Main > SCA Proc > Quick Replies > Combining multiples
Just as one may find freshmen and graduate students taking the same college course, so, too, with Sonlight Curriculum programs, your choice should be based more on content than on the number we happen to have attached to the program. The primary reason: Great literature (unlike most textbooks!) is appropriate for a wide range of ages.
The Holzmann's oldest daughter, a straight-A student according to classroom school teachers, studied the Sonlight Core F program to good purpose when she was in eighth grade. Other parents have told us much the same thing: each program can be used with little difficulty by students with a broad range of ages.
So what does all this mean to you?
It means that you'll have the flexibility to do what's best for your family. You could use unique programs for each child, but you also have the choice of using one program for two or more children. Which ultimately means that you save the time you would have spent juggling the extra program(s), save the money you would have spent on them, and avoid much of the frustration that comes from being pulled in multiple directions.
So how do you combine your children into one Core program? There are those who prefer to teach to the youngest and those who like to teach to the oldest.
Our customers who prefer to teach to the youngest say they like the approach because it makes it easy to cover all of the material in the Core program. They can follow the Instructor's Guide more closely, and they rarely, if ever, have to worry about "falling behind" the pre-printed schedule. What's more, some of them enjoy the hunt. They like searching out materials with which to supplement their older children's education.
Others, prefer to teach to the oldest because though they may have to skip some assignments with their younger children, they find that eliminating assignments is far easier than having to locate quality resources to supplement their oldest child's education.
If the children in your family have greater age spans between them, you may consider purchasing programs that complement each other. For example, you may choose to purchase Core programs that focus on World History or American History so all of your children are studying the same basic history, though at different levels and depth.
Remember that Sonlight's literature base gives you great flexibility. Capitalize on it! You have the "Love to Learn" 18-Week Guarantee (http://www.sonlight.com/guarantee.html#18week) . If things really don't work out, return your program for a full refund.