PreK & Kindergarten Curriculum Comparison: Sonlight vs. Gentle + Classical Press | DETAILED Reviews

Today, I'm sharing a side-by-side comparison of Sonlight's PreK with the Primer program from Gentle + Classical Press. I hope that seeing these programs side-by-side and hearing the details of how each literature-rich program tackles each subject area, and the resources included.
Here's my videos mentioned in this video:
Gentle + Classical Nature, Volume 1: • Nature Study Curriculu...
Gentle + Classical Nature, Volume 2: • Gentle + Classical Nat...
Here's the link to Gentle + Classical's shop (Affiliate Link): shopgentleclassical.com/produ...
WELCOME //
I'm Rachel, a mom of two and the oldest in a family of 8 kids. I'm a second-generation homeschooler who is passionate about education. I'm originally from Michigan, but am living overseas. My two young boys and teaching homeschool lessons to my youngest sisters keep me busy, but I make time for writing and for making KZbin videos, too! On this channel, you can expect videos featuring books and homeschool curriculum, homeschool tips for hard days, our journey raising bilingual kids, and vlogs about the intentional adventure that our homeschool lifestyle allows! Subscribe to join our family here:
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THE CURRICULUM I WRITE//
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WATCH MORE //
Get to Know the Seven In All Family: • We're The Seven in All...
Limit Screen Time for Kids: • LIMIT SCREEN TIME FOR ...
Raising Bilingual Kids (Without OPOL!) • How We're Raising Bili...
Strategies for Homeschooling Gifted Learners • HELP! I'm Homeschoolin...
My DIY Preschool Learning Binder • Preschool Learning Bin...
Classroom Management for Homeschoolers (Series) • Homeschool for REAL - ...
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Want to try All About Reading? This is my affiliate link: www.allaboutlearningpress.net...
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DISCLOSURE //
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[@ChristinaMcLaughlin-pf6kj]

Hi! I feel like finding this video was an answer to prayer. I am very new to the homeschool world and have been praying about what to do with my new three year old in the fall for preschool. I am overwhelmed by the options. I am blessed to have many friends in my church who homeschool, but many of them do something different. Most of them did not do a preschool curriculum at all. Most say that play and reading are sufficient until age 6. We already do those things with our three year old, but feel like I would do better with some kind of structure/plan. I selfishly want to wet my feet in what homeschooling would be like. I don’t want it to be overwhelming though. I stumbled upon the gentle and classical and think I really like it. But none of my friends have heard of it. I also really love sonlight. I love that you are doing both because I thought of getting the gentle and classical curriculum and incorporating sonlights books. My daughter loves books already so thought sonlight would be good for her as well. But, I do love the catechisms and worksheets gentle and classical offers. Did you enjoy doing this or did you feel this was too much at times? Thank you so much for sharing your video! This was so helpful to a new homeschooling mom! It’s exciting and scary. Just don’t want to overwhelm my daughter and make her not like learning!

[@SevenInAll]

If you're looking for someone to encourage you that structure and curriculum may be helpful and beneficial (especially for you as the parent!) during the preschool years, you've come to the right place! :) This video is comparing Sonlight P to Gentle + Classical Primer, which are more at a 4-5 year old level. With a 3 year old, I'd more look at doing Sonlight T and/or Gentle + Classical Preschool. We loved doing both Sonlight T and Gentle + Classical Preschool. If you really like Gentle + Classical but just want to add more books for a book lover, you could also use the suggested extra book lists they have for each unit in the handicraft guide to add more library books that "match" the themes covered each week. I don't have good library access, so the book pack from Sonlight was a great way to begin building my little home library. I have a video from the first time I used Gentle + Classical Preschool: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2ecpKhmZ9aeZ80si=pKlmgIVqZ0uThZ9T Since making that video, I used GC Preschool again with my 2nd son when he was 3ish, and because of what I learned and what I used the first time, this time I actually used all the memory statement cards, and I had purchased more of the books so that we were able to do more of it--it was an absolute blast. I have a baby now, and already know that we will use it again when he is a preschooler. :) After the first time of using Sonlight T, when I did follow the schedule, since then I have just mostly kept the books around and re-read them many times, not sticking to a schedule.

[@MikkaRoqueJacobson]

@@SevenInAll Rachel you are amazing! You have been a gift to me and my family. My husband hears about you all the time. :'D We are currently using Gentle Classical Preschool and just noticed how my 2,5 year old son is able to sit for many many stories in the morning. So thank you for sharing about Sonlight. Also, I am so excited to try out your Purely Preschool curriculum. I just got the All About Me one. The Lord has convicted me to homeschool ever since I was pregnant and I made the leap of Faith to get the G+C Preschool curriculum. Now I am beyond excited, super passionate and feeling well-equipped to homeschool... especially with resources like your videos. so THANK YOU for taking the time to document what you do and share it with us!

[@SevenInAll]

@@MikkaRoqueJacobson Aww, thank you so much for leaving that comment! I really appreciate that, and I'm thankful that these videos are helpful.

[@ErinCoxGentleClassical]

This was beautifully done! Thank you so much for sharing in such wonderful detail!

