Dec. 28, 2020

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

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

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.

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Dec. 18, 2020

Stories from New Homeschoolers: Teaching Multiple Children

By Sonlight
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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:

  1. To let go of the need for structure and plans to go exactly as planned, which is difficult for being type A.
  2. 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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Dec. 16, 2020

5 Reasons Not to Avoid Tough Topics with Your Kids

By Deana Wood
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5 Reasons Not to Avoid Tough Topics with Your Kids

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.

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Dec. 14, 2020

Strategic Homeschool Scheduling to Make Your Day Easier

By Deana Wood
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Strategic Homeschool Scheduling to Make Your Day Easier

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?

SEE HOW
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Dec. 11, 2020

5 Keys to Help You & Your Spouse Decide to Homeschool

By Deana Wood
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5 Keys To Help You And Your Spouse Make the Decision to Homeschool

When you feel in your heart that God is calling you to homeschool, it’s tempting to plow ahead and make the decision, leaving your spouse behind. I understand...I’ve been there too. When I began feeling that God was calling us to homeschool, I was a few months ahead of my husband in getting on board. I’d been thinking about it much longer than he had, and I had already been through all the “What if…” scenarios. 

Being a public school graduate and a public school teacher, I had tried to talk myself out of it several times. 

However, even with these questions swirling around in my head, I felt strongly that God was leading us to become a homeschool family, so I decided to talk to my husband about it. I’m so glad I did. That conversation began our homeschooling journey as a family, and I could not do what I do without his unwavering support. 

There is no formula for getting your spouse on board with homeschooling, but there are some key actions that can help you talk through the process of deciding your child’s educational path. 

1. Ask Your Spouse to Pray About It

Prayer is the most important element of this decision. I do not recommend going ahead with plans to homeschool without first bathing your future conversations in prayer. You are setting yourself and your spouse up for failure if you go into the discussion without talking to God first. So the very first action you need to take is simply to ask your spouse to pray with you about it. Here’s what I asked my husband:

“I’ve been thinking a lot lately about homeschooling. I feel that it’s something we need to consider and discuss at some point, but I’m not sure. I have a lot of questions about it. Would you just pray with me about it for a week or more?”

2. Discuss It With Pros and Cons

After a week or more of prayer, make a time to sit down and talk over the pros and cons. On your list, write down everything you think would be good about homeschooling and all your concerns. 

Then use these lists to talk about homeschooling. First, start with your pros and share your heart. Tell your spouse why you began considering homeschooling. Then give your spouse uninterrupted time to share what their pros are. Then repeat the process for cons.

Be sure that you allow your spouse to freely share concerns without you feeling the need to defend homeschooling. Remember, your concerns are legitimate. Your spouse’s concerns are too, so listen accordingly. Once you get through your lists, agree to continue praying about it and set up a time to talk again.

3. List Your Goals for Your Children

This next step is pretty important. At your next discussion, you’ll need to bring your pros/cons list once again, but before you begin, spend some time writing down three to five goals for your children. Use this as your guiding thought:

When our children grow up, we will consider their childhood a success if these three things are true of them.

Once you decide on your goals, look at your pros list. Do your pros match up with your goals? How about your cons list? 

Thinking about your goals can help you process how homeschooling could help you reach those goals. Share openly with each other how you are feeling about the decision. 

5 Keys to Help You & Your Spouse Decide to Homeschool

4. Discuss the Cost

There are plenty of costs to consider in homeschooling. Of course, possibly the most pressing is the financial cost. It can be a pretty big adjustment to go from public school, which is free, to homeschooling where you pay for your curriculum, and you feed your children every meal at home.

When my husband and I had this conversation, we were just finishing up a year of public school kindergarten with our oldest child. We sat down and counted up the cost of curriculum. It was a little surprising, but then, we discussed how much money we had spent on public school. That was even more surprising.

