Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Must Have Books for Beginning Homeschoolers

If you are considering homeschooling or if your family in new to homeschooling two Must Have books are:

Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay & Sally Clarkson. This book is a fantastic inspiration & explains so much about homeschooling. After reading Educating the Wholehearted Child you will have gained fabulous ideas for homeschooling, great insight on homeschooling, a wonderful list of books to start your home library, helpful information on homeschooling resources, and so much more. You will find yourself rereading this book throughout your homeschooling journey.

Here is a list from the Wholehearted website on topics covered in this book:
Why to Homeschool: Biblical and practical reasons.
Discipleship: Shaping your child's heart to live for God.
Education: Strengthening your child's mind to learn for God.
Homeschool Models: Various approaches to home education.
The Home-Centered Learning Model: Our own comprehensive, integrated model using whole books and real life, based on discipleship.
Methods: Covering over three dozen key subject areas and emphases with extensive practical input.
Learning Styles: An uncomplicated way to better understand how your children live and learn.
Organization: Insights and tips on planning and organizing at home.
Lifestyle: Wisdom and encouragement from an experienced homeschooling mother (Sally).
Resources and Support: How to get started and keep going.

Cathy Duffy's Top 100 Picks for Homeschool Curriculum is a WONDERFUL guide for picking your homeschool curriculum. This book gives a great explanation of the importance of choosing the right curriculum for your homeschool. Cathy Duffy's Top 100 Picks breaks down the process of choosing your curriculum into several helpful categories so that you may choose the curriculum that will best blend your teaching style & your child's learning style with your desired approach to homeschooling. Cathy Duffy did a fabulous job at selecting & organizing the top curriculum into several categories making your choices easier. At the back of the book you will find a detailed review for all her 100 picks - which includes prices & purchasing information. As if the book isn't a big enough help Cathy Duffy also has a website with several other reviews of great curriculum that was not listed in her book. Like Educating the Wholehearted Child, you will find yourself reading this book several times - as you find your homeschooling goals & styles changing within your family.


So You're Thinking About Homeschooling is wonderful for families to read as they are considering homeschooling.  Lisa gives a true dipiction of what homeschooling entails (with all the ups & downs).  Not only is Lisa honest about her own homeschooling journey, but  now an updated edition includes how fifteen other families share their approach to homeschooling.  This book deals with common questions of time management, teaching weaknesses, and outside responsibilities, as well as children's age variations, social and sports involvement, learning disabilities, and boredom.



 
 


Other books to consider:












1 comment:

  1. Great resource for beginners! I will definitely share this article with homeschooling mamas. I am still missing my days when I had started homeschooling. I love to teach my kids but everything has changed now. They have become self learners and are attending an online homeschool.

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