Author Sarita

Posts by Sarita
Sarita Holzmann is the founder of Sonlight Curriculum, speaker, writer, curriculum developer, missions advocate, beloved wife, veteran homeschool mom, and active grandmother.

All Posts by Sarita

an entire family reads outside How Moms & Dads Parent Together as a Homeschool Team // Apr 07, 2021
The Three Rs: Covering the Basics as a New Homeschooler The Three Rs: Covering the Basics as a New Homeschooler // Apr 05, 2021
Why Sonlight Doesn't Insulate Children from Non-Christian Ideas or Religions Why Sonlight Doesn't Insulate Children from Non-Christian Ideas or Religions // Apr 02, 2021
Sonlight offers a better alternative to contemporary YA fiction Sonlight offers a better alternative to contemporary YA fiction // Mar 31, 2021
Why Storytelling Matters for Your Homeschool Why Storytelling Matters for Your Homeschool // Mar 29, 2021
4 House Rules for a Happy Homeschool Atmosphere 4 House Rules for a Happy Homeschool Atmosphere // Mar 24, 2021
Don't Use Character Curriculum. Do This Instead Don't Use Character Curriculum. Do This Instead to Teach Virtue // Mar 22, 2021
Three Tips for Teaching Children About Work Three Tips for Teaching Children About Work // Mar 15, 2021
How Books Help You Raise Proactive Kids Who Aren't Afraid to Fail How Books Help You Raise Proactive Kids Who Aren't Afraid to Fail // Mar 12, 2021
My 3 Favorites from What's New at Sonlight in 2021 My 3 Favorites from What's New at Sonlight in 2021 // Mar 10, 2021
4 Reasons to Pursue Academic Excellence in Your Homeschool 4 Reasons to Pursue Academic Excellence in Your Homeschool // Mar 08, 2021
Parent-intensive Versus Hands-off Homeschooling Parent-intensive Versus Hands-off Homeschooling // Mar 05, 2021
The Simplest Way to Prevent or Overcome Learning Loss The Simplest Way to Prevent or Overcome Learning Loss // Mar 03, 2021
4 Ways Homeschooling Builds a Close-knit Family 4 Ways Homeschooling Builds a Close-knit Family // Feb 22, 2021
"I could NEVER homeschool because. . ." "I could NEVER homeschool because. . ." // Feb 17, 2021
Mid-Year Homeschool Doldrums & How to Beat Them Mid-Year Homeschool Doldrums & How to Beat Them // Feb 15, 2021
Why I made John cry ... and 2 more reasons to read out loud Why I made John cry ... and 2 more reasons to read out loud // Feb 12, 2021
Sonlight Language Arts: A Holistic Approach Instead of Worksheets Sonlight Language Arts: A Holistic Approach Instead of Worksheets // Feb 10, 2021
Learning to Weigh Conflicting Perspectives with Sonlight Learning to Weigh Conflicting Perspectives with Sonlight // Feb 08, 2021
5 Ways Literature-rich Learning Is Better than Memorization 5 Ways Literature-rich Learning Is Better than Memorization // Feb 03, 2021
3 Secrets about Language Acquisition for Babies 3 Secrets about Language Acquisition for Babies // Feb 01, 2021
Language Acquisition in Babies: A Guide for Homeschoolers // Jan 29, 2021
11 Things That Happen When You Read to Your Child 11 Things That Happen When You Read to Your Child // Jan 18, 2021
The Sonlight Approach to Teaching History The Sonlight Approach to Teaching History: History as the Backbone // Jan 11, 2021
How Homeschooling Can Prep Teens for Leadership How Homeschooling Can Prep Teens for Leadership // Jan 01, 2021
Enjoy Your Life More: Add One Good Habit Enjoy Your Life More: Add One Good Habit // Dec 07, 2020
What Did Mary Know? A Christmas Devotional What Did Mary Know? A Christmas Devotional // Dec 04, 2020
