Sonlight Homeschooling Blog

Jan. 5, 2021

Is My Child Learning Enough?

Every homeschool parent occasionally wonders if their children are learning everything they need to know. Since a literature-based learning approach doesn't use traditional testing, it can be even harder to objectively assess what your children are learning.

If you are feeling concerned, it is important to take a step back and examine what is causing that feeling. Chances are, your child is learning even more than you realize!

Is My Child Retaining Information?

Are you worried that your child can’t seem to retain detailed information from your lessons?

If your child is in their early elementary years (K-3rd), your expectations may need to be adjusted. These early years are an important introduction to the world and to learning. However, Sonlight is not designed with the expectation that a young child will memorize dates from history or develop a mastery of grammar.

Rather, the purpose of these years is to create hooks on which to hang future information.

The aha moment will come later as their maturity and understanding expands.

For example, if you read your young children a story about a prairie dog, they will likely enjoy the story. However, it takes on more meaning when you visit a zoo and see the elaborate system of tunnels real-life prairie dogs create. Your children may not have been able to recall detailed information about the habitat of prairie dogs when you first read the information, but a lasting connection is created later when they have experience to hang on that hook.

In a traditional classroom, the only way to assess students is by asking them to recite facts on a test. With homeschooling, true learning doesn't have to be limited to memorizing facts from a textbook lesson.

Learning is more lasting and meaningful when facts are attached to a real life experience or conversation. Seek out opportunities to help your child form those connections through field trips, cooking, and hands on activities. Or, simply start conversations with your children as you notice connections in your everyday life. As your perspective changes, you will begin to see the aha moments for yourself.

Is My Child Falling Behind in Math or Spelling?

If your child is struggling to master skills in subjects like math and spelling that advance each year, it may take a bit of detective work to help them move forward.

You can begin by considering how your child learns best. Researching learning styles can be helpful, but don't be afraid to trust your gut; you likely already know a lot about how your child learns. After all, you were teaching your children long before they were school age.

Maybe your daughter has a keen eye for detail that has showed up in her drawings almost as soon as she could hold a crayon. If she begins to struggle with spelling, use that knowledge to create visual cues in her spelling words by writing the letter patterns in different colors. Maybe your little guy is quick to learn physical skills on the playground. Translate that into reciting math facts while jumping rope or marching up and down the stairs.

Sometimes, in spite of our efforts, the struggle continues. If so, it may be time to consider a different approach. You may need to try a completely different Math program. Evaluate what is not working with your current program, and go from there. For example, if your child is shutting down because the problem sets are overwhelming, you might try one that is less daunting. A little trial and error can be the best way to land on the method that works. If you're feeling lost in the sea of choices, the Sonlight Advisors can help give you an overview of the differences between various math and spelling programs.

Finally, if you are noticing something that just feels off, it may be a good idea to have your child evaluated by a professional for a learning challenge. Your state homeschool organization likely have some resources for dealing with learning challenges, as well.

Is My Child Behind Their Peers?

Learning may look unique for different children. In the early grades, children do not all develop the same skills at the same time. That is why reading groups and leveled math sessions exist in the same traditional classroom.

Just because a child is slower to master some skills does not mean they are not learning or not qualified for that particular grade.

Over time, and possibly over several grades, mastery happens.

When you start to wonder if your child is learning enough, don’t panic! Take some time to consider what learning should look like for your child’s age, maturity, challenges and temperament. Formulate realistic learning goals for the material you are teaching. If you set "knowing the parts of speech" as a goal for your 3^rd grader, that may give you the objective measure you need to feel successful. It may also mean that in pursuing that goal, you give less attention to other things that are not as important to you. And that's okay; it's part of the flexibility of homeschooling!

Look for ways in which your child is developing a broader knowledge of the world. You may not be able to measure that, but it can be the most meaningful success that you have.

Don't be afraid to give things time; it's alright if we're learning how to teach at the same time our children are learning. Try new approaches, be creative, and trust your intuition. Your investment in your children is setting them up for success.

CONTACT AN ADVISOR

Tagged is my child learning, Learning Styles | Leave a comment

Jan. 1, 2021

How Homeschooling Can Prep Teens for Leadership

By Sarita

Can you name one surprising thing influential leaders such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, and others have in common?

They all spent their teen years in a similar fashion. Check out this intriguing 2015 article from Time about How Successful Leaders Spent Their Teenage Years.

Without intending to, the article basically gives a checklist of things that homeschooling allows teens to do.

Now, we might not want our children to grow up to be just like Steve Jobs. (I've heard he was not exactly the kindest man around.) But if we want to help our teens be equipped to change the world as innovators, consider how homeschooling makes it easier for teens to pursue these activities.

1. Many great leaders read a lot during their teen years.

Influential leaders tend to be well-read.

They used their teen years to broaden their understanding of the world through reading a huge variety of works. That means they read things they're comfortable with and things that pushed them out of their comfort zone a bit.

We created the upper-level Sonlight programs to help teens do just that. Your teens will read way more than their average public-school (or even private school) peers. And they'll have you, plus extensive Instructor's Guide notes, to help them navigate the new ideas they encounter. It's a purposeful way to prepare teens to engage the world.

