As I've been digesting all the training we experienced, I wondered just how many folks we would have the privilege of meeting this spring and summer. I've been working conventions for some 15+ years now, and it has saddened me to see event attendance slowly declining. I've heard all the reasons for *not* attending a convention (finances, travel time, child care, nothing new left for me to learn) ... most of which are legitimate. But I'd like to offer some reasons *for* attending a convention in 2012. Beyond the fact that my own passion for homeschooling was birthed and nurtured at conventions, I do think there are still legitimate reasons for making the effort/sacrifice to attend.

Virtual conferences are convenient and certainly have their place, but there is just something about meeting "skin-on" homeschoolers that makes a live convention worth the time and money. You cannot share tears and hugs when you're sitting alone in front of your computer. There is an "energy" that permeates a homeschool event that cannot be duplicated in any other venue. Even veteran homeschoolers can benefit from the renewal of energy that comes from spending time with like-minded families.

Did you know that new books have a unique smell and feel?! I can email or chat with you over the phone about one of my most favorite books (James Herriott's Treasury for Children), but it's just not the same as handing you the book and showing you the amazing illustrations while I share how much my children loved to have me read this title to them. I have a love affair with books ... touching and smelling the "new book" smell is all part of that love that can't be duplicated virtually.

When I converse with someone electronically, there is often a frustration over the inability to see facial expressions or read body language. Their voice may be agreeing with what I'm saying, but their face and slouched posture may be saying "You're overwhelming me!" I so enjoy talking with folks in person, helping them to create an education plan for their children, and then *seeing* their smiling faces as they leave my booth. I must admit, meeting folks in my booth also gives me the opportunity to see some of the most adorable babies!

Finally ... I am a firm believer that we are all *life-long* learners. I hope the day never comes when I believe I can't learn anything new. As a program coordinator for a state convention, I can tell you that we invest hours of research and prayer over the speakers we line up each year. The men and women who are investing their lives in travel and speaking on the topics that God has laid on their hearts have much to offer. You don't want to miss the opportunity to allow God to bless your heart ... or the opportunity to reach out (i.e. give back) and invest in the lives of other homeschoolers.

So here's my mission for you ... should you choose to accept it ...

1. Research - and find out where the closest homeschool convention is being held this year. A good place to begin is Sonlight's Convention page ... you don't want to miss the benefits of all that training our consultants just completed.
2. Prepare - by arranging child care early ... saving your pennies ... and studying Sonlight's "Convention Survivor's Guide" to be sure you get the most out of your convention experience.
3. Check out - our Sonlight Convention Forum. Consultants will be regularly posting information about upcoming events, and you can request that they bring specific product you would like to "touch and smell". You can also read about exciting give-aways and "specials" they may be offering.
4. Visit - our Facebook page. As the convention season begins, you'll find regular event updates there, as well as photos and feedback shared live from various locations around the country!

I look forward to seeing *you* at a convention this year ... and I know my fellow team members share that same desire. What better way to spend a couple of days than surrounded by fellow homeschoolers and a HUGE room full of books!

Still on the journey ...
~Judy
Sonlight Customer Champion

• When parents read to their children, they spend time discussing the pictures, what the characters are doing, and what the story means. This high-level comprehension skill helps children understand the story better.
• Children benefit more from reading with their parents if the children ask and answer questions, discuss the events as they unfold during the story and make predictions about what will happen next. This approach allows children to listen to new vocabulary words and to practice using those words in speech, which builds their language skills.
• Early readers tend to read choppily and without expression. Parents who read to their children provide a fluency model.

It is wonderful to see formal research proving what we already know to be true ... there is just no substitute for curling up on the couch with a kid and a good book.

As homeschool moms we are wired to have regrets. If I had only started my daughter on basic math skills earlier, she might not be struggling with her college math courses now. I probably should have spent more time on those writing assignments with my son, so he was better prepared for his upcoming ACT essay. Maybe that Girl Scout Troop would have been a good opportunity for better socialization for my oldest. I'm sure you occasionally (or maybe often) find yourself wondering if you always made the right academic and social choices for your children. I know that I do. But reading the research I referenced above reminded me of the one thing about homeschooling that I have never regretted ... reading aloud to my children.

