Sonlight Homeschooling Blog

Jan. 31, 2018

6 Ways to Cultivate Interests and Raise a Well-rounded Child

I was half amused and half overwhelmed one day as my children were gathered around the lunch table with me.

My oldest son was chatting on continually about current signees for our favorite college basketball team.
My other son found an open spot and changed the subject abruptly to the latest animal article he read.
My seven-year old daughter jumped at a short pause in the conversation to tell me about the art piece she had been working on
And my youngest child chimed in at every opportunity to tell me about all the things she wants to climb.

It never ceases to amaze me how four children from the same family can be so dramatically different. God makes life so very interesting!

It’s a wonderful thing to know the individual gifts and interests of each of your children. It’s another thing altogether to cultivate those gifts and interests. It can be overwhelming for homeschool moms to think of these things on top of reading, writing, and arithmetic—not to mention breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

Homeschoolers don’t always have automatic easy access to art classes and basketball teams, so how do homeschool parents cultivate the interests and gifts of their children and raise well-rounded children? As always, a simple look outside the box will provide your child rich opportunities to grow.

1. Cultivate Interests by Bringing Experts To You

You might be surprised by the people in your community who would absolutely love to pour into a small group of interested children. For example, this year, my boys have been reading through the Usborne Human Body Book in Science F. I asked one of our nurse friends from church if he might be willing to share with us some about his work in the medical field. Not only was he willing, but one visit turned into a weekly biology lesson. It was such a fun, rich time that not only invested in an interest but also grew into a great relationship between my family and our friend.

Each Friday this past semester, my mother-in-law has visited to give a nutrition/cooking lesson. My kids have absolutely loved learning new recipes that they can make themselves, and I’ve noticed that they are all much more observant about their nutritional choices, oftentimes commenting, “Well, carrots are healthier than chips, so I’ll go with carrots.” It’s a win-win, and the shocking thing that I’ve heard over and over from our visiting experts? “I just love coming! It’s my favorite time of the week!”

2. Cultivate Interests by Outsourcing Lessons

Private or group lessons can be expensive, but as homeschoolers, we are no strangers to investing in our child’s education. My daughter began drawing recognizable people shapes when she was two years old. When others were scribbling away, my daughter was carefully drawing full portraits of her mommy and daddy. We knew early on that this was a gift that needed to be cultivated. We tried books and videos, but we struggled with consistency and often pushed it to the side. So we felt that the best option was to pay for lessons. Our little artist has been working with her teacher for several months now, and we are seeing fruit already from our investment. Her interest in art has only multiplied, and her skill level grows seemingly with every lesson.

If you are interested in lessons for your child, reach out in your community. Ask around in your church and social circles for recommendations for good teachers and for average rates so you’ll know what is an acceptable price to pay. Also, talk with your child often about their lessons. If they remain excited and enthusiastic about it, keep with it. If not, re-evaluate in a month or two to decide if it’s something worth continuing.

3. Cultivate Interests With Online Lessons

Sometimes, I am embarrassed to admit that I forget the vast opportunities lying at my fingertips via the internet. Just last night, my oldest daughter was watching me type on my laptop, and she announced that she wanted to learn to type like me. So, I stopped my work, switched over to my search engine, and simply typed free online typing lessons. I clicked on the first link, and within seconds, my daughter was learning to type, and doing quite well too! She worked all evening last night and woke up this morning ready for more!

Of course, it’s always a good idea to research the websites your children will be using, but there is literally a wealth of opportunities that your child can explore from your living room. Many of those opportunities are free, so always remember to explore your options online.

4. Cultivate Interests Through Community Opportunities

Although larger communities generally have more to offer, I have been delighted to learn all the opportunities that are available in my little town. We have participated in the community basketball and football leagues, and we’ve taken advantage of art and theater camps. We keep an eye on the city’s Facebook page and subscribe to our local newspaper to keep up on all the upcoming classes and sign ups. One of the great things about community opportunities is that they are usually less expensive than private lessons.