2. Most leaders spent a lot of time alone as teens.

Teens face enormous social pressures. As they try to form their own identities and figure out where they fit in, it really helps to have plenty of time to just be on their own and think, and dig into their passions. That could be photography, writing poetry, building robots, daydreaming, biking... you name it.

Homeschooling makes it easier for teens to have leisure time at their disposal.

Teens who are always in the social pressure cooker of school, activities and social media may not get the chance to step back and just be themselves.

3. Great innovators spent their teen years creating.

Great leaders put a priority on creating over consuming.

Homeschooling makes it easier for teens to continue to explore new areas of interest. In school, it can be easy to get locked in to one identity (as a theater person, or a musician, or a jock). But with homeschooling, it's easier for a musician who loves sports to also get really into computer coding.

I can't tell you how many homeschoolers I've heard of who wrote novels in their high school years. My son Luke spent countless hours making films.

Homeschooling provides extra freedom to pursue creative endeavors. You can even incorporate such pursuits into your student's official curriculum!

The sheer act of creating something as big as a film, a novel, a musical composition, or a computer program teaches countless lessons and prepares teens for future challenges. It preps teens to know that they can actively engage with the world, instead of just passively receiving what comes their way.

Of course, I think the teen years should also include learning to serve others and strengthening relationships with family and friends. And so, it seems homeschooling is a perfect setup to give your teens the gifts that many influential leaders enjoyed in their foundational years.

What do you think are the biggest gifts homeschooling affords your teens (or teens-to-be)?

SEE HIGH SCHOOL

Tagged benefits, culture, free time, high school, homeschool, leadership, reading, teens | Leave a comment

Dec. 30, 2020

My Hand Hurts! | When Muscle Strength Makes Handwriting Hard

By Veronica Soto

Handwriting is a subject which can elicit complaints by young students:

“Writing makes my hand hurt.”
“It’s too much writing.”
“That assignment is too long.”
“It’s too hard.”

These complaints can be indicative of muscle weakness—one of the major causes of difficulty with handwriting.

Muscle Groups Necessary for Optimal Handwriting

Most people are not aware of how many muscle groups are required for a child to write at their best. But, as the song goes, the shoulder bone is connected to the arm bone, and the arm bone is connected to the hand bone.

While this is an overly simplified description of human anatomy, it does represent how the entire body works together. Handwriting requires the use of all these muscles:

Spine and stomach muscles to maintain posture correctly. Correct position reduces the angles of the body, allowing for greater work with less effort.
Shoulder muscles to move the hand and arm to the correct position above the paper.
Upper arm muscles to raise the elbow and control direction of the writing.
Forearm muscles to twist the wriest as the letters are formed.
Hand muscles to move and control the hand, hold the pencil, and maintain grip.
Finger muscles to form the individual letters and create the correct angles to form letters and words.

No wonder some children get tired from writing!

How Muscle Strength Impacts Handwriting

Children tend to build the larger muscles first and the smaller muscles later.

That’s why a toddler will be able to pull themselves up to walk along a sofa, and yet struggles with picking up tiny objects using a pincer grip.

However, when muscles tire out, they tend to tire in the opposite order. Smaller muscles fatigue quickly while larger muscles are more hardy.

While a child might be able to play catch and dangle from the monkey bars for an extended period of time, the fine muscles in their hands might wear out after only a few minutes. Most play does not require the same muscle skill as handwriting does, so children will often tire even more easily until their hand strength has been built up.

When muscles in the hand are exhausted, writing cramps, hand pain, and even arm pain can occur. Because young children are far less experienced writers, they tend to reach cramping and pain sooner than others, because their muscles have not had a chance to build up. So it is possible that a child who complains their hand is hurting after only a minute or two of writing is speaking the truth.

Ways to Reduce the Amount of Muscle Work Necessary

Posture

Slouching often brings the child closer to the paper, but it also greatly increases the angle of the arm while writing. For some children, this allows them to lay their arm on the table, which is often better for the large muscles of the upper arm. However, it places greater work on the finger and hand muscles and decreases movement, making some letter formations more difficult to reproduce.

Paper Position

While slanting your child’s paper may seem insignificant, the angle of the paper brings the elbow closer or further away from the body, making it harder or easier to write. When the elbow is too close to the body, it greatly limits arm motion, putting more work on the fingers and hand muscles.

Paper position is especially important in left-handed children, who by nature of trying to avoid smearing or covering their writing with their hand, are forced into a slightly more unnatural hand position.

Pencil Grip

How a child holds their pencil plays a large role in how easily their hand tires. Often children who have inefficient grip can write nicely for a while but feel pain as they continue to write. While incorrect grip may initially seem easier for a child, on longer writing assignments, it can actually create more work. Learning proper pencil grip smooths the transition to longer writing assignments.

Pencil Pressure

Pushing the pencil too hard against the paper is very common in young children, but it also requires far greater muscle strength.

