Sonlight Homeschooling Blog

Aug. 12, 2020

The Best of Sonlight Summer Readers, Part Two

Every year, Sonlight compiles packs of summer readers filled with quality books that keep children's minds busy, while also adding some summer fun. There’s no better way to keep relaxed learning going through the summer months, but these readers aren't just for summer. They can be enjoyed anytime that your family needs some new, appropriate, edifying literature to add to the collection!

By popular request, we’re creating a list of our summer reader recommendations from over the years, so that you have a library of book choices available to you whenever you need a great literature suggestion. It’s the ultimate book list for elementary, middle school, and high school students! Check out part one here, and then keeping reading for more great book picks from Sonlight.

The following links to Amazon are affiliate links.

Summer Readers for Elementary Boys

When their whale-watching boat capsizes, Travis and Marina have to figure out how to survive. First the ice-cold sea, then once they reach the deserted shore. – Survivor Diaries: Overboard!
Classroom pets unite to save their school from the evil mouse rat. Some graphic novel-style illustrations, interwoven with text. – Super Turbo Saves the Day
Two brothers, missing their mother, decide to be tough like their dad. But they keep accidentally helping instead of harming, until a sweet resolution at the end. – The Infamous Ratsos
When James goes to the beach, his beetle friend Marvin stays home. Marvin survives a harrowing ordeal (who knew pencil sharpeners could be so terrifying?!) and wonders if his friend misses him, and they reaffirm their friendship in the end. – The Miniature World of Marvin and James
Henry Whiskers is the 25th generation of mouse to live in Queen Mary's historical dollhouse at Windsor Castle. But when the dollhouse needs repairs, Henry's sister Isabel goes missing. Henry and his cousin Jeremy go to Rat Alley to stage a rescue. – The Adventures of Henry Whiskers
When Uncle Murray agrees to house-sit Bad Kitty, he underestimated the task before him. Bad Kitty doesn't mean to be bad, but they don't understand each other very well. Uncle Murray survives the week … but just barely. – Bad Kitty vs Uncle Murray
This delightful early reader features a short Captain, and a tall Mate who sail on their pirate ship. In their four adventures together, they don't always agree, but they are sure funny in their disagreement. – Captain and Matey Set Sail
Two young scientists solve four mysteries using their knowledge of science. Similar to Encyclopedia Brown, but modern, and scientific. – The Case of the Mossy Lake Monster
Hey, did anyone see which way the skeleton went? And what's he running from, anyway? A Halloween-night whodunit, it turns out that a lot of people have something to hide. – Sammy Keyes and the Skeleton Man
A boy has the perfect plan to take over the world: wear a fake mustache. But first, the presidency! Watch what happens when his best friend discovers and tries to derail his plans. – Fake Moustache
Welcome to the amazing Whippet Hotel, where there's an adventure on every floor, the guests are either mad or mysterious, and ducks are everywhere! - Floors
GOLD! GOLD! scream the headlines in July 1897. James is mesmerized when he sees the first ship of prospectors enter the San Francisco harbor. Caught up in the fever, he books passage on a steamer up to Alaska. - A Tale of Gold
Many years ago, the storytellers say, King Arthur held court with his gallant Knights of the Round Table. A loyal and gallant knight never refuses an adventure! - The Adventures of Sir Balin the Ill-Fated
Before they were the Boxcar Children, they lived with their parents at Fair Meadow Farm. A loving tribute to the classic novel. - The Boxcar Children Beginning
When Nick is released from the hospital, he walks with a limp and is dependent on a leg brace. Then he meets Satchel Paige, arguably the best baseball pitcher in the world. - King of the Mound
A classic tale of the flying, floating, drive-itself automobile that takes the Pott family on a riotous series of adventures as they try to capture a notorious gang of robbers. - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
When Babe is taken in by a sheepdog, it's only natural he would want to follow in his foster mum's steps. After saving the sheep from rustlers and wild dogs, the idea of a sheep-pig might not be so silly after all. - Babe the Gallant Pig
Clay is accustomed to trouble: there's a folder of incident reports in the principal's office that's as thick as a phonebook. He decides to change his own mischief-making ways, but can't seem to shake his reputation. - Troublemaker
When a local potato chip tycoon invites area kids to an all-day puzzle hunt, Winston Breen is psyched. But it turns out the day is not all fun and games. - The Potato Chip Puzzles
Steve Brixton is about to get a chance to put the detective tactics he's read so much about into practice. He's out to solve a mystery being investigated by America's most secret crime solving agency. - The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity
Ted loves a good mystery, and he's working on a big one. How can his school in the little town of Plattsford stay open next year if there are going to be only five students? - Room One
Walter can't believe his eyes when he sees the eviction notice. But what about the old soldiers, the last surviving members of a World War II rescue force? Two very different generations band together to outwit a cunning adversary - General Butterfingers
The children of President Roosevelt embark on a treasure hunt throughout the White House. And as they explore, they learn secrets of American history! - Teddy Roosevelt and the Treasure of Ursa Major

