Sonlight Homeschooling Blog

Nov. 12, 2012

Why Core Club Benefits?

By Luke

If you've poked around Sonlight's website, you've probably read the Sonlighters Club Membership Details and Discounts. We got into a discussion about them again this morning, so I thought I'd share a few of the things that grabbed me. We think that:

You should love homeschooling. That's one reason why we discount our packages so much! Over the years, we have seen again and again that those who buy complete homeschool curriculum packages are far happier with their school year than those who just purchase bits and pieces. We want you to love your homeschooling experience, so if saving you money on packages will help, we'll do that!
You should get the right materials for your family. We say it again and again: Sonlight is NOT for everyone. You should never feel stuck with a purchase that isn't working for your family. That's why we have an unrivaled 1-year Love to Learn Guarantee.
You should have support and community. We always seek to give you great support, but sometimes the best help--when you're in the middle of the school year--comes from fellow homeschoolers. That's one reason why our Sonlight Homeschool Advisors are all Sonlight moms. But you can also find fantastic advice, uplifting encouragement, and brilliant ideas on the Sonlight Forums.
You should be able to get the latest and greatest. I don't know how many industries do this, but it's certainly true with software. Adobe lets you upgrade Photoshop for a fraction of the cost. Window 8 just launched and the update is $40. Apple does a similar thing. And we here at Sonlight give you a huge "repurchase discount" on your Instructor's Guide. We are constantly working to update our curriculum. So, if you're going to reuse your program from a few years ago, we want to make sure you have the best. You can always get the latest IG for half off!
You'll like working with us. That's why we give you discounts beyond just your first purchase. We want you to be able to come back and save money all year long... whether it's for an elective you decided to add or a great gift.

We designed Sonlight's Club Benefits to help you get the most out of your school year. And I hope that, thus far, your year has been absolutely fantastic!

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester

Tagged benefits, Core, curriculum, Discount, help, save | Leave a comment

Nov. 9, 2012

Discover the Joy of Scripture ...and find other great gifts!

By Luke

Sonlight's Christmas sale started today. I know, I know: WAY too early to be talking Christmas. I agree! But it's always a great time to talk about Scripture. And that's a major focus in our sale this year.

You'll first notice the What's In the Bible? DVDs which provide a great introduction to the content of Scripture. I was personally surprised to see Rhett & Link singing songs about the Old Testament. These guys are pretty big on YouTube nowadays, so it's cool to see their creative energy in such an important project.

Speaking of songs, you have got to go take a few minutes to listen to the audio samples of the Seeds Family Worship CDs. I got to hear them for the first time yesterday and was thoroughly impressed. I also love that they include a second copy of the CD in your package so you can give one away! How cool it that?

And if you flip to page 88 of your Sonlight Catalog, you may notice a little blurb about BibleMesh. Well, here we are, seven months later, and it's finally available. Check it out. There's a free 30-day trial for your family to enjoy.

Of course, there's a lot more. And I'm sure we'll be sharing more in the coming month. But for now, enjoy the Seeds audio samples, the 30-day BibleMesh trial, and the funny clip from the good people at What's in the Bible.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester

Tagged Bible, Christmas, sale | Leave a comment

Nov. 7, 2012

When family disapproves...

By Jill

On a family field trip in 1992.

When I talk to homeschoolers one of the top three problems people mention to me is this one..."My family disapproves." It may be parents, or in-laws; a sister or pastor or even a next door neighbor, but chances are if you homeschool you have close family members or friends who disapprove of it. You can provide them with statistics and show them studies, but they still think you are ruining your children.

We had this problem too, and since I am done with homeschooling I thought I would give you a glimpse into how this played out in my family. Perhaps it will encourage you.

I come from a family of teachers. In fact I have a teaching degree but chose to stay home and have a large family (5 children) instead of working outside the home. My parents were opposed to homeschooling from the start---and that was in 1990. We treated homeschooling as the proverbial "Elephant in the Room" -- we didn't talk about it. My dad did teach the boys drafting and wood-shop, but my parents felt the kids needed a classroom setting in order to be able to go on to college, be successful, etc. At that time we were in a church of about 3000 and we were the only home educators in our church.

I think it goes back to the premise I was raised with, that education is your salvation. It is how my dad pulled himself out of poverty, so it is no wonder they were skeptical. In their eyes if we ruined our kids' education, we were in effect, destroying their chance of having any type of fulfilling life. Although Christians, they did not understand any of our convictions for educating our 5 children at home, and they didn't want to see us spoil our kids' chances for happiness and success.

After SEVEN YEARS of homeschooling, my dad came and sat at the table where I was checking over some math papers and said, "You know we never approved of you homeschooling the kids; (long pause) but I see what great kids you have, and the closeness they have, how well they are doing and want to tell you your sacrifice was worth it. You have done a great job and you made the right decision."

