When I first read the Sonlight forums and how kids would beg for one more chapter or to do school on the weekends, I didn't believe it. I do now. We have had many days where begging to do school is the norm. I know that with a love of learning she will be able to do anything she sets her mind to. I couldn't ask for more out of a homeschool curriculum. Not only is 5-year-old Valerie getting a great education ... so are her stuffed animals! Valerie is studying Core A in her third year of Sonlight.

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.

A key aspect of Sonlight we've enjoyed these past 12 years is the ability to integrate learning and living. Good literature is at the heart of Sonlight, and sharing books together is at the heart of our school and life as a family. Some of my favorite moments of parenting and homeschooling involve reading to my boys alongside our outdoor adventures. Immersing ourselves in history and literature has been the backbone of our many years with Sonlight. I wouldn't trade it for a minute! Kai (8) and Rafe (10), currently studying Core D, take a Charlotte's Web break while hiking Mount Baker. The W family (including Luke, Per and Jan, not pictured) has been studying with Sonlight for 12 years.