Summer Readers for Elementary Girls

The true story of the first of the St. Barnard rescue dogs. Barry served in a monastery in Switzerland, where he was credited with over 40 rescues. - Dog Diaries: Barry
Charming illustrated book about a mouse girl who has to overcome her fear and prejudice to make a new friend. - Sophie Mouse: A New Friend
Best friends Emily and Maddie love to create. When new student joins their class, they discover that she, too, is really crafty. Is the Emily and Maddie friendship doomed? - The Un-Friendship Bracelet
When all three of the top dessert-makers in the community suffer vandalism right before a bake-off, young reporter Hilde investigates. - Hilde Cracks the Case: Hero Dog
Flora the pig longs for adventure. After seeing sled dogs in training, she is determined to join a sled team. - The Adventures of a South Pole Pig
Animal-lover Lulu wants her new neighbor to enjoy more in life than his video games. So she comes up with clever ways to entice Arthur to take an interest in his pet rabbit, and make a new friend along the way. - Lulu and the Rabbit Next Door
How to bathe a kitty? It's not easy. Real cat facts and an amusing epilogue, make this a this laugh-out-loud, feel good book. - Bad Kitty Gets a Bath
Tall, stately Gollie and short, untidy Bink are opposites yet true friends. A mix of picture book, graphic novel, and early reader. - Bink and Gollie
Sammy, the mystery-solving gal, witnesses a robbery. Unfortunately, he sees her, too. What follows is an intriguing tale. - Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief
Set in the 1950s, Ivy runs a pet-sitting service for the summer and tries to keep the boy next door from destroying everything. He's not bad, just thoughtless. Sweet and honest depictions of friendship. - Ivy Takes Care
Deidre is turning eight years old. The birthday party theme? Mermaids. When someone sabotages the fun with a squirmy snake in the pool, Nancy Drew and her pals set out to find the culprit. - Nancy Drew and the Pool Party Puzzler
Anna wants to learn how to be a good sister to a baby girl her family adopted from China. - The Year of the Baby
Someone's been digging up Mrs. Ruston's tomatoes, and she thinks Noelle's dog, Rover, is to blame. It's time to find the culprit and save Rover from certain trouble. - The Mystery of the Hairy Tomatoes
A refreshing classic compilation of heartwarming stories with an old-time feel. Practical lessons that remain relevant today.Still More Stories from Grandma's Attic
When a ferocious storm hits their ship, two young girls become stranded on a deserted island. But they're not the only survivors; with them are four babies. - Baby Island
Over the summer, fashion-loving Zoey gets the best news ever: her school is getting rid of uniforms! With a little help from her best friends, she learns to make her own clothes. - Sew Zoey: Ready to Wear
Violet is a small girl with brilliant ideas. Follow her as she finds small things, gives small things, helps small things, and leaves small things behind. - Violet Mackerel's Outside-the-Box Set
When tragedy befalls their poetry teacher, her students are prepared to create the most important poem they've ever written. - Gooney Bird is so Absurd
Vikings capture Bree and her brother and take them from their home in Ireland. As they travels the dangerous road home, they both must trust their God in the midst of difficult situations. - Raiders from the Sea
Jordan is average. Not short, not tall. Not gifted, not flunking out. Feeling doomed to a life of wallowing in the middle, she makes a goal to discover her great talent. - Above Average
The Pepper family has little in the way of luxury, but they have such fun together that when a rich little boy discovers the warmth and happiness that floods home, he feels lucky. - Five Little Peppers and How They Grew
Their friend has inherited money from his great uncle, but he left town before he could find out. So Trixie, Honey, and her governess, set out to find him. The first night, they stop next to a mysterious red trailer. - Trixie Belden: The Red Trailer Mystery
Princess Amy of receives a special fairy christening gift: Ordinariness. Unlike her sisters, Amy would rather have adventures than play the harp, embroider tapestries...or become a Queen. - An Ordinary Princess
The Cuthberts are in for a shock. They are expecting an orphan boy to help with the work at Green Gables, but a skinny red-haired girl turns up instead. - Anne of Green Gables
Because of a big, ugly, happy dog, Opal learns ten things about her long-gone mother, makes new friends among the residents of her new hometown, and more. - Because of Winn-Dixie
Trixie's summer is going to be so boring with her older brothers away at camp. But then a millionaire's daughter moves into the next-door mansion, and an old miser hides a fortune in his decrepit house! - Trixie Belden: The Mystery of the Mansion
It's the Chinese Year of the Dog, and as Pacy celebrates with her family, she finds out that this is the year she is supposed to "find herself." Universal themes of friendship, family, and finding one's passion in life. - The Year of the Dog

Summer Readers for Middle School Boys

When Milo is sucked through the back of his dryer, this is only the beginning of his adventures. A fun and unexpected world. - Milo Speck
A boy is on the run, and ends up in a wide variety of fun places, solving various puzzles. Includes robots, a door that gets a headache from loud knocking, and subterranean WWII machinery. - William Wenton and the Impossible Puzzle
In this sci-fi thriller, biofuel multiplies, then mutates. When this mutation accidentally ends up in a forest, it multiplies unseen until two young people touch it, with dire consequences. - Fuzzy Mud
Superhero-loving Luke had just stepped away when an alien turned his brother Zack into a superhero. How unfair! Zack knows nothing about being a superhero! - My Brother is a Superhero
Max continues to solve puzzles to support himself, but almost dies when he runs into a vicious teen. Book two in the series. - Mister Max: The Book of Secrets
Max has to figure out how to get the king to send him off on a diplomatic mission to the country where his parents are held hostage. Third book in the brilliant trilogy. - Mister Max: The Book of Kings
Princes Charming leave their homes (one to pursue a girl, one to escape a girl, one to prove himself, and one because he got lost). Will they foil the wicked witch? - The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom
Five books about a group of friends trying to save their beloved school from demolition. Action-packed mystery series.- Benjamin Pratt & the Keepers of the School Book Collection
When his father dies, Dave knows nothing will ever be the same. He lands in an orphanage far from the life he once knew. Perhaps somewhere, Dave can find a place that feels like home. - Dave at Night
Danny's home is a gypsy caravan. He's the youngest master car mechanic around. And his best friend is his dad, who never runs out of wonderful stories to tell. - Danny the Champion of the World
Ozymandias Levinson's problems are more severe than his mouthful of a name. A run-in with two bullies brings him into contact with a clever spy mouse in the middle of a critical assignment: to take down the evil rat leader. - Spy Mice: The Black Paw
The year is 1862, and P.K. Pinkerton is on the run from a gang of ruthless desperados. He's determined to hold on to Ma's last priceless possession: the deed to land and silver mines in the Nevada Mountains. - P.K. Pinkerton and the Deadly Desperados
When the engine of their float plane fails during a water landing, what began as a sightseeing detour turns into a survival mission for two boys and their elderly companion. - Far North
How do you rescue a coyote trapped in the elevator of an office building? How do you save an injured seal at the bottom of a cliff with the tide coming in? Two siblings are about to find out as they spend a summer at a wildlife center. - Jackie's Wild Seattle
Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys' detention center where he spends every day digging holes. It doesn't take long for Stanley to realize there's something else going on here. - Holes
A teen boy finds himself alone in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash with nothing but a tattered windbreaker and the hatchet his mother gave him as a present--and the dreadful secret that has been tearing him apart since his parent's divorce. - Hatchet
Pieter Van Dirk is part of the Resistance movement in World War II Holland. As he takes more chances, he realizes that there is a traitor in his village--someone who would reveal his identity to the Nazis if his undercover work is discovered. - A Traitor Among Us
Wicked wolves and a grim governess threaten Bonnie and her cousin when their parents leave for a sea voyage. Left in the care of the cruel Miss Slighcarp, the girls can hardly believe what is happening to their once happy home. How will they ever escape? - The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
Ash is still falling from the sky two years after a series of globally devastating volcanic eruptions. Miles knows that the only chance his family has of surviving is to escape to their cabin in the woods. - Memory Boy

