Questions We Frequently Get in the Booth

What is Sonlight?

Sonlight is the original faith-based homeschool curriculum. It is a literature-based curriculum offering all subjects for all grades preschool through high school.

Sonlight builds on five big ideas:

  1. Literature-based, Christ-centered
  2. Parent-directed
  3. Family-centered
  4. Global outlook
  5. Academic excellence
What makes Sonlight unique?

The "secret" about Sonlight Curriculum really comes down to our philosophy of education. We believe that most children respond more positively to great literature than they do to textbooks. Stories captivate young minds. Once a good book grabs your child's attention, you'll find that the educational process becomes relatively painless--because your child will actually want to read!

Where do I start?

In the catalog:

  • How to Choose Your Curriculum
  • Is Sonlight Worth the Investment?
  • 27 Reasons NOT to Buy Sonlight
  • 27 Reasons Families Love Sonlight

On our website:

How do I find out more?
  • Our website is the best source of information.
  • The catalog also includes in-depth information.
  • Feel free to browse the booth and ask questions.
  • If you have questions later, you are welcome to contact an Advisor via Live Chat, email, or phone.
  • We offer free user forums where you can interact with other families around the world who use Sonlight.
How do I choose curriculum?

If your child is working at grade level, the most convenient choice would be our full-grade package. Or we will be happy to help you build a customized curriculum to best meet the needs of your family.

The Sonlight programs have been designed to work with a variety of ages so you have the flexibility to choose a program that most interests and best meets the needs of your student. Sonlight encourages you to choose first based on content. Once you have chosen the content you wish to cover, look at the recommended grade levels for each program that covers that content.

What's the difference between a Core and a Full-Grade Package?

A Core package includes Bible, history/geography, read alouds, one set of readers, language arts, and the Instructor’s Guide for those subjects. It is only part of a complete curriculum. A Full-Grade Package consists of the Core package plus Science, Handwriting, Math, and all Required Resources.

What's the difference between a 4-day package and a 5-day package?

We find that many families enhance their homeschooling adventure with a day of music lessons, sports, field trips or other extra curricular activities. To meet the needs of these families, Sonlight developed 4-day programs. We have removed approximately 20% of the assignments from the 4-day programs so you have a 144-day yearly schedule versus the 180-day yearly schedule in the 5-day program. Most of our Instructor’s Guides come with both 4-day and 5-day schedules, so if you buy the 5-day program, you can still do the 4-day schedule if you find the 5-day schedule is at too heavy a pace. However, our high school programs are available only in 5 day programs.

Can I teach more than one child with the same materials?

When teaching multiple students there are different approaches that can be taken:

  • select the program most suited to the younger child and supplement for the older child, or
  • select the program most suited for the older child and simplify what you use with the younger child, or
  • select a program that falls in the middle of the range of ages/grades of your children and make minor modifications to meet each child's needs, or
  • select complementary core programs which cover the same content at different levels of difficulty; for example, using the Intro to World History, Part 1 (Core B) with the World History, Part 1 (Core G) [examples only] has been very successful for many Sonlight customers. Core A and Core F [Culture studies], Core B+C and Core W [World History in one year], and Core D+E and Core 100 [American History] are all complementary Cores.

Whatever approach you use, you would read the Bible, History and Read-Aloud materials in the Core program out loud to the children as a group so that you use your time most effectively and have convenient opportunities to discuss what has been read. Starting with Core 100, we do not include read alouds.

One suggestion that may help you in making your choice would be to write out a chart with the names of your children on one side, and the year across the top. Then look at how each of your options would work over the next few years. There is no one right choice. All choices are valid options! The idea is to choose the program that best meets the needs of your family.

How many Cores can I do?

It's best to try to stick with just one for the first year. If that's not possible because there's too great a span in ages, try complementary Cores.

How can I modify one Core for multiple ages?

If you need to modify our curriculum for a younger student, simply slow the pace, or ignore one or more of the assignments. Modifications for younger students might include reading more of the material to the child out loud, omitting some of the Readers so that the student can read fewer books at a slower pace, and simplifying the discussion questions offered in the Instructor's Guide.

