Sonlight Connections:A Homeschool Podcast

Adjusting Sonlight to Fit Your Life Description & Show Notes Think of homeschooling and you might picture studious children sitting around the dining room table, all their heads bowed over workbooks in concentration. Or you might imagine day-long field trips to the planetarium or living-history museum. Then when you think about homeschooling *your* children, those pictures evaporate and you immedi...

Sonlight's New Kindergarten Program: Exploring American History Description & Show Notes Enjoy discovering America's history with your young adventures through this 36-week program, fully planned Kindergarten program. Sonlight K shares the stories of key events and important people in American history. You’ll encounter key statesmen and meet the four presidents on Mount Rushmore. You’ll cover...

Tips for Teaching Multiple Students with Sonlight Description & Show Notes You are convinced that literature-based learning is the way to go in your family homeschool. But this morning you woke up from a nightmare involving 20 children (where did they all come from?!) and stacked boxes of homeschool curriculum filling your house. Whether it was from something you ate, or just your uncertainty...

A Relaxing Approach to Holiday School Description & Show Notes Making time to celebrate the season with your family can seem impossible with the numerous tasks that come along with making "merry" AND homeschooling. In fact, many veteran homeschoolers take a longer break for the Holidays, while some adjust their school schedule to make time to celebrate with family and friends. It's always good...

Practical Tips for Literature-Based Learning Description & Show Notes Learn how to navigate literature-based learning with practical tips and tricks as Judy, Christie, and Sheila provide practical tips for literature-based learning.  At Sonlight, we believe that great stories lay the foundation for the best kind of education. That’s why Sonlight utilizes great literature (like historical...

Getting Your Kids to Focus and Kissing Behavior Issues Good-bye Description & Show Notes Are you new to homeschooling or still adjusting to the new year? You'll want to listen in if your family is struggling with focusing, adjusting to homeschooling, or experiencing behavior issues. This video includes SO MUCH ADVICE and multiple ideas to give your family a homeschool adjustment. Join in as Ju...

Homeschool Tips for the Working Parent Description & Show Notes Being a working parent is tough whether you homeschool or not. Adding any additional responsibilities outside of working, raising children, and running a household can seem impossible. You might be surprised to know that it's not impossible. It's actually very doable with the right curriculum. We would never claim that homeschooli...

Overcoming Your Fear of Homeschooling Description & Show Notes Suggest the idea of homeschooling to some parents and they immediately say “not me” or shake their heads in disbelief and change the subject. Dig a little deeper and you may find that the real reasons for dismissing the possibility of homeschooling include: - Not knowing where to begin - Being certain that you lack the patience to...

Homeschool Scheduling Advice and Practical Tips Description & Show Notes Join Stephanie, Judy, Jen, and Ann as they provide homeschool scheduling advice and practical tips on how you can fit everything thing in! As a parent, you are already busy, but remember there are 168 hours in a week to help you accomplish everything on your to-do list. Homeschooling doesn't have to be 8-3, Monday-Friday....

Time for a Homeschool Progress Report? Description & Show Notes Now that we are weeks into the homeschool year, are you finding areas where your child is struggling and shining? After working through the first couple weeks of multiplication are you realizing that your child might not actually know the math facts? Or maybe you are learning your child isn't exactly where they seemed to be in rea...

Description & Show Notes When Sonlight’s founder, Sarita Holzmann, first realized she needed to homeschool, she was not thrilled. She found herself overwhelmed, uncertain, and reluctant. After starting, she found that, with her literature-rich method, she actually loved this new dimension of her life. At that time, there were no complete curriculum programs available; moms had to assemble prod...

Description & Show Notes Meet Sonlight's Mission Agency Partners: Mission India, Pioneers, The Seed Company and Far East Broadcasting Company Since 1990, John and Sarita have had missionary support held in their heart. When Sarita started Sonlight her initial purpose was to enable missionary families to stay one more year on the field. You see, the second most common reason—at least back in 19...

