Sonlight Homeschooling Blog

Aug. 27, 2018

6 Extension Activities for Kids Who Love My Father’s Dragon

My Father’s Dragon from History / Bible / Literature K is an engaging adventure through Wild Island. It's a favorite with my kids! Here are some easy extension activities you can do as you read through the book.

Does the book need extra activities? Certainly not. Reading and then discussing the topics outlined in your Instructor's Guide are plenty. But some families love crafty projects or hands-on activities tied to the themes of their Read-Alouds. If you are that kind of family, read on for fun extras to extend your experience with My Father's Dragon.

1. Make a Map

We recently made a relief map of Wild Island and Tangerina using air-dry clay and kiddy dough. Plastic animals represented the animals in the story and a dinosaur played the role of our dragon. The girls had great fun, and we ended with a three-dimensional visual to refer to throughout our Read-Aloud.

2. Plan a Trip

In the novel, Elmer plans a trip to rescue a baby dragon. Have your child plan for a real or imaginary trip by considering what to pack.

Will they need food?
Clothes?
A toothbrush?
How will they carry it all?

If you have a backpack or luggage available, they can try packing it to see how they would fit in the necessities and how hard it would be to carry.

3. Sample Citrus Fruits

On the island of Tangerina, Elmer is able to eat enough tangerines to fill him up. Take your cue from Elmer's meal and experiment with various citrus fruits. My girls enjoyed trying new fruits—everything from tangerines to key limes. If you have easy access to more unusual fruits, give those a try as well. Rambutan were surprisingly delicious although tamarind juice took a little getting used to.

4. Explore the Science Behind Brushing Your Teeth

Elmer packed a toothbrush for his trip to Wild Island. Children don’t always see the need to brush their teeth, but this science experiment will make it clear. You’ll need

5 cups or jars
5 eggs (possibly hard boiled to prevent cracking)
dark soda
coffee or tea (prepared)
vinegar
water
orange juice
toothbrush
toothpaste
paper towels

Place each egg in a cup and cover each with a different liquid, using water as your control. Record what type of liquid is in each cup, and have your child predict what will happen. You should notice the egg in vinegar begin bubbling right away.

The next day, check the eggs. Pull them out of the cups to compare them. See if any changed color or if the shell is partially dissolving. (You should notice the shell on all of them dissolving somewhat except the one in water.)

Return the vinegar egg and the egg in water back to their cups.

With the remaining three eggs, use a toothbrush and toothpaste to brush them. You should see that some (but not all) of the color will scrub off the darker colored eggs (especially if they are white). Compare the eggs to see which get the cleanest.

The next day, return to the egg in vinegar once all the shell has dissolved. You can take it out and have your children touch it. It should feel damp and squishy. It also will be somewhat larger than it was before. Place the egg on a paper towel, and you can see the liquid inside the egg start to soak into the paper towels. Your children can touch and play with this egg, but be prepared because if it breaks open, the inside may still contain raw, liquid yolk.

Once you have cleaned up everything, you can discuss what certain beverages do to egg shell and compare to how they affect teeth. Encourage your child to make connections between the eggs and the enamel on their teeth.

5. Play with a Magnifying Glass

Toward the end of the book, Elmer gives the monkeys magnifying glasses so they can see better to do their job. I simply handed each of my two youngest girls a magnifying glass and had them find three things to look at. Once they began, they kept trying to find more and more things to look at. Magnifying glasses are fun, and every homeschool family needs at least one on hand!

6. Read Sequels

My Father’s Dragon has two sequels, which your children will likely enjoy:

Elmer and the Dragon,
The Dragons of Blueland

They continue the story of Elmer and his dragon on more adventures and are a perfect extension to the first volume. My Father’s Dragon is also available on audiobook if your children would like to hear it again (and again).

*My Father's Dragon* is part of History / Bible / Literature K

To find out more about Sonlight's unmatched Read-Alouds, and our complete book-based homeschool programs, order a complimentary copy of your catalog today.

Tagged activities, add-ons, extension, extras, kindergarten, my father's dragon, reading | Leave a comment

Aug. 24, 2018

How to Make and Use a Loop Schedule for Homeschool

By Veronica Soto

Do you frequently run into days when you have more subjects on your to-do list than time in the day to teach it? Do you wish it were easier to carry things over to the next day instead of trying to cram it all in one? Would you like to spread your curriculum out over a longer time period or run a lighter schedule of many subjects during the summer? If so, loop scheduling may work for you.