5. Cultivate Interests With Dual Enrollment

While this option is not available in all states, it does seem to be gaining ground in our country. Just recently, my state passed the Dual Enrollment law. This law allows homeschoolers to enroll in one or more classes in public or private schools while still retaining the homeschool status. I think this can be a great way for homeschoolers to explore areas of interest. If you’re interested, visit your local school to see if this program is available in your area.

6. Cultivate Interests With Books

Never underestimate the power of books. When I was in high school, I decided that I wanted to learn how to knit, so I went to my local library and checked out a beginner’s book on knitting. I worked through that book, and then went back to check out another book to challenge me even more. That free book turned into a decade and a half of knitting and crocheting that brings me and others that receive my creations so much joy (and warmth!).

One of my sons was interested in survival skills a few years ago, so of course, I bought him a book on survival skills. Soon, he was tying knots and making lean-to shelters from fallen branches. Books can be life-changing.

Of course, your local library is a great resource for this. But you will also want to check out Sonlight’s Elective selections. From art and music to physical education and public speaking, Sonlight has homeschoolers covered, and you and I both know that if it’s from Sonlight, we can trust that it’s an excellent resource!

Life stays pretty busy around my house between basketball practices, art lessons, and gymnastics. While we do try to keep to the one-thing-per-kid-at-a-time rule and are careful to protect our family time, dinners do occasionally have to be eaten early or late, and we probably play taxi cab driver more often than we would like, but we view it as an investment in our children’s futures. While they likely won’t go on to be NBA stars, it gives them much needed physical conditioning and life skills.

But don’t worry Mom and Dad! You don’t have to have crazy good basketball skills! Getting your child the instruction they need to explore their gifts and interests doesn’t have to be difficult. Many times, all you need to do is take advantage of the people and resources already in your community and your home.

Enrich your homeschool experience with Sonlight’s Electives.

Tagged children, electives, extracurricular, Homeschooling, interests | Leave a comment

Jan. 29, 2018

Transition to College with Advanced Placement in High School

By Amber Smith

Our oldest daughter worked at an accelerated pace through Sonlight's upper level courses and had finished Sonlight 400 by age fifteen. Because of her advanced writing skills, we knew she was ready for college level coursework. But at the tender age of just 15, she was not ready for college living. When advanced teens are in this in-between stage, Advanced Placement (AP) courses are a great way bridge the transition between homeschooling high school and college.

Two Reasons to Choose an AP Course for Your High Schooler

Through AP preparation courses from Sonlight*, my daughter maximized her final year of homeschooling and also earned college credit. Seeing her succeed in the courses assured me that she was ready for college level work, and we had the college credits to prove it!

My daughter took British Literature and Psychology, but Sonlight offers AP prep courses in Biology, Economics, and Chemistry as well. Sonlight’s AP prep courses are each 36 weeks long, giving plenty of time to cover all of the material. We added several other classes and electives to round out a full year of high school with college credit.

Taking an Advanced Placement course will yield a higher GPA and can possibly mean transferable college credit—both of which set your student’s transcript apart from their peers.

1. Earn a Higher GPA on the High School Transcript

Advanced Placement courses cover the material that would be taught in a first year college course. If your student earns an A letter grade, you may give it more value than an A earned for regular high school level coursework, for example, 5 points for an A versus 4 points in a typical class or 4.5 in an honors class. The higher points mean a significant increase in the GPA on your student’s high school transcript.

If your child is thinking about attending college in the future, this GPA boost can set them apart as a strong candidate before an admissions board. We have already seen the benefit of adding AP courses. Our daughter has been offered several academic scholarship awards as well as a merit scholarship of over $14,000 from the colleges where she has applied.

2. Earn College Credit During High School

There is more that an AP course has to offer your student beyond a strong high school GPA, namely college credit. All of the hard work involved in an AP Course is really a study aid to help your student prepare for the final AP test.

