Wee Pip Posted May 12, 2008 Posted May 12, 2008 I've used SL for 2 yrs now. Thinking about not using SL Core 2 next year and switching to SOTW 2 next year. I like SL's Bible schedule. I like SL's read-alouds. I feel bogged down by SL's history & science schedule (I'd rather alternate days) Dd does not like SL's readers. SOTW 2 would give us some fun hands-on activities from the Activity Guide. SOTW 2 seems easier in a way because you don't have a schedule, and just pick up where you left off. I don't want to combine SL with SOTW, due to expense, and making things more complicated then I think it needs to be with 2 young kids. I'd rather be focusing on math & LA right now, and just have history/science be icing on the cake. I have a free Scotts Foresman text for Science next year. Thoughts? Quote
mamato3 all-boy boys Posted May 12, 2008 Posted May 12, 2008 We used SOTW 1 & 2 w/ activity guides for 1st and 2nd grade after a K year with SL. We supplemented with SL Readers (ds enjoyed them) and occasional SL Read Alouds. We had great, great, great years, and I don't regret at all not using SL for history (or science for that matter). There are some good RAs that SL has in their Core 2 which match up nicely with topics in SOTW 2 (The hole in the wall; Robin hood; stuff like that). I think that your priority of LA and math is perfect for the early grammar years. I think it was Marcia Somerville from TOG that says history and science and the "desert" subjects -- LA and math are the meat of the grammar years. Make history and science fun, and when it does need to "count" for school, your children will love it because of the foundation you've created. Quote
Chris in VA Posted May 12, 2008 Posted May 12, 2008 Can't say I've regretted one moment of using SOTW either. We loved 2 this year. We kept it simple, sometimes pulling in AG books, sometimes not. We did some of the activities, all of the maps, and a few of the coloring pages and other goodies in the AG--I'd say it really was invaluable, but don't stress and think you have to narrate each section, or do every extra book (or even do one for every chapter). I love that it's a "do the next thing" book, because that's pretty much how I do everything. No written plans or schedules for me, in general. I think you'll have a fab year! Quote
tinkgumby Posted May 12, 2008 Posted May 12, 2008 I haven't done it yet, and I don't know how realistic it is, but I plan on having my cake and eating it too - I'm going to attempt to do both SOTW (including the activity guide) AND Sonlight - though if I have to ditch anything, it would probably be some of the SL, or at least the scheduling of it. Good luck! Quote
SusanG Posted May 12, 2008 Posted May 12, 2008 We've been combining the two for the past year, and it's going okay, but it's really hard to keep on top of things. I think this fall I'll be using Sonight mainly for the book lists and comprehension questions, and coordinating those readings with the topics in SOTW. Quote
smackb Posted May 12, 2008 Posted May 12, 2008 We used Sonlight for 2 years and found the pace too fast. At the end of each year, my children could not name back one single book we had read over the year, save the most recent. Everything went in one ear and out the other. There's so much that we love about Sonlight, and of course it's easy enough to tweak it and slow down, but I, too, have been looking at SOTW and LOVE it! We are going to try it next year. Good luck with your decision! Kristie Quote
paula j Posted May 12, 2008 Posted May 12, 2008 We replaced CHOW with SOTW in core 1+2 and added the activity guide and it was an awesome year. Of course we didn't make it all the way through world history in one year but we made it through all of book 1 and about half way through book 2 and ds remembered what he had learned and we had a really fun year. the read alouds from sonlight worked out fine, and we added a few library books. The activities from the SOTW AG really helped, how can you forget about Hanibal when you read about him while eating elephant ear doughnuts you just made? Quote
Jennay Posted May 12, 2008 Posted May 12, 2008 I've used SL for 2 yrs now. Thinking about not using SL Core 2 next year and switching to SOTW 2 next year. I like SL's Bible schedule. I like SL's read-alouds. I feel bogged down by SL's history & science schedule (I'd rather alternate days) Dd does not like SL's readers. SOTW 2 would give us some fun hands-on activities from the Activity Guide. SOTW 2 seems easier in a way because you don't have a schedule, and just pick up where you left off. I don't want to combine SL with SOTW, due to expense, and making things more complicated then I think it needs to be with 2 young kids. I'd rather be focusing on math & LA right now, and just have history/science be icing on the cake. I have a free Scotts Foresman text for Science next year. Thoughts? You could just add some activities from the SOTW AG to SL 2 wherever they would fit in. You could also double up your history readings and do them on Monday, Wednnesday, Friday and double up science readings and do those on Tuesday/Thursday. IOW, you could work through the week more horizontally than vertically. What readers did your dd do this year? My DS is going to be doing the 2 Intermediate readers next and they look really good. I don't follow SL's schedule strictly - I just pick up where we leave off. Quote
Lovedtodeath Posted May 12, 2008 Posted May 12, 2008 I agree with almost everyone. I have chosen to do SOTW and supplement with less than half of the SL history and readers for my next few grades. Then, I plan to do Core 3+4 over two years at ages 11 and 12. Definitely keep the Core level down and the ages of the children up if you stick with SL at all. That is what I have heard from almost everyone on the SL boards. I also think there is nothing wrong with using one SL Core in Science or History and taking 2 years to do it. Quote
Wee Pip Posted May 12, 2008 Author Posted May 12, 2008 Jennay - we did SL Core C (K) this year, and my 7yo dd used the Level 2 readers (frog & toad type stuff). I say "used" loosely because she absolutely hates any level 2 reader type of book (even though that is technically her reading level). I got so many suggestions from this board and we have found some really wonderful girly twaddle that we've been reading together (Rainbow Magic Fairy books & Tiara Club books, LOL) along with picture books she picks from the library (Help Me Be Good books & Garfield Comicbooks are her "thing" right now). As you can see, she likes anything that sparkles or has word bubbles, LOL. SL just didn't "fit" that genre for her:) We used SL Core 1 last year when she was 6 (she did fine), and now Core C this year to bring her lil sis into the mix. My 7yo seems to have enjoyed the Core 1 books better than the Core C, not sure why. It may be a change of attitude this year (quite possible!) or it may be she likes the more mature books in Core 1. I think my 5yo has liked the Core C books better this year (more on her level). I'm not sure how the kids will respond to Core 2 books (they will be almost 8 & almost 6) . I think my 7yo would be moving up to the level 2 Intermediate readers (like your ds), but I just don't know if the subject will be something she enjoys (given she likes glittery books or word bubbles). Quote
Jennay Posted May 13, 2008 Posted May 13, 2008 Hmmmm....I have most of the next set of readers on hand and while I think they are much more interesting than the 2 Regular readers there's no word bubbles or glittery books :) If you're not using SL LA you could just do the History and make up your own reader set. Quote
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