Summer Readers for Middle School Girls

Izzy might be out of sync with her classmates, and not quite sure of her place in her family. But she is smart and creative, and when she starts to earn new charms for her charm bracelet, she meets with many surprises along the way. - The Charming Life of Izzy Malone
When Roby turns twelve, she has a list of things she's been waiting to do, most of which turn out to have horrifying (but hysterical) consequences. But no matter what happens, she is kind and true to herself and doesn't give in to peer pressure. - Finally
Avalon wins a place in a spring break getaway contest. Once in NYC, she and her roommates have to track down a missing contestant using clues they find in photos. - Spring Break Mistake
When Hero moves to a new town, her elderly neighbor befriends her. Mrs. Roth tells her of a missing diamond, and Hero sets out to find it. Theories about Shakespeare's writing are interwoven into the story--excellent historical tidbits. - Shakespeare's Secret
Set in the fantasy realm of Pern, gifted musician flees her village after her father forbade her music. In a sheltering cave, she discovers baby fire lizards...and so the story begins. - Dragonsong
It's not easy to rescue a castle full of princesses…particularly when your magic carpet is threadbare and disagreeable. Everything changes for a young merchant when the mysterious stranger sells him a ratty rug. - Castle in the Air
Three full books in one. Marvelous retellings of Beauty and the Beast, The Magic Flute, and The Snow Queen. Gorgeous prose and insightful comments on life make fairy tales believable. - Kissed
When Sophie unknowingly attracts the attention of the Witch of the Waste, a spell is cast, turning her into an old woman. The only way to undo the enchantment is inside of the ever-moving Wizard Howl's castle. - Howl's Moving Castle
A coming-of-age story about a sixth grader who just wants to be normal. One night after Girl Scouts, Raina falls and injures her two front teeth. The result? An epic battle with braces, surgery, and embarrassing headgear! - Smile
Colophon Letterford has a serious mystery on her hands. As she struggles to find the link between her family's literary legacy and Shakespeare's tomb, she must navigate secret passages, mausoleums, and a whole cast of zany characters. - Secrets of Shakespeare's Grave
When Trixie and Honey explore an abandoned gatehouse, they discover more than dust and spiderwebs. Stuck in the dirt floor is a huge diamond! Could a ring of jewel thieves be hiding out in Sleepyside? - Trixie Belden: The Gatehouse Mystery
When Foster and her mother land in the tiny town of Culpepper, folks quickly warm to the woman with the great voice and the girl who can bake like nobody's business. But will their past catch up with them? - Close to Famous
Raine O'Rourke's mother takes a job at Sparrow Road, a dilapidated mansion that houses a group of eccentric artists in the idyllic Midwestern countryside. Raine is left to figure out why they're really here. - Sparrow Road
Christian was clueless when he started spying on the royal family through his telescope. If Dad had only warned him about all that mind-boggling love stuff, maybe things wouldn't be such a mess. But now he's fallen for the princess... - Once Upon A Marigold
A little migrant girl, who wants most of all to have a real home and to go to a regular school, hopes that the valley her family has come to will be their permanent place. Groundbreaking portrayal of working-class life in America. - Blue Willow
When her aunt and uncle whisk Dinnie away to an international school in Switzerland, she's suddenly surrounded by kids from many different cultures, backgrounds and beliefs. Can she adapt? - Bloomability
The state of Maine plans to shut down her island's schoolhouse, which would force Tess's family to move to the mainland–and Tess to leave the only home she's ever known. Fortunately, the islanders have a plan: increase the numbers of students by taking in foster children. - Touch Blue
What fills a hand fuller than a skein of gold? By order of the king, two boys, Tousle and Innes, must find the answer to this puzzling riddle within seven days or be killed. - Straw Into Gold
Cornelia is the daughter of world-famous pianists--a legacy that should feel fabulous, but instead feels just plain lonely. But when a glamorous neighbor moves in next door, she discovers that the world is a much more exciting place than she had originally thought. - Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters
It's 1953 and Penny dreams of a summer of butter pecan ice cream, swimming, and baseball. But nothing's that easy in Penny's family. - Penny from Heaven
After her mother's death, Julie goes to live with Aunt Cordelia, a spinster schoolteacher, where she experiences many emotions and changes as she grows up. - Up a Road Slowly
How can a fairy's blessing be such a curse? At her birth, Ella was the unfortunate recipient of the "gift" of obedience. Ella must obey any order given to her, but strong-willed Ella does not tamely accept her fate. - Ella Enchanted
In this mystery set in a fictional city, we meet a girl who moves to her opera-singer uncle's apartment after her father's death. A rumor that gold coins are hidden in the building where he performs distracts from the heartache of relocation. - Twenty Gold Falcons

