been taking on too much. Next year we are doing way more then a regular school. Maybe not as much as a wtm homeschool family...lol...but we are doing
SL readers, RA, History, science, Sos spanish, logic, artistic pursuits, math,ll7with my oldest, la, my oldest is doing fl virtual school for science and keyboarding as well.

I am vowing not to look into any new curriculums or add any other subjects until next year...LOl.

[hsmom]

Michelle,
are you using sonlight science also? What parts of the sonlight are you using?
We go way past 36 weeks of school, so this won't be too much of a problem. (((taking a deep breath now)))

[GVA]

According to the Sonlight catalog, Core 6 (which includes all their language arts science and math) takes the student 4-6 hours with the parent involved 2-3 1/2 hours. I've always found their estimates to be pretty close although we tend to be more than the upper range if not over, but we use other language arts programs, other science, study two languages, and do extra memory work.

I use Sonlight for history/literature pretty much as written. We've done Cores PK-2 and are partway through Core 3 now with a 3rd and 6th grader. I don't use their Bible selections (we just read through the Bible as a family every year and discuss it), and I'm adding 1-2 chapters from SOTW 3 each week. My children love the read-aloud portion, and I'm fine with the time involved to do that. I do utilize books-on-CD when I can. Starting in mid-August we'll be doing their Science 5 which will be the first time I've used their science.

Their "27 Reasons Not to Buy Sonlight" http://www.sonlight.com/not-to-buy.html is very helpful if you're on the fence.

Sonlight matches my priorities 95% of the time and keeps me sane. I'm done with the plan-it-yourself days. We didn't get as much done, and I have a lot of responsiblities outside of homeschooling.

[5Youngs]

I decided to take the plunge and order the core 6 ig this year for us.
I am very impressed, after reading the entire ig over the last 3 weeks.
There is a lot of discussion and commentary to go with the books.
It was more amazing than I thought it would be, and I had high expectations.
We have over half of the books (from using sotw 1 and 2) so it will also be a money saver this year, yeah!!!!
I'm using it for 4th and 6th graders and a k5yo~ I actually can see how it can work, I'm so excited.
(I'm just going to use some world history books out of the core 1 for the 5yo's history)

We are taking this month off.
Honestly, I can't see it taking 4-6 hours, so that estimate must be for the ENTIRE core.
It will end up taking us about the same amount of school time, I'm guessing.
Less time for me, though, bc I don't have to figure out the order to read library supplements, discussion points and questions, etc.
I go my ig used for $40; a deal if you don't mind a few pencil marks.....
Good luck~
Dawanna

[mchel210]

Yes. I ended up buying sonlight science 1 this year. I hadnt planned on it...but my dd7 looked through and asked me to switch to it as she didnt like doing zoology 1 all last year. They all got bored with one topic...so we are going to use the science as well...I received my IGs yesterday...and it looks so much more "doable" then I thought. It doesnt seem to be as jam packed as I feared...and the day seems shorter then I am currently doing with my mish mosh of subjects and books.

I really am excited to get started. Even though we are using a ton of books at once...they are in very small chunks. The discussion questions are short...not long...the maps are simple and look very easy to add in everyday....the LA to me looks wonderful. What a huge change from our Abeka last year...the RA include discussions in the back that are not overwhelming. It says just ask what you want...or nothing at all....depending on your child...so you dont even have to use the questions if you dont have time. The history seems broken down into small enough chunks. I think when they post their times on the site...like 2-3 hours...they are including all subjects. Including math, science, history, electives...all of them.

[hsmom]

thank you for the update.

I just found core alt 6 that includes, bible , history, readers, read alouds, and IG for $175. Then I found the core 6 IG for $40. So, I am excited to get everything and get started, well when I get everything in. Oh, I forgot to mention I also found the Science 5 for cheap also. Everything for under $300.