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Sonlight's Core 300....questions


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I am starting to check into what to use for my son for 11th grade starting fall of 2010. I have looked at Sonlight's Core 300 program online and was wondering if anyone here is or has used this. What did you like or not like about the program? Would you use it again? How is the Language Arts?

Did you need to supplement the LA?

 

Thanks,

Gloria

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I will not attempt any more of SL's high school Cores. They don't give me what I need. If I still need to buy Cliff's Notes or Spark Notes for every book I want to discuss, then there isn't much point in the instructor guide.

 

I'm using the newly revised Core 300 with my oldest this year. There are still too many lower level books. The history is choppy. The LA section doesn't come close to giving me what I need. For a few of the books, the reader guide is helpful, but not for most of them.

 

I've been a SL user for 12 years. I like their lower levels. I just don't think their high school Cores live up to the earlier levels. The LA guide schedules writing assignments to be due when the student isn't even halfway through the book the assignment is about. There is very little guidance for how to do the assignments.

 

I'm using Windows to the World to teach my dd how to do literary analysis because SL doesn't teach it. They assign literary analysis papers, but don't teach how to actually do it. I'm also going to sign my 16yo up for Time4Writing in January so she can get feedback from somebody other than me.

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Those are also my sentiments toward SL Core 200.

Sorry to say because Sonlight is just an incredible company and their lower grade resources and offerings look wonderful.

 

I did a trial for 9 weeks once, then tried again a few months later and still never felt as though I had enough to teach with.

 

I'm not a hand over the reigns sort of homeschool mom though. We also came from a very fast paced, teacher supported Tapestry of Grace background.

 

For kids with other interests or moms who don't want to focus so heavily on history and lit it could be perfect. The SL'ers on their boards think it's the best.

To each his own...

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I will not attempt any more of SL's high school Cores. They don't give me what I need. If I still need to buy Cliff's Notes or Spark Notes for every book I want to discuss, then there isn't much point in the instructor guide.

 

I'm using the newly revised Core 300 with my oldest this year. There are still too many lower level books. The history is choppy. The LA section doesn't come close to giving me what I need. For a few of the books, the reader guide is helpful, but not for most of them.

 

I've been a SL user for 12 years. I like their lower levels. I just don't think their high school Cores live up to the earlier levels. The LA guide schedules writing assignments to be due when the student isn't even halfway through the book the assignment is about. There is very little guidance for how to do the assignments.

 

I'm using Windows to the World to teach my dd how to do literary analysis because SL doesn't teach it. They assign literary analysis papers, but don't teach how to actually do it. I'm also going to sign my 16yo up for Time4Writing in January so she can get feedback from somebody other than me.

 

Thank you for sharing this. These are exactly the things I worry about with SL. We are currently using Cores 1/2 and 5, taking a year and a half for Core 5 and 2 years for 1/2. in the Spring, my dd 13 is going to take an online lit course with Lukeion because I just don't know if I am ready to tackle another core. We'd contemplated doing the online course in Spring and then starting Core 100 in the fall, but I noticed that there are just so many low level books. Lots of good ones but lots of low level ones, too. Did you use Core 100, and, if so, what did you think?

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I did Core 100 with my oldest for 9th grade, but I dropped all the lower level books (that was a large percentage of them). I also added in more high school level books.

 

For my middle dd, I had her do the first half of Core 100 in 8th grade, but I have her using Oak Meadow's American History for 9th grade. I'm still adding in literature, but most of it isn't from Core 100.

 

I think Core 100 is fine for middle school, but I don't like it for high school.

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I did Core 100 with my oldest for 9th grade, but I dropped all the lower level books (that was a large percentage of them). I also added in more high school level books.

 

For my middle dd, I had her do the first half of Core 100 in 8th grade, but I have her using Oak Meadow's American History for 9th grade. I'm still adding in literature, but most of it isn't from Core 100.

 

I think Core 100 is fine for middle school, but I don't like it for high school.

 

Thanks for the reply, Angie!

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We are doing Core 100 for 9th grade (which I am selling as soon as I have enough posts on this board :D). I wouldn't consider this Core high school level for my son. I can't speak for others, so....

 

We have added Notgrass which is going very well. I love the writing assignments and the American Voices is wonderful.

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I've been a SL user for 12 years. I like their lower levels. I just don't think their high school Cores live up to the earlier levels. The LA guide schedules writing assignments to be due when the student isn't even halfway through the book the assignment is about. There is very little guidance for how to do the assignments.

