thundersweet Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 We are in core 3 at the moment. She is 9 and in the 4th grade. She tolerates the read alouds although i lose her sometimes. She just doesn't seem to really enjoy it. She says her readers are boring and usually complains. I really don't know if it's because she would rather be playing or she really just doesn't find history taught this way interesting. I am really wondering if maybe for 5th grade i should try a textbook. Something short and sweet that won't take up so much time. What i decided to do for now is use "A Living History of Our World" and combine it with some of the SLbooks that i think she'll like or at least tolerate. I am adding in some books off of our own shelves. Anybody else not care for Sonlight's book choices? Any recommendations for a history textbook? Thanks, Sandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynful Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Sadly, my daughter, 10, just does not like Sonlight. At least she hasn't for Core 3 and Core 4. My son adores it. My daughter wants just the facts and a textbook. Everyone's different. She's enjoyed several of the read alouds and has completely zoned out on others; she's been the same with the readers. I've switched her to BJU Heritage Studies with the workbook and some of the SL readers and read alouds. This has been a great compromise and she's liking it again, not loving it, but I'll take like for now. :) Who knows, maybe in a few years she'll decide differently. I think your plan sounds like a good one. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieW in Texas Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 My two older girls loved SL (up until the "high school" Cores anyway). My youngest didn't like SL past 3rd grade. I did history and readalouds with all three of my kids together up until she finished 3rd grade (oldest was in 8th grade that year). My youngest didn't do the SL readers until she was in 5th grade because she's dyslexic and her reading was way below level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.... Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 We're in Core 3 right now. My daughter LOVES the Readers. My son just tolerates it. :D Is it the content that bugs her or the amount of reading? I think my son doesn't want to be bothered by the amount of reading. :glare: He's a Wiggly Willy. There are tons of choices out there for history. Our friends like Mystery of History. I was always interested in BJU's social studies. There's MFW - which has more hands-on stuff than SL. There's always SOTW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne115 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 My third graders doesn't really love Core 3 either. She enjoyed Core K, Core 1, and Core 2. She enjoys the readers and part of the read aloud books fore Core 3. She hated the first two and that wasn't fun! She doesn't like the Landmark book - she understands it, but doesn't like it. She HATES the Story of the USA workbooks. We usually do SOTW and a Sonlight Core. Next year, we will do SOTW 4 and Winterpromise American Story 2. I will add in some of the Sonlight read alouds and readers since we both enjoy those. We will probably return to Sonlight for Core 5 since both of my girls were adopted from Asia and I think we would enjoy it. Suzanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellydon Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 This is why we do Winter Promise and add the Sonlight books that we like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane Elliot Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 (edited) Sonlight is so heavy in historical fiction and some kids just don't get into that. 17yos told me the other day he's never liked historical fiction and he's actually considering a major in history. Try finding your child some different genres and see how that goes. For history, I'd either use SOTW or study the logic stage history chapter in WTM and go with that method for history. Edited March 15, 2011 by Luann in ID Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandtinagilbert Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 We like TOG b/c we get "just the facts, ma'am" for those who prefer them and also the historical fiction for the rest. It makes a nice, balanced, opportunity each week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love2Smile Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Sonlight is so heavy in historical fiction and some kids just don't get into that. 17yos told me the other day he's never liked historical fiction and he's actually considering a major in history. Try finding your child some different genres and see how that goes. For history, I'd either use SOTW or study the logic stage history chapter in WTM and go with that method for history. This was the case for us as well. SL did not work for us after several years forcing it on my kids. I finally gave up and let my youngest dd read what she wanted to. She is now going into 8th grade and has grown into a great reader just from choosing her own books. I will finally in 8th grade assign her books to read. Some kids just do not "get historical fiction" and find it boring and don't even understand it. Sonlight was just not for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thundersweet Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 I guess i'm afraid to leave SL for fear my dd will miss some great books. I just have to let that go. I suppose she's not really getting anything from the books if she's only half interested....if at all. I have no idea why Sonlight has such a hold on me. Thanks, Sandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne115 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Sandy - I totally understand. I love almost all of Sonlight's books. I guess that is why I am going to add many of them into American Story 2 next year. It is also one of the reasons that I will probably try Sonlight again for Core 5. Suzanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SewLittleTime Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I guess i'm afraid to leave SL for fear my dd will miss some great books. I just have to let that go. I suppose she's not really getting anything from the books if she's only half interested....if at all. I have no idea why Sonlight has such a hold on me. Thanks, Sandy I felt this same way. Making that leap was very difficult for us especially since I had been using SL from the beginning. We finally dropped SL 15 weeks into core 3. It just wasn't working for our family. We are much happier, learning a lot, and doing okay without SL books for history (although we are catching some here and there). In fact, we've discovered a few others out there that we like just as much! :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LauraQ Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 If she is doing okay with the History books, keep using those. If she likes only some Read-Alouds, then only read half of them--I never have time to read all of them in one year anyway! If she only dislikes the Readers, then ditch all of them, and use books from WTM and VP lists instead, or just use great books for her age that are NOT history books. In cores 3-4 & 6-7 SL Readers are heavily historical fiction, which I don't like. My kids love them and read them all, but also read lots of other fiction on their own. If they didn't, I'd have them read *maybe* half the SL readers and supplement with other sorts of fictional works. There are so many really great books out there for children that don't have to be read in chronological order! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandtinagilbert Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I guess i'm afraid to leave SL for fear my dd will miss some great books. I just have to let that go. I suppose she's not really getting anything from the books if she's only half interested....if at all. I have no idea why Sonlight has such a hold on me. Thanks, Sandy I think there are perks to using time tested resources, that hold the teacher's hand, too. SL provides quality with ease of instruction. It does give you the sense that you're getting "it" done, well, and that is a huge relief. There are other programs that can give you the same satisfaction. Just take the first step! :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thundersweet Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 Where can i find some really great book lists? Like lists of books that every child should read. Some lists by subjects would be great too! I decided to continue on with what we are doing. Just adding in SL books in order from the schedule. If she is not interested, we'll just drop it. Thanks, Sandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedmom4 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 That is one of my main reasons for leaving Sonlight. We did 8 Cores and my oldest daughter tolerated it. I think it was because there were several great books mingled in with the awful ones. She read one for Core 100 last year that was so disturbing she begged me not to make her finish it. Don't remember the name right now but it was about the Dust Bowl. We switched my daughter to MFW and I have been using Winter Promise for the younger children. It has been a very good fit for us all. God Bless, Elise in NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandtinagilbert Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Veritas Press Tapestry of Grace WTM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thundersweet Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 Can TOG be done secular? Sandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siloam Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Sandy, My oldest loved SL books, and my younger 3 hated them. I hear you on wanting her to be exposed to them, I would do so at a slower pace on audio. Find something she will enjoy. Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandtinagilbert Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 (edited) Can TOG be done secular? Sandy Yes, fairly easily, too. There is even a yahoo group of secular TOGgers Here are some WTM posts: Questions about TOG How do I use TOG secularly If you do a general search, you'll find more. Edited March 17, 2011 by johnandtinagilbert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DianeW88 Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 Well, after so many years of homeschooling, I have discovered that there is no such thing as the perfect curriculum. So I have made my own. :D Here is my ecclectic mix: Winterpromise TOG Trail Guide to Learning KONOS Plus a perusal through Sonlight and Veritas read-alouds and other books to throw in for fun. It's expensive and a pain in the patootie to plan sometimes (unless you are like me and LOVE planning lessons...I'm a freak, I know. :lol:), but it has everything I want. Also want to say that I don't buy all of those curriculums every year. I have enough curriculum accumulated that I usually add only one or two from the above (usually WP and Trail Guide). The rest I already own....and then some. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmichigan Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 Can TOG be done secular? Sandy Yes. I have found it very conducive to teaching about the many different religions and how they impacted history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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