I could write a love letter to my Sonlight Instructor’s Guide. It’s a treasure trove of thoughtful material, helpful schedules, great discussion questions, and insightful notes. I’ve used Sonlight for over nine years and my kids adore reading and learning. But I have a little confession to make: I don’t always follow everything in the Instructor’s Guide exactly as written.
Instead of feeling guilty that I am wasting my investment unless I check every box, I lean into the freedom that I can use the Instructor’s Guide as a resource and adapt any of it to fit my family’s flow and get us toward our goal of learning and thriving.
If you find you want to tweak some things about your learning experience, here are a few ideas (based on Sonlighter questions) that you can use as a jumping-off point for your own strategy.
Block Schedule
“How can I consolidate our reading rather than jumping from a few pages in one book to a few pages in another?”
One of the beauties of Sonlight (especially as you get into upper levels of D and above) is that you are reading from several different resources at a time and each book serves as a different strand in the whole tapestry. You can read more about Sonlight’s design and the intentional way all those ideas from various books weave together in this post.
However, if you tend to get on a roll and want to keep reading without jumping to as many different books at once, you may want to consider block scheduling subjects in your IG. You could do your History and Geography M/W/F and your Read-Alouds on T/TR. Whatever combination suits you, all the material is still right there for you.
In our family, we save our poetry readings for a once-a-week poetry tea time that has become a favorite tradition! You can do math daily, but map activities once a week, or work through the timeline figures every six weeks and review what you’ve studied. Just check off material as you complete it and don’t worry about which day it happened.
It’s usuallyeasiest if you can do most of one week’s worth of related material together, even if in longer chunks. That way your children’s brains are processing different angles of similar information. You can read more about how different Sonlighters break up their school year in this post.
Adjust Your Pace
“I’m ahead or behind in different parts of the schedule! What should I do?”
If you are “behind” in the schedule, forget any sense of defeat. You are right where you need to be for your child’s learning. This is not a race! Be patient with yourself and stay flexible to keep everyone moving forward and learning at whatever pace makes sense and retains that sense of delight.
Easy Ways to Track Where You Are
Here are a few options when you are at different places in your IG. Put a post-it flag or a clear colored tab where you are in each subject to keep your place as you go. Some parents also use fun magnetic bookmarks or post-its to mark the space that is the scheduled ending for the week and also their actual ending spot in a particular book.
If You Want to “Catch-Up” …
Think outside of the bounds of normal school time. You can catch up on certain subjects in unexpected places in your week when you think outside traditional school hours. Read-Alouds can make perfect bedtime stories or weekend memories. Readers can become rewards for voracious readers. You can move science projects to a quarterly blitz or do lots of experiments over the summer. Your learning can fill all of life and sometimes moving it outside the “normal” school hours makes it even more special.
If You’re Ahead …
If you are way ahead on Read-Alouds, you can read the sequel to a book you’ve enjoyed or watch a movie inspired by the book as a fun follow-up. My kids get passionate comparing book versus movie!
This may sound like Mean Mom territory, but I now hide our Read-Aloud books and pull them out just when it is time to read them so I can wield that “new book excitement” power and channel it directly to school time. This translates into my kids hanging on every word, wondering with me how a book is going to end. My children are then allowed to re-read a school title as many times as they like after we’ve read it together. Providing them plenty of other good material keeps them from zooming ahead to finish all their reading for the year on Week 3.
If you have voracious readers like I do, keep a Free-Read Shelf of additional books that are up for grabs at any time. That keeps your kids reading for fun while you catch up in other subject areas. Sonlight Summer Readers, library books, or books from past Sonlight Cores can work well here.
Make It Your Own
No matter how you use your Sonlight Instructor’s Guide, you can pick and choose from the veritable learning feast laid at your fingertips. The body of background information and thoughtful planning is there for the taking. There are plenty of ways to adapt your schedule and still gain significant value from your Instructor’s Guide. You are the expert on your family and you can unapologetically flex your plan to what fits your family best.
Find the freedom of educating your kids at their own pace with a Sonlight program. No matter when you start your school year, your plans are ready.
We all have our own pictures of what the ideal homeschooling day looks like. Mine definitely include an amazing, mind blowing science experiment that has all my kids in awe. Bubbling beakers, microscopes, home-made circuits, dry ice vapor, rubber gloves, and goggles—that’s the vision I’m always chasing.
But sometimes, homeschool science doesn't quite go according to plan.
As it turns out, I’m just not a science mom. With a bit of embarrassment I admit that we’ve had more than our fair share of science experiment duds around here.
The worst part is that I get my kids so excited about the great experiment we’ll be doing. Their eyes light up and they complete all their other assignments more quickly than usual just so we can get to science. I set up all the equipment with care. I divvy up each child’s materials onto their own color coded science trays. The kids come running. I wonder which one will grow up to become a scientist or lab technician or cure cancer.
And then we get into it. We follow the instructions and hold our breath and…. NOTHING.