Sometimes you just have to live it out---you can't talk it out or prove it with statistics, you have to live it out, just like your faith---day by day. My dad died a few years later, and oh what a sweet memory that kitchen table conversation is for me. How glad I am that we stuck to it, that we lived it out and that we were kind and gentle with scoffers.

Hopefully you will be able to tell your own stories of acceptance in the years to come.

Take care,

Jill

As a note: We did not ruin our kids! They have all graduated from college, are self supporting, live in the same area we do, and best of all, they like each other and us!

Cris has been married for 11 years, has a daughter and is an electrical engineer.
Dusty has been married for 11 years and is an accountant.
Chad has been married for 4 years, has two daughters and is a software engineer.
Kari served 1 year in Americorps and currently is an industrial safety manager.
Scotty works as an industrial technician.

Tagged disapprove, education, Encouragement, family | 1 Comment

Nov. 6, 2012

Are You Accepted as One of Them?

By Luke

Not four minutes ago I finished a fascinating conversation with a speaker from Encountering the World of Islam. The questioned he posed was this: Thinking of Christ becoming man so He could reach us, how are we reaching out to communities in such a way that we are accepted as belonging in that group? And after we accomplish that, what's the first thing we should tell them about the Gospel that would be good news to them?

If I could whistle, I would have. That's a question!

He smiled. Then he pushed it over the edge. "Now, what if I gave you a group? Say, homosexuals or women not remorseful of their abortion." Inwardly, I cringed. I could see a bunch of people taking umbrage with such a suggestion! Some would say, to some extent or another, that we should never be caught identifying with such people. To do so would be to approve of their actions. Others would take offense at the notion that such actions are wrong in the first place. How dare you imply that such things are somehow evil!

The difficulty is obvious, no? On one hand we can't justify taking on the form of a "sinner" to reach out to them. On the other, we are so bruised from bad encounters that we'd never accept someone so "hateful" into our midst.

And not that everyone loved Christ when He was here either. He was crucified, for crying out loud! But, still... He became sin for us so that we could be made righteous. This brings a new depth to the passage about becoming all things to all men for the sake of the Gospel.

Hudson Taylor--whom you meet in Core F--is a fantastic example of this. He, in many ways, revolutionized missions. And, perhaps, it's time for someone to step up and do it again.

If I were to take an initial stab at addressing this question in my own life, it would be this: Brittany and I reach out to high school/college aged kids. We watch movies with them and hang out. Brittany cooks with them and makes costumes. We go to their events and shows. We just try to be there with them. And when God opens the door, we share that when life is out of control, God is still there ready to redeem the horrible situations they can find themselves in. And we remind them, in word and deed, that they are loved.

How about you?

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester

Tagged missions, questions | Leave a comment

Nov. 5, 2012

Where is the true 4-Day program?

By Luke

I saw the following feedback on the Forums:

I REALLY love our Core this year, but I was disappointing that you chose to schedule Bible, Readers, and some LA five days a week. We broaden our children's education outside the home one day a week. Sonlight's past 4-day schedules dovetailed perfectly with this. Now, it's just frustrating. We want a 4-DAY program...not a 4-day with some extra fifth day requirements.

First, let me say: I love feedback like this! We absolutely want to hear from you. We take your suggestions very seriously and many of the updates we made to our Instructor's Guides this year were draw directly from your suggestions and requests.

Second, I totally get how this would be frustrating. I helped write the Bible notes and schedule in a few of the levels, so I'm more that a little bit to blame for this disappointment. I'm so sorry that our new schedule layout has created more work for you. That was not at all our intent.

So, third, let me lay out my take on all this and, hopefully, give you a little bit of encouragement:

Reading/Language Arts has long been scheduled five days a week. That's not new this year. We built Sonlight this way because Dr. Ruth Beechick, who strongly influenced my mom's philosophy of Language Arts, urges you to have your children read a little every day. And I agree. I struggled with reading, so giving me many opportunities--and lots of time--to develop this skill is important. This year we kept that format, including the fun fifth-day LA assignments. If that does not work with your schedule, please feel free to skip those assignments. Do not feel any compulsion to cram it into the rest of your week just because it's scheduled in the Instructor's Guide.
If we believe kids should do Reading and LA every day, I couldn't leave Bible off that list! But you can skip the fifth day Bible passages just like Reading if that works better for your family. I tried to keep the day five reading manageable and devotional without the extra study resources. Even if you're one of the many families on the go once a week, I do hope you take some time for Bible reading... even if it's not part of your homeschool schedule.
Let me reiterate: We're here to serve you. Your feedback is invaluable and if not having a true, purely 4-Day program is making homeschooling harder for you... we want to know. I'm certainly not going to guarantee anything beyond our already stellar year-long Love to Learn Guarantee, but we will keep your insights and suggestions in mind as we work to improve our homeschool curriculum programs in the future.

