My daughters and I are collectors of books. Who would have thought? I never read a lot as a child. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy it, but rather I didn't really have access to good books. Reading for pleasure wasn't really encouraged and I was not required to read much throughout my schooling.
When I was pregnant with my first child, I heard about homeschooling and just "knew" that is what I would do one day. When my first daughter turned four, we started kindergarten using an eclectic approach. I picked a math program from one company, reading from another, history from yet another. I basically continued in this manner for a number of years. I never stuck with one curriculum for more than a year. It wasn't that I didn't like them, but I just had no particular loyalty to any one of them. I was using a textbook approach - the only way I knew.
Then, seven years into our homeschooling journey and after the birth of two more daughters, I was introduced to a curriculum that had a totally different approach - using literature to teach. While devouring the catalog, it took me no time to see that it was books, books, books! It meant reading with and to my children. I inherently knew that this meant snuggling on the couch, wonderful discussions, and loving to learn. This is the way I wished I had been taught. So, 14 years ago we switched to Sonlight Curriculum and have never looked over the fence at another curriculum in all those years. We have added another daughter to our family, have graduated three so far and have a number of years to go before our youngest graduates. That means I have repeated some Cores (Sonlight years) two, three and four times. I love it each time. If I love what I am teaching, surely that enthusiasm rubs off on my children.
The benefits have been tremendous. Learning has been so much fun. Using literature has opened the doors to the world of people, places and events in a rich way. I have duplicates and triplicates of books because the girls want their own favorites to take with them when they leave home. However, for every strength there is usually a weakness. The strength is the learning, discussions and sharing. And the drawback to being collectors of books? We don't seem to have enough shelves for all these bound items!
As a 21 year veteran homeschooler, I love sharing the adventure with others. If there is something I can help you with, please feel free to email me to arrange your free phone consultation or to ask any questions you may have about Sonlight Curriculum .
Sandy