To earn college credit your student will need to take the AP test in May following the completion of their course. Each test is scored on a scale of 1 to 5. Earning a score of 3 is the equivalent of a first semester college course which is three college credits. Earning a 4 or 5 merits the equivalent of a full year college course. These are earned college credits, so for example, earning a 4 on the AP test for Psychology will earn six college credits to transfer to the school my daughter will later attend.

How Advanced Placement Is Saving Us Money

AP credits earned by taking the final test transfer to nearly every school and are in prerequisite or required subject areas. Earning theses credits means taking fewer first year courses in college.

The college where our daughter will attend next fall gives college credit for AP scores of three and up. In our case of two English tests and one in Psychology, passing with scores of 4 could earn my daughter twelve college credits while still in high school. That is one full semester of college for the cost of three AP tests—just under $300. The average college credit hour is $594 each, so this savings can be significant.

To get detailed information about the 30 subjects available and details about the AP tests check out apstudent.collegeboard.org. I have found this site extremely helpful for college planning, updates, and timelines. For tests each year, homeschoolers need to contact their local district or AP services by March 1 for a list of schools where a test can be arranged.

Help Your Teen Prepare for The Future with Advanced Placement

AP courses are a great way to continue to educate an advanced student at home while simultaneously earning college credit. With the AP course work my daughter has completed with Sonlight, I feel confident that she is ready for college level course work next year.

With hard work, good grades, and AP credits on her transcript, our homeschool student has earned significant merit scholarships from the colleges she has applied to. These will cover the majority of her tuition for all four years of school.

You can help your kids earn freedom from college debt while they earn their degree. This is the best graduation gift I can give my kids—an open path to the future they choose, without the burden of years of debt.

(*Note: Advanced Placement, Advanced Placement Program, and AP are registered trademarks of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, these products.)

Educating high schoolers? Get your free guide for Homeschool High School Transcripts.

Tagged college, college entrance, high school, homeschool | Leave a comment

Jan. 26, 2018

The Joy of Revisiting Childhood by Reading Aloud to My Kids

By MJ Sherwood

Revisiting childhood can happen in an instant—just glancing at the cover of a book can draw you back to a moment in time and evoke strong feelings whether heartwarming or heartbreaking. My first memory of my mom reading aloud to me was the unfortunate summer that my siblings and I caught chicken pox. My poor mom was stuck inside most of the summer, caring for us and keeping us from passing the sickness to our friends. She picked up one of her childhood favorites—a Nancy Drew novel—and suddenly we were solving mysteries instead of wallowing in our pain. To this day, I still get warm, fuzzy feelings inside when I see those yellow and blue Nancy Drew hardback covers, instantly bringing me back to that time.

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Tagged books, childhood, family bonding, memories, parenting, reading, reading aloud, wrad | Leave a comment

Jan. 24, 2018

4 Reasons Colleges Love Homeschoolers

By Gina Munsey

One month into my freshman year of college, my math professor asked me to stay after class. “Were you homeschooled?” he asked. My face flushed, certain I’d somehow been outed as a dysfunctional outcast. (Pervasive stereotypes can affect even the most confident homeschool grads.) I nodded nervously.

“I thought so!” he replied enthusiastically. “I can always tell. I love homeschooled students. They’re always so engaged, and they actually turn in their work!”

I heard this same refrain over and over throughout my university experience—professors love homeschoolers. Students educated at home consistently demonstrated greater enthusiasm toward learning, my instructors told me, and were much more proficient in writing than their traditionally educated peers. Yet even today, although homeschooling has been mainstream for quite some time, many parents remain concerned about the ability of homeschool students to succeed in higher education. I still hear this question all the time: “What about college?”

