Sonlight Homeschooling Blog

Nov. 8, 2013

Five Reasons to Waste Your Time Reading to Your Kids

By Luke

I think we've been drinking the metaphorical Kool-Aid. We've found statistics that back our decision to homeschool. We listen to people tell us how great homeschooling is. And we've grown complacent in our self-back-patting.

A trend I'm noticing -- or, at least, believe I'm seeing -- is some in our generation of homeschoolers believe the hype that abandoning the school system automatically makes for a better education. Stats disagree. But the thinking remains: I can just pick up whatever program strikes my fancy and my kids will turn out great!

No. Not true. Homeschooling does not magically make students succeed any more than simply showing up to class. The factor that predicts student success is your involvement in your student's education. And with all the "free," online, "easy" educational options available to us as homeschoolers, I'm concerned that we will leave our kids to "learn on their own."

That is a recipe for failure.

Drink Up

If you read Wired, you may have seen the cover story: How a Radical New Teaching Method Could Unleash a Generation of Geniuses. The gist is that these teachers let the kids loose and stopped lecturing, allowing the kids to discover for themselves what they needed to learn. The kids rocked, scoring higher than anyone else in the country!

Okay, Luke, does that mean you think we should just avoid lectures and "old" models of learning? Are you pushing for something like unschooling?

Nope.

As I read the article, the theme that resonated through the text again and again was this: These teachers (and their students) succeeded because they introduced ideas and discussed them with the kids. The teachers let the students follow through on the concepts. Instead of telling them what was what, they let the students discover it. But behind all of that, the teacher was directing what needed to be discovered.

At Sonlight, we call this "education, not indoctrination." And it's huge.

So, while schools and other educators may find this approach to teaching "radical" and "new," we Sonlighters have been using it for close to a quarter century.

But Sonlight takes so much time, Luke! There's so much reading! I have to carve out hours of my day to educate my kids! These new homeschool programs do the teaching for me. I can be busy doing other stuff while other people -- via technology -- teach my kids. Why would I waste my time reading to my students?

1. Because your involvement matters. Without your input, your students would not do as well (see above). By taking the time to read and discuss with your kids, you are setting them up for success.

2. Because direction from a teacher matters. I know Sugata Mitra disagrees. And he's a much bigger name in education than me. I agree that kids learn stuff naturally. I agree that kids teach each other stuff. I agree that curiosity is huge and kindling a natural desire to learn is wonderful. I think he is right on with all of that. But the part that I believe he's missing is the value of a literature-based education. Sure, you can pick up skills and knowledge simply by poking around the internet. But literature does so much more. By giving your students great literature and helping them follow through, they're going to come away with a fantastic education.

3. Because you'll build relationships. Academic success is one thing. Family bonds is something else entirely. Spending time with your kids gives you opportunities to connect with them. Plain and simple.

4. Because your kids will love learning. A life-long love of learning is way more useful than ingesting a few -- or even many -- facts and figures. As my mom says often, if you teach kids how to learn, and give them a desire to do so, they will have no barriers in life. Your students can go on to do whatever God has called them to do.

5. Because you'll love teaching. Not always. I know what it's like to read for a couple hours and feel worn out. But then again, I know what it's like to read until my voice has gone hoarse because I want to read the next chapter and the kids are begging me to keep going. That is so much fun! And the discussions and connections just make it even more enjoyable.

This only scratches the surface. If you want to read more about why books are a fantastic way to learn, check out a few of the following posts:

On Lectures and Learning
How Reading Fiction Helps Kids Develop Empathy
Four Benefits of Literature-Rich Learning
What Is the Future of Learning?
How Sonlight's curriculum helps you talk with your children about racism
A Public School Success Story: The 1,000 Books Project
Books Inspire Thought
Teaching children how to fail
The Most Memorable Part of School: Stories
Go Somewhere You've Never Been (and may never visit)
Want to boost emotional intelligence? Read literature.
Which uses richer vocabulary: children's books or adult conversation? How we learn new words.

Why do you take the time to read to your kids? What made you decide Sonlight was worth it over all the "free" and "easy" options out there?

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Guardian

Tagged literature, read-alouds | 4 Comments

Nov. 6, 2013

Sonlight to me…

By Jill

These Sonlight children love to learn!

As I read what Jonelle, Judy and Karla wrote about Sonlight to me, I couldn't help nodding and grinning and thinking, “Yes, but there is so much more!”

Sonlight was a miracle in a box to me. You see, I had been homeschooling my children for seven years using various unsatisfactory methods and styles before I found Sonlight. I KNEW what we liked, but I just couldn't seem to pull it off. We loved books—real books, real people, real stories AND we liked to learn together. One year we did just that.

The year I wrote my own unit studies my children were in 9^th, 7^th, 5^th and 1^st grades and my youngest was three years old. We loved it and we learned so much. But it was exhausting for me. I did a lot of research, pulled together a lot of books and spent countless hours figuring out how to coordinate everything. When everyone else was done for the day I was still slaving away at the kitchen table planning for tomorrow and next week and next month. Although I liked the concept of learning together, the joy was sucked right out of it because of all the planning I had to do.