Pencil Grip Strength

Often young children squeeze their fingers together to hold on to the pencil more tightly to overcompensate for weaker muscles allowing the pencil to slip or slide more easily out of their hand or to help control the direction the pencil is moving in. This action fatigues the muscles much more quickly, making long writing assignments painful.

The Importance of Motor Memory

In order to write well, people need to write with enough repetition that writing becomes ingrained in their motor memory bank. This is the same bank that leads to being able to ride a bike after many years.

The person with handwriting motor memory no longer needs to stop to think about how to form an A, what steps are needed to make a K, how to connect letters in cursive, or the correct direction for ds and bs.

When a person has well-developed motor memory skills in handwriting, the act of writing words is automatic, they can stop thinking about how to write, and focus instead on what they want to write. With motor memory, the words just pour out onto the paper.

A good example of motor memory is a signature. Adults who sign their name often tend to use a more stylized, personalized letter formation. Whether it be little more than a specific set of squiggles, or a fancy signature complete with flourishes, most adults no longer need to think at all about how they are going to sign their name. Some can even sign without looking at what they are writing, because their motor memory banks can sign their name as easily as they can remember how to ride a bike.

In order for the motor memory banks to memorize handwriting technique, handwriting needs to be learned and practiced so often, it becomes automatic.

What to Do if Your Child Might Have Muscle Weakness

In most children, muscles just need to be strengthened to work better. Often, the problems will decrease on their own over time as the muscles get used to writing.

1. How to Work the Large (Gross) Muscles

Since muscles tend to grow from large to small, exercising the arm muscles is a great way to improve writing skill in young children.

Playing on the monkey bars, playing catch, or any activity that gets the arms moving and working is great, especially activities that require the hands to grip or support weight..

2. How to Work the Small (Fine) Muscles

Certain types of play work the same muscles needed for handwriting in the hand itself. Here are just a few ideas:

Cutting
Coloring
Working with dough or play dough
Using tongs of various sizes to pick up and transfer items
Tearing paper
Rubbing crayons or charcoals on their side
Using chopsticks
Using tweezers
Squirting water (water spray bottles, water gun, etc.)
Playing with stickers
Using stamps
Playing with tiny toys such as Legos
Playing with beads
Lacing activities

3. How to Work Muscles Through Writing

Even though writing might be the issue, there are certain ways writing can also help solve the issue — namely through practice.

If we practice bad handwriting, our motor memory will learn to write poorly. That's why it's key to stop writing when their muscles get tired.

Writing too much only delays the process of building both muscle and motor memory. So if a child is struggling, have them write fewer letters or numbers in their best handwriting. Then take a break.

Use a good handwriting program that works on correct letter formation and encourages their best work for those few minutes.

If a child seems to have tired hand or arm muscles during the day, reduce the amount of writing done in the day or increase the break periods between writing. This may mean you need to do some writing for them, or teach them to type or use number stamps for math, or even just tell you answers instead of writing them down.

4. How to Work Muscles Through Body Positioning

When working on handwriting, parents of students who tire easily should try to be more aware of their child’s body position, especially of the hand.

You might need to invest in a child-sized table, so your child can sit upright with the paper and pencil at the correct distance, with their feet on the floor if they need help with holding their body position correctly.
Watch the slant of the paper so the elbow is not touching the torso. Instead, keep the elbow at least a couple inches away.
Work on holding a pencil with better grip if needed. You might need to break crayons in half, or sharpen pencils to the size of golf pencils. If the pencil is short enough that it can’t rest on the space between the index finger and thumb, it is harder to control using a grip that tires the muscles more easily.

Children who have weakness due to their physical condition or weakness that doesn’t seem to be improving even after using these strategies may benefit from the help of an occupational therapist.

Although our culture is quickly going digital with a strong leaning toward paperless systems, writing is still necessary. In addition, learning good handwriting, both manuscript and cursive, helps children make new brain connections and promotes neural growth. While children might struggle with handwriting in the early years, the benefits of teaching writing are long-lasting and varied, including building the muscles necessary for many other skills.

SEE HANDWRITING PROGRAMS

Tagged handwriting | Leave a comment

Dec. 28, 2020

Stories from New Homeschoolers: The Life Lessons We've Learned

By Sonlight

In the Sonlight Connections group (membership for anyone with a free account on sonlight.com) and the Teacher Connection group (membership offered to qualified new Sonlighters), we asked brand new, unexpected homeschoolers about their biggest takeaway now that they have a few months of homeschooling under their belts. We asked:

What has homeschooling in 2020 taught you so far?
What deep insights have you gained about teachers, parenting, yourself as a person, your children, your family dynamics, etc.?

While no one said that homeschooling is a walk in the park, many moms expressed surprise at how much easier it is than they expected, especially compared to the misery of online learning.

Here are just a few of the surprise perks they've discovered about homeschooling:

family closeness
happy kids
flexible daily schedules

If you've ever thought, "I could never homeschool," read through these insights. Most of these moms thought the same thing before they were forced to homeschool. Happily they discovered that homeschooling is not only doable but enjoyable and offers immense benefits to their families.

Some even went to far to express thanks for the situation that forced them to choose homeschooling for 2020. While no one is happy about a global pandemic, we rejoice in the silver linings God brings us in the midst of heavy trials.