Sonlight has a long list of reasons for incorporating "read-aloud" literature in their curriculum materials. But before I ever discovered homeschooling or Sonlight, I experienced the thrill of holding a pre-schooler captive merely by opening a good book. How wonderful to learn that what I did purely for pleasure was actually laying a firm foundation for the rest of my children's education.

So if you have a pre-schooler and are wondering where to begin with their education, let me encourage you to set aside concerns about math and spelling and science and instead invest time, lots of it, in simply reading aloud to your child. Read outside in the grass, read while you're stretched out on the living room floor, read in bed at night before turning out the light, read at the lunch table ... you get the idea. Not sure *what* to read? Some of my favorite titles can be found in Sonlight's Fiction, Fairy Tales, and Fun for Little Learners program.

Pick up a good book, curl up with your child, and lay a solid foundation for future academics ... no regrets.

Still on the journey ...
~Judy
Sonlight Customer Champion

Keeping in mind that homeschool magazines aren't likely to feature photos of kids having a temper tantrum over spelling or crying crocodile tears over math (who would want to homeschool after seeing that?) ... I suspect that there are more kids like mine out there than I ever guessed when I was mopping up those tears and dealing with the tantrums.

I learned some valuable lessons from working through such times with my kids. They boiled down to the following . . .

• My kids are no different than I am. There are days when I would love to throw a temper tantrum on top of the mounds of dirty laundry, or cry big ole tears in the Hamburger Helper I'm cooking for the gazillioneth time. When I helped my kids to understand that we are very much alike in this area, it was freeing for all of us. I realized that my kids come by it naturally, and my kids were happy to learn that perhaps mom is human after all. It also helped generate a measure of grace and mercy I might not have had otherwise.
• Concrete reinforcement works for all of us. "What a good job you've done!" is great to hear, but my husband is even more motivated by his paycheck. While I'm not suggesting that we *pay* our kids to do school, I think that every child appreciates some "pay-off" for work well done. I looked for some creative pay-backs for my kids when they were younger. An unexpected trip to the library after a math lesson with no tears ... an extra hour of outdoor play when school was completed with a good attitude ... an evening out with mom at the end of a good week or month. I also kept some fun educational videos around for short-term reward for work well done. Our Mathtacular and Discover & Do series are excellent video resources to have on hand.
• All choices have consequences. This concept, though pretty simple, was life-changing for us. Each time I would do battle over poor attitudes or unfinished assignments, I took it as a personal affront. Why did my kids hate me so much that they couldn't follow my simplest instruction? I needed to stop and realize that every action my kids took, or didn't, was a conscious choice on their part. And it very likely wasn't anything like "I really want to annoy mom today, so I think I'll conveniently forget to do my writing assignment." Just like the police officer has no personal beef with me when writing my speeding ticket (my choice to drive above the posted speed limit), so my kids have no personal beef with me when they choose to ignore that book report. After setting some very clear expectations and associated consequences with my kids, it became so much easier to respond to a poor choice with a quiet voice and calm spirit. "Son, is that book report finished that was due today? No? You know the consequence for work not finished on time." No arguing, no debating ... very clear expectations made it just a bit easier for all of us to love learning! If my child chose to argue with me, I simply asked the offender to verbally rehearse the choice made, and I reminded them of the associated consequence in a calm voice. I had to *choose* not to lose my temper. And I had to be just as consistent with positive consequences ... it was all about balance.
• Look for the excitement in learning. I remember very clearly teaching a Biology module about human anatomy, and the passion and excitement that was conveyed by my voice and my facial expressions. I *love* life sciences, and my kids responded by learning to love it as well. On the other hand, I have nothing but dread and disgust for Algebra and Geometry. Guess what? Only one of my kids has expressed any love for math ... and that was likely due to my husband's passion! You obviously can't carry that level of passion every day, for every subject ... but learn to find ways to help your kids get excited about learning. You can help them to see the wonder and awe in what they're reading and studying by finding it yourself first.