Both my husband and I were homeschooled from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, and we both went on to receive four-year degrees in traditional university settings. Neither of us found the transition from homeschooling to college particularly traumatic. Our home education prepared us extremely well for the college environment, since we had already

learned to study on our own,
become accustomed to structure and deadlines,
written countless papers, and
been researching information independently for years.

In most homeschool families, the focus is on learning, not just school. This gives home-educated students an advantage in college. What’s the difference between learning and school? Learning is a lifestyle, while school is something you have to get through. This emphasis on learning, and other traits many homeschool graduates have in common, makes homeschool students ideally prepared for the college classroom.

1. Homeschooled Students Have Excellent Independent Study Skills

For homeschoolers, there’s no way to sit through a class period without actually doing work. The work itself is the class. When the bell strikes eight, you can’t count on thirty other kids to flip open textbooks and begin the discussion without your active contribution. You have to actually begin doing the problems yourself. If you do not participate, math class (or literature analysis, or biology lab, or any other subject) simply does not proceed. Homeschooled kids enter college already knowing how to dive into individual assignments and work through them independently.

2. Homeschooled Students are Self-Disciplined and Self-Motivated

As a homeschooled kid, I quickly realized the advantages of being self-motivated. If I could

block out distractions,
focus, and
work quickly and efficiently,

I could complete a fifty-minute lesson in twenty minutes—and gain a half hour of free time to pursue my own talents and interests. In a traditional school settings, such motivation is rarely rewarded, since every student is required to stay in the classroom until the bell rings, regardless of progress.

Rather than expecting to be spoon-fed, or relying on the hard work of those around them, homeschool students enter college already accustomed to the idea of taking charge of their educational progress. And of course, discipline and motivation aren't just academic assets—they are essential when it comes to succeeding in the real world workforce.

3. Homeschool Students View Learning as Collaborative, not Us Versus Them

When I was in college, I often asked my professors questions during open office hours. Why not? Instructors, after all, are there for the students, available to offer guidance, give research pointers, and award extra credit.

Because these meetings were such a valuable resource—especially in understanding exactly what was required to succeed in the class—the reluctance of my peers to take advantage of open office hours struck me as particularly odd.

But when you think about the difference between traditional education and home education, their reluctance makes sense. In a traditional school setting, the majority of a student’s time is spent alongside same-age peers. Homeschooled students, on the other hand, regularly interact with a wide range of ages. (Inter-age learning, of course, more closely mimics the real world. How many corporate offices are filled with only twenty-three-year-old workers, whose birthdays fall before the first of September?)

Because of this intergenerational advantage, homeschool students tend to enter college without the adults vs. children or teachers vs. students mentality. Homeschool kids view learning as collaborative, rather than oppositional. So because they are not intimidated by adults, homeschool graduates are much more likely to

take full advantage of professors’ standing office hours,
ask for help, and
seek clarification.

4. Homeschooled Students Have Time to Develop Extracurricular Interests

It’s no secret college admissions departments look for more than academic prowess. For a long time, universities have been very clear about their preference for well-rounded applicants—those who have cultivated talents and interests beyond classroom success.

One of the advantages of homeschooling lie in its inherently time-efficient nature. Homeschooled kids simply have more time to pursue personal areas of interest. Traditionally-schooled students may be just as passionate—about coding or invasive species or medical technology—but find themselves limited by time. Homeschoolers, on the other hand, are not constrained to evenings and weekends, and have the liberty to pursue extensive research projects and unique job opportunities before college even begins.

And it’s not just the admissions officers who are happy about this. This drive, authenticity, and experience outside the classroom makes homeschool kids the ideal candidates to

pursue collegiate internships,
go after research grants, and
take advantage of other credit-earning independent study opportunities.

But in the end, maybe professors love curious, driven homeschool kids for reasons which go beyond academics. Because when I stop to think about it, what’s served me best in my real world life has less to do with college coursework, and more to do with why colleges love homeschooled kids in the first place: self-discipline, diligence, and the enormous importance of tenacity and perseverance.