We realized that we had contributed hundreds of dollars to fundraisers through the course of the year. Then, we considered how much we spent on new school clothes and shoes. We had noticed that our kindergartener was even showing an interest in name brand clothing already. We added in the cost of backpacks and lunches.

When we really examined how much we had spent, we were surprised to see that what we had spent on kindergarten in public school was close to the cost of homeschool curriculum.

We knew these public school costs would only continue to rise as our children got older. When we crunched some numbers, we saw that, in homeschooling, we could go without buying new school clothes every year. We knew we could stop participating in fundraisers, and we even realized that we would be able to reuse the curriculum with our younger kids coming up. By our estimate, we felt like after our first few years, we might even end up saving money.

We evaluated many different programs and landed on Sonlight, feeling even better about our financial decision. Having a home library has always been important for us, so we knew the books in Sonlight would be worth the investment.

Finally we considered the fact that if we continued homeschooling, I would not be going back to work full time. This was tough, especially for me. I had always visualized myself back in the classroom once our children reached school age. However, when my husband and I looked at our goals and considered how homeschooling could help us reach those goals, it gave us the clear answer that we needed. For us, homeschooling would be worth all the sacrifices we would make.

5. Wait For Your Spouse

I have an incredibly supportive husband. We went through the process I outlined above, and once we both decided to homeschool, he was with me 100%. However, I know the journey is not that way for every couple. For those moms and dads who can’t quite get the other spouse on board, my advice is simple:

Wait.

I could not homeschool without my husband’s support. On tough days, I need my husband to remind me why we chose this life. I need my husband to troubleshoot problems with me and to back me up on discipline matters. 

If your spouse is not on board, wait and pray. Don’t nag or coerce. Don’t even try to persuade. Don’t say, “I told you this would happen if…” Pray that God will align both of your hearts to His perfect will for your family. And then, wait.

Homeschooling is a lifestyle. It goes against the norms of society and takes courage. Be patient with your spouse. It can be a lot to process. More importantly, trust God, and know that if it is His will, He will make it so in His perfect timing. 

Compare curriculum with this handy checklist.

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Dec. 9, 2020

13 Ways to Change Your Child's Attitude Toward Copywork

By Deana Wood
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13 Ways to Change Your Child's Attitude Toward Copywork

Copywork...some kids love it. Some kids hate it. If your child is in the hate camp, you might be wondering how to make it more enjoyable for them. I’m here to help!

Copywork doesn’t have to be a drudgery. It can be a vibrant part of your Language Arts curriculum. Thankfully, Sonlight does the hard part by choosing the copywork for each week. It’s even sweeter because it comes from a reading passage in the curriculum. So, really, all you need to do is keep your copywork methods fresh with these 13 techniques.

1. Reserve Special Pens

We’ve always had a caddy with special pens for our copywork. We really love PaperMate Flair Pens, but any pretty pen will do the trick. You might even include fine tipped markers. Older children may enjoy trying their hand at calligraphy. Whatever tools you decide to use, just remember that the trick is to keep it fresh. Change your pens every month, and pull out the special pen caddy only for copywork. 

2. Use Highlighters to Examine the Passage

In Sonlight, the copywork is used primarily for Language Arts instruction, so it pays to spend some time dissecting the passage. I have my children go through the passage with several different colored highlighters. For example, if we have been focusing on punctuation, I would have my child highlight all the periods blue, all the question marks yellow, and all the exclamation points orange. 

You might have your child highlight the different types of sentences. If your child is struggling with a particular phonetic sound, have them find those sounds in the copywork. Older children can highlight independent clauses and prepositional phrases. Many times, children have a hard time finding the purpose behind copywork, so examining the passage can really help.

3. Change It Up

Have your child use a thesaurus to change up the passage. Then let them compare their version with the original. Which one do they like better? Help them consider how word choice affects a passage. 

4. Use Whiteboards or Chalkboard

Paper can get old. Sometimes a change makes a big difference, so consider allowing your child to do their copywork on a whiteboard. I’ve even heard of ideas like using dry erase markers on a window or sliding glass door. 