It’s a genuine science fail.
All the hype, all the prep, wasted. It’s now onto Child Disappointment Management. Have you been there? If you have, relax, you’re not alone. Not every science experiment works out perfectly. When it doesn’t, you’ll need to decide what to do next.
Recovering from a science fail isn’t always easy, but it’s important. On my worst days, when our homeschool plan was barely moving along on a hope and a prayer, I’ve given up. I hand out popsicles and send the kids out to play while I clean up the aftermath of my science fiasco.
However, when things don’t go quite right, there’s no need to scrap the whole thing. There are always ways to turn your busted experiment into a solid learning experience. Don’t call science fail just yet. Instead, try these rescue ideas.
1. Watch a Video
If your Science program came with a DVD resource like Discover and Do, take a moment to view the video for the experiment. If not, it’s pretty easy to find videos on YouTube for nearly every experiment out there. After watching a video, try the experiment again now that you’ve seen it in action. If it’s still not working for you, see if the video provided enough explanation to be able to complete your Activity Sheets, then give yourself permission to move on.
2. Re-engineer the Experiment
Create an Experiment 2.0 by working together to design a new or altered experiment to test the same or similar hypothesis. Start with your question, create your hypothesis, and begin designing a new experiment that will test your hypothesis.
For example, consider a failed experiment testing static electricity. Begin by discussing and recording what you already know: I often get shocked when I walk across carpet in my shoes and touch something metal. Next, record a question the kids have about static electricity, like: What types of shoes create the most static electricity? Then, design and carry out a simple experiment to test each child’s guess.
Now that your kids have some experience with the subject, work through your Activity Sheets to bring it all together.
3. Smile! It's Science!
Demonstrate the trial and error aspects of the scientific process while staying positive.
Show your kids how to respond well when things don’t go quite right. Explain that science is a process that often requires repeating the same tasks over and over while slightly adjusting one part each time until you can prove your hypothesis.
If you think the experiment may work after some repetition and small changes, challenge your kids to repeat it up to 10 different times. Older kids can make a chart to record which changes were made for each repetition. Include your younger kids in making guesses about which changes might affect the results. Include those random and silly suggestions!
4. Talk About What Happened
Infer, discuss, and record why you think the experiment didn’t work.
Make the failed experiment the subject of the lesson. After some discussion about why things didn’t go according to plan, have some fun with it. You could print a photo of the results and label it #ScienceFail, adding some arrows pointing to the parts that didn’t work. Add comments about what went wrong and why.
Or, make a funny poster titled “You Had ONE Job.” Draw a picture of the main culprit (the balloon that wouldn’t inflate, the paperclip that wasn’t actually metal, etc.) Then write about the horrible job your materials did in testing your hypothesis and why.
While learning to precisely follow a checklist is an important part of science, equally important is the skill of making inferences to why things happened the way they did.
5. Plan a Do-over
Reschedule the experiment for the following week.
A lighthearted “better luck next time” approach is often the best response to a failed science experiment. Give yourself time to gather better materials if you need them, double check your Instructor’s Guide, and work through the experiment a few times. Your kids will learn and remember even more by repeating the same experiment and figuring out what changes needed to be made.
Try a Science Friday or Science Saturday. With Sonlight’s 4-day schedule you can move trickier experiments to Friday, or you can plan a science weekend. This gives you a focused day for science that will allow for variances, give you a chance to work through any quirks and explore the concepts a little more deeply. With the day dedicated to science, you can add more experiments and projects for extra science fun.
There are plenty of scientists and inventors who didn’t succeed during their first attempts. Spend some time researching and studying famous science fails. Which advances in science resulted from mistakes or came from looking into something entirely different? Consider working together to make a big poster with the names and faces of scientists and inventors that didn’t give up after their big failures. Add some great quotes that inspire your kids to never stop trying. Hang it on the wall for inspiration during your next science experiment!
7. Reach Out for Help
Remember that you’re far from alone in this. Reach out in the Sonlight Connections community and ask for tips for upcoming lessons and experiments. Share pictures of your busted experiments and let others chime in on how to recover them.
You don’t have to be a Science Mom to give your kids a great foundation in science. Life itself is about the journey, and working through problems is a key part of learning to enjoy it to the fullest. So the next time you have an epic science fail, try some of these ideas to turn it into a life lesson!
Sonlight Science provides a complete solution: books, Activity Sheets, a detailed Instructor's Guide, and supplies for the experiments.
If you've homeschooled long, you've probably heard the comment: "Oh, I could never spend that much time with my kids. I don't know how you do it."
Well, here's a secret many parents have discovered:
Homeschooling can actually improve your relationship with your kids, forging a close-knit family.
Homeschooling can help sibling relationships, and it can help your family grow closer.
How could that possibly be? I can't speak for other curriculum companies, but family bonding is a core value in Sonlight. We designed the curriculum approach itself to help families grow more closely tight-knit.