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Tagged homeschool, schedules, scheduling | 3 Comments

Aug. 22, 2018

Letting Kids Learn Their Way: Even with Loud Music or Upside Down

By Bethany Weathersby

Several years ago, my son asked if he could listen to music while he did his math. He didn’t want soothing background to muffle other noises or even some upbeat classical tunes to keep him energized—either of which would have made sense to me. No, he wanted dance music, the kind he likes to sing along to.

Frustrated that he wouldn’t just buckle down and get his work done, I told him no, but that he could listen to his music as soon as he finished his math. He continued to periodically make this request over a few weeks’ time, and I continued to be annoyed.

Proving I’m Right

One day I decided it was time to prove my point, to show him once and for all how distracting that music would be for him. He was convinced it wouldn’t be, but I knew better.

I set a timer and let him listen for 20 minutes; he had to use earbuds so he wouldn’t disrupt his siblings. He cracked open his Horizons math workbook, and I showed him how much of the lesson I expected him to have done during that time—an amount I knew he could do without distractions.

Learning I’m Wrong

Twenty minutes later the timer sounded, and I discovered he’d done far more than I expected him to. Convinced it was a fluke, I set the timer again. I assumed that he had worked incredibly hard to tune out the music just to prove me wrong and earn the privilege of listening to his upbeat music.

Yet the same thing happened several more times over the course of a week. It turns out this particular kid does math better than I ever anticipated while listening to loud, fast, music with vocals.

Battles about dawdling ended, math got done sooner, and we were both happier.

Letting Kids Choose How and Where to Do Their Work

I always thought I was a flexible mom! We’ve never used desks for school and rarely use the dining table. Because I’m fully aware that there are different learning styles, I've always let my kids go wherever they prefer to do their school work. Here's how that plays out at our home:

Reading Dr. Seuss books on a blanket in the front yard while people walk, ride, and drive by.
Om-Kas-Toe, open on the living room floor with a kid’s head hanging off the seat of a chair to read it. Legs are stretched out over the back of the chair, right side up or upside down.
Someone reading Mara, Daughter of the Nile while sprawled out on the trampoline.
From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya in the car, read while stretched out on one’s stomach on a passenger seat that’s fully reclined.

Because, why not? There’s no harm in trying. And while I gave my kids this liberty to read at the spot of their choosing, I still had this objection to math with raucous music.

My son taught me I must not make assumptions about what’s best for each of my kids when it comes to getting their school work done.

Was there a possibility I was right—that an active kid who loves music would end up spending more time singing along and busting a move than doing math work?

Absolutely!

But there was also a possibility that something I had valid reason for believing would be impractical and unsuccessful would turn out to be exactly what he needed. I just had to be willing to give it a try. I'm so glad I did!

Moving Forward

How do I now respond to requests about school that I don’t think are ideal? Well, sometimes I pull rank and use my veto power. That’s life.

More often than not, though, I’ll let the kid give it a try. As long as they’re accomplishing their task in a timely manner, they may continue doing it their way.

To find out more about a curriculum that gives you loads of flexibility, order a complimentary Sonlight catalog today.

Tagged benefits of homeschooling, Homeschooling, learning, Learning Styles, music | Leave a comment

Aug. 17, 2018

6 Reasons to Use RightStart Math (Especially for Math Haters)

By Deana Wood

My son was struggling in math. We had been homeschooling for one whole year, and I could already see that he hated math. The curriculum we had been using was mostly workbook based and there were a lot of problems for each lesson. My son, who has dysgraphia, already hated picking up a pencil, and the added stress of an entire page of problems was more than he could bear. Tears flowed more and more often the further we got into the year. I tried marking out all the odd or even problems, but it didn’t help. He hated it, and he had prematurely decided that he was not good at math.

I knew I had to change something, but everything that I found seemed to be more of the same—more workbooks, more endless pages of problems. I knew that would never work. What would be the best homeschool math curriculum for him?

Then, I stumbled on a curriculum called RightStart Math. It was very light on pencil work but heavy on mental math and hands-on activities. I thought it just might work.

And it did!

Not only did it work, but my son went from hating math to believing he might be a math prodigy! It was such a relief to this mama’s worried heart. Seeing such a visible change right before my eyes was one of my greatest homeschool memories. I had been able to give him what he needed to soar. And it felt so good.

When I find something I love, I tell everyone I know, and I love Sonlight and RightStart Math. So when I found out that RightStart Math was going to be a math option for Sonlighters, I rejoiced!