[Some responses have been shortened for brevity and lightly edited.]

Precious Family Time and Family Closeness

"I've learned that homeschooling is one of the best ways I've found to connect with my kids on multiple levels."
Emily A.

"The biggest takeaway is that I’m so thankful for this precious time together to be the ones to teach them not only the right way to behave and making right choices but to teach them letters, number, and reading. It’s been such good time together instead of sending them away to school for 40 hours a week. I’ve learned that I need to be more patient with them and I’ve seen things that I need to work on as a parent that I wouldn’t have realized if they weren’t home with me all the time."
Tram P.

"...homeschooling is one of the best ways I've found to connect with my kids..." —Emily A.

"My daughter is 15, and this is our first year homeschooling. We read together and discuss every night. Right now we’re reading Carry On, Mr. Bowditch from History / Bible / Literature D+E. Honestly, I feel like I’ve reconnected with my daughter. She’s at 'that age,' and last year we were both so busy with work, school, and activities that I felt like I didn’t have a good idea what was happening with her. We were growing apart, and I hated it. This year I feel like our relationship is much stronger. We talk about her school work and have inside jokes about things we’ve read or watched together. It’s just been a blessing all the way around! ❤️"
Wendy M. G.

"I can’t believe I was missing out on all of this time with my littles. I feel like I am learning just as much as they are. It is really fun to make historical biblical connections. We have a ton of a-ha moments. I love watching the girls play transform as we learn new things. I have never experienced them enjoying each and connecting over shared education. We have had weeks of pretending to be different animals with science or building boats in the living room to be Vikings. We have come outside to neighbors waiting to be taught sled dog school. Needless to say, it’s been an excellent start to year one of homeschooling."
Lindsay Y.

"It's my first year homeschooling my 9-year-old, 7-year-old and 5-year-old. When they would come home from school, they would be so tired of having to be on their best behavior, so they would be short-tempered and tired. Even though we would still have sweet times together as a family in the evenings, I didn't realize until this year just how much I miss from their day when they are away at school. I love enjoying the learning experience right along with them, and I love being a part of the best parts of their day. I've also learned that if I'm not having fun, they aren't either. I need to make sure I am in a good mood and I'm ready to be all in if I expect them to be as well."
Lauren G. S.

"I can’t believe I was missing out on all of this time with my littles."—Lindsay Y.

"We’ve slowed down, we’ve read a lot, we’ve sung and praised and learned more about Jesus. We haven’t pushed things when the mood isn’t right. We’ve peeled our eyes from screens, we’ve had huge math breakthroughs. I can’t be thankful enough that 2020 made me do what I never thought was possible — homeschool. And we LOVE Sonlight."
Summer S.

I Can Actually Teach My Children!

"My biggest take away from homeschooling in 2020 is that homeschool is easier than homework and distance learning!!"
Katie J. B.

"Our bond is so much better, and I know more about my son and how smart he really is. Also I’m a better teacher then I thought I would be."
Tiffany L.

"I have an 11-, 9-, and 7-year-old plus a 1-year-old running around. I’ve learned that school doesn’t have to take all day (we start when the baby naps in the afternoon), and it’s okay not to get through everything on the list. I love that when my kids are having an off day, I don’t have to fight them to learn. We just do the easier subjects or turn on an educational show or app so they can learn to love learning."
Kim O.

"I’m a better teacher then I thought I would be." —Tiffany L.

"I've learned to relax more and let go of perfection. My expectations have changed, and there is more peace in our home."
Kimberlee G.

Homeschooling Is So Much Better for Kids Academically

"As excellent as my child's teacher's have been through the years [my daughter] still had some significant gaps in her learning... We started homeschooling this year to provide consistency because that's what seemed like was most important this year for her. Even with changing curriculums last month, I have seen her grow and improve (when she wants to--we're still working on her wanting to do stuff!!) so much. We're working on week 4 of Sonlight D and her writing has improved, her spelling has improved, she wants to read her books, and she's mostly excited about learning."
Elisabeth K.

"My children have learned more from Sonlight than they have from public school! Taking time and focusing on places they are struggling is such a blessing for their confidence in their education."
Kayla Michelle D.

"...when you know exactly what your kids are learning, because you’re teaching them yourself, you can find hundreds of ways to build on it each day."—Hilary K. B.

"I have learned that no child is actually at their grade level in every subject. That’s what is so great about homeschooling. You can tailor your year to fit each kid. Not repeating things they already know. You can move faster through things they pick up quickly and take more time on things they struggle with. You can also do more of the activities they find interesting. As a full time working mother, I can flex our school schedule around my work schedule. No more hurry and get on the bus or missed permission slips! Freedom."
Jen B.

"I’ve learned that doing 1/4 of the math you were hoping to do each day, and plugging along peacefully, is far better than meeting your self-imposed goal and ending in tears and tantrums every day.
I’ve learned that so many kids have their own obstacles to learning that make a subject difficult to learn the normal way, and that even the best classroom teacher couldn’t afford to give each child the individual time and customized education that an involved parent can. I’ve also learned that when you know exactly what your kids are learning, because you’re teaching them yourself, you can find hundreds of ways to build on it each day. Yesterday, my daughter and I were in a tub, practicing using surface tension to change the shape of water droplets. And after studying ancient Egypt, we decided to mummify an orange, in the name of science."
Hilary K. B.