Summer Readers for High School Boys

When Sage has to impersonate a prince, he pushes the envelope as far as he can. A story of court intrigue and perilous survival. - The False Prince
Micah believes the stories his dying grandpa tells him of the magical Circus Mirandus. An invisible tiger guarding the gates, the beautiful flying birdwoman, and a magician more powerful than any other. He sets out to find the Circus and save his grandfather. - Circus Mirandus
Entertaining stories from both sides of the Civil War. Rousing explanations of triumphs and battles in this epic story of history. - Guts and Glory: The American Civil War
Meet Hercule Poirot, a Belgian refugee and retired detective. When a woman dies of poison in a locked bedroom, Poirot must determine whodunit: the fortune-hunting new spouse, the aimless stepsons, her private doctor, her hired companion? - The Mysterious Affair at Styles
Teen rock climbing expert Peak Marcello goes to climb in Afghanistan. When several of the group are kidnapped, Peak goes to the rescue. A survival-of-the-fittest chase. - The Edge
Mysterious flying creatures. Pirate attacks. Matt has spent his life as a cabin boy on an airship that ferries wealthy passengers through the air. One night he meets a dying balloonist whose ravings he can't fathom. - Airborn
Four ambassadors from earth go forth to demonstrate their strengths to an alien Confederation. Battle, political intrigue, an escape attempt…and a courtroom drama. - Randoms
After the oceans rise, some pioneers go undersea to farm and live on the continental shelf. Fast-paced and inventive adventure. - Rip Tide
Kyle loves games: board games, puzzles, word games, and of course, video games. When a notorious and creative game maker is tasked with constructing the new town library, Kyle wins a spot as one of the students chosen for a game-themed sleepover there--and must solve a mystery to escape. - Escape from Mr Lemoncello's Library
Rigg is well-trained to keep secrets. Only his father knows the truth about his strange talent for seeing the paths of people's pasts. When Rigg discovers that he has the power not only to see the past, but also to change it, his future suddenly becomes anything but certain. Three riveting books. - Pathfinder Trilogy
Doug just moved to a new town with no friends. In Lil, he finds an unlikely ally and a safe haven in the local library. - Okay for Now
"I can steal anything." After Gen's bragging lands him in the king's prison, the chances of escape look slim. Then the king's scholar needs the thief's skill for a seemingly impossible task--to steal a hidden treasure from another land. - The Thief
Prince Roger makes everyone hysterically happy--to the point of being incapacitated with laughter. The only solution, obviously, is a quest to find the person he does not make laugh. Misadventures await. - A Barrel of Laughs, A Vale of Tears

Summer Readers for High School Girls

The kingdom is on edge when stories spread of an army of giants. Now, only a tailor girl with courage and cunning can see beyond the tales to discover the truth and save the kingdom again. - Valiant
At wizarding school, Ged trained to be a sorcerer, but in his youthful pride, he released a terrible shadow on the world. This is the tale of his attempts to make things right. - A Wizard of Earthsea
Detective Mo is ready to testify and put a kidnapper in jail for a long time. But when the convict escapes from jail right before his trial, so much quickly goes wrong. - The Odds of Getting Even
When Martha is expelled from school, she's hired as a dishwasher in a fancy house. The owner of the house has a crazy wife kept in the attic. The wife loves her art, and so commences a mystery of pomegranates and Jane Eyre, of vaudeville and anarchists. - The Gallery
The ancient Moonstone, stolen from a monastery, must be returned to its proper owner to end a curse. Blackmail, impending imprudent marriage, and Victorian manners add intrigue. - The Mystery of the Jewelled Moth
When Willow's adopted parents die in a car accident, an odd assortment of acquaintances come alongside her. She finds a new family, hope, and connection. - Counting by 7s
True-to-life characters with real-life issues (like the grandfather who leaves the grandmother after their 50th anniversary; like how an accident can affect your outlook; like how friends can build you up or tear you down). A beautiful, positive book. - Goodbye Stranger
What's the Winthrop Hopkins Female Academy to do when its goal is to groom marriage-minded gals…but there's nary a male to be found in the land? Things change when a young man with a broken leg hobbles into town. - A School for Brides
The headmistress and her brother were poisoned, rather inconveniently, at dinner on Sunday. Sure, there's a murderer on the loose, but that won't stop the girls of St. Etheldreda School from trying their hardest to keep everything "normal" in this creative msytery. - The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place
Ten strangers, each with a dark secret, are lured to a mansion on an island. Upon arrival, their host accuses each guest of murder. Unable to leave, the guests begins to share their darkest secrets. And then they begin to die, one by one. - And Then There Were None
When Theodora spills a bottle of rubbing alcohol on her late grandfather's painting, she discovers what seems to be an old Renaissance masterpiece underneath! There's just one problem: her grandfather was a security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and she worries the painting may be stolen. - Under the Egg
The four Tillerman children finally have a home at their grandmother's rundown farm on the Maryland shore. It's what Dicey has dreamed of for her three younger siblings, but after watching over the others for so long, it's hard to let go. She experiences the trials and pleasures of making a new life. - Dicey's Song
Etienne de Brabant is brokenhearted. His wife has died in childbirth, leaving him alone with an infant daughter he can't bear to name. Before he abandons her for king and court, he brings a second child to be raised alongside her, a boy whose identity he does not reveal. A Retelling of Cinderella. - Before Midnight
"Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?" When this peculiar ad appears in the newspaper, dozens of children enroll to take a series of mysterious, mind-bending tests. But in the end just four very special children will succeed. - The Mysterious Benedict Society
When an orphan girl comes to live in the desert country, her life is quiet and ordinary--until the night she is kidnapped by the Hillfolk King, who takes her deep into the desert. - The Blue Sword
An art-school student answers an ad for a job as a painter's assistant. In her duties of cleaning paintbrushes and answering the door, she becomes involved in the painter's mysterious affairs, as well of those of his downstairs neighbors. - The Tattooed Potato and Other Clues

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Aug. 12, 2020

Why I Use Sonlight in My Charlotte Mason Homeschool

By Harmony Harkema

When my husband and I were preparing for our wedding, we attended premarital counseling at the home of a friend and colleague who was also a pastor. What stands out most in my memory from that short period was this friend’s children: two girls and an infant boy. The girls, both of whom were school-age, impressed me with their knowledge of Scripture and literature. I remember having a long discourse with the oldest, who was maybe seven years old, about The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I don’t recall the details of our discussion, just that I was blown away by her command of the story at such a young age. She had read a wide range of books, all of high quality, and could talk about them at length.