Here is why we love RightStart Math curriculum. It's great for all kids, of course, but it really turned around my math hater's poor opinion of math.

1. RightStart Math is Hands-On

RightStart Math is a very hands-on math program. I think this was the selling point for my son. He was used to math being a pencil and paper time of the day, which caused him to dread it. So the first day when I pulled out the AL Abacus and no paper, he was pleasantly surprised.

When we played a card game, and I said, “Okay, we are finished with our math lesson today,” he was sold. Every lesson has an optional game which is a fantastic tool for teaching and reinforcing the concepts presented in the lessons. Later on, when worksheets began to show up in the lessons, he was not overwhelmed. It was just enough practice to do the job. No more, no less.

The manipulative kit that comes with the set is invaluable and you will end up using every piece in the set because almost every lesson in the book involves a manipulative of some sort. My kids have always enjoyed using the manipulative set even for fun outside of school hours.

2. RightStart Math is Visual

RightStart Math is a very visual program. In fact, the early lessons instruct you to be sure your child can show the number 5 on the AL Abacus without counting. The idea here is for the child to be able to see how and why math works. Another favorite tool of mine is the math balance which helps kids visualize the way equations balance. We have used it far beyond the early elementary years!

3. RightStart Math Has Heavy Emphasis on Mental Math

RightStart Math is heavily focused on mental math. Each lesson has a warm-up that consists of a handful of mental math problems. I was amazed to see how proficient my kids were at these little quizzes as time went on.

Remember my son who hated math? He quickly realized that he may not shine so brightly when it comes to writing out problems, but he glows with mental math. This math transformation made me a raving RightStart Math fan! Within a few years of starting RightStart Math, he was doing multi-digit multiplication and long division in his head.

4. RightStart Math is Logical

I’ll be honest, at first I had my reservations about how RightStart Math progresses. At times I was surprised by the order the concepts were taught—radically different from what and how I learned in grade school. But, I trusted the curriculum, and I quickly realized that it was actually a more logical way to learn the math! In fact, I wondered why I had never thought of presenting math in the progression that RightStart uses.

5. RightStart Math is Light on Paperwork

I’ve always struggled with giving my kids a seemingly endless page of math problems to do. When I saw that RightStart Math was light on the paperwork, I was so happy. Gone were the days of crying during math, and none of us missed those days at all! Don’t be concerned. There are work pages and tests, but the work pages are the perfect amount of practice. There is no busy work to be found anywhere in this curriculum.

Review is mostly oral at the beginning of each lesson, so you never have to worry about your children forgetting what they’ve learned. The tests are reasonable yet thorough. That brevity makes math more pleasant for my children, but it also helps me. It’s a cinch when I go to check my children’s work. I usually am able to take care of that task in just a few minutes, and my kids have automatic feedback on what they missed. Since they aren’t already burned out on math, they are willing to carefully correct their mistake.

6. RightStart Math Provides Family Time

Yes, I’m being totally serious. We love RightStart Math because it has provided us with tons of quality family time. The only complaint I’ve ever heard about RightStart Math is that it can be teacher intensive, and I suppose that is true to an extent. It does require the parent to go through the lesson with the child, but I would offer a different perspective. For my family, RightStart Math encouraged us to spend time together.

We spent hours each week drawing with the T-square and using the math balance. I found the lessons as interesting as my kids did. After lessons, we would all get together and play the card games. Most of the games can be played by just about any age, so math time quickly morphed into family game time. Instead of pulling out board games, my kids would grab the Basic Number card set and we would play math games. For them, it was just playing games with the family. For me, it was quality time with the added benefit of math practice. I cherish the time we’ve spent drawing geometric figures and learning new ways of thinking about numbers together. I’m thankful that RightStart Math gave me just that.

All my children have used RightStart Math now, and every one of them has reaped the benefits of this outstanding math curriculum. I recommend RightStart Math to every homeschool mom I meet because I believe that it is that good. So if your child struggles as a math hater, maybe RightStart Math would be a good fit for you like it was for us.

To find out more about Sonlight's book-based programs and math options, order a complimentary copy of your catalog today.

Tagged curriculum, Homeschooling, math, right start, struggles | 2 Comments

Aug. 15, 2018

Homeschooling an Asynchronous Child with Sonlight

By Gina Munsey

A one-size-fits-all approach rarely works for education. Even among a group of students with identical birthdays, you’d be hard-pressed to find two children who share precisely the same stages of development and readiness across all areas of study. Yet the traditional approach to education continues to assume students all learn at roughly the same speed in all subjects. As helpful as scope and sequence charts and grade-level guidelines are, children are intensely individual, and the fact is: no two children progress along exactly identical paths.