"No more hurry and get on the bus or missed permission slips! Freedom."—Jen B.

"I’ve learned that it’s so much easier to teach my girls and home where I can decide when their work is good for their level, than it is to try to help them submit work for online school where you have no idea what the teacher’s expectations are, or the level at which they’re expected to perform. I’ve learned that Sonlight really has thought of everything. The curriculum pages are color coordinated, page numbered, labeled with week numbers and day numbers, and have questions that span all the different readings and activities you do. You can really tell that they’ve been in this business a long time, and all of the wrinkles have been ironed out."
Hilary K. B.

"I have learned that although a school may be full of amazing teachers, it still may not be the best fit for your child. I taught before I had kids, and said I would never teach my own. But Covid hit, and I knew distance learning was not a good fit since we were already struggling with mental health, sensory issues, etc. in the public school setting. This was a God wink to me that we needed to try homeschool at least for a year and although it hasn’t been perfect, life is so much more peaceful and calm. We have the flexibility to do therapies as needed and even try some new activities around our school schedule. I have the utmost respect for teachers who are teaching during this pandemic, but I’m blessed that we found a good fit for our kids."
Rachel Barnett

Homeschooling Brings Our Family Peace

"My kids are happy!! Before Sonlight my daughter struggled with anxiety over math. We tried everything. Day after day she retuned to us in tears. Since starting Sonlight with her and our twin boys , she has returned to her happy self. She loves math! We are learning together, at our speed. No more comparison to other students and test anxiety. Thank you Sonlight for the opportunity to make school a treasured, fun time for all of us."
Cally B.

"My kids are happy!!"—Cally B.

"Homeschooling in 2020 has brought peace and joy in the midst of a very crazy year. I am feeling the joy of learning returning to my family. I am homeschooling 4 kids (3 my own, 1 a friend's). Reading and discussing books has brought us all together from 7th grade down to kindergarten.
My biggest take away is that as a family we can do hard things, and we are able to support each other."
Beth L.

Sonlight Makes it Easy

"I am homeschooling my two boys ages 5 and 7. It has definitely been an adventure, and I mean that in a good way. My older son had a rough year in public school kindergarten last year, and he couldn't be happier with the learning from home. We are using the new [kindergarten] history curriculum and science curriculum and, well, it is amazing. I am so happy that I made the switch and that Sonlight made it so easy."
Julia R.

You can teach your kids at home! A well-planned curriculum makes it so easy, and you can trust that you are giving your kids all the academics they need.

GET STARTED

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Dec. 18, 2020

Stories from New Homeschoolers: Teaching Multiple Children

By Sonlight

In the Sonlight Connections group (membership for anyone with a free account on sonlight.com) and the Teacher Connection group (membership offered to qualified new Sonlighters), we asked brand new, unexpected homeschoolers how they are juggling the task of homeschooling multiple children.

It's quite an adjustment when you're used to sending your children to school every day and are suddenly faced with meeting all their educational needs yourself. The challenges of keeping babies, toddlers, and preschoolers occupied and happy while you're teaching school-age children is a frequent headache for homeschool moms. These newbies quoted below are no different! Their ingenious solutions are the same ones we suggest: let the little ones get involved in their own simple way, and sneak in homeschooling during naptimes and after early bedtimes. Most of these moms have discovered the key to homeschooling multiple children is to combine them whenever possible, using the same curriculum.

We hope their stories will encourage you in your challenges! And maybe you'll find a few tips for smoother days at home as a family.

[Some responses have been shortened for brevity and lightly edited.]

Sometimes Stressful but Overall Freer

"We began homeschooling due to COVID. There’s never a dull day around here as I have a 6-year-old doing HBL K and a 4-year-old not quite ready for lessons. Finding the best time for instruction so that my 6-year-old can focus while not causing my 4-year-old to feel neglected has been a significant challenge, and at times a stressor. That being said, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Our family feels so much freer now. My daughter believes she’s actually smart and my son is finally engaging in stretches of independent play. We are now looking for a property where we have more space to live and play and enjoy our new lifestyle." —Tracy N. A.

Creative Scheduling and Help from a Babysitter

"We began homeschooling this year due to COVID. We're 8 weeks into doing a HBL D and K for my 4th and 1st graders. It gets a little tricky because I'm also working a 40% load. I cover about 4 days of curriculum in 3 days and leave most of the independent work for our babysitter to oversee. I won't say it's easy, but it's definitely working, and I feel confident it's the best choice for us this year. The curriculum is truly outstanding and comprehensive. The ability to cover Bible, history, and culture with in-depth reflection just can't be matched." —Lindsay B. H.