The Difference between Reluctant and Hungry Eaters (and Learners) The Difference between Reluctant and Hungry Eaters (and Learners) // Dec 02, 2020
St. Nicholas, Christmas, and Reasons to Teach Church History St. Nicholas, Christmas, and Reasons to Teach Church History // Nov 27, 2020
A Deep Breath for Advent A Deep Breath for Advent // Nov 23, 2020
How to Prepare for the Holidays, Homeschool Style How to Prepare for the Holidays, Homeschool Style // Nov 16, 2020
How to Make Room for Wonder This Christmas How to Make Room for Wonder This Christmas // Nov 12, 2020
8 Books to Inspire Christmas Conversations 8 Books to Inspire Christmas Conversations // Nov 12, 2020
8 Ways for Homeschool Moms to Get More Sleep 8 Ways for Homeschool Moms to Get More Sleep // Nov 11, 2020
The Four Levels of Rest Homeschool Parents Need The Four Levels of Rest Homeschool Parents Need // Nov 09, 2020
Want to Boost Emotional Intelligence? Read Literature. Want to Boost Emotional Intelligence? Read Literature. // Nov 04, 2020
God Has Equipped You to Teach Your Children // Oct 30, 2020
Where Are Sonlight Scholarship Winners Now? Where Are Sonlight Scholarship Winners Now? // Oct 07, 2020
How to Raise Children When Everything Keeps Changing How to Raise Children When Everything Keeps Changing // Oct 02, 2020
Making Mistakes: A Critical Part of Your Homeschool Making Mistakes: A Critical Part of Your Homeschool // Sep 30, 2020
How Sonlight Helps You Help Your Kids How Sonlight Helps You Help Your Kids // Sep 28, 2020
Can you relate to these common homeschool fears? Can you relate to these common homeschool fears? // Sep 25, 2020
10 Things Homeschoolers Get Right 10 Things Homeschoolers Get Right // Sep 21, 2020
A Reluctant Homeschooler’s Story: How Sarital Holzmann came to homeschool and start Sonlight A Reluctant Homeschooler’s Story // Aug 10, 2020
The D. Family, Sonlighters from Australia You Have What it Takes to Homeschool // Jul 22, 2020
How Sonlight Helps You Talk with Your Children about Racism // Jun 18, 2020
Talking to Children about Race Talking to Children about Race // Jun 18, 2020
30 Years. 30 Blessings to Celebrate. 30 Years. 30 Blessings to Celebrate. // Jun 04, 2020
Does Learning Have to Be Painful? Does Learning Have to Be Painful? // Jun 01, 2020
Help! I'm Scared to Teach Math and Writing Help! I'm Scared to Teach Math and Writing // May 29, 2020
Teach How Jesus Taught Teach How Jesus Taught // May 27, 2020
If my kids don’t beg for school, can they still love to learn? If my kids don’t beg for school, can they still love to learn? // May 25, 2020
9 Ways to Ease Your Transition from Public School to Homeschool 9 Ways to Ease Your Transition from Public School to Homeschool // May 22, 2020
Teach Your Child To Read With Happy Cheetah // May 18, 2020
A Simple Model for Your New Year's Resolutions A Simple Model for Making New Year's Resolutions // Jan 03, 2020
Second-guessing: Did I make the right decision to homeschool? Second-guessing: Did I make the right decision to homeschool? // Oct 28, 2019
Seven Tips for the New Homeschool Year Seven Tips for the New Homeschool Year // Sep 06, 2019
What is the Point of Education? What Is the Point of Education? // Aug 08, 2019
Six No-fuss Ideas to Encourage Summer ReadSix No-fuss Ideas to Encourage Summer Readinging Six No-fuss Ideas to Encourage Summer Reading // May 20, 2019
An Easy Way to Celebrate Growth An Easy Way to Celebrate Growth in Your Homeschool // May 08, 2019