Some of this belief in same-age sameness arose out of institutional necessity as the school system sought to streamline the education of large groups of children. And as a result, we’ve all been conditioned to think in terms of being behind or ahead of grade level.

Not only are children different from each other in rates of development, but an individual child may not progress at the same rate across all subject areas. When this gap is considerably large, we call it asynchronous development. A child with asynchronous development is many ages at once; he or she is often significantly ahead of grade-level standards in one or more topics of study, yet considerably behind same-age peers in other areas.

While schools sometimes have loose systems in place to address variations in academic progress, rarely are they are able to adequately meet the needs of a child with asynchronous development.

Sonlighters Can Avoid Grade Level Constraints

As homeschoolers, though, we have the privilege of making curriculum decisions based on readiness and development first, and grade level second. We don’t need to find a way to educate thousands of children en masse, as efficiently as possible! Even the largest homeschool family is still a very small private school. We can attend to our children’s education with the most individualized care.

And we don’t need to settle on a single grade level across all subjects. Homeschooling an asynchronous child is one of the best ways to provide a customized education.

Sonlight Levels are Designed for Flexibility

At their very core, books are versatile and hold a wide range of appeal. A single book might be advertised as a middle-grade reading level, contain topics which delight younger children, yet hold enough complexity and nuances to captivate an adult reader. (Sonlight Read-Alouds really do capture the attention of everyone in the family.) So it only makes sense a literature-based education would be designed for flexibility.

Sonlight does designate a grade level for each History / Bible / Literature package, offering a helpful starting point when determining which set is perfect for your child. (Advisors can help with this, too.) But each Sonlight History / Bible / Literature level is also designed with a flexible span of ages in mind. This means each level can meet a wide range of needs and grades—even when that range is found in the one asynchronous child.

History / Bible / Literature Level A, for example, centers around beloved childhood topics—the suggested ages are five through seven—yet unlike the preschool and pre-kindergarten levels, it utilizes chapter books as read-alouds. These book choices

challenge an older child who is ready to dig deeper,
delight a younger child, and
appeal to an asynchronous child who is many ages at once.

“The fact that the [read-aloud] books were almost always...advertised by the publisher for...[older ages], but were still interesting to younger kids, was really helpful for us,” shares Sonlighter Melinda S.

And of course, to accompany the History / Bible / Literature Read-Alouds, Advisors can also help you mix and match appropriate Readers, Science, Language Arts, and Math from a wide range of levels when homeschooling an asynchronous child.

Sonlight Levels Allow for Oral Discussion, Not Written Worksheets

Some homeschool methods are heavy on writing in the early years, which can frustrate an eager child with emerging motor skills. Sonlighter Cynthia H. relates to this challenge, explaining, “I have one who is behind in writing, so letting him excel at History / Literature content without [requiring] a writing component was hard to find. I didn't want to hold him back because he couldn't complete the worksheets.”

Learners who do not have the stamina for lengthy writing—but are still ready to dive deeper—will find themselves at home in a Sonlight education, since parents and students are guided through oral discussion (not worksheets) in the early History / Bible / Literature levels. And even in Language Arts and Science, where written work is incorporated, Sonlight encourages parents to act as young children’s scribe. “The fact that much of the work was intended to be done orally was really good for my child who read avidly but struggled with pencil skills,” adds Melinda S. “She was five years ahead in reading and two years behind in physical things like handwriting.”

Sonlight recognizes the need for penmanship (practice with the goal of fluency), but doesn’t doesn’t let the physical act of writing get in the way of the learning, when an oral answer would suffice. (And, yes, kids using a Sonlight education still learn to research, edit, spell, and write.)

A Sonlight Education Allows Students to Physically Move

The oral elements extend beyond discussion, as well. Since Read-Alouds are the centerpiece, Sonlight also meets the needs of students who wouldn’t necessarily thrive if taxed with extensive textbook reading assignments. Many asynchronous kids, for example, have an almost-compulsive need to move. And some students can focus better with movement than without! History and Literature Read-Alouds provide an ideal solution for children who can process information better while listening and moving than while sitting still and focusing on interpreting the written word. In fact, allowing physical activity during read-alouds often results in more focused listening.