As a book lover and former English teacher who had gone into publishing, I was deeply impressed, and I expressed this to my colleague’s wife. She explained that they homeschooled using the approach of someone called Charlotte Mason, using what she termed living books, a phrase I had never heard before, even with a decade of teaching literature under my belt.

At the time, I wasn’t familiar with any homeschooling philosophy, but my new friend gifted me with a book, a thin volume entitled, A Charlotte Mason Education. This little gem of a book unpacked for me all the basic elements of the Mason method, capturing my imagination.

From that moment on, I knew I wanted to homeschool using the Charlotte Mason approach of faith formation, living books, nature exploration, and “spreading the feast.”

Looking for Homeschool Curriculum

Several years later, when my firstborn was approaching school age, I began to look at Charlotte Mason curriculums. My only reservations were the booklists these programs offered. One program, with the goal of scheduling as many free resources as possible to help make it affordable (a worthy goal), only listed books that were available in the public domain, which meant there were no contemporary titles on the list. Another program offered mostly curated titles published under its program’s umbrella.

Where were the Newbery and Caldecott winners, I wondered, the books that had made deep inroads into my own heart as a child?
Where were the contemporary writers with their ability to draw children in by entering their own time, not just the distant past?

I wanted my daughter to read yesterday’s classics, yes, but I also wanted her to read today’s classics.

Then I found Sonlight.

A homeschooling friend mentioned she’d been using Sonlight since her oldest began homeschooling, and that oldest child is now a teen. She has nine other children now, all being educated with Sonlight. My friend’s description of Sonlight, with its biblical foundations, combination of classic and contemporary living books, and hands-on learning opportunities sounded like the mix I had been searching for.

Beloved Books

We’re now entering our sixth year of using Sonlight, and I have yet to be disappointed. In fact, as well-read as I am, Sarita’s book choices always go one better.

Our favorite books during any given year are often the titles I’ve never heard of before: Adventures with Waffles and No Children, No Pets, for example. My daughter also loves the living books Sarita chooses for history, geography, and science with their engaging text and abundant photos and illustrations, many of them from Usborne, a company whose books we love.

I’ve come to trust Sonlight’s booklists completely.

Christian Values

As a Christian parent, I’ve also learned I can trust Sonlight to make developmentally appropriate choices for my daughter. I pre-read everything, but only to be prepared to teach; I’m never worried that I’ll encounter a text that doesn’t match my daughter’s maturity level, whether it’s a Bible or devotional text, a read-aloud, or a history book.

On top of that, Sonlight has opened the doors for us to explore and understand other cultures and belief systems in a way that expands our hearts for Christ and his people throughout the world, encouraging us to grow in compassion and empathy.

Well-planned Lessons

Finally, I love that I can rely on Sonlight’s lesson plans to be well-designed, with neither too much nor too little laid out for us on any given day. As a working mom, I need a curriculum that is right-sized and doesn’t take endless hours to accomplish. Sonlight’s History / Bible / Literature programs are perfect in this way, leaving us enough time for the other subjects we want to include during our school week, like art, music, handicrafts, and time outdoors in nature—all priorities of a Charlotte Mason homeschool.

Every year, when it’s time to plan for our upcoming school year, I do the due diligence of looking at other curriculums—

what’s new,
what we haven’t tried,
what other homeschooling moms are talking about.

I always end up back at Sonlight with its focus on faith formation, living books, and hands-on learning.

See how to choose your curriculum in just three steps.

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Aug. 10, 2020

A Reluctant Homeschooler’s Story

By Sarita

the Holzmann family today

Think back to 30 years ago. Does your life now look like you thought it would then? If you're like me, that question might make you laugh. But praise God for opportunities to grow and serve in ways we would never have expected!

In the past, I wanted to be a children's librarian. But what I really wanted was to help children find good books to read. I believe God has fulfilled that desire.

And as I reflect on 30 joyful years of Sonlight, I can clearly see God's hand guiding me, even as He often changed my plans.

Our Hopes and Goals

In the past, John and I wanted to dedicate our lives to Christian missions. We just thought it would look completely different than it has. After we finished college and got married, John earned his M.Div. and served as an evangelism pastor for a while. Then we moved to Pasadena, California, to serve as stateside missionaries at the U.S. Center for World Mission (USCWM). This was a thrilling time in the field of missiology, as Dr. Ralph Winter developed the concept of unreached people groups and set out on the task of mapping out and reaching all such groups.

We were passionate about reaching the unreached. But we could never have predicted how that passion would unfold.

My family around 1989 when we started homeschooling.

I Did Not Want to Homeschool

While we served at the USCWM, we were also raising our children and trying to choose how to educate them. I simply did NOT want to homeschool. When my husband brought the idea up, I refused, "You aren't going to tie me down like that!"

Then John stayed with a wonderful homeschooling family during a business trip. Their family dynamics and innovative way of teaching their children really inspired him.

My Heart Started to Change

After much discussion and prayer, we began to see that this might be the answer we needed for our own children's education. By the fall of 1989, the Lord overruled my reluctance and gave me the great gift of teaching my children.

Initially thinking I would feel trapped or fail, I soon learned homeschooling offered freedom, joy, and precious moments with my children. I quickly grew to absolutely love homeschooling.

The Vision Expanded

Then God took our unexpected homeschool journey and used that to support the work of Christian missions in ways I could never have imagined.

When we started Sonlight in 1990, the second main reason missionaries returned home from the field was that they couldn't find good educational options for their children. Sonlight has helped meet that need. I am humbled to hear of how many missionaries use Sonlight in their homes.

And what's more, through the path that God opened for us, Sonlight has been able to donate significant funds to strategic Christian missions over the past 30 years. Far more than John and I ever could have done on our own. (If you're curious, you can read about the four organizations we support.) Praise God!

The Plans of God

And so I have not become a children's librarian.
My kids did not receive most of their education at private or public schools.
John and I have not continued on as staff at the U.S. Center for World Mission.
We have not become overseas missionaries ourselves.

But God has guided us on an incredible journey, and He is still guiding us now.