That's just one reason why the heart of Sonlight is reading together. Sure, I did math and science, handwriting and spelling with my children. But when I think about our homeschool, the main image I remember is cuddling on the couch to share a book.
First, time shared reading together can help fill up children's love tanks — a concept from The Five Love Languages. When you share a book as a family, you're automatically satisfying two of the five love languages during school time – quality time and (if you are close together on the couch) physical touch!
2. Builds a Common Family Culture
Reading together also builds a common family culture.
You'll develop inside jokes about characters, and your kids might start referencing your shared stories in play and at the dinner table. You get to express emotion alongside your children, whether you shed a tear at the end of a poignant work, or you all cry because you're laughing so hard at a funny part.
I remember lively discussions about our books during dinner and car trips. We talked about why a character made a particular choice and whether we agreed with it. As my children grew older, we found we enjoyed deep conversations more and more often. What a gift!
4. Allows for Shared Homeschooling
Literature-based homeschooling also gives the non-teaching spouse an easy way to get involved.
My husband John loved being able to participate in our homeschool through reading out loud. It gave him a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with our kids on a regular basis. Many other dads have discovered the same in their own families.
Lest you think I'm exaggerating about how Sonlight helps families grow close, I wanted to share from others on this very issue.
"Sonlight gives me the opportunity to stop, slow down, and get lots of snuggle and one-on-one time with our blessings!" –Sara G. of New London, OH
"Some of our most cherished family memories are those in which we spend an evening listening to dad read some of our favorite Read-Alouds." –Kathy R. of Farmington, MI
"Homeschooling with Sonlight has allowed my husband and me to form a bond with our children that we were missing out on before." – Devaney L. of Silverhill, AL
"After homeschooling with Sonlight for eight years, my girls are officially best friends." -–Sue E. of La Crosse, WI
Homeschooling with Sonlight let my husband and me build the close-knit family culture we wanted. I will always be grateful for that.
Has homeschooling with literature-based Sonlight helped your family grow closer, too?
The good news is that homeschooling is a delight for children! We've shared before on the blog some of the reasons kids like being homeschooled, but with the influx of new pandemic homeschoolers, we thought it was due time to revisit the perks of homeschooling, told from the viewpoint of the students themselves.
We asked...Do your kids like being homeschooled? If so why? What are their favorite parts of the homeschool life?
Pajamas and Family Time
My 6 year old son said, “Because I get to wear pajamas and be with my baby brother.” My 9 year old said, “I get to lay on the floor and be in my pajamas. I don’t have to wake up super early and my school day is shorter.” As you can see, they love being in pajamas. 🤣 —Jb
Thank you for making me ask my kids this question. Their answers brightened my morning Jack 6 years old, 1st grade (attended kindergarten at a private preschool): “I love that we can cuddle up to read so many books together. That’s definitely the best part.” Lucy, 3: “I like learning counting with you and I like when Bubba (brother) helps with my school too.” —Nathalia W.
My twin boys (8) said: “I like being with you! And I like the Usborne World Book of Animals.” My other said “I like the books.” —Laura-Lee Hubert
More Time for Free Play
My 6yo LOVES the read-alouds. My 9yo loves that he gets to stay in pajamas (or a curriculum-relevant costume he creates 🤣) and that he has lots of time to play with LEGO when we’re done with school for the day. —Courtney W.
These are word for word quotes! Malachi, age 9 grade 4: "Kind of its not as long as public school and we get to be with my family and stay home and we're always done by lunch so we can be playing longer. I only would want to go to public school so I could be with my friends but I guess I get to play with them when they get home so I guess it's cool to stay home." Faith, age 5 grade K: "Yes I like being homeschooled. It's fun and I don't have to go somewhere and I can eat lunch with you and also I love sleeping in." Hannah, age 8 grade 3: "yea I like being homeschooled because I don't have to get up early and I can do school in my pajamas. And because I can stay home with you and don't have to leave you. And I get to do a bunch more things than other kids. Public school also has to do more work than us" —Sabrina M.
Carah, age 12 "All the books!" Gavin, age 9 "If I have to do it, might as well be home where I can go outside more." —Grace A.
My (then 9 year old) boy when asked which he preferred "Homeschool. Because I'm usually done by lunch, and then I can do what I like. Also, I wouldn't be able to take my knife to a real school." 😂 Background info: we live in Papua New Guinea, and bush knives/machetes are seen as garden tools not weapons and children grow up using them from a young age! —Cheree V.
“Being at home and I get to play outside in the snow when I want to,” Jaxson, age 8 “We get to go at our own pace,” Emma, age 11. —Lindsey M.
More Freedom in Learning
My older kids like to be able to negotiate assignments, for example, "Can I write about this instead of that? Can I give it to you Saturday instead of Thursday?" —Jen M. P.