Whatever delightful quirkiness we observe in our children, homeschooling offers us the glorious freedom to create an environment where our children will thrive. And it doesn’t even matter if the academic progression is slower or faster than the conventionally-accepted (but rarely-challenged) school system schedule—or if school looks nothing like its desk-sitting, 8-o’clock-to-3-o’clock counterpart.

Sonlighting truly allows kids to learn at their own pace.

Ready to create a customized education for your exceptional child? Sonlight has homeschool consultants available to talk to you through your choices. Click here to schedule an appointment.

Tagged Asynchronous, curriculum, customizing, gifted, Sonlight, special needs | 1 Comment

Aug. 13, 2018

Motor Memory: The Missing Piece for Kids with Bad Handwriting

By Veronica Soto

When teaching kids manuscript and cursive handwriting, many homeschool parents forget about the importance of motor memory. Motor memory, simply put, is the ability to instantly recall and replicate specific motor movements. When you do something so many times that it becomes automatic, motor memory is at play.

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Tagged cursive, elementary, handwriting, Homeschooling, manuscript, tips | Leave a comment

Aug. 10, 2018

How Potty Training Nearly Derailed My Plan to Homeschool

By Erika Evans

Do you have young children and want to homeschool? Are you confident it’s the right decision, but have some doubts about being able to get it done? Me too, friend—all the time!

It’s embarrassing to admit now, but potty training almost derailed my homeschooling adventure before it even started. My eldest, at two years old, suddenly started taking off her soiled diapers and leaving them all over the house. My plans for relaxed potty training quickly bit the dust. I found myself elbow deep in natural, vinegar-based cleaner, desperate to rid my carpets of urine smell. I won’t traumatize you by telling you about what covered my newly procured light table, purchased specifically for inspiring preschool activities at home.

Standing next to a screaming, naked toddler who hates all your perfect plans for making potty training fun is disheartening for even the most stoic of moms. Perhaps potty training isn’t your Achilles heel; maybe it's car seat tantrums or lack of manners at church. Regardless, there comes a time in every mother’s life when our youngsters refuse to cooperate.

When Parenting is Hard, We Doubt Our Ability to Homeschool

If you are planning to homeschool, these episodes can be particularly terrifying. They can cast doubt on our ability to connect and relate with our kids. You might wonder if keeping them at home is really best for them. Worse yet, there isn’t anyone to really turn to for advice. You aren’t one hundred percent sure if the mom next to you at playgroup is planning to homeschool or if letting that information slip will turn you into a social pariah.

While you’re in the trenches, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and sink. Please know that overcoming obstacles like potty training and car seat tantrums can help forge a strong bond between you and your child. Navigating some of these early childhood challenges may even improve your homeschooling. Plus, the mom next to you at the playground just might turn out to be your biggest ally, regardless of how she chooses to educate her children. Reaching out can be worth the risk!

The Silver Lining in the Parenting Battles

Life with young kids is crazy-hard, but it does get better! Remember that wild toddler leaving unspeakables all over my home? She still hates my perfect plans. She still has to be absolutely ready and interested before she will give it her all. Individual attention and internal motivation are key. Getting her excited about her work and letting her go at her own pace make all the difference. Sure, we still have messes here and there, but now, I know it’s worth it!

My job as a homeschool mom is to help her find her interests and motivation. Sure, it’s a challenge, and sometimes I miscalculate. Yet, wow, when I get it right and watch her succeed, there isn’t a better feeling in all the world! Don’t get lost in diapers, car seats, and sippy cups. The rewards are coming!

You Can Do It! You Can Homeschool!

Potty training certainly won’t be your last hurdle. Parenting and homeschooling often test the most serene patience. Yet your early struggles aren’t for naught. They will help you to face disasters and disobedience with experience. You are gaining the tenacity to fight for yourself and your relationship with your child. You will be able to find solutions that work for your family.

So, moms of little ones, if potty training feels like the worst experience of your life or car seat drama has stolen your joy, hang in there! Don’t scratch homeschool before you even start! If you are truly called to homeschool and you believe that it is the right course for your family, it is!

Life with small children is just hard. Take a deep breath and know that you are not alone with your struggles. God gave you these kids to raise and love! He trusts you and it’s time to trust yourself. You are the right one to love and guide and teach your child!

Curious to see what a Sonlight education might look like for your family? Go to SmoothCourse to explore your options.

Tagged discouraged, homeschool, Homeschooling, tips, toddlers, troubleshooting | 2 Comments