As you've started your second semester, are you struggling with whining and crocodile tears? Perhaps these brief thoughts will be helpful. Head over to our Homeschool Support Forum ... there's a conversation taking place there on this very topic. Imagine ... other people whose kids don't love school! Maybe there are some "out of the box" resources that would help provide some motivation ... art supplies, fun "extra" reading ... the sky's the limit.

Still on the journey ...
~Judy
Sonlight Customer Champion

Am I doing enough? Am I doing it right?
The hype and increased activity of the holidays is now done and it's back to business as usual. But you're asking yourself if "business as usual" is sufficient? Maybe Johnny isn't reading as well as you had hoped he would be by mid-year. Perhaps Allison is still wrestling with math and really hasn't made any progress since September. Maybe you're just not doing enough ... or doing it well. Maybe you should consider putting your kids in public school. Maybe ... Maybe ... Maybe ...

There certainly are situations where a student may have learning struggles that require some outside intervention. But much of the time we are simply too close to the situation to be able to see the forest from the trees. Here are a couple of suggestions that I found helped *my* peace of mind when I wrestled with my skills as a homeschool teacher. First - spend a bit of time listing the positives from your student's first semester. What does he do well? Where are his strengths? What milestones have you already reached? Choose to focus on what you have accomplished and celebrate goals reached. Second - pat yourself on the back for a job well done first semester, and go back and review the goals you set at the beginning of the year as you move ahead with your second semester. Focus on one or two areas where improvement is needed, and remember that Rome wasn't conquered in a day (or a semester even).

I'm just not motivated. My get up and go has gotten up and gone!
Much of the time I find that my lack of motivation and energy comes from a lack of exercise or time out of the house. I highly recommend looking for ways to build a "break" into your schedule. Whether you take a walk (outside or on a treadmill), or join the local gym ... look for a way to work an "exercise break" into 2 or 3 days of your week. Exercise creates energy, helps you to sleep better, and produces a positive attitude. I know how hard it is to work this into a schedule filled with family and homeschooling and small children, but keep in mind ... a motivated, well-rested, happier mom is a positive benefit for the whole family!

I'm always giving out ... never re-fueling.
Teachers at your local public or private school regularly schedule in-service days. They are designed for furthering education and refreshing the teaching staff. Begin now looking for ways you might create "in-service" times for yourself. Whether you actually leave your house, or just carve out some "teacher alone" time for yourself, it is imperative that you find a balance between emptying yourself into your parenting and teaching and filling up your reserves on a regular basis. Check out some of the following titles from Sonlight's Teacher Resources library for your next in-service:

• Help for the Harried Homeschooler
• Why Gender Matters
• Life Skills for Kids
• The Way They Learn

And begin now saving your pennies for the ultimate teacher training conference ... your state's annual homeschool convention! There is simply nothing on-line that compares to a skin-on, in-real-life homeschool convention. Plan in advance for your 2012 convention ... and be sure to check and see if Sonlight will be represented there. The Sonlight booth is a great spot to preview next year's curriculum materials, and receive encouragement and counsel from your local consultant. Just what you need to get pumped up for the coming school year.

There are many other ways to "get in shape" for this new year ... check out your local homeschool support group ... head over to Sonlight's on-line "support group" on the Sonlight Forums ... contact one of our Sonlight Advisors for some encouragement ... set aside some time to listen to our ever-growing library of webinars/podcasts ... whatever works best for you, just DO IT!

May God bless your efforts in the coming school year.

Still on the journey ...
~Judy
Sonlight Customer Champion

Luke 2:52 . . . Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

We don't read a great deal about Mary in scripture, but what is written has always fascinated me. I primarily wonder what it must have been like to parent your Creator and Savior. Granted, Jesus may have been the "model" child, but I suspect that Mary had her struggles parenting Him just as I do with my children. After all, if my young son had wandered off without telling me and I didn't find him for three days, I can imagine I would have stressed just a bit.