16 yo -"Yes, I love homeschooling. I can work at my own pace. Also, where else can I study Elvis for school?" (She's doing 20th century history, and for the 50's her decade project is on rock and roll. So she's been watching Elvis videos, along with other 50's singers and bands.). 14 yo - "Sure, I like it. I'm done really early and can study stuff I like." 12 yo - "Yes. Because it's not really school." (She's doing Core F and loves all the projects and videos we get to do. Also does Math-U-See math and Sonlight Language Arts and Apologia science. Really, she's never done anything else for school and somehow she still thinks this isn't "real" school. I guess it isn't like what her swim friends talk about.) 10 yo - "Yes. Except the writing. The cooking is the best." (He's my little chef. Entered his first cooking competition just before he turned 9 with his own chili recipe. So he's loving finding recipes from the countries in Core F and creating those dishes.) —Jannette M. I.
Luna age 11 “Yes I love homeschooling I can do it at my own pace.” —Kerri S.
My daughter is 16 years old and in 11th grade. We started homeschooling two years ago after a rough first year of high school. What she loves the most is the individual attention I can give her which makes her school day much shorter because we aren’t working around 32 other kids in a classroom. She loves starting later and finishing earlier. And she finally has learned to enjoy reading rather than being intimidated by it and loathing it. She also loves switching up the order we do things in based on how her vision is that day and what she can see (as she is blind, and her vision will fluctuate throughout the day.) Finally, she loves the flexibly homeschool gives us to travel and do school at the same time. —Tammie H.
Lauren (10) says, "I can do as much work as I want in one day, and if I'm sick, I can take the complete day off. And stuff like that." Brooke (12) says, "Everything. I would never want to go to public school. I like that I get to plan my own schedule, and some days I can do as much as I want and get ahead, so that I can take a day off. That you get to be my teacher, and I don't have to talk to people I don't know, or have teachers I don't like." 😂 —Amy R.
"I can listen in on [my older sister's] lessons--and you can't do that in a regular school." - Breeze, 11yo (Core F) "I like planning out my own schedule and choosing what I get to study." - Raine, 13yo (Core H) —Rheea H.
Home Is More Comfortable
My high school junior just took the PSAT today at our local high school. I asked him if he wished he went to school there. In a nutshell, he said "No!" because the chairs are so uncomfortable. 🤣 He also said he knows they don't get the same history and civics education that he is getting at home with SL. —Ann S. K.
"I guess it's not having to call the teacher ma'am or sir or Mr. or Mrs." - Annika, age 7 (2nd grade) —Sharon R. W.
7 year old girl, second grade, says she loves the freedom of homeschooling. She is a fidget bug and can wiggle, move all she wants too, take breaks when she needs too, play outside when others kids are in big school and we can play in the snow and do snow sculptures for art and play in the rain and study things she loves to learn about. She can take more time to do things if she needs too and can play outside and do class outside or at the beach or in the woods or anywhere. School can be over when she gets her work done and she can eat snacks when she wants too as long as her work gets done. She can eat and do school work. —Claudette A.
More Time with Mom
Micah, age 7, says "Because it's more fun. It's shorter, and I get to do it with you!" —Jessica P.
Maggie age 8, "yes I like being homeschooled" because "I get to stay home with Mom, I don't have to eat tuna sandwiches everyday, I get to keep all the books and I get to pick out my own math (curriculum)." —Marabeth V. D.
Evelyn age 6- I like that I get to go see friends or my grandparents during the day when other kids are at school all day. I love read-aloud time the most and spending time with my mommy. —TiAnna A. W.
“What I love most about homeschooling is my teacher (mom)” Emery, age 6, 1st grade. Made my day ❤️ —Melissa W. G.
A woman stopped by our house in the middle of the day last week. She was hoping to sell us something. Most interestingly, she had her 7-year-old daughter with her, even though it was a school day.
The woman was obviously smart and was doing a great job training her daughter in how to meet and engage strangers in conversation. Seeing how she interacted with her daughter, and considering the time of day, John asked her if she was homeschooling her daughter.
"Oh no!" she replied. "I haven't got the patience!"
I didn't say anything, but I wished she knew a little secret: I don't think any of us feel like we had the patience when we started homeschooling. I know I didn't!
Of course, when friends or strangers explain off the cuff why they could never homeschool, they're usually not seeking a serious discussion. And that's fine. But what about a friend who really does want to consider homeschooling? What do you say when she gets hung up on one of the common I could never homeschool reasons?
Here are some thoughts about five of the most common objections to homeschooling.
1. "I could never homeschool because I don't have the patience."
A lack of patience seems to be a very common sentiment. And I can see how it's a legitimate fear. I just wish parents who thought this could know that homeschool moms and dads are normal people too! We're not ultra-patient wonder-women and supermen.
But I also think there's a hidden benefit of homeschooling lurking behind this fear. Homeschooling gives you extra opportunities to develop patience. And since patience is a fruit of the Spirit, shouldn't we welcome growth in this area? Although I struggled to be patient with my children (and myself), I really believe that homeschooling helped me to grow and mature here. I've heard many other homeschool moms say the same thing.