Why Sonlight Curriculum Doesn't Use Parent Scripts Why Sonlight Curriculum Doesn't Use Parent Scripts // Feb 15, 2019
The Big List: 25 Ways Reading Helps Your Children The Big List: 25 Ways Reading Helps Your Children // Feb 06, 2019
The 3 Things Needed for Teaching Critical Thinking in the Homeschool The 3 Things You Need for Teaching Critical Thinking // Feb 04, 2019
6 Organization Questions to Answer for Your Homeschool 5 Homeschool Organization Questions that Make a Big Impact // Jan 30, 2019
The Power That a “Not Yet” Attitude Brings to Your Homeschool • Growth Mindset for Christian Homeschoolers The Power That a “Not Yet” Attitude Brings to Your Homeschool // Jan 14, 2019
Seven Reasons to Celebrate Picture Books // Nov 14, 2018
Why Sonlight Studies the Western and Eastern Hemisphere Why Sonlight Studies Both Western and Eastern Hemispheres // Oct 10, 2018
The Children of India // Sep 26, 2018
4 Great Reasons to Read Your Favorite Book Again (& Again) 4 Great Reasons to Read Your Favorite Book Again (& Again) // Sep 26, 2018
"Dear Sarita, Why did you choose that book?" "Dear Sarita, Why did you choose that book?" // Jun 26, 2018
How Homeschool Electives are a Blessing Not a Burden How Homeschool Electives are a Blessing Not a Burden // Jun 22, 2018
2 Fixes for When You Aren't Finished with Homeschool in May 2 Fixes for When You Aren't Finished with Homeschool in May // May 22, 2018
Failing Preschool: An Early Education Trend That Crushes Kids Failing Preschool: An Early Education Trend That Crushes Kids // May 08, 2018
How to Boost Your Own Health Through Homeschooling How to Boost Your Own Health Through Homeschooling // Apr 18, 2018
Five Myths About "Good Homeschool Moms" Five Myths About "Good Homeschool Moms" // Apr 06, 2018
How to Teach Subjects You Don't Know: 6 Tips for a Homeschool Mom How to Teach Subjects You Don't Know: 6 Tips for a Homeschool Mom // Mar 23, 2018
Honoring God with Academics: The Goal of Christian Homeschooling Honoring God with Academics: The Goal of Christian Homeschooling // Feb 26, 2018
What Your Closet Can Teach You About Homeschooling with Purpose What Your Closet Can Teach You About Homeschooling With Purpose // Feb 19, 2018
Homeschool Habits That Build Readers in an Internet-driven World // Feb 02, 2018
The Surprising Ways Homeschooling Can Bully-proof Your Kids The Surprising Ways Homeschooling Can Bully-proof Your Kids // Jan 19, 2018
Four Things Not to Do When Your Homeschool Hits a Snag Four Things Not to Do When Your Homeschool Hits a Snag // Jan 15, 2018
10 Ways to Breathe Fresh Air into February Homeschool Doldrums 10 Ways to Breathe Fresh Air into February Homeschool Doldrums // Jan 10, 2018
Do I need a degree to homeschool? Do I need a degree to homeschool? // Dec 01, 2017
Five Reasons to Teach Our Children to Give • WorldViews Five Reasons to Teach Our Children to Give // Nov 10, 2017
Let the Reformation Inspire You to Raise World-Changers Let the Reformation Inspire You to Raise World-Changers // Nov 08, 2017
How to Raise Kids with a Heart for the World Raising Kids with a Heart for the World // Oct 23, 2017
Teaching Cursive Handwriting: The Benefits of Writing by Hand Teaching Cursive Handwriting: The Benefits of Writing by Hand // Oct 11, 2017
Raising Kids Who Can Focus in a Distracted Digital Age Raising Kids Who Can Focus in a Distracted Digital Age // Sep 27, 2017