So, if you find yourself unexpectedly homeschooling, I’m praying that your story will mirror mine—that you will find yourself enjoying homeschooling, and falling deeper in love with your children. May this be a precious time in your family’s life. And may you say at the end of your time homeschooling, “I am so grateful God allowed me to homeschool my children and spend that time with them.”

Watch Sarita tell this story and provide more advice for parents being pushed or pulled unexpectedly into homeschooling.

Have you been on an adventure as well? Has God given you unexpected opportunities to grow and serve? I invite you to share your homeschool story with me and other moms using the hashtag #sonlightstories on social media. If you are just starting your homeschool journey, be sure to read through the advice given on the Sonlight blog, get encouragement through our Connections Summit by Sonlight, and contact our Sonlight Advisors for personal guidance.

As you serve in the trenches at home with your children, I am so grateful that I get to come alongside and help. I hope that you, too, come to experience the joy of homeschooling your children.

Tagged anniversary, family, history, Homeschooling, Sonlight | 6 Comments

Aug. 7, 2020

Homeschooling the Child Who Won’t Listen: Deschooling

By Jack Stewart

There is hardly a more frustrating parenting experience than asking my child to do something for the seventh time, in vain. Not only does it feel like a parenting failure, but it simply hurts my feelings. Seeing as we all want to move away from the antagonistic teacher-pupil dynamic, let’s plan how to create a more cooperative homeschool environment.

From compulsory tests that make a child feel thoroughly stupid, to the savage, demeaning humor of his peers, school puts all but the most self-assured children into defensive positions. They are so occupied with maintaining a sense of self, that initiating creative learning projects is the last thing on their mind.

Educating at home can erase many of these defensive behaviors. But it often takes a period of deschooling for the parent-child relationship to fully flower.

Reset Your Relationship

It’s a small wonder then that listening to a parent’s theory of column multiplication is a low priority. We must give time for the relationship to reset. If my children see me as a teacher who is employed to make sure they pass tests, I will be negotiated with more than listened to.

But I am not an employee, I am their parent, who would adore them even if they refused to learn a thing. Give enough time for trust in this to grow.

Allow a few months when you expect no formal work and they stop seeing everything as a test of their progress. A listening child can grow in these months.

Judgement-Free Learning

As your relationship stops stinking to them of their previously antagonistic teacher-to-child and peer-to-peer relationships, this is the perfect opportunity to allow certain skills to flourish. Don’t take it personally if they initially don’t seem to care. Just being exposed to these skills is doing more than it seems at this stage

Print out your household budget and talk about it.
Play strategy board games together.
Volunteer at church or other community projects together.
Read aloud while she/he works on a puzzle.

Don’t think of this as a new set of knowledge-tests but as a series of invitations into meaningful work. Once they sense your genuine respect for their competence as workers and learners, they will start considering you more as a research assistant than an exam invigilator.

Do Less

In the periods when my children are more belligerent, I notice myself compensating with more and stricter rules. This spiral of my grasping for more and more control results in their going to greater and greater measures to reject it.

Very seldom does the answer lie in more severe punishment.

When I was teaching math to my seven-year-old daughter daily, I started panicking when she was retaining almost nothing. Initially I thought she needed more time studying math, but it wasn’t working. I gave her the choice, and she decided to have no math at all.

I was very disappointed, but I focused on my younger son, who is naturally more interested. After a few months, my daughter wanted to get involved again. This time she was the researcher, and I was the assistant.

Don’t be afraid to take a break from the problem subjects.

Respectable Rules

Removing all boundaries will not work, but enforce few enough that when a rule is encountered, it is taken seriously. A command is more likely to be listened to when it is rare and well-reasoned.

This means they will often do things I am not comfortable with, but it is not appropriate for me to put my foot down. I can advise that they use a piece of cardboard under the page so that the markers don’t seep into the page below, but if they insist on it, we have to agree to disagree. Guilt-tripping is useless in this case. Children must feel accepted by me even when they are stubborn or irrational.

Healthy Belligerence

Belligerence is basically self-direction. It’s not something to be killed off; it’s something to be trained like a vine, growing in the right direction.

We want children who are belligerent about justice and truth. Belligerence doesn’t mean disobedience, but be assured that a dictatorship will grow a dissident.

The Listener Grows at Home

Know that the home is the best vine-trainer. The parent loves with a depth that no teacher can. Deep roots grow in this deep soil, regardless of the season. We can only open up the spaces in which the sun shines and give the vine time enough to grow there.

Just as the sun shines regardless of the stature of the plant, some things are worth saying even when our children never seem to listen to them.Eventually, a child who listens will bloom, even when it comes to formal work. But all we can do is provide the soil and sun. Usually that means doing less—taking away that which blocks the light.

Be slow to angry enforcement and quick to encourage the skills they love. They will trust you to direct them, and they will open to the sun above.

Tagged deschooling, parenting, reluctant, transition, troubleshooting | Leave a comment

Aug. 5, 2020

Can Parents Who Have ADHD Homeschool Their Children?

By Veronica Soto

When I visit homeschool blogs, I see parents who have it all together.

Some have great tips for how to fill out a planner. Those parents have confidence that once the planner is filled, it’s going to be fairly accurate all year and not need to be erased and revamped at least weekly. That’s not what my planner looks like.
Other blogs have beautifully coordinated activities they planned weeks in advance. While I do add a lot of extras and activities, I tend to always be playing catch-up and always plan more than I manage to accomplish. When it comes to extra projects, we tend to either not have the supplies on hand because I forgot to plan ahead, or I will forget about them until we are three weeks past the book they coordinate with.
There are parents who have a consistent weekly routine, where they tend to get the same things done at the same time every week. I, on the other hand, face dozens of hurdles that derail my plans on an almost minute-by-minute basis.

I have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). And homeschooling seemed insurmountable for me at first.

I had only one student my first year, and even then getting organized and staying on track seemed to be beyond what I could manage. There were always hundreds of things to do that seemed equally important. I always wanted to try every new thing and sample every new program, but I had very little motivation to finish any of them. I had to teach myself how to do things that come instinctively to others, such as being consistent, establishing a routine, and prioritizing.