But despite all the challenges of raising the Son of God, Mary and Joseph seem to have done a good job, based on this small statement in Luke's account.

• Mary's Son grew in wisdom - there is much discussion over how an Omniscient Jesus could have "grown" in wisdom/understanding, but I prefer to take the statement at face value. Children grow in an understanding of right and wrong and develop discernment in large part due to the training they receive at home. I have to believe that Jesus received excellent instruction from His parents.
• Jesus grew in stature - the Greek for the term "stature" refers to age and maturity, or attaining a level of maturity where you become "fit" or ready for a particular goal. I'm sure that Mary had set some goals for her son just as I have for my children.
• He grew in favor with God and all people - the term "favor" here actually means grace (charis). It is a character trait which produces joy, pleasure and delight. No "socialization" issues here! Jesus apparently got along well with His peers and those who were His elders.

As a parent I know that all the qualities mentioned in this verse didn't manifest themselves overnight. Mary (and Joseph) must have invested time, energy, prayer and tears during that 18 (or so) years of Jesus' life ... verse 51 of the same chapter tells us that Mary stored all these things in her heart. How many times have I wrestled in my heart with issues related to my kids?

We know the end of the story ... though Mary obviously didn't at the time. She faced the ultimate fear of every parent ... the death of her son. Leading up to that awful day her son was ridiculed, mocked, arrested and generally an out-cast. Could she have done something different? Would the circumstances have changed if she had made other choices when raising Jesus? All questions that we ask of ourselves when things don't go as we plan for our children.

I take great encouragement in knowing that despite Mary's short-comings, God had a perfect plan for Jesus. The heartaches, struggles and fears she must have experienced during those 30 years were finally redeemed. I choose to believe that God has a perfect plan for my children as well. While I may not see or understand the reasons behind today's heartaches and struggles, someday it will all be made clear!

So during the busyness of this Christmas season, as you take time to reflect on the reason for our celebration, focus a few of those moments on the mother of the Baby and take heart in *her* story as well.

Still on the journey ...
~Judy Wnuk
Sonlight Customer Champion

PS - While Mary stored all her thoughts and struggles in her heart, you don't have to! Our Parenting Forum is a great spot to find encouragement on your parenting journey. Share your own joys and struggles and hear from the hearts of others who are walking the same path.

Cooking and baking have always played a significant role in my life, and never more so than at Christmas. Holiday recipes are passed down from generation to generation ... they are part of my heritage. Sharing them with my children provides an opportunity to work together in the kitchen, tell stories that are related to the recipe, and allows my kids to gain a sense of accomplishment. Now that my kids are older, I love it when they request this or that favorite recipe that they recall from past holidays.

Here are some practical ways to integrate cooking and baking into your homeschool this Christmas season.

• Encourage your kids to check with grandparents or older friends for their favorite Christmas recipe. Have them ask *why* it is such a favorite, and what memories they recall when they make it. Then help them to cook or bake the recipe, and share the end result with the "author"!
• Enrich your Sonlight Core studies by creating some of the delicious dishes found in our Sonlight Cooks cookbook. Have your scholars prepare a history- or country-related meal and invite friends or relatives to share. Your kids can then share what they've learned as they serve their guests.
• Need a fun way to "spice up" your math studies this month? Or perhaps you just want to keep some math concepts fresh in your students' minds over Christmas break. Reviewing such topics as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division come alive when you're measuring ingredients for bread, or doubling a favorite savory dish recipe to feed more people.
• Use the Christmas holiday as an opportunity to teach your students the value of giving. Prepare some simple gift bags filled with small loaves of bread, favorite cookies and candies. Then take your children around to deliver their "bags of cheer" to those who might benefit from some holiday encouragement.

These are only a few suggestions ... take some time to add a few of your own! If you need a jump-start in the idea department, head over to our Home for the Holidays Forum. It is bursting with recipes and fantastic Christmas meal and gift ideas.

Begin sharing a heritage of cooking with your children this Christmas season. Add some cookbooks to their shelf of school books. When you need a break from sharing read-alouds, pull a favorite cookbook from the school shelf and head to the kitchen!

Still on the journey ...
~Judy Wnuk
Sonlight Customer Champion

I recalled our struggles with fractions again a week or so ago as I talked with a young mom who could not seem to grasp how fractions worked herself, let alone teach them to her young son. I suggested she bake a pie!

Sometimes teaching fractions, or any other math concept, is as "simple" as getting it off the page and into your hands. Math manipulatives are great for "handling" math, but not always necessary. If you don't want to invest the money in a manipulatives kit, or need to master fractions *today*, and can't wait for a kit to arrive, you need only go as far as your kitchen.

Blueberry Pie is a favorite around our house, but you can substitute apple or cherry or any other pie that has a top crust. The crust isn't crucial to teaching how fractions work, but it does make it easier to visualize the "parts" of the whole. Once your pie is baked, explain that the finished pie is the whole. Cut the pie exactly in half. Ask your student how many halves make up the whole. Now cut the pie into fourths (aka quarters). Ask your student how many fourths make up the whole. Finally, cut your pie into eighths. Ask your student how many eights make up the whole. Simple? Yes. Fundamental? Definitely. But this basic understanding is crucial to moving ahead with fractions.

Now you can head in so many different directions. Demonstrate to your student how money is very much like fractions. Lay a dollar bill (the whole) on the kitchen counter next to the pie. Next place four quarters (fourths) next to the dollar bill. Spread a sheet of waxed paper or a paper towel on the counter next to the money and the pie. Measure out a cup (the whole) on the paper. Next measure out a quarter cup (fourths) of flour, four times, next to the whole cup. Be sure to point out how the "parts" are the same as the "whole".

The best part is yet to come! Grab a couple of plates and ask your student to serve each of you an eighth of the blueberry pie apiece. After you've enjoyed the pie (even better warm, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!), ask your student how many eighths are left. Take a look at the pie and point out that the empty space left by the two slices (eighths) you've just enjoyed, are equal to one-fourth of the whole pie. Be sure to speak in "fraction language" (i.e. fourths, eighths, etc...) so your student equates the term with what they see.

You've now laid the ground work for not only understanding the basics of fractions, but also adding and subtracting fractions. And it didn't require a piece of paper, a pencil, or even a calculator! However, when you're ready to put your fractions on paper, do a rough sketch of your blueberry pie up in the corner ... then begin with writing 1 (whole), 1/4 (fourths) and 1/8 (eighths). Have your student "cut" the pie and shade in the appropriate fractions as you write them on the paper.

The next time you work on fractions, use soft, flour tortillas, or one of those large candy bars that are scored in 10 or 12 blocks. You can also cut "pies" out of construction paper simply by tracing around a large dinner plate. And if you want to "watch" someone have great fun with fractions, check out our Mathtacular 3 DVD. Justin is a pro at making any math concept fun and easy to learn.

So when it comes time to teach fractions ... tell your kids you're going to teach them math in the kitchen. The fun of creating a pie and enjoying the "fruits" of your labor is a much better way to learn fractions than stressing over a math workbook. And it leaves a lasting mental connection between fractions and parts and pieces of a delicious blueberry pie.

Still on the journey ...
~Judy Wnuk
Sonlight Customer Champion

PS ... This is the perfect time of year to order a math manipulatives kit or one of our Mathtacular DVDs ... they're all part of our Christmas Sale!

Beginning in early October, we would spend Saturdays "cleaning up" our property in preparation for the coming winter months. The garden was emptied of the last root vegetables to be stored, dead vegetable and flowering plants were pulled, and a few perennials were mulched. We also spent afternoons in the kitchen making applesauce, baking bread and canning apple butter. All great Science projects!