Homeschooling is Hard and Worthy Work Homeschooling Is Hard and Worthy Work // Sep 08, 2017
Back to Homeschool Traditions Forge Family Identity Back to Homeschool Traditions Forge Family Identity // Sep 04, 2017
One Way to Respond When Your Child Tells You Something Hard • Christian parenting and homeschooling One Way to Respond When Your Child Tells You Something Hard // Aug 16, 2017
Do You Need to Give Each Child the Same Homeschool Experience? Do You Need to Give Each Child the Same Homeschool Experience? // Aug 07, 2017
I Want to Homeschool, But I'm Afraid of Making Mistakes • homeschool fears I Want to Homeschool, But I'm Afraid of Making Mistakes // Jun 21, 2017
17 Fabulously Fun Summer Activities for Homeschool Families 17 Fabulously Fun Summer Activities for Homeschool Families // Jun 16, 2017
Homeschooling Away From a Fear Versus Towards a Goal Homeschooling Away From a Fear Versus Towards a Goal // May 15, 2017
Literacy Versus Reading Ability: When You Provide a Print-Rich Home But Kids Still Struggle With Reading When Kids Still Struggle With Reading Even in a Print-Rich Home // May 12, 2017
The Top 9 Reasons Kids Like Being Homeschooled | advantages of homeschoolin The Top 9 Reasons Kids Like Being Homeschooled // Apr 28, 2017
Getting Angry as a Homeschool Mom: Strategies to Help Getting Angry as a Homeschool Mom: Strategies to Help // Apr 24, 2017
7 Tips for Homeschooling Gifted Students • accelerated learners • special needs • When homeschooling gifted students, your curriculum isn't the ending point. It's a jumping off point. 7 Tips for Homeschooling Gifted Students // Apr 21, 2017
How NOT to Teach the Difference Between Fact and Opinion: A Lesson in Moral Relativism How NOT to Teach the Difference Between Fact and Opinion // Apr 17, 2017
How to Create a Lifestyle of Learning • HOMESCHOOL How to Create a Lifestyle of Learning // Apr 14, 2017
Eight Ways to Show Your Family Love Throughout Your Homeschool Day Eight Ways to Show Your Family Love During Your Homeschool Day // Apr 10, 2017
Why Homeschooling Should and Shouldn’t be Hard Why Homeschooling Should and Shouldn’t be Hard // Mar 27, 2017
3 Reasons to Homeschool During Each Stage of Childhood 3 Reasons to Homeschool During Each Stage of Childhood // Mar 21, 2017
How a Literature-based Homeschool Curriculum Prepares Students for STEM Careers How a Literature-based Curriculum Prepares Teens for STEM Careers // Mar 13, 2017
Three Reasons for Homeschoolers to Pursue Extracurricular Activities 3 Reasons for Homeschoolers to Pursue Extracurricular Activities // Mar 06, 2017
Homeschool Humor: 30 Ways You Know You're a Homeschooler Humor: 30 Ways You Know You're a Homeschooler // Mar 03, 2017
7 Seven Reasons to Study History (Rather Than Social Studies) Seven Reasons to Study History (Rather Than Social Studies) // Feb 24, 2017
Can you combine Sonlight and another homeschool approach? Can you combine Sonlight and another homeschool approach? // Feb 22, 2017
To the Homeschool Mom Who Wonders if Her Time at Home is Worthwhile To the Homeschool Mom Who Asks if Her Time at Home is Worthwhile // Feb 19, 2017
Raising Brave Girls (Not Perfect Girls) Raising Brave Girls (Not Perfect Girls) // Feb 03, 2017
How Homeschooling Gives You Time to Invest in Family How Homeschooling Gives You Time to Invest in Family // Jan 27, 2017
Physical Movement: Another Reason to Homeschool Physical Movement: Another Reason to Homeschool // Jan 25, 2017