If you need to modify Sonlight Curriculum for an older student, you may assign your student extra projects or reading. The end goal is to expect more mastery of the content as well as longer, more polished written assignments and oral arguments. Modifications for older students can include adding other books on related subjects, increasing the written requirements for short reports and research reports (as well as the creative writing assignments found in the related Language Arts program), having the older student supervise the timeline and/or Markable Map maintenance and review it regularly with siblings, etc. You can peruse our catalog for more books related to the subject you are studying, or take a field trip to the library to check out books related to your subject matter. You should also expect longer writing assignments from your older student than what may be assigned in the Instructor's Guide and a deeper understanding and application of the content your child reads.

Our Sonlight Forums are a great place to get more tips and hints from other Sonlight families who are using our Curriculum with an older or younger student.

How can I do it all?

It is almost impossible and very overwhelming to do everything that is listed in our Instructor guides. Some families suggest reading through every book, but not covering every assignment. Sometimes just reading the book is adequate. Almost everyone does all the readings, but many will ignore the comprehension questions in favor of 'just' discussing the material with their children. Or they will skip Science in the early years. Or use a Sonlight program over the course of a year and a half or two years. Or do the Read-Alouds (some of them, anyway) at night, before bedtime, or during the summer, when the kids are bored.

Some parents, however, just can't shake the feeling that they are utter failures if they don't do every last item mentioned in the Instructor's Guide, and do it in the same order and at the same pace that the guide suggests. If you are this kind of person; if you tend to think that, "I saw it in the Instructor's Guide, therefore I must do it," then we need to warn you: it is possible you will feel overwhelmed. Some customers have told us they take a black marker and mark out those assignments they don't wish to do. The point is, do what you need to so that you can use the Instructor's Guide as the tool it was intended to be - not the master.

What should I get for my toddler?

The earliest Sonlight recommends starting any sort of formal curriculum at all is 3 years of age. At that point, you might want to consider our P3/4 program. For now, I would suggest spending lots of time playing with your child. God made young children so that they learn best through play. They are inquisitive, they ask questions, when they are ready to know something they try to do it, or ask about it, they learn quickly. And they play."

What should I get for my preschooler?

Our Preschool Program (Fiction, Fairy Tales and Fun for Little Learners) is typically recommended for older 3-year-olds or younger 4-year-olds. It is a loosely structured program with lots of great picture books and developmentally appropriate activities. Our Pre-K Program (Exploring God's World) is typically recommended for older 4-year-olds or younger 5-year-olds. It is more structured than the preschool level. It includes a daily schedule and a series of pre-reading critical-thinking workbooks.

What if my child is reading above grade level?

Often young students read at a higher grade level than their language arts skills. When this is the case, we recommend using the reader package that goes along with the grade-appropriate language arts package, even though the books will be quite easy for the child to read. The readers tie in with the language arts assignments, so this helps assure there are no gaps. I would encourage you to utilize your public library to get more advanced books to continue to challenge your student with his reading.

If your student reads beyond a grade 4-5 level (and has corresponding language arts skills), your homeschool curriculum selection should be based more on content and maturity than reading ability. By this time, students are reading to learn, rather than learning to read, so the grade level of the books is no longer as much of an issue.

Can Sonlight be used with special needs children?

Sonlight programs are readily and easily modified to meet a broad range of academic needs. Our programs provide ready-made academic challenges for advanced students, yet are also used successfully by average students and even those with learning disabilities. Simply slow the pace, ignore one or more of the assignments, or use our 4-day weekly schedule right out of the box. A child who struggles with reading can still comprehend at their intellectual age - so reading aloud will work well for you. If your child has other special needs, you can easily modify the delivery method (perhaps employing books on tape, etc.) or another facet of the program to allow your child to experience the joy of learning with Sonlight.

We offer several resources to help with special needs.

I think I know what I want, but I'm second-guessing myself. Can you help?

(When there are no obvious red flags.) It sounds like you are doing very well in deciding what to get for your children’s education. The main thing to keep in mind is that you know your children best, so you should definitely get what you feel would be best for them.

Is Sonlight accredited?

There are many forms of accreditation; some homeschool/correspondence programs are accredited, but what does that actually mean? The only accreditation that has national acceptance is the Department of Secondary and Elementary Education, a division of the Federal Government. Accreditation from a Christian School Accrediting Agency, even one that is endorsed by a state, does not have national acceptance. The few correspondence type schools that do have the DESE accreditation are usually related to a state university.

