Combining Build Your Library Level 1 & Torchlight Level 1 II Literature based Homeschool Curriculum

We are combining TLK and BYL0 with our 5 year old, but using Torchlight as our base since their books list is more modern and diverse. We absolutely love all the literature! We are taking our time with the this level since I want my son to be a bit older once we start level 1 in both programs. I am excited to see how year 1 works for your family :) I am also excited to see your prehistory review. We plan on tackling that between levels K and 1, but adding in Blossom and Root's prehistory unit to BYL.

We used both of those curricula this past year! We're still wrapping up, taking our time, but definitely enjoying it! So many good books!

Oh I Just bought both BYL and TL level 0 for my kid too! So I am excited to see that I am not the only one on board in this double dare :) Thank you; always appreciate your insight

YAY! I'm combing BYL and Blossom and Root Prehistory this summer, then combining TL and BYL 1 next year, so I'm taking notes on all of your videos lately!

Can't wait to see your BYL Prehistory unit review! We are planning for this unit next :)

I found your channel because I was looking for BYL 0 reviews. I was so excitedly shocked that you’re a Christian mama who wants a secular curriculum. I felt like I was the only one. Haha. I prefer to weave my beliefs into the curriculum much like I see God pop up in so much of life. I went to the aquarium with my 5yo who decided she wanted me to read the information blurbs for each animal and she was so curious about the lion fish which is an invasive species. I got to explain ecosystems and how God designed ecosystems in a special way for proper balance, but when a species gets introduced where it doesn’t belong things can get out of balance. I love those moments of showing God in everyday things. I’m told I have a knack for it and that’s something that I want my children to see and catch from me. I’m also hoping to have them in public school by middle school so I want them to have that skill of seeing God even when He’s not really being taught in the curriculum. I also value having my kids learn what the world is learning and getting to talk through why some people believe and thing and I don’t. I hope my children will believe in Christ but if they do I want it to be their choice and not just the default, that’s very important to us. All this to say thank you. I’m so glad I’m not alone and I look forward to seeing you discuss it in a future video (please do!).

Man oh man!! So much in this video. Thank you so much for explaining your view on secular curriculum. You make such great points. And I’m pretty sure you have convinced me to look into Story of The World. As always, thanks for sharing!!

I’m currently combining BYL0 and TLK for my 5-year-old, and planning to take 1.5yrs to complete the curriculum. I’m so happy that you are a year ahead of us so I can follow along and learn about what is coming up next :)

Great video! I had never heard of either of these curricula and I’ve been homeschooling for 7 years!

Thank you so much for this! We are a Christian family that uses secular curriculum too! I love Build your Library, but I’ll definitely check out Torchlight!

This is something missing from our homeschool! Thanks for the info, definitely checking these out ☺️

I have pretty much decided to do this as well. I use two math curriculums (MUS - spine and BJU - review) for my older children and tutoring child. I have three foster children that will be adopted in the next few months and plan to use MUS, BJU, and Rightstart Math next spring with the little ones (ages 3 and 4 next spring). I have been homeschooling for 21 years with 3 grown children who homeschool their children. I love, love, love homeschooling. TL and BYL seem to really line up with who I am and my teaching style.

I know you already have your reading curriculums but I use writing with ease for my 4th grader and it’s really helped him with reading comprehension and narration. Basically you read an excerpt of a story and the book has the questions that the teacher should be asking. It also has prompts for the student if he’s stuck on how to summarize the story. It’s helped my son soooo much to form his ideas and answers.

Your hair looks great like that!

I love Sonlight and use that as our main curriculum. I add in books from other curriculum that goes with what we are learning about. The library has a lot of Torchlight and Build Your Library books.

Not exactly related, but we are using history quest (with the teacher guide). If you want to add even more to your history, there are some cool activities like making a mummified apple face, and cardboard ziggurat etc as well as extra reading for different times. But that said, there is only so much be can do!

I’m currently using TLK and supplementing some of the books from BYL in. I find TL on its own, to be a bit overwhelming so we’ve started taking one week and spreading it to two. But I love the idea of making BYL the primary focus and picking and choosing which parts of TL you use (because there are SO many books!).

I’m combining BYL with Blossom & Root! 💕

We get rid of dust jackets, too. My kids hate them.

Thank you for sharing all of your insights. We are also a Christian homeschool family and I would be very much interested in learning how you integrate Christianity and a biblical worldview into the secular resources you use. I tend to gravitate toward distinctly Christian resources most of the time, but learning your process in how you go about integrating faith into them would be super helpful and allow me to broaden my resources and curriculum options as well. Thank you