We began our new school year Monday. I was really nervous about the start of a new year. I haven’t been nervous in years past. This will be our fourth year homeschooling. Last year was by far the hardest year I’ve encountered yet as a homeschool mom. I came to the conclusion that it was due to several factors—using a very teacher intensive curriculum with my oldest son (Five in a Row) and having two very, very busy, curious, get into everything under the sun as fast as you can blink your eyes little ones. Things sailed along smoothly with Hanna, thankfully.
There was no way I could face another year that I thought would be anywhere near as hard for me as last year and with the level of burnout I experienced. Around January I started looking for other curriculums to use. I knew I could not continue on with Five in a Row even though we all loved our time with it. It just involved too much for a mama like me with an all or nothing personality! I had looked at Sonlight several times since I began homeschool, but never heavily considered it, honestly, because of it’s cost. After lots of looking and lots of thinking, I finally decided to give Sonlight a try for all of the kids this year. I will say though, I did not purchase full Cores/packages. I am using our public library system as much as possible. I was able to get almost every book for Hanna (Core W) from our library, and I’ve already looked ahead to next year for her (Core 100) and see that I can get every single one from the library! So, do not let the high price hold you back from trying Sonlight before you check out your local library.
Here is our line up for the 2012-2013 school year:
Jack (age 4), Jesse (age 3)
- Sonlight P3/4
- Before Five in a Row and Preschool Packs around the web as I feel time and energy permit (for fun and ‘extras’).
- Lots of learning games, activities,, Kumon workbooks, etc.
Joe (age 7)
- Sonlight Core A
- Sonlight Language Arts 2
- Sonlight Science B
- Apologia Elementary Science books (all 6) as supplemental reading
- Living Books
- Wordly Wise 3000
- Teaching Textbooks Math 3
- Life of Fred Elementary series
Hanna (age 13)
- Sonlight Core W
- Advanced Winston Grammar
- Inspiration Software
- Life of Fred Beginning Algebra (with the home companion and practice books)
- Apologia Physical Science
- English from the Roots Up, Volume 2
- Typing (1st Semester), Computer/Keyboarding (2nd Semester)
- 3D Art at local Homeschool Academy
*We will fulfill art, PE, etc. through hands-on activities and classes within our community and homeschool co-op.
My goals for this upcoming school year have changed so much since we started homeschooling. What I want most from this upcoming year is for us to love learning together, read together everyday and enjoy living, laughing and learning together more than we ever have.
Our first week of school has gone very well. I feel like we’ve gotten off to a really good start. I’ve had time to spend with each of my children daily teaching them, reading along side them and I haven’t felt stretched too thin. So far I can see Sonlight being nothing but a blessing for us (I know it’s only the first week though!) and I am starting our year feeling very positive and with a renewed passion for homeschooling! I am so thankful for the wonderful week we have had!
Great list! I'm interested to see how you like Sonlight. We've never used them.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jenny! You know how I've felt this school year so I sure hope this is what I've been hoping it will be as far as being easier on me. It looks like it will be from all I see in the plans and work for the kids. Time will tell in a few weeks though :-). I'll definitely let you know!
DeleteYou are doing sonlight! I want to do that so much. I look forward to seeing how your children do with sonlight as I don't believe I've seen you post about it before right? Is this their first year with it? Hope you like it, and that your goals are accomplished!
ReplyDeleteYes, this will be our first year with Sonlight. I am trying to lighten my load on the prep and planning end and also free up some time for us to get out and about more. I think Sonlight will do both of these things while still making sure we are learning together and having fun in the process. I wanted a literature based program for sure and Sonlight is the only program I found that seemed to have all of these criteria. No program is perfect, I know that, but I do feel that this is as good as it gets! I'll post our school weeks as I always have once our new school year begins and let you know how we're liking it.
DeleteSounds like you have your school year well planned out!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary Anne! I hope so, time will tell :-). I hope you are having a very happy and fun summer. I know you are over the top excited to welcome your sweet baby girl soon. Sending you prayers for a delivery, baby and recovery!
DeleteWow! I was so surprised to see your list and that you had switched everyone to Sonlight. Michelle has really inspired me to switch to SL with her blog posts. I am SO tired of planning and what you said really spoke to me. I need to go pray. I thought I had our year all ready, but now I see that I might not. Someone did lend me the IG for P4/5 and I have started it with J-jo to see how he does. So far it's been fun. Now I want to get Core B for Bear. (It lines up best with Classical Conversations this year).
ReplyDeleteAs you know from our emails, I too am so tired and burned out with prep and planning! I hope we both have a school year that is way less involved on the teacher end, Julie! I think we both more than need it :-)!
Delete"It’s my hope that in choosing curriculums this year that are laid out for me I can give the time of myself that has been spent in planning and prep directly to my children instead."
ReplyDeleteYou spoke right to my heart with that! Thanks for being a confirmation of what I've been thinking and feeling.
You are very welcome, Abby! I pray you come to a decision for your new school year that you will feel at peace with and enjoy. I also send you prayers for a healthy pregnancy! Congratulations on your newest blessing!
DeleteHave a wonderful year, Susana! You make learning fun so effortlessly. Your kids are lucky to be taught at home by someone who passionately believes in her calling.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Natalie! You are so sweet. I sincerely appreciate your kind words. I hope Anna has a wonderful new school year too!
DeleteSo, I think we are going with Sonlight for sure now. Michelle let me know about a post you made on the Sonlight forums and I saw there you were considering Core B for Joe. What made you change your mind? We would go with Core B with Science A for Bear to make it fit better with CC (with which we are committed at this point). I am not sure what to do about language arts as she is reading the books on their 4/5 readers list and higher for fun. Hence why Michelle directed me to your post on the forum. Did you get him higher readers or did you end up sticking to LA and Readers 2?
ReplyDeleteI am not ready to start a formal history program just yet with Joe, Julie, so that was my reasoning in going with Core A vs. Core B. Next year I plan to do combined B+C.
DeleteAs far as the readers go, I did stick with LA 2 and Grade 2 readers. Joe's reading level is above his grade level, but he is writing on a grade 2 level and since assignments are based on their readers I thought it would be best to get grade level readers and just let his independent reading for fun be on his actual reading level.
I hope this helps. I'll be looking to see what you end up doing. I am very excited about Sonlight and our new school year!
Happy to hear you are off to a great start! ♥
ReplyDeleteI am excited to hear how sonlight goes for you. I wasn't aware you could do a cheaper version without the readers. I need to look at their catalog more closely. I am happy to know about the FIAR issues. As you know I am at about a 1 energy level compared to your 10, so if you can't hack FIAR planning load, then I definitely can't!! But I do like the literature based concept. I'm so happy you are ahead of us to try everything and report back. Ha ha!!! We did go with Singapore 1A. I'm going to see how it goes and get 1B when he's ready. Since we're only in kindergarten we may just do 1a this year and save 1b for 1st grade. It makes me worried that Gus will zoom ahead and make Reese feel frustrated. BUt we'll cross that bridge if we get to it.
ReplyDeleteYou have a great plan, it's all about soaking in the moments, isn't it! :) This is our first year, we are doing University Model schooling! and using A Beka books..am gonna have to check out the Sonlight books. any tips our first year?
ReplyDeleteGood luck in your new year, Susana. I can't believe it's year 4 for you - time surely flies fast!
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