Combining Kids Is a Lifesaver

"We're new to homeschooling this year due to COVID. I have four boys (ages 10, 9, 8, and 3), and I knew that it would be easier to homeschool the boys together using the same curriculum than to try and help them with 3 separate curriculums with our district virtual and hybrid learning. I was extremely worried, especially since my oldest has ADHD and is hard to teach. However, we have been SHOCKED at how much we are all enjoying Sonlight! And my oldest is the one who likes it the best; he's thriving with the study of history! And two of my boys had never read a chapter book before this year. After some initial frustrations with comprehension of the readers, they are suddenly enjoying the reading and able to discuss what they've read with me! The 3-year-old does present some challenges, but he loves memorizing the Bible verses with the big boys, memorizing his own poems, looking at the pictures in the books we're reading, and doing "math" (i.e. writing "numbers" on a white board). I'm lucky to have my older 3 boys so close in age (and at very similar learning levels), so the only thing I have to differentiate is math. We do all the couch subjects together and then rotate while I work with one on math, one does his reader and the other ones gets "recess" with the toddler, and then we switch. We are so thankful for the peace that homeschooling has brought to our home (especially when we see our friends trying to survive hybrid learning)." —Audrey A.

Let the Little Ones Tag Along

"Our daughter is in first grade, we have a 1- and 2-year-old, and I’m pregnant with our fourth. The hardest thing for our homeschooling has probably been interruptions from younger kids and lack of ability to hold structure in this season. But the Lord has taught me so much through this new endeavor:

To let go of the need for structure and plans to go exactly as planned, which is difficult for being type A.
That my two-year-old loves to do her own activities and learn alongside our first grader, so instead of it being a burden to have toddlers/babies, it’s been a blessing and an opportunity for growth." —Arianna M. S.

"I’m new to homeschooling, and I’m really enjoying it. I have a 7-year-old 2nd grader and also 4-year-old in preschool. I think the hardest thing for me is keeping the 4-year-old entertained, She does an hour of school work, and then I have to find ways to keep her busy. I am pleasantly surprised how much I am enjoying the curriculum for my older daughter and the freedom of going at our pace! I love how great math is going! We are using Math U See, and she is learning in leaps and bounds! I never thought I would homeschool, but here we are and I think we are here to stay!" —Raquel R.

"First time homeschooler, and yes, because of the pandemic. I was on maternity leave with my 9-month-old when we started homeschooling my eldest for Kindergarten. Bought the full package, and we are loving it. There are crazy times especially since the little one is in the stage of teething. Husband helps with prep, and and I’m the instructor. I figured out the best way is to let our little one join in the class. He seems to be listening, and when bored, he will crawl back to his play area. Most days, it’s breastfeeding while teaching 😁 If I can’t get a Read-Aloud done for the day, I use the book as our bedtime stories."—Joylyn T.

"I have a kid in college and a 10th grader doing online school. I'm homeschooling my 3rd grader now. I was always one of those moms at church who said I'd never do it, but after the school system being wishy washy about when school will open and Zoom meetings being so boring for my daughter, I asked church friends about homeschool sites and I ordered the full 3rd grade curriculum! So far so good but I'm still surprised at how short the school day is…I also have a 4-year-old who plays electronics while we do school, so I'm trying to figure out what to do. I sort of work from home too but love the flexibility of homeschooling!" —Bea L.

Homeschooling Siblings Together Means Family Bonding

"I started homeschooling due to the shutdowns of COVID. My daughter was already struggling in math, so once the shutdowns happened, she basically lost a whole year. I had my daughter and son do Horizons Math 2 together. We then decided that going into the new year with so much uncertainty would not make going back to public school possible. I combined my son and daughter in their math, science, and HBL. We have grown to love homeschooling. I’ve watched my daughter gain confidence in her math skills and they love all the books. Chasing their one year old sister has made this a bigger adventure (adventure sounds better than chaos), but I’ve watched their relationships thrive. Had the older two been in public school, they would have missed watching her grow and teaching her new things. This has made our family stronger. We are more relaxed and school is fun again. We have now decided that this is our new lifestyle."—Katie J. B.

Embracing the Beauty of Homeschooling

"My twin 8-year-old sons and 6-year-old daughter loved their public school experience, and as a mama I was very happy with how things were going and never expected to be a homeschooler. But seven weeks in, we have fallen in love with the whole experience. Reading timeless books to my kids is by far my favorite part. It never fails, but by the end of a book my kids all look at the end and the back to see if there’s a sequel we can grab. Homeschool doesn’t have to try to be public school because they are completely different. I think as a new unexpected homeschool mama, that’s been the greatest lesson of all. I don’t have to try to re-create public school because I’m giving them something that public school just can’t be. Both are beautiful. I hope someday when my kids are telling their kids about the year 2020, they’ll remember all the extra snuggles all the laughs and all the things we learned snuggled up cozy in our tiny RV taking a much needed break from the crazy world." —Melissa N.