Educating high schoolers? Get your free guide for Homeschool High School Transcripts.

Tagged college, high school, homeschool | 1 Comment

Jan. 22, 2018

If Learning Style is a Myth, Let's Homeschool to Preferences

By Deana Wood

There are many different schools of thought on how to categorize learning styles. Discover how your child's learning style or preference can impact how you approach homeschooling.

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Tagged Homeschooling, Learning Styles, teaching | 1 Comment

Jan. 19, 2018

The Surprising Ways Homeschooling Can Bully-proof Your Kids

By Sarita

A few people may tell you bullying is just a rite of passage to toughen kids up. The jock, the nerd, the popular crowd, the bully ... the stereotypes of school scenes are so familiar to us, it can be easy to overlook the long term effects of bullying on mental health. According to this study, kids who are bullied are more likely to experience problems with depression later in life, and one study even cited negative effects that surpassed those who experienced domestic abuse. And yet, almost one in three children experience bullying on a regular basis. What's a parent to do?

Will homeschooling prevent bullying?

Many parents initially choose homeschooling to remove their children from a bullying situation and, of course, there is much value in helping a child exit a negative environment. However, I think we should be careful not to fall into the ditch on the other side of the road and assume that because we homeschool our children, we can totally protect them from every pain and conflict life may offer. We live in a fallen world. It's likely our kids, homeschooled or not, will meet up with injustice at some point in their lives, whether that's on the playground or in the workplace.

So if we can't guarantee a perfect bubble for our kids, what's the point in bringing them home? Just how does homeschooling help our kids with bullying? I believe the answer lies less in what situations we remove them from and more in what we instill into their lives.

True confidence shatters a bully's power.

I believe one of the greatest gifts of homeschooling is that we get to be the primary voice in our children's lives .

If someone is going to spend seven hours a day giving your child messages about who they are and what's important, who would you prefer that to be? I'll never regret a moment John and I invested in our children.

When a child develops a healthy sense of worth and identity, their basic beliefs about themselves are not subject to the whims of their peers. We can help give them a resilience that comes from knowing who they are. We can train them to be the kind of outward-looking people who help and praise others and can stand up to tyranny in all its forms with love and courage.

In The Hundred Dresses, one of the main characters has just come through a long season of serving as a bystander while her friends bullied a fellow classmate. Near the end of the book Maddie "reached an important conclusion: she was never going to stand by and say nothing again."

As we read great literature and imbue confidence in our kids to do what's right, we can raise children who not only know how to deflect bullies, but who have the courage to stand up to them in love.

Four keys to home-grown confidence

We have an opportunity in our homeschool each day to do four things to give our children real confidence (the kind that denies bullies power):

1. Speak life into your kids

When the whispers of "the mean girls" are what your child hears day in and day out, those voices can be so loud it's hard to hear the message of truth. You have an opportunity to create a safe place where life-giving words are spoken each day. In our family, we had a rule: "No put downs." This rule was in place even for children who came into our home for playdates and I honestly think even the visitors felt a sense of relief that we were all committed to build one another up.

2. Help them see themselves as God sees them

When we are speaking life into our kids, we don't want to offer flattery, but truth. As we walk our children through Scripture, we help them gain an appropriate sense of self. We help them see their immense value in Him, and yet recognize that the only good in us is not our own, but a gift from God and a result of His grace.

3. Create a strong family identity

Creating a strong family identity is one of the key components of healthy families. It gives kids an important sense of belonging. The bonds we form as a family make a peer group's opinion slightly less weighty. When kids have a strong attachment to parents and siblings and can identify with their family as a team ("This is what we Holzmanns do."), they are much less likely to feel their lives depend on their peer group's approval. Homeschooling gives us wonderful opportunities for establishing this closeness and deepening our family traditions.