I do like positive feedback too. You know, stuff like, "I love your updates! You guys rock! Best improvements ev'ah!" That kind of thing. Feel free to send those in too <smile>.

But, seriously: What can we do to improve your homeschool experience?

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester

Tagged curriculum, feedback, schedule, updates | 11 Comments

Nov. 1, 2012

Who will you meet in heaven?

By Sarita

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. –Revelation 7:9

I believe God cares about the whole world. I believe the whole world needs Christ. Do you believe that, too?

As you use Sonlight to teach your children about the world (including the West and the East) you're preparing them to live in our modern, globalized society. But globalization won't end here. Just think: one day we will actually stand before God, surrounded by believers from across time and across the globe.

Does that get you excited? It does me!

Right now, you have a chance to participate in work that brings people from every tongue and tribe to Jesus. You can put feet to what you've been learning with Sonlight. You already read about people from around the world. You probably cheer for missionaries from history who followed God with passion and purpose. Today, you can take that a step further as you enable your children to do something concrete for others.

Children in Jakarta, Indonesia. One stop on the current Phoenix Phaxx adventure.

Perhaps you're involved in mission work already. Maybe you still partner with Mission India to support the incredible Children's Bible Clubs. (Do you remember Chris from the Passport to India project two years ago? That work is still going strong!) But if you're looking for a chance to help your children get involved afresh and anew ...

The Phoenix Phaxx project is an easy way for kids to do something for others. If you want them to have real-world experience in developing compassion, challenging any"me-first" mentality, and learning to live with a Kingdom purpose, why not start here?

Watch the videos. Pray as a family for those who have never heard of Jesus. And then, if your family prayerfully decides to do so, encourage your kids to be creative and raise funds for simple hand-held radios that may be the only way kids, families and entire villages hear the good news of Jesus.

I know it may seem odd to raise money for radios. I mean, who needs another radio? But I'm here to tell you that when a remote village without electricity receives a simple wind-up radio tuned to the Gospel in their heart language, people listen. Farmers come in from the fields to hear their favorite broadcasts. Children crowd around for the entertainment. And real people from overlooked people groups come to know Jesus.

What really captures my heart in this particular project goes back to the verse above. I really do believe that one day we're going to live in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-3) and meet believers from every tongue, tribe and nation. And it could be that as a result of radios we raised funds for, our kids will meet someone who said, "You know, I heard about Jesus from a radio."

Wow. May it be so! May it be that one day our kids meet someone on whom they had a direct impact.

Let's remember that through Phoenix Phaxx, daily life and other mission work ... we can genuinely enjoy the awesome privilege of sharing the Good News of Jesus!

Many blessings to you and yours,
Sarita

Tagged giving, missions | 1 Comment

Oct. 31, 2012

Biographies Teach Us the World Isn't Safe

By Luke

...and that that's okay.

This theme has been building over my last three posts. It hasn't been entirely intentional. But when we study history, we quickly see that this world isn't safe. Biographies are filled with pain and loss and bereavement.

No, this world is not safe.

In fact, one of my frustrations with a Christian radio station is their tagline: "Safe for the whole family." If what you offer is "safe for the whole family," then perhaps You're Doing It Wrong. I don't mean to suggest that there aren't times when only positive and encouraging things are appropriate. But if we are to follow Christ's command to be as shrewd as serpents yet innocent as doves, we need to be challenged.

And biographies can certainly be challenging! The men who are murdered by the tribe they went to reach? The missionary family whose 6-month old son almost drowned in the river as they moved in? The woman who lost her sight in a helicopter accident involving dry concrete? The many close calls that people have smuggling Bibles? Accounts like these force us to confront the dangers of life and carefully consider God's protection and/or lack thereof. These stories--which I'm recalling from memory so please feel free to correct me--bring to my mind the oft-quoted line about Aslan: "Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good."

There's a reason that passage is so popular. God is good, even when He isn't safe.

Once again, this is a reason why Sonlight includes books with difficult content that some people shy away from. We aren't those who shy away. We're called to engage this world and bring the hope of Christ to the hopeless. And there's no way that doing that will be safe.

May we follow God, wherever He leads us, resting in His goodness and grace.

The biographies you'll read as part of your Sonlight homeschool curriculum teach us that life isn't safe, but that God's goodness make's that okay.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester

Tagged biographies, God, history, missions, stories | Leave a comment

Why Core Club Benefits?

Discover the Joy of Scripture ...and find other great gifts!

When family disapproves...

Are You Accepted as One of Them?

Where is the true 4-Day program?

Who will you meet in heaven?

Biographies Teach Us the World Isn't Safe

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