Main > SCA Proc > Quick Replies > Learning Difficulties, Can I Use Sonlight?
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. Sonlight Curriculum follows a modest pace in its standard early elementary programs. But if your child is chomping at the bit to set a faster pace, Sonlight will give all the challenge your child requires. Simply substitute one of the Advanced Readers programs for the Regular Readers programs.
By the time you hit Core D, Sonlight's pace has quickened noticeably, and in Core E and beyond we provide more than enough materials and outside assignments to challenge even the brightest students. Thus, for example, the content of the Level 100 program is easy enough for a 5th grader to understand, but the unmodified workload is worthy of a high school-level course in American History.
The bottom line: if your son or daughter is intellectually gifted, you needn't try to piece together a more challenging program.
But if your child is closer to average, is heavily involved in dance, music, or some other nonacademic pursuits, or even if your child has a learning disability: you will find you can readily adjust our program to meet your needs. 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. You will find many Sonlight users on our forums who would love to share their personal success stories of adapting Sonlight materials for students with special learning needs. Please register here to visit our forums: https://forums.sonlight.com/
We offer several resources to help with special needs. First of all, there is a Learning Challenges Homeschool webinar at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiYIY3NsYts&feature=player_embedded. Then, there is a 4-part podcast on Homeschooling with Special Needs Children at http://www.sonlight.com/podcasts.html. And there is also a “Special Needs – Learning Challenges” forum at https://forums.sonlight.com/forum/52-learning-challenges/ where you can interact with other homeschoolers who have special needs children.