Sonlight for History and reading vs just SOTW?

[newhsmommy]

This year we started STOW Ancients and liked it. Next year I am planning on following WTM for most of our subject however, I just looked thru a Sonlight book. I like how the whole year does not have to be entirely on say the Middle Ages. Does anyone for WTM with the exception of Sonlight for history/reading? If so, how do you like it? Does it flow well? If not, what did you not like about it?

[arcara]

There are many here who use Sonlight, but who follow other parts of the WTM. Do what works for your family! :) Sonlight's a great program.

 

I personally prefer following the 4-year cycle for history. However, I do incorporate many Sonlight books!

[siloam]

This year we started STOW Ancients and liked it. Next year I am planning on following WTM for most of our subject however, I just looked thru a Sonlight book. I like how the whole year does not have to be entirely on say the Middle Ages. Does anyone for WTM with the exception of Sonlight for history/reading? If so, how do you like it? Does it flow well? If not, what did you not like about it?

 

If you just did SOTW the biggest difference is going to be the volume of reading. I adore SL but I could never finish a core in a year. It has daily readings for history, daily readings for Read aloud, daily readings for readers. If you want that sort of volume, and don't need hands on then SL is great! If you were just doing a chapter or two a week out of SOTW then you are going to find SL more than doubles that.

 

Heather

 

[Donna T.]

I used SL Core 2 and SOTW 2 this year. There is a chart at Paula's Archives that coordinates SOTW with A Child's History of the World, the spine book for SL Core 2. We read from A Child's History of the World first and then from SOTW. Of course, this really, really slowed us down. For most of the year, it didn't matter to me, but towards the end, it did get very tiresome.

 

I love SL and that was our third SL Core. If I had it to do over, I'd use SOTW 2 and choose the books from Core 2 that fit into that time frame. But, that's only because I was using this with a fourth grader and not a second or third grader as is more typical for Core 2.

 

We had a great year and we did really enjoy all of the books but I was very close to burn out towards the end. I've decided not to do a SL Core next year. We love books!! But, SL really packs them in.

 

The SL cores will cover more time, so that may be an advantage if you like that idea. But, I have to say that SOTW 2 was my favorite part of school this year. My boys are begging for some hands on activities and more variety in their school work even though they are both auditory learners and I never would have dreamed they would desire projects or crafts. SL is great if you really, really love to read and you either 1) are sure you won't desire some hands on learning or 2) you add those things in yourself.

Edited May 22, 2009 by Donna T.