Category Archives: Reading and Literature

6 Things to Know Before Teaching a Child How to Read at Home

Reading is the academic building block for every other subject and is often used as the primary standard when evaluating how well a child is doing in school. But deciding how (and when) to start can be difficult. There are … Continue reading

Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

How To Turn Any Sonlight Read-Aloud Into STEAM Gold

STEAM is all the rage in education circles, and it’s easy to see why. Making science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) meaningful opens doors to a deeper understanding of key topics and even career options that might otherwise fly … Continue reading

Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

7 Reasons Not to Teach Reading Early

"When my three-and-a-half year old asked to learn to read, I panicked. I had no idea where to start. I talked to one of Sonlight's Advisors, and she got us all set with Kindergarten Language Arts. The Instructor's Guide is so helpful, … Continue reading

Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

3 Ways to Keep Track of and Distinguish Characters in Read-Alouds

A story is more than words on a page. It’s the voices of the characters that keep readers engaged and propel the unfolding of the plot. Sonlight is a literature-rich program, and as such, there dozens of story lines and … Continue reading

Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

5 Reasons to Love Explode the Code Phonics Workbooks

"My son works ahead in Explode the Code because he enjoys the fun way of learning phonics!" Emily P. of Burnsville, MN This year, I am working through the Explode the Code workbook series for the third time, and we all agree: … Continue reading

Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

8 Places to Serve by Reading Aloud

We’ve all had those days. Dragging ourselves out of bed on too little sleep, only to find spit up on the floor, lukewarm coffee, and a laundry pile that has transformed into Mount Everest overnight. Oh, this is the glamorous … Continue reading

Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

2 Keys for Homeschooling a Delayed or Struggling Reader

One of the greatest benefits of homeschooling is that kids can learn at their own pace. Those who excel in a subject can move ahead at breakneck speed, while those who struggle can slow things down to a manageable pace. … Continue reading

Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment