Sonlight is a literature-based curriculum. Sonlight uses real books to teach your children, not textbooks or workbooks. We include history spine books in our Core programs, which are in a read-able format. We also include biographies, literature, and historical fiction to further teach on the subject, and to incite the student's interest in the topic. Our Instructors guides are really the “star” of the program, as it schedules everything for you: every book with notes and study guides. There is no planning time needed for parents using our curriculum. You may request samples here: http://www.sonlight.com/samples.html
Sonlight is parent taught program, meaning they read the History, Bible, and Read-Alouds to the children. Starting in Core 100 and above, we do not include Read Alouds, and the student is expected to read all the books on their own. The parents are still expected to be involved in the discussions, grading and so on through high school.
Sonlight’s Core packages A-W consists of the Core Instructor's Guide, history, geography, read alouds, and one set of readers, language arts and Bible. Cores A-C allows choices of readers and language arts. Please see our Core packages here: http://www.sonlight.com/core.html. You may add in math, science and handwriting to any of our Core packages here: http://www.sonlight.com/subjects.html
A Full Grade Package on the other hand, consists of the Core (Core Instructor's Guide, history, read alouds, and one set of readers), Science, Language Arts coordinated to the readers, Bible, Handwriting [not included in Full Grade Package 4 or 5] Math, and all Required Resources. Please see our complete package listing here: http://www.sonlight.com/grade.html
I encourage you to read a few articles on our website to become familiar with our educational philosophies to help you determine if Sonlight is right for your family: “27 Reasons NOT to Buy Sonlight®” http://www.sonlight.com/not-to-buy.html “27 Reasons Families Love Sonlight®” http://www.sonlight.com/to-buy.html “The Sonlight® Difference”: What kind of people do you want your children to become? http://www.sonlight.com/sonlight-difference.html
If you are interested in exploring Sonlight further, please let us know. If you email us the ages/grades of your children, we would be happy to help you with choosing and placement, and even how to combine so you can teach multiple children from one level [wherever possible].