Field Trip Suggestions: Local farm market to sample produce and pick pumpkins ... Apple orchard to pick apples for baking and saucing ... Honey farm to sample local honey and watch bees in action ... Library to find books on gardening, making applesauce, and honey bees.

Favorite Books: The Bee Tree by Patricia Polacco, The Year at Maple Hill Farm by Alice Prevenson

In November we would begin preparation for the Thanksgiving holiday. Kids love to have their art work displayed, so this was a great time of year for doing leaf rubbings, making a Thanksgiving Tree, and practicing new recipes for the upcoming holidays. All great Art and Science projects! And of course, the days of Thanksgiving week were filled with housecleaning, baking and general preparation for the big day.

Field Trip Suggestions: Go back to the local farm market to get a variety of squashes to try, and more apples for pies, crisps and breads ... Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters especially need volunteers this time of year to cook and serve ... Craft Stores are a great place to begin Christmas gift projects.

Favorite Books: The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh, Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wende & Harry Devlin, One-Hour Christmas Crafts by Leisure Arts.

December was filled with holiday preparations and secrets. My kids had great fun gathering gift lists from family members (who always kept younger nieces, nephews and grandchildren in mind) and working on various projects that would show up under our tree. In addition to the various church activities that Christmas brought (i.e. play practice, choir practice, caroling) we would create gift bags for friends and neighbors. We would purchase inexpensive brown paper gift bags from the local WalMart and the kids would enjoy decorating the outsides, and then filling the inside with homemade ornaments, candies and baked goods.

Field Trip Suggestions: Go back to the local farm market (if it's still open) to get a variety of squashes, sweet potatoes, and more apples for pies, crisps and breads ... Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters especially need volunteers this type of year to cook and serve ... Deliver small gift bags to neighbors ... Check with a local nursing home to see if they would welcome a small group of children to sing carols (this was one of our favorite activities in December).

Favorite Books: Jotham's Journey by Arnold Ytreeide (a wonderful advent book published when our kids were small), The Story of Holly & Ivy by Rumer Godden, Becky's Christmas by Tasha Tudor, Winter Poems by Barbara Rogasky.

So if your kids are getting caught up in the hype and excitement of the holidays, take control of how *you* want to celebrate and incorporate some fun "holiday school" activities into your October-December. And I would love to hear some of your favorite holiday projects and book titles ... I might find a new volume to add to my holiday bookshelf for someday grandchildren!

Still on the journey ...
~Judy Wnuk
Sonlight Customer Champion

As most parents would, these homeschooling moms began asking where they had failed. Did they do something wrong while wearing their "homeschooling" hat? Perhaps their academic expectations were too high? Or maybe their children made poor choices in friends because they were "under-socialized"?

Did they do something wrong while wearing their "mom" hat? Perhaps if they had spent just a bit more time talking with their child, instead of putting them off to get some housecleaning done? Or maybe their children were seeking love and acceptance elsewhere because mom hadn't loved them enough?

One mom I spoke with described that she felt as though her arms would break under the stress of trying to keep all the various "balloons" in the air that represented each of her children, her husband, and her multiple responsibilities for homeschooling, housekeeping, taxi-driving, and church.

I've found over my years of homeschooling that I often had to stop throughout my day and think about which "hat" I was currently wearing. There were many times when I would come to the end of a day and wonder if I had fulfilled each of those "identities" well, or if I had failed in any of them. Ultimately, I concluded that I definitely had failed, and would continue to fail in the out-working of each of those identities. I'm human and thus prone to being self-focused, prideful, and lacking in wisdom. But the good and encouraging news is that there is really only *one* identity that matters, and the rest fall into place. My identity as a daughter of the King, a child of my Abba Father, is where the rest of my identities draw their purpose and wisdom.