Again, I see this as a legitimate fear that may make you say, "I could never homeschool." It can be very hard to live on one income. But I've seen many, many families make it work because they made it a priority. And, of course, the pandemic has forced families to make choices they never thought they would. Surprisingly, many are discovering working from home while homeschooling is manageable.
Of course, there are exceptions. No matter how hard they try, some families simply can't make it work financially to live on one income or work from home and homeschool.
Every family must choose what's most important to them and make choices accordingly. But if you truly believe homeschooling is best for your family, the rewards of homeschooling will probably outweigh the sacrifices you make.
If a friend says, "I could never homeschool" because she lacks confidence that she can teach her children well, you might share these four points with her.
You know your children better and love them more than anyone else. You quite possibly are the best person to give them a great education. You'll stick with them, learn alongside them, and watch them learn and grow. You're simply not going to let them graduate with a poor education.
If your kids are young, focus on where they are right now. You don't even have to think about calculus and physics for years. (And when you do get there, you'll find plenty of resources to help. You won't actually have to teach the concepts unless you want to.)
Fortunately, I have a great answer for this. You can get curriculum that organizes your studies for you. As one Sonlight mom said, "I'm not organized. I buy curricula that have Instructor's Guides so that I don't have to figure it all out myself."
Sure, you'll still have to develop some systems. You and your kids will need to keep track of folders, books, assignments and supplies. But with some planning and all the available help out there, you can conquer this hurdle, too.
This was my biggest fear when I started homeschooling. If I was cooped up with the kids all day, when would I get the time alone that I need?
Fortunately a good friend graciously offered to babysit every other Friday night so John and I could get away. This was a huge blessing and helped give me confidence to start.
But I also found that I got great quality time with the kids each morning while homeschooling. After that time together, they naturally tended to go off and entertain themselves in the afternoons. We were able to establish homeschool patterns that built in alone time for me. If you're also an introvert, you may want to do this, too. One popular idea is to create a certain amount of mandatory quiet time each afternoon. The little ones can nap; older children can read or play quietly in their rooms. You can do whatever you need to reenergize for the rest of the day.
If you have friends who are stuck on these "I could never homeschool" concerns, a simple glimpse into your life could give them the confidence they need. You could go on a coffee date and share your experiences. Or even invite them over for a day of school so they could see how you do it. Brainstorm with them and help them imagine being successful in this, too!
And the next time your children drive you crazy give you an opportunity to develop patience, try to remember that this, too, is a blessing. Or just take a deep breath and eat some chocolate.
Imagine having a personal homeschool mentor who plans and organizes your entire homeschool year. What if she gave you customizable schedules, complete lesson plans, pertinent activities, and thoughtful questions to aid your students' comprehension? What if she left you handy tips and pointers to help you relax and homeschool with confidence all year long?
This is exactly the support you get with a Sonlight IG.
Please meet and join us in congratulating these exceptional Sonlight-educated students who are poised to make a difference in the world. As the winners of our annual Sonlight scholarship competition, they have each been awarded $20,000, $10,000, or $4,000 for college.
Sonlight's 2021 Scholarship Winners
Many of these students have used Sonlight since they were young. They’re headed into careers in engineering, arts, education, and more. Most are headed to their college of choice, and many have superb SAT or ACT scores.
But they are also kind, big-hearted young adults. Through ministry and volunteerism, they live life with Jesus in their hearts and long to share God’s kingdom with the world.
$20,000 Scholarship Winner: Emmalene Sotomayor of Douglassville, PA
Awarded $5,000 Per Year
Emmalene Sotomayor
Emmalene Sotomayor of Douglassville, PA has used Sonlight throughout her entire education and has excelled academically, being named a National Merit Commended Scholar based on her PSAT scores. She doesn’t stop with academics, however. Her list of extra-curricular involvement fills an entire page!
Emmalene is musically talented and plays for the youth band at her church, took 2nd place at a local fiddle festival, and played violin in orchestras throughout her high school years. She is also a talented writer (we’d like to think that all of those Sonlight books gave her some inspiration!) Emmalene is the creator and editor of the World Changers Homeschool Association newspaper and has written three novels. The first of these novels was completed at age 8.
Somewhere between all of her writing and musical talents, Emmalene finds time to serve at her church in the nursery and children’s classes, serve as a student leader in her youth group, and has participated in two mission trips in Costa Rica. “Emmalene is a natural leader!” observes the outreach coordinator at her church. “She does not seek the spotlight and is willing to grow and work hard.” She also notes that Emmalene’s self-motivation likely stems from her accomplishments in homeschooling.
In the future, Emmalene wants to attend Liberty University and study to be an English teacher. She considers herself “fortunate to have an education based on God’s Word,” and wants to “bring God back into academics through (her) choice of thought-provoking books” for her future students.