[@SevenInAll]

Thank you so much for watching! I wanted homeschool parents to really get a chance to understand how each subject area is handled.

[@MadisonHopperCleaning]

I loved seeing this comparison! Thanks so much for sharing. 💗

[@SevenInAll]

You are so welcome! I hoped it would be helpful to see how the different programs are set up and how different subject areas are approached.

[@thesupportiveenvironment]

Thanks for making the comparison with Sonlight and Gentle and Classical, I started using Sonlight Pre-K with my five year old and I was curious about Gentle and classical. We love Sonlight and love the variety of books. I do like how Gentle and Classical has memory cards for the Bible verses. This video was very valuable because it showed side by side how each curriculum is laid out. Thank you.

[@SevenInAll]

I'm so glad you found it helpful! I do find it much easier to do memory work successfully when we have a card to use to reinforce what we're memorizing.

[@hayleyam28]

Sonlight has CDs that put the Bible verses into song form, but for some reason, I don't think that actually starts until their K level. It would definitely be a good thing for the Pre-K level too!

[@lynetter6850]

Thank you you, Rachel! !

[@SevenInAll]

Glad this is helpful!

[@kaylaagarth747]

This was so helpful for me! Thank you!

[@SevenInAll]

Glad it was helpful!

[@StaceyYoder]

Thanks for sharing. 👍🏼🙂

[@SevenInAll]

Thanks for watching, Stacey!

[@hayleyam28]

Thank you for this comparison. I have an older Sonlight Pre-K 4/5 that doesn't include math, so it's interesting to see the newer version.

[@SevenInAll]

Glad it was interesting!

[@katybugfarms]

This was so helpful, thank you! I'm curious if you would only pick one, which would you chose and why? It seems like you could easily add more great literature to G&C.

[@SevenInAll]

If I could only pick one...I'd go with G+C. The memory work and conversations have been a fantastic experience this year, and we've also enjoyed the morning binder approach. My mom already owned Sonlight books from when my siblings were this age, so for me it was an easy add.

[@ClowPow]

This is great! Thank you! We love G+C! Are you enjoying All About Reading? Would love to hear what you think about that!

[@SevenInAll]

I will make a more thorough review when we're closer to the end of level 1 (we're not quite halfway yet)...but I do plan to do a quick update on how it's going in my January Homeschool Recap video soon!

[@rosalindreloj7928]

Have you heard of or have an opinion on Rod and Staff 1st grade phonics?

[@SevenInAll]

I've never seen it in person, so sorry, I don't have any thoughts on it!

[@Candielou87]

Since you put the pages in sheet protectors, does your son use dry erase markers to write on the plastic sheet? Or do you remove the sheet?

[@SevenInAll]

Yes, he uses dry-erase markers. That way I can just erase it and he can repeat again and again. The "Kindergarten Binder" pages are meant to be repeated.

[@marlah.7511]

Wondering how you do both programs? Each day, do you work through one program, then the other...or do you work on math from both programs, then Bible from both programs, for example?

[@SevenInAll]

I've shown a little bit of how all the pieces fit together in my recent weekly planning video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWauY4mllMekqK8 Basically, we have two "storytime" sessions each day--one over breakfast and one over morning snacktime. We read Sonlight's scheduled books at breakfast and do G+C readings and the memory statement cards during snacktime (and follow snacktime up with an art activity or anything 'extra' from that program). With the math example you mentioned...Sonlight's math is very minimal other than counting to a certain number and doing a number tracing page each week. G+C has the morning binder, which we used for a long time but recently not so regularly because my son has kind of 'outgrown' it and is getting bored--nowadays I'll get out the morning binder about once a week. My son is more of a kindergarten level in math so he's started to move beyond some of the math in both programs, but it still offers good review/practice and conversation opportunities.

[@marlah.7511]

@@SevenInAll Sorry I somehow missed your recent planning video. Thanks for the link. I will watch that! Thank you for explaining what is working for you. I would like to do something similar. I have both of those programs (except a different level for Sonlight). I’ve been contemplating how to use both. I’d like to get it right to begin with, rather than switching it up halfway through. I think you mentioned a G+C Nature program video? I want to watch that, too. (Linked in your description box? I’ll check.)

[@SevenInAll]

@@marlah.7511 I have videos on both Nature volumes from Gentle + Classical. Volume 1: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gp67eqt-et5lrpY Volume 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXi3mKt7iMSlrdE We finished Volume 1 and are using Volume 2 now...they aren't necessarily leveled (the 2nd isn't any more difficult than the first), but they cover different biomes--the first is more focused on temperate forest climates and the 2nd is focused on oceans.

[@marlah.7511]

@@SevenInAll That’s good to know. I just assumed volume 2 would be more advanced. Thanks for the links!

[@RockSimmer-gal4God]

We are yet to use a curriculum for books with my kindergartener!!! We use lots of books tho!!! We also use German books with her!!! We couldn’t read one book all week with her!!! We would prefer to sing a small song than a hymn with my youngest daughter!!! We do sonlight with my twins and nephew!!! My youngest may end up doing sonlight!!!

[@SevenInAll]

Books, books, books! So much fun with little ones (and big ones, too!) ;)