Description & Show Notes Turning Children Into Book LoversーOne Chapter at a Time with Sarita Holzmann Humans are wired for stories and storytelling! That’s what makes great literature and delightful narratives so effective for teaching. Learn how to choose the best books for your homeschool, using Sarita Holzmann’s 7-part test. Also, find out what kinds of books to avoid and how to get your k...

Description & Show Notes Teaching Multiple Ages with Literature with Rhonda, Sandy and Sheila Literature-based learning is a great choice for teaching children across multiple ages. There is no better way to create a relationship and develop strong bonds between your children that will last a lifetime. Learn how to establish an environment that encourages learning together. Veteran Sonlight ho...

Description & Show Notes Raising Globally Minded Children with a Heart for the World with Sarita Holzmann Christian homeschoolers have an obligation to educate their children with a heart for the world. Help your children move beyond your own backyard, state, and even hemisphere with a globally-minded perspective that produces empathy and instills a sense of purpose. Join Sarita Holzmann to di...

Description & Show Notes Come join Rhonda, Sandy, and Sheila as they share steps to reaching the goal of reclaiming an organized homeschool. A place for everything, and everything in its place. Yes, an orderly homeschool environment does matter. But how do you create such an atmosphere when using a literature-based approach to learning (or really any approach to learning)? There are books and...

Description & Show Notes Literature-Based Homeschool Schedules and Routines that Work with Ana Willis Whether you are a veteran homeschooler, new to homeschooling, or just starting your home education journey, this session is beneficial. Join Ana as she talks in detail about homeschool schedules and routines that work. Her encouragement, advice, tips and unwavering faith is she to inspire you...

Description & Show Notes Literature-based homeschooling uses outstanding books and delightful stories as the centerpiece for learning. Join Marci and Meredith as Stephanie talks to them about how families can make the most out of reading books. They talk about how to pick great literature for your family, tips on facilitating meaningful conversations, ways to bring books to life, and more. Son...

Description & Show Notes Homeschooling is not the only “job” you have as a mom. Whether you have a full-time job, volunteer for an organization, or have a sideline that takes your time on a regular basis, the stress can add up in a hurry. Balance is the key to successfully pull off the juggling act between work and homeschool. Join these veteran homeschoolers as they help you set goals and est...

Description & Show Notes High schoolers are busy people. Education is just one of the many responsibilities on their plate and may not be a priority (in their minds). If your high schooler is already a book lover, then using a literature-based approach to learning will likely resonate with your student. If, however, your high schooler would prefer a root canal over reading a good book, you wil...

Description & Show Notes Literature-based learning is an educational philosophy based on children’s natural curiosity and love for stories. With Sonlight, you’ll use these real books in each History / Bible / Literature program to study history, make geography simple (since every place in a story can be located in the context on the map), grow students’ reading ability with the included Reader...

Homeschooling a Child with ADHD with Misty Bailey Description & Show Notes   Join Stephanie as she talks to Misty about the importance of reading for a special needs student and all about her journey with homeschooling a child with ADHD. She talks about how to help a reluctant reader love books, the importance of reading aloud to special needs students, and how her dedication to homeschoo...

Description & Show Notes   All About Happy Cheetah Reading With Amy Lykosh. Sonlight is now carrying a new remedial reading program called Happy Cheetah Reading. Amy Lykosh, Sarita and John Holzmann's oldest daughter, talks about the program and how it works. Stephanie deep dives with Amy about the creator of the program, Dr. Karen Holinga (also the creator of Spelling You See), the resea...

Description & Show Notes   Join Stephanie as she talks with Kristi Clover about how to engage children to help with their education and around the house. Whether you're a veteran homeschooler, new to homeschooling or recently thrown into schooling at home, Kristi's advice can and will help!  Links & Resources From This Episode Kristi's website Sonlight's 30th Anniversary Giveaway...

Description & Show Notes   Here Tricia Goyer provides excellent advice for homeschooling families and schooling at home families, alike. Listen in as she explores focusing techniques, books to help your children cope, homeschool schedules that work, ideas for sticking to a routine and so much more.  Links & Resources From This Episode Tricia's website Tricia's blog Do you want to...