Tag Archives: critical thinking

Why Sonlight Doesn't Insulate Children from Non-Christian Ideas or Religions

I've noticed two overarching styles of preparing Christian students to engage with the world around them. One approach seems primarily inward-focused, seeking to keep children from non-Christian ideas and teaching them to defend their faith and know how to answer … Continue reading

Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why I’m Glad Sonlight Includes Hard Books

I’m the oldest in a family of seven children that has used Sonlight curriculum since the 90s. I've noticed that certain books have become legends of family lore. These are usually the harder books—the books that have challenged us, broken … Continue reading

Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The 3 Things You Need for Teaching Critical Thinking

If you have a baby and would like her to learn to speak English as she grows, what would you do? Would you go out and buy a vocabulary curriculum for her, start it at 6 months old, and trust … Continue reading

Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cultivating Big Picture Thinking (Versus Learning Rote Facts)

Some forms of education rely heavily on memorization. Think of that old rhyme, “In fourteen hundred ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” Columbus is important to history. If you know the date when he sailed, you have a good reference … Continue reading

Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

History, Worldviews, and Life

In a 1784 essay philosopher Immanuel Kant wrote, "Dare to know." At Sonlight we want children to know and understand ideas. That's one of the reasons we put together a new package called History 520: World History and Worldview Studies. … Continue reading

Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sonlight to me…

As I read what Jonelle, Judy and Karla wrote about Sonlight to me, I couldn't help nodding and grinning and thinking, “Yes, but there is so much more!” Sonlight was a miracle in a box to me. You see, I … Continue reading

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Two Views About Everything?

There's a great bit of dialogue in That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis. This is the third book in his so-called space trilogy, by the way, but can be read on its own. Here's how the dialogue goes, as found … Continue reading

Tagged , , , | 1 Comment