My Kids Are Happy with Mom as Teacher

"[We are n]ew homeschoolers because of Covid. We have 3rd grade, K, and a 2-year-old. I always loved the idea of public school and kids being around other kids, but due to all the regulations and uncertainty with public schools right now, we didn't want to put our kids under more stress.
Homeschooling wasn't something we wanted to do, and we were afraid we will fail our kids if we do it. But it was worth to try, and we're glad we picked Sonlight. It's definitely a challenge with two different grades and a toddler that needs attention, but so far we are enjoying it. And to my big surprise, kids are happy with mama being a teacher (wasn't expecting it😄)! I love watching my kids learn. And even though we might not continue homeschooling after this school year, I love all this time of learning and new level of bonding we have now." —Zina M.

You can teach your kids at home! A well-planned curriculum makes it so easy, and you can trust that you are giving your kids all the academics they need.

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Tagged multiple children, newbie, pandemic schooling | Leave a comment

Dec. 16, 2020

5 Reasons Not to Avoid Tough Topics with Your Kids

By Deana Wood

I’ve heard it over and over. I’ve even thought it myself. I remember specifically reading the book Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans from HBL D. As I was reading about human sacrifice, I remember looking over at my fourth grader and praying that it wasn’t too much for his sensitive heart to handle.

Honestly, I would never have dreamed of even letting him watch Scooby Doo. He was just too sensitive to fearful things. I have to admit that I questioned my curriculum choice as I was reading that passage. But then, I looked up from the book to find him ready with questions. That passage led to rich discussion about the evil that is at work in our world, the sin nature that plagues all of us, and the fact that because of our faith in Jesus Christ, we can be a light of hope in the world.

After that conversation, I was sold. I am so thankful, too. Those early conversations were the beginning of a decade of good, tough conversations.

One of the most common concerns I see in Sonlight circles is the tough content of many of the books included in the curriculum. Here’s why our children need us to explore these difficult topics and not avoid them.

1. We Talk About It So We Don’t Fear It

If you’ve ever thought about it, you’ll probably find that most of our fears come from the unknown. It’s the same with children. Their imaginations are so incredibly vivid that they can quickly turn something ordinary into something fearful, but we have to diligently teach them that God is bigger than all the evil in the world.

I always chuckle to myself when someone claims that parents who homeschool are sheltering their children. I don’t think discussing human sacrifice and radiation poisoning from an atomic bomb necessarily qualifies for leading a sheltered life. Discussing these scary topics in a safe place can help your child learn the reality that evil exists, but it doesn’t win. God always shines through somewhere. I love how Sonlight books are so good at both telling the story and showcasing the hope.

Because of the years of Sonlight education, our children have been exposed to the evil that exists in our world, but they’ve also been introduced to people who were brave enough to oppose it and be a light among the evil. They have learned that God is sovereign, and He is always at work in every situation. They have learned that we do not fear the evil, because Jesus has overcome it. That’s why we read about tough topics early...it’s never too early to learn that God wins.

“For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7

2. If They Don’t Hear It From Us, They Will Hear It From Someone Else

Have you ever realized that your child was the unfortunate recipient of bad information from a peer? It happens to all of us at some point, but for us, it serves as a reminder that we want our children learning about tough topics from us...not from their peers.

When our children feel that they have to get information from peers, it is inevitable that they will receive misinformation, possibly from a flawed worldview. That’s why they need to know that we aren’t afraid of their questions and curiosities. They need to know that we are willing to tackle tough topics and occasionally wade through murky waters right alongside them when we aren’t sure of the right answer.

Our children can ask us anything, and they know that they will get an honest, complete answer, to the best of our ability. It is our prayer that as they get older, this open communication will continue, and they will know that they can trust us with their questions about life.

3. They Crave Truth

Kids are naturally inquisitive. Spend five minutes with a child, and you’ll likely find yourself answering a battery of questions. You’ll probably also find that they crave truth. I don’t know about your kids, but mine can sniff out a half-truth from me quicker than anyone else I know. They do not settle for a cheap or pat answer.

I have been thoroughly explaining questions for as long as I can remember. In fact, when my kids were young, sometimes I would find myself feeling bad after giving them a very clear, thorough explanation of a tough topic. However, they were always able to handle the truth, and through that process of discussing tough topics, they learned that my husband and I could be trusted to give them truth all the time, to the best of our ability.

4. They Can Handle More Than We Think

Kids aren’t stupid. Let me repeat that. Kids aren’t stupid.

They can handle more than we think. I would actually say that we risk patronizing our children when we refuse to take on tough topics with them. While children may need topics to be simplified to a degree, most children want their parents to treat them with respect, always being clear and forthright about tough topics.

I can remember being in a store with my oldest son. I was pushing a grocery cart, and he was young because I remember him sitting in the top part of the cart. He asked me one of those tough questions, and I immediately launched into a pretty in-depth explanation. I don’t remember what we discussed that day, but I remember the incident, because I remember suddenly feeling eyes on me. I looked around and saw that a few people shopping around me were looking at me like I was crazy, having that in depth of an explanation to such a young boy. But that’s just the way we’ve lived our life with our kids. And I’m incredibly thankful, although I did realize that maybe the grocery store isn’t the place to tackle challenging subjects!