At the end of that year I was burnt out and ready to go back to textbooks, workbooks and boredom. That year, the best part of the day was when I read classic literature to my children, but I found it harder and harder to make time for that. There was just so much “school” to do that we hardly had time for the fun stuff.

Sonlight siblings learning together.

Then I found Sonlight and it was like a miracle in a box. Even though I didn't know anyone who had used it and I had never seen an Instructor’s Guide I ordered a full curriculum for my youngest two children. It was 1997 and we didn't have internet access so I couldn't investigate what I was purchasing, but I knew from perusing the meager catalog that Sonlight was going to be perfect for us.

It was.

When I unpacked the box, lined the books up in the awaiting bookshelf and saw all the next full year of school all planned out and ready to start I was overwhelmed with gratitude.

Sonlight did the work for me. The Instructor’s Guides gave me back my life and more time to spend with my children. Instead of sitting at the kitchen table all by myself planning; my school time was spent teaching and learning alongside my children. No more sad and lonely evenings making plans, reserving books and scanning catalogs for me. From that day forward, for ten years until my youngest child graduated from our Sonlight homeschool, I never looked back.

My daughter-- A Sonlight graduate heading to college.

Sonlight to me is great literature, time together with my children, minimal planning, being able to do the science experiments because I actually have the supplies, peace of mind, quiet mornings reading together and lively discussions following. Sonlight is academically strong and it taught me to teach my kids to critically think and to love to learn.

I am so glad I found it all those years ago. What is Sonlight to you?

Take care,

Jill

Tagged benefits, books, box day, children, critical thinking, curriculum, education, Encouragement, family, Homeschooling, literature | 1 Comment

Nov. 5, 2013

Becoming a Teacher

By Luke

I am discouraged. In light of recent events, James 3 is tumbling around my mind. "Not many of you should become teachers..."

First, and most applicably, I teach a Sunday School class. I have kids with whom I read and share about Scripture.

Second, I spend a great deal of time interacting with high school and college aged kids. While not specifically a teacher, I do mentor, share Scripture, and do my best to provide Godly guidance and counsel.

Third, I blog. I have taken on a public role of writing and sharing. While I welcome input and feedback, what I write is read. I hope <smile>.

Teacher, Talker, Blogger

I've become a teacher. I am all too aware of the obvious places where I stumble. I'm sure I stumble in ways I do not even recognize yet. And the judgement that awaits me stricter for my teaching. May I be one of whom it is true that my words are "pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."

I love Scripture. I love that with Sonlight we primarily read Scripture. We don't presume to be teachers. We do share some information here and there, but allow you to dig into the Bible yourself. As you teach your children, may humility and peace be hallmarks of your study. And may you "reap a harvest of righteousness" as the fruit of your labor. For as discouraged as I am by our capacity for sin and selfishness and pride, I am bolstered by the uplifting words of Scripture that urge me to live a life worthy of the calling I have received.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Guardian

Tagged Bible, current events, Meditation | 2 Comments

Nov. 4, 2013

How Experts Teach Stuff They Don't Know

By Luke

How do you teach something you don't know? You learn it. Alternatively, you could get help.

I followed a link from an article about how a quarter of all teachers have fewer than 5 years experience to the comments about the original article. One person said that her problem with homeschooling is that her son already knows more than she does about things like calculus and computer science. "How could I teach these skills to my son?" she asks. "He needs to be taught by experts."

First, your school may not offer the classes he needs for math or technology. I attended a smallish high school and some of the more advanced stuff was simply not available.

Second, you're not guaranteed to learn from an expert. My teacher friends have been thrown into situations where they have to teach a class they are not prepared to teach. They are forced to scramble and create lesson plans and whatnot. Having been on the instruction side of such a class, it was clear the teacher was not an expert.

Third, as a homeschooler, you have access to some of the greatest experts out there! You can get similar (if not superior) texts and tools that teachers use. In fact, many advanced courses can be purchased where an expert walks you and your student through the material. I'd gladly take a published course over a first time teacher's bumbling attempts.

Forth, this argument often assumes that you are jumping in with your student without any background. But if you have tackled arithmetic, geometry, algebra, and trigonometry... calculus would be totally do-able! As a homeschool parent, you get to learn alongside your children. And that means you are often prepared enough to help them master the material.

If your student wants to learn something you don't know, finding an expert may be just the thing. You could order a video or online course, find something for free through YouTube or iTunes, get a knowledgeable friend to help out, or enroll your student in a local class. ...and that's truly the beauty of homeschooling: We are not bound to only learn at home. We can take advantage of any and every option that is best for our family.

As something of an "expert" in the field of teaching movie making, I've had four teachers contact me about my free film school. They have been tasked by their school to create a film class, and reach out to the "expert" -- me -- for help. Because the expert teachers know that they can learn things they don't know to teach their students something new. You can too.

If there's a subject your student is interested in, Sonlight just may carry an excellent resource for you.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Guardian

Tagged help, homeschool, learning | Leave a comment

Nov. 1, 2013

How a Global Perspective Helps Us See More Clearly

By Luke

His parents don't go to church anymore. They used to. Today they excuse their lack of fellowship because "all American churches are filled with fake Christians." They won't be part of that. They're only interested in spending time with "true believers." Not surprising, then, that they don't spend time with anyone.