$10,000 Scholarship Winners: Julia Baker, Rachel Norwood, Anna Ramsey, and Caroline Zeller
Awarded $2,500 Per Year
Julia Baker
Julia Baker of Poy Sippi, WI describes her life as a conglomeration of “midnight airplane trips and homeschool on the road.” She grew up in a missionary family and has spent many of her growing up years in Kazakhstan. She serves alongside her family by acting as a Kazakh translator, tutoring in English, and leading youth activities, Bible studies, and discussions. Providing childcare, participating in evangelism events, and leading summer camp activities round out her diverse list of ministry activities.
Julia is artistically gifted and enjoys experimenting with drawing, painting, sculpture, and textiles. One of her paintings is a collage of pictures depicting her family’s missions activities. She also leads worship and teaches guitar to beginners. She writes poetry, too, which her father describes as “heartfelt and poignant.” A short novella inspired by her experiences growing up in a foreign culture was recently added to her portfolio, as well.
Having used Sonlight throughout her entire education, Julia intends to turn her love of learning into a career. As a teacher, she wants to either teach at a Christian school in America or overseas as a missionary. One thing she’s certain about; she definitely wants to homeschool her own children one day. While Julia plans to attend Concordia University Nebraska, she knows firsthand how plans can change. She says, “I want to continue living as a child of God, learning from the back seat of the car…as He guide(s) me on this new portion of my life.”
Rachel Norwood
Rachel Norwood of Siloam Springs, AR is described by her associate pastor as the epitome of a “humble, Christ-centered servant.” He’s seen this firsthand as he watches Rachel lead worship for youth group, lead a prayer group, help with childcare, and volunteer in audio/visual. She also volunteers with an organization that helps children with special needs and serves as a tutor for children who are falling behind in their studies. Rachel’s servant heart hasn’t distracted her from her own academic achievements. After many years of learning with Sonlight, she scored 33 on the ACT.
Rachel is also a gifted athlete and was a varsity volleyball player from 8th-12th grade. Her coach says that Rachel was a “leader both vocally and by example to the other girls on the team.” Rachel’s leadership doesn’t stop there…she completed three tiers of a leadership development program and graduated summer 2020. In addition to volleyball, she took ballet classes for nine years, and taught ballet classes for three years.
John Brown University has been Rachel’s first choice since childhood, but it took her several years to determine what she wanted to study. When Rachel was young, first responders were called to her house for a medical emergency. Remembering how calm and reassuring the paramedics were, Rachel began to consider a career path as an emergency responder. She’s put in the research, riding along with local police and fire department, and plans to have her EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) license before she graduates high school. In college, she wants to minor in Spanish to allow her to communicate with an even wider range of people and help them efficiently.
Anna Ramsey
Anna Ramsey of Iowa City, IA scored a 35 on her ACT, receiving perfect scores in both English and Reading. As one of her academic mentors states, “Anna will never be satisfied with mediocre work. She will excel!”
And excel she has, in a diverse range of activities. Anna is a talented musician and plays in an advanced violin ensemble and an advanced orchestra. She takes violin, piano, and voice lessons. Academically, she shines in her involvement with the Future Problem Solving individual and team competitions, which require students to analyze problems, brainstorm solutions, and explain the most promising solution. Anna has placed third internationally in this competition, outranking problem solvers from 31 states and several countries.
Anna’s academic pursuits extend to her work as a student lab assistant in the Anatomy and Cell Biology department at the University of Iowa, where she is involved in a research project studying cell migration in embryonic development and cancer metastasis. The professor in charge of the study notes that Anna has accomplished more than many of the undergraduates performing research in the lab.
In the future, Anna intends to study biochemistry in the hopes of someday running a research lab. She intends to focus on her research on neurological diseases because of her belief that, “We are made in God’s image, and no other organ reflects this as powerfully as the brain.”
Caroline Zeller
Caroline Zeller of United Arab Emirates has used Sonlight throughout her high school years. She developed a love of great literature that grew into a small book club at her church. Caroline is very creative and enjoys sewing, embroidery, painting with watercolors, and any opportunity to give away handmade gifts as an encouragement.
Much of Caroline’s extracurricular involvement centers around her church, where she leads Bible studies, serves in children’s ministry and kid’s choir, and participates in youth group. She has gotten a head start on theological studies through helping her father at the Theological Seminary that her family runs. She is involved in marketing activities for the seminary, and has audited many graduate-level Bible and theology classes. Some of her favorites were Apologetics and Expositions of Proverbs, Revelation, and Hebrews. Caroline took the exam for her Psalms class, “just for fun”, and scored in the high 80s. When reflecting on her life, her greatest desire is for it “to be a life glorifying to God.” She wants to attend Master’s University, where she is considering studying special education or occupational therapy. Caroline is open to living anywhere in the world that the Lord calls her; growing up as a missionary kid in Delhi and Dubai has made her comfortable with different cultures.