 

 

I agree, Angie. I love Sonlight for elementary/middle school. I know there are quite a few of us who will be pulling away (or already have) from Sonlight for high school. Another issue is that they do not offer an Ancient's program for high school, which was a concern of many as I read on their forum recently.

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I am doing core 100 with a 7th grader this year and have loved it. I think it would be weak for high school. You could add to it and fill it out and be fine, but the level has been perfect for 7th grade.

 

If I use it for 8th grade, I will have a dd 13 using it who will turn 14 in the first few months of fall--she'll be an older 8th grader. I see your child is 12 using Core 100. So, I'm not sure if it's challenging enough for a kid who'll be going on 14, but, then again, she's going to have plenty on her plate with math, science, and foreign language next year so perhaps it would be a good fit being on the lighter side. I've also heard the IG has lots of comments from John H. to wade through, which some people have said wasn't to their liking.

 

Thanks for your comments!

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I agree with everyone else: Sonlight's elementary/middle are good, high school not. But Core 530, British Lit, is the big exception. The instructor's guide was written by their daughter, not the dad, and she did an outstanding job. We loved it and will do it again.

 

It's not history, though, just literature.

 

Wendy

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If I use it for 8th grade, I will have a dd 13 using it who will turn 14 in the first few months of fall--she'll be an older 8th grader. I see your child is 12 using Core 100. So, I'm not sure if it's challenging enough for a kid who'll be going on 14, but, then again, she's going to have plenty on her plate with math, science, and foreign language next year so perhaps it would be a good fit being on the lighter side. I've also heard the IG has lots of comments from John H. to wade through, which some people have said wasn't to their liking.

 

Thanks for your comments!

 

My 12 yo (13 in March) is a prolific reader. He is very advanced in that (but lets not talk about math ok?). We are dropping a couple of books, To Kill a Mockingbird is one, I don't remember the title but I think there is one other, that I thought he would get more out of later. I think an 8th grader could still be fine with this core. If she has a lot going on, it may be a good fit for her. My ds has definitely learned a lot and enjoyed it.

 

I don't always bother wading through the comments in the IG. I read most of what ds is reading and we discuss without the help of the IG, although I do skim it each week to see if there is anything useful to me there. We've really had some great discussions based on the material in this core. While I don't think it would be high school level, we have loved it!

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My 12 yo (13 in March) is a prolific reader. He is very advanced in that (but lets not talk about math ok?). We are dropping a couple of books, To Kill a Mockingbird is one, I don't remember the title but I think there is one other, that I thought he would get more out of later. I think an 8th grader could still be fine with this core. If she has a lot going on, it may be a good fit for her. My ds has definitely learned a lot and enjoyed it.

 

I don't always bother wading through the comments in the IG. I read most of what ds is reading and we discuss without the help of the IG, although I do skim it each week to see if there is anything useful to me there. We've really had some great discussions based on the material in this core. While I don't think it would be high school level, we have loved it!

 

Thank you for your thoughts. My dd does have a lot going on. She will be dancing next year probably 10 hours during the week and five to six on Saturday. Plus, she takes music lessons and so has to practice her instruments daily. Then, her other academics will be demanding. Core 100 would probably be a good thing for her.

 

Again, thanks. I appreciate your input. :)

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Hi Gloria,

Not sure if you were still considering SL.. TOG comps it in many ways but is more in depth. Siloam has a wonderful post somewhere in the WTM forum comparing the two.

 

I am combining core 3,4 (oops,lol.), core 100 and Tapestry of Grace's Year 2-Year 3 units because I do not want to teach 2 separate curriculum to my 2 guys who are 13 and 11.

 

We are covering American History up till Civil War this year then Reconstruction to Modern American History next school year.

 

Used SL in elementary years and the boys have loved the SL readers but I find we may be leaning towards TOG as they get older simply because it has "more meat" and incorporates more hands on activities for ds 2.

 

We are using the TOG "Classic" because it is more economical for present. May switch and invest TOG DE in Year 2 Unit 2 though.

 

Please PM me if you have any questions. I have both the core 3 and 100. What I have liked about Sonlight is mainly the chronology and breakdown of the readers for Lit and History, and discussion question pertaining to each book. That's about it. TOG I feel offers a lot more value for the cost. Sonlight is great for a beginning Homeschooler because it is not overwhelming and breaks it down by day, which was helpful.

 

Oh we do not use SL's LA program. Never grew on us even in lower grades. My guys supplement by taking English and Science in a private school.

 

Hope this helps.

Jayne

Edited by micjayne
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