4. Give them skills

Learning to perform certain skills well and then receiving positive feedback on that work is a huge confidence builder. I encouraged each of our children to learn to swim well, play an instrument, and practice judo. Unlike empty praise or a participation trophy for showing up, these skill-building activities helped our kids to enjoy real accomplishment. As homeschooling families, we can help our children identify their gifts and develop tangible skills that will grow their confidence by leaps and bounds. Whether that is playing in a band or encouraging others, we can help our children tap into the strengths God has gifted them.

Tagged anti-bullying, bullying, Homeschooling | 2 Comments

Jan. 15, 2018

Four Things Not to Do When Your Homeschool Hits a Snag

By Sarita

A fresh start is a wonderful feeling. I enjoy thinking about goals and new habits at the beginning of a new year. But what happens when you're halfway through the year and you feel like you are behind, or something is just not working?

When you hit a homeschool snag, it's a great time to evaluate where you are, give yourself some grace, and think about anything you might want to adjust for the second half of the year. If something didn't work for you, it's not a fail, it's a step in the process of learning to meet your kids' needs.

When I first started homeschooling, we were about two years in when my children took standardized tests. I was pleased that the kids did really well and were obviously learning, but I discovered they were all terrible spellers! (I had thought they might just naturally absorb good spelling through our phonics studies.) Rather than get discouraged, I took note that we needed to add formal spelling instruction, and we moved forward. They all spell just fine now!

So when you hit a snag in your homeschool, here are four things not to do.

1. Don't Panic

It's highly probable that this homeschool snag is something you can solve with a practical solution. It's also possible it's simply a temporary season, or even less of a big deal than it seems right now.

If it is a big deal, panic won't help anyway. Your children need to feel secure that you are enjoying the learning process with them and that you have confidence that they can learn. Stay calm; you will get there!

It's usually helpful to do research, find out more about what's common for your child's developmental age, tap into different approaches to learning styles, and talk to parents who have raised a variety of personalities over the years.

Remember, this is your homeschool, and for the most part, you don't have to succumb to outside pressures when it comes to doing what is best for your child. Stay flexible. Look for ways to make learning happen and let the timelines take a back seat if needed.

2. Don't Take it Personally

The worst thing you can do is to take something your child is struggling with and make it a symbol of personal failure. Just because your child doesn't automatically grasp something doesn't mean you aren't a great teacher or a good parent. Be solutions-oriented and look for a different way of helping them thrive.

For several years I often felt like I failed at educating our children while managing our home and squeezing in some quality time with each child. Sonlight was literally an answer to our prayers. Our first year of using Sonlight Curriculum was the first time we ever completed a full school year without switching to something else halfway through. Sonlight has lightened my load, helped me feel like a success, and brought joy back into our homeschooling journey. —Shannon H. of Port Arthur, TX

3. Don't Give Up

You care about your children more than anyone else in the world. When you take the time to figure out how to help them learn best, you are giving them a lifelong gift. Education is not a race. Whatever your child's strengths or weaknesses, you are looking to make progress in ways that mean success for your child. This is worth it.

No one is going to ask your child in a job interview what age he was when he learned to read. An employer simply needs to know that he can read. Therefore, don't sweat your milestone timelines too much. Use them as general helps in shaping goals and then adapt to your children's needs.

4. Don't Go it Alone

One of the best ways to respond to snags in our homeschool efforts is to talk it out with someone who understands. I encourage you to first turn to your Creator who knows you and your children inside and out. Pull in your spouse to share both the victories and the struggles you encounter. And connect to community, whether that is in your neighborhood or your favorite homeschool Facebook group. The Sonlight Forums offer a wealth of perspective from moms who have journeyed through more scenarios than you can imagine and it's likely you can find someone who understands or who would be happy to encourage and pray for you.

May you enjoy a new year of learning side by side with your kids. I am confident you can look back on this season–both the fun times and the snags–and see how God was working in and through your family to draw you closer together and closer to Him.

Tagged homeschool, problems, snag, solutions | Leave a comment