$4,000 Scholarship Winners: Caleb Cook, Chloe Couch, Michaela Elliot, Hannah Jensen, Simon Marchesseault, Alexandru Muresan, Zoe Oshman, and Hayley Theil
Awarded $1,000 Per Year
Caleb Cook
Caleb Cook of Knoxville, TN is described by his track and cross country coach as remarkable in “his commitment to excellence in both scholastic and athletic endeavors.” Those athletic endeavors include cross country, track & field, and participating in a church basketball league.
Caleb is involved at church in more facets than just basketball. He has participated in two mission trips and is involved in student leadership with his youth group. He also volunteers weekly at a Boys’ and Girls’ Club with others from his youth group.
Caleb’s small group leader at church notes that Caleb is “very disciplined and self-motivated to learn. Not only academically has he thrived, but…he has a solid biblical background as well, and this shows in his ability to recall stories and teachings from the scripture.” Caleb’s discipline in learning is evidenced through his exemplary ACT score.
In the future, Caleb intends to become a Physician’s Assistant. After reading a book about a medical missionary in Africa, he became inspired to use his medical training as tool to bring the Good News around the world. For his undergrad, he wants to attend Union University and study biological science.
Chloe Cough
Chloe Couch of Chesterfield, VA lives with a “servant-oriented approach to life.” As a high school student, she has served as a youth soccer coach. She also volunteers with the Civil Air Patrol and Youth Conservation Leadership Institute. In the Civil Air Patrol, she was given a great deal of responsibility planning and teaching classes to guide new recruits through the beginning stages of the program. As a result of her leadership and communication skills, her team was the first to have a 100% graduation rate within the squadron.
With her Youth Conservation Leadership Institute involvement, Chloe implemented a project focused on environmental stewardship. The program coordinator says that “Seeing Chloe tackle littering, an issue she feels strongly about, demonstrates how (she) both cares for her community and does something about an issue rather than ignore it.”
While Chloe is unsure what major she wants to pursue, she knows that she wants to go to a Christian college so that her “spiritual life will grow along with (her) academic knowledge.” Chloe’s university of choice is Southern Adventist University.
Michaela Elliot
Michaela Elliot of Hockessin, DE began using Sonlight in Kindergarten, and hasn’t stopped since! With Sonlight at the core of her academics, Michaela still had the opportunity to participate in sports and extracurriculars at a local Christian school.
Michaela plays varsity soccer and basketball and is also a member of a traveling soccer team. She will continue to play soccer for Messiah University after she graduates high school. In addition to her athletic pursuits, Michaela is a youth group leader and a kids camp chaperone at her church. She is also on several worship teams.
Since 2016, Michaela has fostered 150+ dogs and puppies for the Delaware Humane Association. The executive director of the humane society describes her as “one of the most well-rounded and mature teenagers I’ve ever met.”
Spurred by her strong passion for both spiritual and physical health, Michaela’s goal is to major in Exercise Science in order to pursue a career in personal training or life coaching.
Hannah Jensen
Hannah Jensen of Santee, CA is a “gracious and intelligent scholar who believes passionately in the power of stories to change people.” She’s used this passion to drive her success as a competitive debater. Competing with ninety debaters at one tournament, Hannah was one of only three competitors to achieve a perfect 6-0 record. Her love of story also extends to creative writing, and she publishes much of her work online with the intention of sharing Biblical truth through her stories.
Hannah’s pastor expresses his gratitude for her “kindness and creativity” in her service at church. Her servant’s heart extends beyond church into her participation in drama, which she has not only acted and sang, but also coordinated younger actors.
Hannah plans to continue writing and exploring her passion for stories, books, and movies throughout college. She’s choosing between two Christian universities, and is considering a career in either editorial and publishing work, or film and movies.
Simon Marchesseault
Simon Marchesseault of Marlborough, MA has used Sonlight throughout his entire education and scored a 1350 on the ACT. His extracurricular activities include his involvement in the Civil Air Patrol. Simon is the highest-ranking cadet in his squadron, and he mentors lower-ranking cadet leaders. His service and leadership continues into his church involvement, where he is an active member of the worship team. The worship pastor at his church says that Simon does everything as if “He was doing it for the Lord.”
Simon trains and competes in agility with his dog, Timmy. He has titled in two American Kennel Club Competitions. Timmy and Simon also compete in nosework competitions, where the dog is trained to detect scents. They have earned three titles in this area, as well. His training instructor calls him a “phenomenal trainer and handler.”
In college, Simon plans to attend Liberty University and begin his path towards becoming a professional commercial airline pilot.
Alexandru Muresan
Alexandru Muresan of Montgomery Village, MD was named a National Merit Scholar based on his outstanding PSAT scores. Alexandru has competed in a Science Olympiad team since 6th grade and finished in first place multiple times. The events he’s competed in include thermodynamics, entomology, water quality, meteorology, and many more. He also contributed to the Smithsonian Institution Teen Pepper Program, in which he researched exhibits and programmed a robot to present that information to visitors.