5. Use Special Paper

Bring out the pretty paper for copywork! Collect old scrapbook or stationary paper, and let your child choose a really pretty piece of paper for their copywork. You might even use decorative scissors to cut a border around the page. If your child is studying an older time period, let them soak their paper in tea and help them burn the edges. 

6. Decorate Your Copywork

Stickers! Magazine cutouts! Your child can make their copywork stand out by embellishing it. Your child may prefer their own artwork. Go for it! Give them some colored pencils and let them sketch their own border or draw a beautiful picture at the bottom. 

7. Spread It Out

Is copywork a precursor to a meltdown? Then spread it out. Some kids just get overwhelmed by the amount of writing at one time. Try doing one sentence per day, slowly adding to the passage until it is complete. 

8. Set the Mood

Set the mood for a relaxing copywork time in your day. Copywork can be very peaceful, so help set the environment for tranquility by dimming the lights, lighting a candle, and turning on some classical music. This change can make copywork time a break in your child’s day-a special time to look forward to.

It can also help to carefully choose a good time during the day to do copywork. I would recommend choosing a time when your child is ready for a rest. You might consider doing copywork after a recess break or during snacktime, so they can snack while they work. 

9. Display Your Child’s Work

Sometimes it can be hard to give your best when you know that your work will just be put away into a portfolio. So consider making a prominent space to display your child’s copywork each week.

10. Change the Scenery

Sometimes, we get stuck in a rut. Always doing your work at a desk or table can crush our creativity. So try changing up the scenery. Let your child go outside to do their copywork. Or use a magnet and let your child do copywork standing up next to the refrigerator. 

11. Use Invisible Ink

Let your child explore with magic. Have them write their copywork in white crayon. Then, have them color over it with a washable marker. Their copywork will magically appear! You can also purchase a simple invisible ink pen that shows up under LED light. 

12. Share the Copywork

Company makes work more bearable. It’s a principle for life. Everyone knows that cleaning the kitchen is easier with a buddy. The same is true with copywork. Consider sharing the copywork task with your child. This can be done in a number of ways. You can alternate writing every other word. 

You could each write the copywork, or you could simply sit beside your child while he works. Sometimes, this support is all that’s needed. 

13. Type It

Yes, this is probably an odd suggestion. Most people consider copywork to be important handwriting practice. I would agree with that; however, if you are using a handwriting program, your child might feel that copywork is an added burden. In that case, consider viewing copywork as strictly a language arts task. Your child can pay close attention to the grammar while he or she is typing it. You can also use this time to teach keyboarding skills. Play with the alignment, change the font, and learn to print. These are skills that children need today, so copywork can be a great time to incorporate those.

These are just a few of the many ways to make copywork more enjoyable. Remember the old saying, “A change is as good as a rest.” This can be so true in homeschooling.

Sometimes, the most challenging part of being a homeschool parent is keeping things fresh and helping your child find the purpose behind the tasks. Your child may not ever look forward to copywork time, but showing them a purpose behind it and being creative with the way your child is asked to complete the task can really change your child’s attitude and make it easier on everyone.

Each complete Sonlight® All-Subjects Package and History / Bible / Literature package comes with our Love to Learn, Love to Teach™ Guarantee.  

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Dec. 7, 2020

Enjoy Your Life More: Add One Good Habit

By Sarita
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Enjoy Your Life More: Add One Good Habit

A recent study showed that Americans spend eight minutes a day looking for their keys. Sound familiar?

If that’s you, it could be easy to berate yourself for that reality. When we think of habits, we tend to think of the negative, like a bad habit of losing things.

But I find it much more encouraging to think of the positive side: what good habits would I like to add to my life? Just as bad habits can drag us down, good habits can point us in the right direction.

Good habits can save us time if we want them to. If a homeschool mom could get back 40 minutes a week by cultivating the habit of hanging her keys by the door, or figuring out why she loses her keys and changing it, wouldn’t that be a good thing?  