Sleep: A Surprising Reason to Homeschool Sleep: A Surprising Reason to Homeschool // Jan 20, 2017
One Easy Way Homeschool Moms Can Model Lifelong Learning One Easy Way Homeschool Moms Can Model Lifelong Learning // Jan 18, 2017
The Best Way to Build Vocabulary in Your Homeschool • Sonlight Curriculum The Best Way to Build Vocabulary in Your Homeschool // Jan 13, 2017
How Reading Fiction Helps Kids Develop Empathy • Sonlight Curriculum How Reading Fiction Helps Kids Develop Empathy // Jan 06, 2017
Three Reasons to Read Out Loud to Kids Who Know How to Read • Sonlight Curriculum Three Reasons to Read Out Loud to Kids Who Know How to Read // Jan 06, 2017
The History in Your Nativity Scene // Dec 15, 2016
If your home won’t look like a magazine spread this holiday // Nov 17, 2016
Help Children Succeed in Their Careers by Using a Global Focus // Oct 06, 2016
Teach Multiple Sides to Protect the Parent-Child Relationship // Sep 22, 2016
Freedom to Dream of an Intentional Family Culture // Aug 11, 2016
A Precious Gift of Homeschooling: Investing in Your Kids // Apr 21, 2016
Flexible and Doable: 2016-2017 Sonlight Curriculum Changes // Mar 24, 2016
A Devotional Guide to Help Your Family Prepare for Easter // Jan 28, 2016
Where do the world's needs intersect with your skills and passion? // Dec 31, 2015
You Can Give Your Kids What They Really Want // Dec 03, 2015
Yes, Homeschooling Was Worth It: Stories From Moms // Nov 19, 2015
Reading Can Change a Child's Life: A Reflection on Dr. Ben Carson // Sep 24, 2015
How I Juggled Homeschooling and Homemaking // Jul 30, 2015
Why Sonlight Fits Both International and U.S. Families // Jul 16, 2015
How My Homeschooled Children Found Their Careers // Jul 02, 2015
25 Years (& 16K books) Later: My Favorite Part of Making Sonlight // Jun 18, 2015
An Encouraging Word for Mother's Day // May 07, 2015
Meet the 2015 Sonlight Scholarship Winners // Apr 09, 2015
The Rationale Behind Sonlight's History Schedule // Feb 26, 2015
Building Family Memories // Nov 27, 2014
What the ORE Videos Can't Show You // Nov 13, 2014
Three Ways to Talk with Your Children about the Elections // Oct 30, 2014
An International Trend You Already Enjoy // Oct 16, 2014
Why Muslims? Why Frontiers? Why Off-Road Encounters? // Oct 02, 2014
The Preschool Years Lay the Foundation // Aug 21, 2014
Teaching Kids how to say no // Aug 07, 2014
A Celebration of Sonlight Families with Adopted Children // Jul 10, 2014
He Is Risen Indeed! // Apr 17, 2014
Why Sonlight Presents Multiple Views on the Origins of the Earth // Apr 03, 2014
How Sonlight Approaches Islam, Buddhism and Other Religions // Mar 20, 2014
Our India Trip to the "Edges" // Feb 20, 2014
Every tongue, tribe and nation: global faces at Sonlight // Jan 09, 2014
God uses ordinary people to change the world // Dec 26, 2013
A new study says frequent reading boosts academic performance // Dec 12, 2013
Learning to say thanks out loud // Nov 28, 2013
Where are they now? Updates on past Sonlight Scholarship winners. // Nov 14, 2013
Sonlight on the inside // Oct 03, 2013
Please register for Lost in India! // Sep 19, 2013
We live in the midst of a story (and why it matters) // Jul 25, 2013
Academic excellence matters because it honors God // Jul 11, 2013
Why Sonlight shows students that the world isn't perfect // May 30, 2013
Why we study scientists with mixed legacies // May 16, 2013
God Creates People for a Purpose: What that means for Sonlight // Apr 04, 2013
How Presuppositions Control What We Do at Sonlight // Mar 21, 2013