Many, many colleges are not only accepting home education students with a parent-generated transcript, but they are actively seeking them out, even offering scholarships for homeschooled students! A lack of national accreditation is no longer a deterrent in most situations.

In a desire to serve our clients, and not an accrediting agency, Sonlight has chosen not to seek accreditation. We do recommend, beginning by at least 8th grade, you request information from colleges in which your child may be interested to be sure you meet their entrance requirements and plan your child's high school experience accordingly. Most colleges will be happy to provide you with information; many even have admissions officers designated to assist homeschooled applicants.

Does Sonlight award a diploma?

As a curriculum provider, Sonlight does not offer a diploma or transcript maintenance service. The parents in the homeschool serve as the ‘administration’, deciding what the requirements for graduation are. Your school then awards a diploma when those requirements are met.

Does Sonlight include a testing service?

Sonlight was designed from the ground up to capitalize on the efficient, tutorial environment of the home. We at Sonlight want your children to learn, but, even more important, we want them to have fun learning. And we want them to learn how to learn--how to find information and solve problems--so they're well equipped for adulthood. Because homeschool parents are in daily, personal, one-on-one contact with their students (unlike the relationship that exists between most classroom teachers and their students), we expect that, in general, rather than using quizzes, tests, and gradable worksheets, homeschool parents will evaluate the progress of their students through other means. When you're reading a book, you'll likely discuss it with your son or daughter: "Why do you think he wanted to do that?" "What does ____ mean?" If your child is able to answer your questions, you will know exactly how much s/he has understood--or how much s/he has failed to understand. And you and your child will have enjoyed a mutually satisfying conversation to boot! You will also evaluate your child's comprehension and retention by way of the writing assignments provided. Having to write about a topic truly requires a deeper level of understanding than just memorizing facts long enough to pass a test.

How do I give grades?

If you need to give letter grades for record-keeping purposes, one suggestion would be to award an A for mastery of the subject, a B for comprehension, and a C for basic understanding. Lower grades aren’t usually necessary when homeschooling as your student will no doubt continue in a particular subject until at least a basic understanding is attained.

Does Sonlight follow the Common Core?

Sonlight Curriculum creates curriculum materials to meet the needs of families desiring to educate their children at home. As always, we have and continue to seek to use materials that are the “best of the best.” While we are aware of various standards, we do not adhere to any organization’s or government’s set of standards or regulations and we do not consult with others when producing our curriculum.

Some of the “best of the best” materials we use were written many years before Common Core Standards (CCS) and other standards were created. Other materials we use may have been created and advertised by authors or publishers more recently to comply with standards. However, that is not a factor in our decision to use such materials. Rather, the quality, coverage, applicability to our curriculum, and usefulness for students are considered.

We believe Sonlight curriculum and materials have met or exceeded parents’ educational standards all along. We will continue to review educational materials for our programs that provide the very best educational experience for our customers

What denomination/religion is Sonlight?

Sonlight Curriculum is written from a strongly evangelical Christian perspective. We believe and teach that we should be like the Bereans, about whom is was said that they were of noble character because they examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17:11). We believe that everything we or anyone teaches should be judged by Scripture.

Although we don't have a specific statement of faith for our company, our editors and curriculum developers have subscribed to the Statement of Faith of the National Association of Evangelicals.

What version of the Bible does Sonlight use?

In most instances throughout the curriculum Bible verses are not quoted, instead chapter and verse location is provided, so you can whatever version of the Bible you prefer. However, various books and Bible Memory CDs that are scheduled use a variety of translations.

Why does Sonlight include some books that teach evolution?

Sonlight is in the business of education ... thus we are willing to offer all sides of an issue in order to allow you, as parent, to lead as you desire. We will always stand on the truth that God is Creator and He did create all. Beyond that, we will offer many insights, but not single answers to all questions. We do not take an official stance regarding issues about young earth vs. old earth creationism, or theistic evolution ... because we leave it to you as the parent/teacher to determine your approach to science and creation as you see fit.