Computer programming is Alexandru’s passion, and he taken several AP programming courses. The technical lead at Alexandru’s church comments that his contribution to the technological challenge of livestreaming church services during Covid has been “invaluable and greatly appreciated.” Alexandru’s youth leader says that he takes “his faith seriously (in) serving his home church.”
Alexandru is already well on his way to his future goal of being a software engineer. He takes a dual-enrollment course at Messiah University and intends to continue his education there after high school graduation.
Zoe Oshman
Zoe Oshman of Parker, CO is a face you might have seen before…she and her family made an appearance in the 2016 Sonlight catalog, reading a Sonlight book while sitting on their balcony in the Czech Republic.
Zoe is gifted in robotics and is the lead programmer for a robotics team that won the Kent Denver Robotics Tournament. Her robotics mentor says that “(Zoe’s) programming work on the robotics team has clearly demonstrated her skill, enthusiasm, and prowess in computer science.”
Zoe is also a self-employed piano teacher and math tutor, and in her free time she volunteers at a food bank and an organization that serves the local homeless population and helps then transition into employment.
In her future career, Zoe would like to become a robotics engineer. She believes that her faith-based view of science and design gives her a more whole appreciation of her robotics work. Zoe wants to attend the Colorado School of Mines when she graduates.
Hayley Theil
Hayley Theil of Cincinnati, OH shows her love for others through her work as a Certified Therapy Pet Handler, which allows her and her beagle to spend one-on-one time with residents at a senior care facility. Through this work, she’s been able to provide company and comfort to older adults, many struggling with cognitive decline. And that’s only the beginning! Hayley volunteers at a hospital, works as an office assistant, and is the treasurer of her Girl Scouts group. Hayley’s Girl Scout leader overflows with praise, describing Hayley as “(leading by example…creative, courteous, determined, accomplished, humble, and a bright source of positive energy.” She received the highest award for leading a project to educate 3,000 clients from an underserved population on sugar content in foods.
Could Your Young Learner Win a Sonlight Scholarship?
From preschool through high school graduation, Sonlight prepares your students. We have the big picture in mind, and we help you raise students prepared to launch into any career God calls them to. We share your desire to help your children succeed, and we’ll walk alongside to help you create the long-term educational experience you envision.
Each year, our charitable foundation offers a number of college scholarships, ranging from $4,000 to $20,000, spread over four years. Each year, the Sonlight Foundation offers the following scholarships:
$5,000 per year
$2,500 per year
$1,000 per year
We offer scholarships on two tracks: one emphasizes academics, and the other creativity, mission-mindedness, and service. Got a perfect score on the SAT? Got average test scores, but served overseas during summer vacation for the last three years? In either case, you may qualify.
The Sonlight Foundation recognizes that academic giftedness is only one type of giftedness. If your student is gifted in academics, service, music, art, or has a heart for missions, we encourage you to submit an application.
Eligibility for college scholarships is one of the many SonlightCares benefits.
1. Read-Alouds show it's okay for dad (or mom) to cry
Since I did most of the homeschooling in our family, John and I made sure he got some quality Read-Aloud time each night. And you know what? I would purposefully hand him books I knew would make him cry. Even John got a bit choked up as Charlotte and Wilbur's story drew to a close.
John reading to Amy, Luke, and Jonelle
I felt it was important for children to know that it's okay for a man to cry. Even someone as strong and sure as their father could get caught up in a good story and express emotion. When dad (or mom) cries during a good story, kids see us demonstrate empathy for the characters and they learn an appropriate way to show emotion.
2. Read-Alouds help children focus
Children today must learn to focus. When teens today have to choose between checking Facebook again or keeping their attention on the schoolwork in front of them … it's hard for them to stay focused.
One way we can help students resist distractions is through reading aloud together. When my children were young, they'd often play with LEGO bricks as I read out loud. With their hands busy, their minds could truly engage the story. When the phone rang or my husband took a call in the next room, my children would tune in all the more intently. They wanted to know what happened next! They didn't act up because they wanted to hear the story. They tuned out other thoughts, sounds and distractions to pay attention to the task at hand. That ability is a huge advantage in life.
3. Read-Alouds motivate children to do their math
On a typical homeschool morning at the Holzmann house, we would get up and tackle math, language arts, spelling, and other more laborious work. But then came the really good stuff; we'd reconvene after a short break and dive into the day's reading.
Three of my four kids would work diligently through their other subjects each morning because they knew that fun reading lay ahead. (I'll admit that one of my children still needed a little extra encouragement to stay on task in the morning.) But for the most part, my children worked hard because they wanted to get to their "real" books and find out what happened next in their Read-Alouds and Readers.
Jack 6 years old, 1st grade (attended kindergarten at a private preschool): “I love that we can cuddle up to read so many books together. That’s definitely the best part.” 
Lucy, 3: “I like learning counting with you and I like when Bubba (brother) helps with my school too.” 