Why Is Teaching with ADHD So Much Harder?

Teaching with ADHD is far more difficult than teaching without ADHD. This list of ways is long, but if it describes you, don’t lose hope. There are methods that can help you overcome.

The symptoms of ADHD seem to contradict best practices when it comes to teaching. Instead of being organized, disciplined, and a good master of time, people with ADHD tend to exhibit all the opposites.

Hyperactivity: Reading aloud and helping children with math problems is hard for a parent who always wants to be on the move since these tasks require staying in one place for an extended period of time.
Impulsivity: I have a hard time resisting buying more programs than we have time for, and then trying to do them all anyway. I also am constantly wanting to interrupt what we are doing to try something else or add something I forgot about.
Disorganization: As hard as I try to keep things organized, something always seems to be missing just about the time I am ready to start homeschooling. At the grocery store, I always seem to forget the one thing we need for our science projects. We’ve neglected entire subjects for weeks at a time due to my lack of organization.
Problems Prioritizing: Deciding what to do next (or even what to do first) is very difficult when everything seems important. Deciding what to leave out is even harder. What makes it more difficult is when the priorities change from day to day or minute to minute.
Difficulty Making Decisions: There are times I feel like every decision is a big decision. Whether to break now for a meal when my children are getting restless or keep on reading to the end of the chapter because I know it will be hard to come back to it later... Whether to do math first or reading first...I see hundreds of details to factor into making every decision. And each option seems almost equally important.
Poor Time-Management Skills: Planning can be an issue if I don’t allow adequate time for our activities. We are constantly going over and under our allotted times, with the majority taking longer than I planned for, meaning we run out of time to do it all. I also struggle with getting places on time, so I don’t sign us up for a lot of activities.
Difficulty Focusing: With six children constantly interrupting and asking questions, focusing becomes harder and harder as our day goes on. As the pressure to make decisions and stay on tasks builds, so do my headaches.
Struggle with Follow Through: For me, trying new things is exciting. Finishing them, however, does not often provide me with a sense of satisfaction. This means I am far more likely to try something new than to ever finish it.
Frequent Mood Swings: My brain is very busy, all day long. It is constantly going through hundreds of thoughts, all of which seem important because of the problems with prioritizing, and most thoughts lead to more thoughts.
Racing Thoughts: It wasn’t until I was almost 30 that I realized most people don’t think the way I do. Have you ever read the joke about getting older, where the person starts a task, such as going out to wash their car, but get sidetracked by the mail, the fridge, and watering the plants, and by the end of the day, they are worn out but have accomplished almost nothing? That’s a good description of how my brain thinks almost every minute of every day. I’m constantly bombarded by hundreds of thoughts at once, and each thought leads to another, until another homeschooling day has passed, and I’m barely halfway down the list. This constant barrage of thoughts interrupts the thoughts I’m currently having, and so I get easily distracted and forget to stay on task.

How Can I Make Teaching with ADHD Manageable (And Even Successful)

Because of my daily struggles with symptoms of ADHD, many might think I can’t enjoy homeschooling or I have a hard time teaching. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

While I do have my share of problems to overcome, I have, with the help of my husband, children, and friends, managed to develop some awesome coping techniques. In addition, homeschooling is actually one of my most peaceful times of day. When I use a well-laid out schedule like the one Sonlight provides, and have a great routine built up, I have fewer concerns, fewer racing thoughts, and am able to relax and enjoy my children (and myself) more.

Sonlight’s Instructor’s Guides have helped me so much, because much of what I needed is built right in. The schedule is laid out, so I don't have to decide what to do first. Each assignment is broken into small, manageable assignments to fit into a certain time frame. It is beautifully organized and has a variety of activities which balance my impulsivity. Because Bible and prayer are part of Sonlight’s plan, I can easily start off our sessions in the right mindset and keep going longer.

Here are tips to make counteract the symptoms of ADHD in your homeschool.

Hyperactivity: Build activity into your day. Schedule breaks as often as you need them. Incorporate high-activity exercises, such as vigorous cleaning, going for a walk, or playing with your children to break up longer periods of inactivity.
Impulsivity: Use your impulsivity to your advantage. Instead of interrupting your plan to do something impulsive, use finishing your day as a reward to do whatever impulsive project or activity you would like to try.
Disorganization: Instead of allowing my disorganization to run amok, I have taken to being overstocked whenever possible. I try to buy crayons and tape in bulk during the summer school supply sales and keep a healthy stock of printer paper and pipe cleaners on hand. If we do suddenly find ourselves needing a random supply, I quickly order it online so I don’t have to try to remember it on our next trip to the store. Also, when I am feeling behind and overwhelmed (and can’t seem to remember that I’m not really behind anyone except the imaginary picture of where I think I ought to be that’s in my head), I take a few days or a week off, and catch up so I can start fresh and feel more on-track.
Problems Prioritizing: Color-coding with markers and sticky notes helps me prioritize: very important things in red, fairly important things in purple, and so on.
I also like to use a master list to help me keep track of everything. It’s just one big list, and it’s a mess. There are things scribbled everywhere: bills to pay, stops to make, things I don’t want to forget six months from now, and more. Often, my list runs over several pages and can get very detailed. At the beginning of a day when I know I have a lot of time to get things done, I’ll highlight all the things I want to get done, and cross them off as I go.Every few days, I use an app on my phone (Due) and transfer over everything I want my phone to remind me about, or things I need to do more than once, so I don’t forget. When my list gets too messy to read, I make a new one with everything that isn’t crossed off yet.
Difficulty Making Decisions: I often have my children take turns making less important decisions for me. “What’s for lunch today, Child A?” “Should we take a break now, or keep going, Child B?”
If I have to make the decision myself, I might make a quick list and let and online random number generator pick for me. If I don’t like what it chose, then I know that’s not a decision I want to make, and try again with my shorter list. This reduces the number of actual decisions I have to make.
Poor Time-Management Skills: I would rather have more time left over than I thought I would than to constantly run out of time, so I tend to budget about twice as much time as I think I’ll need. I keep a small list of extra activities (typing, games, etc.), so if we do have extra time, I can just have someone choose something from the list.
Difficulty Focusing: I have worked hard with my children to reduce the number of distractions they provide. For example, if they have a question while I am reading, even if I am not reading to them, they know they simply have to raise their hand. I will point to them, and they can put their hand down. Then when I'm ready, I will let them ask their questions. I also frequently remind them that their question needs to be related to what I’m reading. If not, then it can wait. Many times I’ll see a hand up and ask, “Is this important?” and watch them slowly lower their hand and smile. They can write down questions if they don’t want to forget about it.
When working on long projects, I also like to use an app called Focus Keeper, which basically is just a ticking sound with breaks every 25 minutes. The sound helps me concentrate, and when my mind starts to wander, the ticking sound reminds me I am supposed to be working.
Struggles to Complete Tasks or Follow Through: I have found that a routine makes it easier to finish things. For example, I tend to dislike doing workbooks, so we lump all the workbooks for a single child together, and I’ll give them a set amount of time to work on them. When time is up, we are done for the day, and move on to other things. When we finish a workbook, I simply wait a few weeks, then add in the next level. We also don’t stick to the year-round schedule, so I never feel like I am on a deadline to finish things. We finish it when we are ready, and move on when we are ready. If I really don’t like a book or workbook, I drop it and pick up something else instead.
Frequent Mood Swings: I ask my children to tell me when I seem to be getting upset, and then go to my room. My room is a peaceful place, with purple blankets and walls, blackout curtains, low light, and a weighted blanket. I can just relax or pray and reset, and my children know not to bother me for at least 15 minutes. When I feel like my mood is restored, I come out and we start again. Not only is this good for my mood, but it also teaches my children healthy habits, and they like to give themselves time-outs in my room as well.
Racing Thoughts: Along with giving myself a time-out as I mentioned above, I have found that time for reflection and prayer really help. Also, keeping my master list available, so I can write down random thoughts I need to do later, helps keep me on track. My thoughts decrease in speed and intensity when I’m reading to my children, so Sonlight is a real blessing.