We do include some book selections in our history and science programs which contain material supportive of evolution. We include them primarily because we do not take an isolationist approach to knowledge. The subject of evolution is not something we want to teach children to avoid or put down without adequate understanding. As the dominant perspective in contemporary science, evolution deserves mention and attention, even from those who disagree with its argument. With that said, we do our best to provide balanced perspectives in relation to any potentially divisive content such as evolution.

Sonlight integrates a strong Christian worldview into our Instructor's Guides so you and your children can look at the world through the lens of God's Word, the ultimate source of truth. We provide a counter balance to non-Christian content and ideas. We encourage your family to first seek to understand differing perspectives before critiquing them, so your children gain the ability to discern with you right beside them. We present information and a response to evolution, highlighting God as Creator and Intelligent Designer.

What is Sonlight’s Love to Learn Guarantee?

The Basics:

  1. Use up to 18 weeks of your curriculum and really get a feel for homeschooling with Sonlight.
  2. If you're not convinced that your package is right for you, you have one full year from your purchase date to return it for a full refund!
  3. The following curriculum automatically comes with the Love to Learn, Love to Teach Guarantee:
    • All Full-Grade Packages. Plus! Everything else you purchase at the same time as a Full-Grade Package.
    • All Core Packages. Plus! Everything else you purchase at the same time as a Core Package (such as Math, Science, Required Resources, Handwriting, Foreign Language, and Electives).
    • All Instructor Guides (including Parent and Student Guides)

With Sonlight, you won't throw away your money. If you try something and decide it doesn't work for you, you can get every penny back (except for the cost of return shipping). This gives you incredible flexibility. If you try a program and realize it's not the right level, you can return it and purchase a different level that fits your family.

Can I order Sonlight without any religious materials?

There is no such thing as a secular Sonlight option. However, many of our customers do use Sonlight and remove those items on their own. The other option is another homeschool company that is owned by our parent company, Inquisicorp. BookShark is very similar to Sonlight in content, but it contains no religious references or titles.

[If BookShark has a booth at the convention it is okay to send prospects there if they ask this question or something similar. If not, you can give them BookShark's website: www.bookshark.com]

Can I buy this book?

Regrettably, we are not able to carry an inventory or sell from the booth today. However, I would be happy to mark that book in the catalog so you can order it online.

Does Sonlight offer electronic or digital IGs or books?

Though we do not have an electronic version of our materials available at this time, this is something we are researching and testing for possible future release. We will be sure to let our customers know if and when this becomes available.

Do I have to buy it all in order to use Sonlight? Can I use the library instead?

In order to receive maximum benefit from the curriculum you will want to have all the materials at your disposal, but you need not purchase it all. Many families find it is most convenient to purchase a Full-Grade package, but it is possible to use the library if you're willing and able to extend the extra effort. Our Instructor's Guides are available separately.

Please keep in mind that there are additional challenges with using the library and not purchasing the books from us. The library editions may be different from the books we carry, and the page numbers may not line up with our schedules. Additionally, the library may not have the titles you need just when you need them, so you should be prepared to make adjustments to the schedule based on book availability.

What if I already own some of the books in the package? Can you remove those and adjust the price?

When you purchase a complete Core or Full-Grade package you are eligible for a 10% discount on most everything in that order and all other orders for the next 12 months, along with other club benefits. No substitutions or deletions are possible. Sonlight chose to offer this discount because the purchase of a complete package speeds up the shipping and handling process. It is much simpler for those in the warehouse to grab a complete package off the shelf for you. (It is simpler for you to order a complete package also - no typing in individual item numbers! And, don't forget the full 18-week guarantee when you purchase a complete Core!)

When comparing the individual price of the books they already own with the value of the discount they receive on a package and any additional items ordered, many customers find it actually saves money to order the package and duplicate some of the books! Those families will often use the duplicate books for gifts. Of course, you may always order items individually if you don't wish to purchase a complete package.

Do you have any show/conference specials if I buy today?

Our conference special is a $15 coupon off your order of $50 or more. However, you don't have to order today as we aren't able to take orders in the booth. Your coupon won't expire until the end of the summer.

Do you offer a payment plan?

Yes! If your order is $399 or more (or if you order a full-grade package) the time-payment option will be offered when you check out online. You will pay 25% down and then have 3 more equal payments of 25% each spread over 3, 6, or 9 months.

This page updated: December 2014. KC.