Total Language Plus or Sonlight? Help Me Decide for High School!

[King's Kid]

I'm intrigued by Total Language Plus, and purchased two of the studies, but I also have Sonlight's Core 100 language arts (which came with the history program), and I can't decide which to use for my 9th grader in Sept.!

 

Sonlight's literature program seems like it could be too much for her -- Lots and lots of reading; dd is bright, but she's a slow reader. And the TLP program looks thorough and like it would be easier all around to implement.

 

I realize it's only June and that I have two months to decide, but I also know how rapidly those two months will pass. If I sound panicked, it's only because I am. :willy_nilly:

 

Any sage advice from those of you who've some experience homeschooling high school?

 

TIA!

[April in CA]

Hello!

 

I feel your pain as you begin to plan for next year! My son and I have done TLP guides for Pride and Prejudice and the Scarlet Pimpernel in a group setting - it was very positive. TLP integrates vocabulary, dictation, and spelling along with comprehension questions and deeper discussion qustions and writing project suggestions. I have not used SL at the high school level, so I really can't say what the language arts is like in those cores. We slmost always loved the books we read with SL, though, so I am sure the selections are great. If you are unsure about doing SL lit assignments, perhaps you could do a few TLP guides over the course of the year and let your dd read the SL books for fun at her leisure. Hope this helps.

Blessings,

April

[Maxine in WA]

 

Sonlight's literature program seems like it could be too much for her -- Lots and lots of reading; dd is bright' date=' but she's a slow reader. And the TLP program looks thorough and like it would be easier all around to implement.

 

TIA![/quote']

 

I haven't used TLP, so I can't speak to that, but I have used several years of Sonlight. It worked out great for my very avid reader, but for my youngest dd (she just finished 9th grade) it didn't work as well. Like yours, my dd is a very slow reader. I've tried 3 different Sonlight years with her and she's never completely finished any of them. She just can't get through all those books. The best year we had with Sonlight was the year when I bought the IG and less than half of the books. Even then she didn't get through all the books. I switched to TOG for her and it's worked out much better.

 

So, I just wanted to say that if you decide to go with Sonlight, either buy half the books or spend 2 years doing one Sonlight program for a slow reader. They are great books so you will be building a wonderful library if you buy the entire year. I've just discovered that owning them doesn't mean they'll get read later. Good luck in your decision!