This week's Heart of the Matter meme asks for favorite curriculum or books. That's just so easy for me that I feel as if I'm cheating. We've used Sonlight since the beginning and have done every core up to Core 100 (that's 10 cores). Basically, nearly every book we've read during the past 8 years from a Sonlight core is our new favorite! This is the perfect curriculum for us, as a family that loves great literature and flexibility. We aren't strict adherents to the Sonlight schedule, but I enjoy having everything laid out for me, even as a suggestion.
This coming year Jesse (10th/11th grade) will be doing Core 400 (Civics/Government). I skipped up a bit because we thought it would be appropriate to do Government during an election year. I'll continue doing an adaptation of Cores 3&4 (American History) with my younger two (grades 6 and 2). Here's how (and why) we adapted American History last year.
Other favorites: First Language Lessons for 1st and 2nd grade. Love it, love it, love it. Easy Grammar for 5th and up. My kids have all loved Explode the Code and A Reason for Writing.
We've discarded shockingly little over the years, I think largely because I've maintained the "if it ain't broke" stance. I'm always attracted by other programs—Winter Promise, Our Father's World, Beautiful Feet, Mystery of History, for example. While I'm sure those are all excellent programs quite similar in philosophy to Sonlight, I've been perfectly happy with Sonlight and have quelled my occasional urge to try something else that comes with reading homeschooling blogs. When I get that itch, we break away from our regular curriculum and do a unit study (a few we've done: Apples, Titanic, Australia).
And speaking of the new year, I should probably go clean up the shelves from last year!
Thanks for the insight into your favorite curriculum! Thanks also for sharing your Pumpkin Party with me! What a great gathering of friends! Please tell me you do the carving outside??:-) Lori
ReplyDeleteSonlight is awesome! We use Easy Grammar too!
ReplyDeleteLoved reading all of your favorites and you definitely have the longevity and experience to back up your picks! Thanks for sharing!! (oh the appealing options out there, they all sound SO good!)
ReplyDeleteWe used Sonlight for the first time last year and really enjoyed it. I liked how it was all planned out for me! And Easy Grammar...I'm so nerdy I wanted my own workbook so I could do the exercises just for fun. :)
ReplyDeleteHey, so many hs moms use Sonlight. I have never even tried it in our many years. I kinda feel like maybe I have missed out. :-(
ReplyDeletehi there! love the new blog! i use easy grammar, too. we've kept our main curriculum, too-konos-all of our hs years so far. i did change math this year, though. tping w/ 1 hand-sorry! holly
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I have used Sonlight for History and I loved it!
ReplyDeleteOh yeah I hear you about the pull to other curriculums. I want to do sonlight even though everything in me knows that it wont work for a student who refuses to read!
ReplyDeleteTink did like Explode the Code but precious else, let me tell you. It can be frustrating to teach a child with processing disorders but we keep plugging on.
Your recommendations look awesome! We've never used Sonlight but I love how they incorporate so many wonderful books into their curriculum from the very beginning!
ReplyDeleteReading your blog makes me miss homeschooling. . . and then I realize that the path we're currently on is one God put us on.
ReplyDeleteI miss those days with Edison. Such precious times.
Sigh. I'll just come back here for visits when I get "home(school)sick" okay???
i love sonlight science! it's so cool that they send you EVERYTHING that you need for experiments. we've used it for about 5 years now. this year, however, my kids will get all their science at our co-op. i found oak meadow last year and really like it. there is a big emphasis on art and music in the younger grades. it's really so great that there are so many options for homeschoolers.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you've got it dialed in!! I do think you accomplish more when you find something you like and stick with it. I LOVE First Language Lessons, too.
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