Sonlight takes learning to a whole new level by combining story-telling, drama and intimate student-teacher interaction instead of just memorizing boring facts. The family lives on a rural island in the Andaman Sea off southern Thailand, where they work among the Moken Sea Gypsies. With Sonlight, we're free from the bounds of the traditional classroom. Since Denalyn and Alyssa love acting and singing, we often encourage them to sing or act out various roles from the many stories they read. The Moken children love to join in our homeschooling sessions. Our two girls have been using the curriculum for two years now and absolutely love it! Denalyn is on Core F and Alyssa is working through Core B. Here, Cally, Alyssa (7) and friends Chanap and Phen cheer on Denalyn (11) as she delivers her best impersonation of the famous Gettysburg address. 

Aug. 2012

Thanks so much for saving our homeschooling experience! We have been homeschooling our oldest from the beginning, but it seemed to get harder each year. We were using a popular workbook-based curriculum for 3 years and then switched, out of desperation, to a computer-based program. But all we got was cries of 'I hate school!!' I was at my wits end when a friend recommended Sonlight. We got Core D and slowly I noticed he wasn't upset at the mention of school time. By the time we finished the year, he was not complaining at all. A few years after we'd started Sonlight, he said, 'Mom, don't tell anyone, but I actually like school now. I kind of hate to have to stop for the weekends.' That was music to my ears. Here, middle son, Eli (5), gives a sprawling hug to his new Core A books. The D family is now in their fourth year of Sonlight.

I have structure and direction with Sonlight, so we capitalize on every learning moment. I often get pressured about my choice to homeschool. Thanks to Sonlight, I'm confident that I'm doing the right thing for my girls. I'm learning how to teach as well, which helps melt away the frustration and allows me to be a great teacher and mom. Through Sonlight, I've learned a better approach to phonics, and it has made a world of difference. What I love most is that I don't have to force my kids to learn. Hannah (5, Kindergarten Multi-Subject) and Gracie (2, Preschool Multi-Subject) love learning their letters and words outdoors.