There are still areas of weakness I need to work on, but I feel I have overcome the greatest ones with these techniques. None of these practices came easily. Each were built up over time, through much trial and error.

But by using some of these techniques, you, too, can find homeschooling your children to be a peaceful and rewarding aspect of your lifestyle despite having adult ADHD.

See how Sonlight can keep you organized with Instructor's Guides. They make homeschooling open-and-go!

SEE THE GUIDES

Tagged ADHD, Homeschooling | 4 Comments

Aug. 3, 2020

10 Novels to Make Your Kids Laugh Out Loud

By Sonlight

All kids love to read funny books, but kids who are reluctant readers especially need stories that make them laugh out loud. Get in on the laugh with these 10 books!

Continue reading →

Tagged funny, Homeschooling, humor, kids, laugh, reading | 1 Comment

Jul. 31, 2020

The Simplest Way to Add US Elections to Your Homeschool Day

By Erika Evans

As a homeschool mom, the idea of sticking one more item on the to-do list is daunting. While the upcoming election is worth a top spot in your homeschool, there is so much information to be covered. Elections, campaigns, political parties — it’s a lot to comprehend even before you add on things like the Electoral College.

Fortunately, Sonlight’s US Election Lap Book Kit is perfect for hands-on kids who are interested in learning more about the American process of electing a president (and elections in general). This lap book gets the job done without lost sleep or never-ending Pinterest searches! Everything you need comes in a box and most of the 21 included projects can be completed within 20-30 minute increments.

Why Use a Lap Book to Learn about Elections?

Lap books break large, nebulous topics into digestible pieces. The small projects keep the information fresh and fun to learn. Here are a few more great reasons to use a lap book:

Keep kids' hands busy and minds focused.
Encourage reflection on the many aspects of presidential elections.
Provide opportunity for creative expression while learning.
Prompt review of covered material through assembly of the lap book.
Create a reference for continued future study.

How Do You Use the US Election Lap Book from Sonlight?

Each activity is paired with a short reading that explains the history or laws behind some aspect of elections.

SEE THE LAP BOOK KIT

Initial Assembly

The lap book file folder base has already been assembled!
You and/or your child create a pocket for the booklet containing the daily readings.
The templates are all pre-printed, labeled, in consecutive order, and ready to go.
Everything can be stored in the box; including projects that are in process.

Daily Projects

Each day or time you start a project you and/or your child will complete the same steps.

Read the selection for the day.
Cut out any moving parts or templates.
Color, design, or create as directed.
Attach the completed activity to the lap book base.

SEE THE LAP BOOK KIT

Final Day

After completing all the activities, there is a velcro closure provided to secure and close the lap book for future reference. The completed lap book fits on a bookshelf or back in the box.

What Are the Projects?

The 21 projects start simply with definitions before moving onto history critical to understanding the elections. The bulk of the activities review the process through which a candidate is chosen for United States president.

The final project offers a vocabulary review, which my kids turned into games. One used it to make a matching game and the other created a trivia game similar to Jeopardy.

3 Ways to Win with the Sonlight US Election Lap Book

This US Election Lap Book is fun! This is a perfect choice for families with hands-on learners and those looking to find a comprehensive but low-prep way to gear up for Election Day 2020.

1. Cool Movable & Interactive Parts

Every project results in a movable and interactive reminder about the reading for the day. Tabs, slides, brads, wheels, and flip cards make for a fun and engaging experience!

2. Room for Creativity

Space is provided for location-specific information such as your state seal and your state's number of electoral votes.

Students are given the opportunity to create. For instance, they can construct presidential campaigns and design I Voted buttons. Templates are provided for those feeling less creative.

3. Novel Hands-On Approach

We found that this hands-on crafting technique spiced up our typical homeschool routines and methods. Each project was different enough to inspire continued interest and generate enthusiasm.

ELECTION HEADQUARTERS

Add novelty to your homeschool and get your family excited about November’s presidential election! Visit Sonlight's Election Headquarters for this Lap Book Kit and more.

Tagged American history, civics, elections, government, hands-on, Homeschooling, lap book, unit studies, united states | Leave a comment