My response to those moms I sat with this past year was to offer hugs, to weep with them over their heartbreak, and remind them that their children are also fallible. Being a homeschooling, stay-at-home, church-going mom is not *the* recipe/guarantee for success. Our children are free to make choices (just as we are), and they will not always make the correct ones (just as we don't). But we can take heart in knowing that God loves them as much as (and more) than we do. And we can free ourselves from some of the burden by not comparing our "success" or "failure" with our children to other families. And ultimately, we can choose to believe that we have done the very best we are able, by God's grace. And that even where we've failed, God is able to work it all for good.

So take heart wherever you are on your homeschool journey. Keep your eyes focused on the one identity that truly matters. And remember that your children's heavenly Father never fails.

Still on the journey ...
~Judy Wnuk
Sonlight Customer Champion

PS ... if you're interested in chatting with other moms who are juggling multiple hats, be sure to register on the Sonlight Forums. It's a great place to meet fellow travelers on the homeschool journey.

Using a literature-based curriculum to allow students of different ages to study together can be a foreign concept for some folks. As a culture, we are so "grade-oriented" that using the same materials to teach children of different ages is difficult to grasp. I've encountered many dads, who tend to be more concrete and logical thinkers (a 6 year old should study 1st grade materials!!), who have a multitude of questions about how well this approach really works! Often it makes more sense when I simply share an example from our own homeschool.

When our children were in grades 4, 6, and 9, we did Core F (Eastern Hemisphere) together. Though it was a bit "young" for my oldest, and a bit "old" for my youngest (the grade range for this Core is 5th-8th grades), it was not difficult to "tweak" it just a bit to make it doable for all three children.

Tweak #1: At the time we did Core F (then Core 5), my youngest was reading independently, but he was not a "fast" reader. The Core F Reader schedule is plenty robust, so I chose to have him read every other Reader. So, for example, when the title Henry Reed, Inc. was scheduled for Weeks 1 and 2, he read it over Weeks 1 through 4. There was all sorts of room for additional tweaking in this area. Sometimes I didn't stick just to the every other Reader plan ... if I saw a Reader that I knew he would really enjoy, but would be skipped under my plan, I simply switched books.

Tweak #2: After reviewing the Reader list for Core F, I decided that my then 9th grader needed a bit more challenge. The content of the Core F literature was superb, but not "hefty" enough (in my opinion) for a high school freshman. I considered a number of ways to resolve this issue, and actually settled on a combination of ideas. I did require my oldest to read all the Core F Readers. But I also added in some literature to "beef up" this component of her freshman year. Based on my education plan for her, I knew we would not have time to do Sonlight's Core 200 program. So I chose 5-6 titles from Core 200 that I thought she might enjoy. I simply scheduled them into her year as I felt they fit best.

Tweak #3: The Eastern Hemisphere Explorer component of this Core was a great "group" project. My oldest was "in charge" and all three kept their own EHE notebooks. I obviously had different expectations for each child's completed assignments, based on their skill level and what I knew about their strengths and weaknesses (i.e. my middle child is a fluent writer, so I expected her written responses to be in depth and well written).

Tweak #4: The Language Arts F writing assignments were definitely above my 4th grader's head, and in some cases, not challenging enough for my oldest. I chose to evaluate each week's writing assignment and decide if it was easier to simply have my youngest skip it, or if I could adjust it to his skill level. More often than not it was easy to make a simple adjustment. For example ... one assignment required students to write a journal entry about a scene from one of the books they had read. After chatting with my 4th grader about what journaling was, I helped him to write a journal entry based on one of the books he had just read. My expectation was that he would generate a paragraph, probably no more than 8-10 sentences, that demonstrated to me his understanding of journaling. I anticipated having to provide a fair amount of assistance. My older two students, however, were expected to write 2-3 paragraphs, well detailed and with few mechanical errors.

Finally, reading the History and Read-Aloud titles together as a group enabled us to discuss the story line, be sure that the youngest understood what was going on, and the oldest could demonstrate more detailed comprehension.

All in all, our attempts at combining multiple students with one Core program was a success. We took this approach for a number of years and never regretted doing so. Sharing learning is an efficient and enjoyable aspect of homeschooling!

Still on the journey
~Judy Wnuk
Customer Champion