What Is My Child Retaining

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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.