Posted in curriculum chit chat
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okay, since someone emailed me and asked why i switched to KONOS from Sonlight, here's the basic answer i gave...you may not agree with me, but that is fine...how boring life would be if everyone was like me!
as i mentioned in the "Why We Homeschool" post, i tried KONOS the first time we embarked upon homeschooling. I persoanlly wasn't ready for the "out of the schoolroom" box at that time. I firmly believe that if i would have used a "traditional boxed" curriculum THEN we would have been homeschooling all these years. We probably wouldn't have put the boys back in school (we never took out our dd, as she was thriving where she was)
as i see it, the beauty of KONOS is the exact thing that can make you run screaming from it! YOU are the one who controls what you learn, how long you study it and when you feel it's appropriate! You can all be on the same subject...no buying 2 or 3 different levels (you can see a sample page at their website posted above or on my sidebar) You need to allow yourself to think differently than most of us have been raised. The best things i have ever read to show me that homeschooling was more than "school at home" are listed on my sidebar, along with the Elijah Company Catalog, which alas, i cannot find anymore! By reading about learning styles, how the public school system goes against natural styles of MOST children i started to long for KONOS again. We could see that M was struggling and would probably come back home. I had formed some close bonds with many of the homeschooling moms at our church, and i had gleaned much information and wisdom from them. That is how i became introduced to Sonlight.
Here was just what i needed! Great books, a relaxed philosophy and a GUIDE!!!! i wouldn't have to plan, plan, plan! How cool was that?
so, you may ask, since that is what this post is SUPPOSED to be about, how do they compare?
i caution you that this is MY opinion...i am not a paid spokesperson for either curriculum (although it would be nice!) and i am using only MY experiance in using both...so here it goes:
Scope and Sequence neither one has a "traditional" scope and sequence as referred to by schools. Sonlight takes an approach to History, ala "The Well Trained Mind", learning History from the beginning. KONOS focuses on Character Traits in a Unit Study, and has a useful plan in the Compass to allow you t o go for the "traditional" approach if you desire to "stay on schedule" for paperwork purposes (some states require these things)
Subject Matter i feel that they both adequately cover all subjects, being History, Science, Geography, Language, Social Stuff
Planning vs Instructor's Guides here is the crux of the choice...do YOU want to plan out your unit? or would you rather just open up a guide, read down the list and check them off? Honestly, i spent about an hour a wek "reorganizing" the SL IG's to fit my schedule, which is okay. That actually has helped me with planning out the KONOS units. I knew if i didn't hit every single activity or book on the list, it was alright. I know the same goes for KONOS...i don't have to plan every little activity suggested to be doing a good job. I really like planning, making notes, etc. But there are some days when i wish i HAD an Instructor's Guide!
Cost you can see at either sites the cost of both. There are myriad places to buy both used (my KONOS purchase was an Ebay windfall that allowed me to buy all three Volumes, the Compass and Index!) Many people who are blessed to buy Cores from Sonlight use them with multiple children and look at it as an investment. Since we have access to a decent library system, KONOS works for us well. KONOS tends to be a one time purchase, Sonlight is a continuing cost. It's a diffeerent thing for each family. You need to look and decide what is best for your family at that time.
you do have to buy a Math curriculum with both Sonlight and KONOS. I feel that you have to supplement heavily with Phonics in the Sonlight LA curriculum in the lower levels. We very much enjoyed Sonlight's Science curriculum. Science is a little harder with KONOS, due to the nature of Unit Studies. Then again, there are many completely "scientific" units to choose from!
So that is my comparison of the two curriculums. I hope this was helpful to whomever has been curious about this. We enjoyed both, are enjoying KONOS right now. I would recommend Sonlight to many. The same for KONOS. It's just a matter of which fits your family better, as with any other curriculum. The best thing to do is PRAY, ask your beloved hubby and make the choice. Commit to ONE YEAR without switching. There's usually a "reorientation" mode that your kids will go into if you have pulled them out of school. Give them that time. They are worth it |
i quickly decided that the Holtzmann's were the smartest people in the world! (they are really great, and write much of the curriculum themselves) and we were blessed to be able to order a full Core in 1999 when M came home for the long haul. I have since used Core 4Alt, which i believe is discontinued now (a combo of Core 3&4), Core 5 which i was blessed to borrow, Core 7 (which is upper level American History and the title has changed) and Core K and Core PreK. 
and reasoning, etc. It's just that Sonlight is more laid out, and you have to dig around you KONOS volumes to find stuff. Since i am using KONOS now with younger kids, i have to do a bit more supplementing than i would have to with Sonlight. But i'm still learning that i don't need to have Science every other day either 
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