Major Updates to Core W // Mar 07, 2013
A gift to your child's future spouse: organization skills // Feb 21, 2013
The Meetto Project Needs Your Prayers // Feb 07, 2013
When Hundreds of Thousands Turned to Christ // Jan 24, 2013
My best tip for conflict resolution // Jan 10, 2013
Update from a missionary you may know // Dec 27, 2012
Countdown to Christmas: 12 days // Dec 13, 2012
Is Generosity a Life Skill? Should it be? // Nov 29, 2012
Why in the world did the Pilgrims give thanks? // Nov 15, 2012
Who will you meet in heaven? // Nov 01, 2012
A 21-day Prayer Challenge // Oct 04, 2012
Raising Kids Who Do Great Things // Sep 20, 2012
A Public School Success Story: The 1,000 Books Project // Jul 26, 2012
World Missions Update // Jun 28, 2012
Keep the Picture Books Alive! Keep the Picture Books Alive! // Jun 14, 2012
How to Teach Children to do Original Research // May 31, 2012
Why I Read the End First // Apr 19, 2012
Behind the Scenes: Why we revamped the 2012 IGs // Apr 05, 2012
Five new favorite books in Core F: Eastern Hemisphere // Mar 22, 2012
How to Cultivate Contentment // Feb 23, 2012
Why our children should learn to concentrate // Feb 09, 2012
The cost of monetizing child-rearing // Dec 29, 2011
Omnipotence and Impotence: The Wonder of the Incarnation // Dec 08, 2011
On Potatoes and Pilgrims - Thanksgiving Reflections // Nov 24, 2011
When rewards don't work - a new look at motivation // Nov 10, 2011
Another reason for children to play an instrument // Oct 27, 2011
Why did Nehemiah pray? // Oct 13, 2011
Seven questions to ask when choosing an extra-curricular activity // Sep 15, 2011
Drowning: Learn the Signs // Aug 04, 2011
Do homeschoolers need to teach organizational skills? // May 26, 2011
Lesson #3 from the Farm: Avoiding Discouragement // May 12, 2011
Farming (and Homeschooling) with a Long View // May 02, 2011
Catalog talk: what you'll see this year // Mar 17, 2011
Reflections from Southeast Asia // Feb 17, 2011
Get Caught Reading // Feb 03, 2011
Read, It Does a Heart (and Education) Good // Jan 20, 2011
Four Questions for the New Year // Jan 06, 2011
Christmas in India // Dec 23, 2010
Count Your Many Blessings // Nov 18, 2010
Grateful Reflections on the Holzmann Family Fun Week // Oct 07, 2010
Why Sonlight partners with Mission India // Sep 23, 2010
The simple joys of homeschooling // Sep 09, 2010
Women of the Harvest // Aug 12, 2010
Sonlighters Reaching the World // Jul 29, 2010
Homeschool Conventions // Jul 01, 2010
What Is Education? // Jun 17, 2010
20 Years of Sonlight // Jun 03, 2010
Observations from the Book of Job // May 20, 2010
Thank You // Apr 22, 2010
Forum Changes // Apr 08, 2010
2010 Catalog Goes to Print! // Mar 11, 2010
Cabin Fever // Feb 25, 2010
Kenyan Sign Language Bible // Feb 11, 2010
Outliers // Jan 29, 2010
Pausing at the Start of a New Year // Jan 14, 2010
Perfect Socialization // Dec 31, 2009
Mother-Daughter Christmas Interview // Dec 17, 2009
Forgiveness and Reconciliation // Dec 04, 2009
Thanksgiving // Nov 19, 2009
The Future of Books // Oct 22, 2009
Music in Your House // Oct 08, 2009
Goal-Setting // Sep 24, 2009
Tips for a New School Year // Sep 10, 2009
Our culture's Christian roots ... and how they impact our society // Aug 27, 2009
A Moral Nation is Blessed // Jul 08, 2009
Helpful conversations and true community // May 21, 2009
Woman Contribute to the Kingdom of God // Mar 02, 2009
Treasure Indeed // Nov 04, 2008