5. It Gives Us Opportunities To Deliver the Gospel

Almost every conversation we have with our children could be wrapped up in a few bullet points:

Evil exists because Adam and Eve sinned in the garden
Given the opportunity, we would have done the same
But God is in control of all things and He has a plan
His plan is Jesus, who paid for all of our sins through His death on the cross
Because of God’s perfect plan to send Jesus, we have forgiveness of our sins
Because of this, we have hope and long for the day when we are made whole again

Every difficult conversation has these common threads. So, if you tackle a few tough subjects every time you read a book, you’ll be delivering the Gospel over and over.

So here’s what I would say to every new parent:

Read the tough books.
Have the hard conversations.
Give truth, every time.
Deliver the Gospel.

If you do this, you will find that these conversations will become a firm foundation for your relationship with your child. You will build trust and mutual respect. You will bond over these conversations, and they will continue on into their teenage and adult years.

Tagged books, discussion, discussions, tough topics | Leave a comment

Dec. 14, 2020

Strategic Homeschool Scheduling to Make Your Day Easier

By Deana Wood

Scheduling is one of the most challenging tasks when you first begin homeschooling. Of course, it’s still one of the most challenging tasks as a veteran homeschooler.

I’m not sure if this is true of every family, but our homeschool schedule has changed every single year, at least slightly. Every year, our family dynamics require changes to our daily routine. However, one thing stands out to me every year...the importance of strategic scheduling.

Strategic scheduling is purposefully planning out the day to maximize your child’s energy and natural rhythms.

This is so very important. Your schedule needs to work with you, naturally guiding your family through a predictable progression of the day. Many times, we schedule according to arbitrary ideas, but I want to encourage you to try strategic scheduling. Here’s how.

1. Drop an Anchor at the Beginning, Middle, and End of Your Day

You need anchors in your day to help your children find a predictable flow or routine, and the beginning of the day is a good time to drop an anchor.

Beginning the day with your whole family gathering together sets the tone for a positive first interaction. My favorite tip for this time block is to do a few Couch Subjects™ here. We have changed a lot of things, but our morning time routine has never changed. We always start the day with our Bible time. Over the years, I’ve sprinkled in poetry and Read-Alouds, but the first half hour of our day is spent together in Bible study. So, the first key to strategic scheduling is to drop an anchor first thing in the morning with togetherness.

You’ll probably want to drop another anchor right after lunch. We like to clean our dishes and then go right into our second set of Couch Subjects™, Science and History. This brings us all together again, and it gives me the chance to check in with my kids on their progress.

I’ve always considered dinnertime another anchor in the day. For us, this is simply a decompressing time. There are no expectations except that we get together around the table talking, laughing, and releasing our stress from the day.

2. Schedule Tougher Subjects When Your Child Is Fresh

You probably know better than anyone when your child seems to be fresh. Generally speaking, young children tend to be fresh in the morning and that freshness gradually drops off throughout the day, with a slight surge right after lunch. So, when my kids were younger, we would always finish up our morning time and go right into Math.

Now my kids are older. Half of my kids are officially teenagers, and half are approaching quickly. Teenagers seem to be fresh later in the day, so we’ve adjusted their schedule to reflect that. My teens like to begin their day doing their independent reading. They prefer easing into the tough subjects, and I’ve learned to lean into that slow morning. So, when you begin mapping out your schedule, try to consider your child’s natural rhythms, and keep in mind that these natural rhythms will change through the years.

3. Combine Dreaded Tasks With Snack Time

When your child finds a particular task daunting, such as Language Arts, Handwriting, or Spelling, pair it with snack time. First of all, it will help draw your child to the task, knowing that it’s connected with a positive part of the day. Secondly, it will give them a reason to stop every so often to grab another cracker. And of course, keeping your child’s mind busy with chewing can help them to focus on the task at hand.

4. Place Fun Subjects at the End of the Day

You might consider saving your Science experiments and hands-on crafts for the last part of the day. Usually, my children are tired toward the end of the day. They are done with their hardest tasks, and they are ready to let their minds take a break. Of course, we know that experiments are not a mind break, but to our kids, they are! Doing something fun at the end of the day can be a great motivator to keep the kids moving through the day.

You might also consider other motivating activities to allow at the end of the school day, such as video games or playtime with neighborhood friends. These activities may give your children something to look forward to at the end of the day, and those are the best kinds of days….the ones where you can look back to see what you’ve accomplished and look forward to a fun activity.

5. You Don’t Work for the Schedule; The Schedule Works for You

My last tip for strategic scheduling: Don’t get too caught up on your schedule. Think of your schedule as a routine or a flow to your day. If your child isn’t finished by 10:05, give him a few more minutes. You’ll probably find yourself with extra time later in the day. This is the give and take of life. Life isn’t always perfectly scheduled. Sometimes, things just don’t fit into time boxes so nicely, and we have to adjust.

When we do this, we are teaching our children that we don’t work for the schedule. The schedule works for us.

When we schedule our day according to our kids’ natural rhythms and preferences, we will find that our days will go so much better. The kids will feel comforted that they know what’s coming next, and you will find that your days go by much more smoothly. What are your scheduling secrets? How do you schedule your day to bring out the best in your family?

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Tagged Homeschooling, schedules, scheduling | 2 Comments