Homeschool moms carry so much responsibility. If we can put some of that on autopilot so we just do it automatically, it can really make life easier. When it comes to dishes, laundry, cleaning and cooking, could a few simple logistical habits make your life easier? Could you put something on autopilot so you just do it automatically and don’t have to fuss about it?

Define a Good Day, Week, and Month

Or for more inspiration, try this. Answer these questions to help you clarify a good habit you might like to add to your life:  

Dream about what you want to do with your life. Consider:

  • What you want a good day to look like?
  • What do you want a good week to look like?
  • What does a good month look like to you?
  • What about a good year? 10 years?

A Good Day

For me, a good day includes a 30-minute walk and a quiet time. It includes a few minutes at mid-day to listen to Christian music, which helps refocus and reset my day. And of course a good day for me includes reading. If I don’t read, I feel like I had a terrible day!

A Good Week

A good week for me includes a Sabbath rest. A few weeks ago, John and I were at a conference that lasted all day Friday through Sunday. When we got home I felt like I’d never catch up. When I take a day of rest the entire week goes better. I feel more focused, more energized, more able to meet life with perspective. A good week for me also includes time at church, which is so good for my soul. It includes time for John and me to sit under the tree talking with the kids as we laugh and eat together. What does a good week look like for you?

A Good Year

A good year for me includes two opportunities to get away and gain perspective on my everyday life. One of those is a week of fun with all the kids and grandkids, and another might be a trip to visit ministry partners in another part of the world and see what God is doing among them. Even if you can’t get away twice in a year, does a good year for you include some sort of intentional family week?

Ponder those questions and see what you might want to add. For me, that was adding a walk every day. I had wanted to do this for a while but I’d leave it to the evening and then feel too tired to go out and do it. So now I get up first thing in the morning, throw on yesterday’s clothes, run a comb through my hair and go walk. If I do it first thing I actually get it done. Plus, the beauty of the mornings has really surprised me—the sky, the air, it all has such a special quality first thing in the morning.

I also added a green smoothie for breakfast every day – I just fill the blender with greens, throw in a protein, some juice, some fruit, and some coconut oil. What an easy way to honor my body and get more vegetables in my life! My daughter Jonelle started cleaning up her room every evening. It gives her a brand-new start on the day in the morning.

Allow Enough Time to Establish the Habit

Experts say it takes 30 days to build a habit. It seems so easy to us. Just decide to do something and then do it. But it’s always an uphill climb. We are creatures of habit, so to build a brand new habit takes incredible perseverance and push. You have to plan to say every day “I’m just going to grit my teeth and get it done.” And eventually it’s almost automatic.

Start with Just One Habit

Experts also recommend just adding one habit at a time. I recently added five, and I’m here to tell you it felt like my efforts were going to take over my life. It was too much to think about, too much will power to exert every day in addition to my normal tasks.

Enjoy Your Newfound Freedom

Of course, we shouldn’t let habits rob us of our ability to be free and flexible. But I actually think many habits allow us more freedom in the world. Here’s an example. We used to camp a lot as a family. Camping, as you know, is a messy and dirty business. You come home and the temptation is to just throw all the equipment in a corner to deal with it later. But I got in the habit of taking the tub of cooking equipment and setting it on the kitchen counter as soon as we got home. I’d refill the salt and sugar containers, clean everything, change out the dirty towels for clean ones, and repack it all. Then when someone suggested we should go camping, I’d give the kids their packing checklists and we could get out the door surprisingly fast. Because of some good habits we were free to be flexible and go camping more often.

As another example, keeping your house a little cleaner (or accepting a lower standard of cleanliness) can mean you feel free to invite company over more often. Likewise, meal planning can help you feel free to play with your kids outside more afternoons instead of scrambling to pull something together for dinner at the last minute.

So dream about how you want your life to look and pick one new habit to start today. Don’t overwhelm yourself with five new habits like I did. But enjoy the freedom your one new habit provides!

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