In my view, they break communication with those who ruffles their feathers. He has adopted this practice himself. I said something to him he didn't like several years ago. I haven't seen him since.

The few times Facebook has told me what he's up to, it hasn't been good. Like his parents, his life is one of isolation. His theology was rather strange last time I talked with him.

Isolation

My parents were big on considering things from various perspectives. They gave us an education built around fantastic books that introduced us to the larger world. We were part of a church community, but that did not preclude us from getting involved in other groups as well. We were active in sports and band. We attended functions at other churches. And we were regularly introduced to new cultures through prayer guides. We were given daily opportunities to see how God works in the hearts and lives of people just like us. We also saw His redemptive power in the lives of those radically different as well.

I don't like the isolationist idea. I see it bring people to bad places. I see them alone and consumed with their personal ideas and doctrines. They read things in Scripture I've never seen. And, too often, they'd be happy if the world burned around them as long as they came out okay on the other side.

I believe we see more reality the more we look around. I'm not talking about searching for God in world religions, restlessly embracing every philosophy as if amalgamated contradictions were enlightening paradoxes. No. But God is bigger than me. My view of Him is too easily shaped by my experiences and emotions. I'm no less prone to error than my forefathers. And like everyone else, I'm rather good at reading into Scripture what I want to see. And as fantastic as my church and pastoral leaders are, they are well aware of churches around the globe who can teach us a thing or two about prayer, worship, and following Christ.

This is the power of diversity. Through the various branches and expressions of discipleship, we begin to weave a tapestry of the Body of Christ that reflects His love and grace.

We do not see the world correctly when we view it only from the tiny windows of our home. But through books, and testimony, and fellowship, and discussion, we can find a new clarity.

The world is big. God is bigger. And our only hope of seeing more clearly His view is to draw near to Him, His Body, His redemptive story throughout history, and the people He wants to touch through us.

I am so thankful for the global perspective my parents offered me through Sonlight. It is such a joy to be surrounded by my quirky friends. I am blessed to know people who challenge my assumptions and nudge me further into God's grace and truth. And I delight in the daily opportunities to expand my view and try to see the world a little more clearly through the insights and experiences of you, my brothers and sisters.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Guardian

Tagged challenges, community, discussion, global | Leave a comment

Oct. 30, 2013

Homeschooling In Public School

By Luke

I arrived home later than usual. She was at the table doing her math homework.

"What's a percent?" she asked.

I couldn't tell if her gap was the mathematical concept or the English word, since she's from Germany. "How many centimeters make up a meter?"

"One hundred," she replied.

"So per cent is per hundred." I'd grabbed a sheet of paper and was scribbling. Pulling from the amazing clue words provided in MathTacular4, I told her, "Per is a division clue word, so this is just a division problem. If we have 17 per cent, we have 17 per hundred, or 17 divided by 100. And what's that as a decimal?"

Simulation of My Scribbles ...no wonder she looked confused

Soon we'd run through problems involving 3 blue sweaters out of 27 and solved interest equations given a particular principle investment. It trickled back. Algebra was a long, long time ago.

And it struck me, as I explained yet another basic concept that her teachers had thus far failed to communicate to her: Homeschooling happens everywhere. Even in public school. Perhaps especially in public school for the kids who achieve the most. Teachers, no matter how good and dedicated and caring, simply do not have time or opportunity to help each student move at his or her own pace.

Homeschooling simply removes the potentially frustrating daily grind experience and replaces it with a one-on-one opportunity to teach your children exactly where they are.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Math Tutor

Tagged high school, homeschool, math, MathTacular, public | 4 Comments

Oct. 29, 2013

Have a Student Heading to College Next Year?

By Luke

How's $20,000 sound? Sonlight's college scholarship applications are due in a little over five weeks.

When I was in college, I often felt bad because I didn't have a part time job. My friends worked in the school library or at a local day care. I worked during the summers producing Math and Science DVDs. But I didn't feel like I was "putting myself through school" like all those serious about an education were. Instead, I swam. I was at the pool 20-30 hours a week during the season.

It must have been some afternoon where I'd heard yet another story of a kid who had gone on to be successful in life because of waiting tables to pay for college. I was depressed.

"How much money," my dad asked me, "do you get for swimming? That scholarship is more than you'd make working some part time job."

Sonlight students are awesome. I was one. So I know. <grin> It's likely your student is creative, generous, missions-minded, involved, excelling is academics, developing as a leader, or otherwise. And that's just the kind of person we want to help through college!

Get everything for your scholarship application together. Submit it by December 5, 2013. And then go be awesome in college.

You may still want a part time job if you're not doing something else, but a college scholarship can sure help!

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Guardian

Tagged college, scholarships | Leave a comment

Five Reasons to Waste Your Time Reading to Your Kids

Sonlight to me…

Becoming a Teacher

How Experts Teach Stuff They Don't Know

How a Global Perspective Helps Us See More Clearly

Homeschooling In Public School

Have a Student Heading to College Next Year?

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