Home School Booksby Marcie CiampiSpectrum Homeschool's page of home school books: This is my little place to offer out my humble opinion of homeschooling books. I didn't feel comfortable building a website about homeschooling without reading about homeschooling myself. You won't find all home school sources here, and I know I'm missing some of the 4,000 and counting books, but this is my small effort to shed some insight. Plus, I use this page when I want to remind myself about specific resources I can find in books. I enjoy the fact that each book about homeschooling provides a different viewpoint, set of experiences and suggestions. Even after reading several sources, I still always find something new I can apply to my own lessons, techniques, resources, or teaching philosophies. Although, I am getting a wee bit tired of reading about the learning styles, teaching methods, and pros and cons. I get excited when I come across something fresh and new. You'll find some books here that are older, and therefore much cheaper to purchase. For some interesting "Unschooling" books look under:
The Unschooling Teaching Method Classical Education
The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer
This is one of the first books I read on home schooling. At first I was going to implement everything - all the ideas were so thought-provoking and impressive. Then I felt overwhelmed. Then, a few days later, I realized I could take bits and pieces of the information in the book and implement them into my school program, including: dictation, organized binders, Latin, the classics and more. I am very glad I read this and highly recommend this book to every homeschooling parent. General Reading
I truly enjoyed Lisa Rivero's book
Creative Home Schooling: A Resource Guide for Smart Families
and I am not alone. The book has received 5 star reviews from customers. This book offered a lot of information the other homeschooling books did not. This book, though tended for "Gifted" children is a great resource for any homeschool family. The book is jam-packed with resources. I appreciated the social, emotional, and intellectual chapters, as well as the curriculum, classical, unit studies and documenting. If you are going to invest some money, this is the book to purchase. I found Cathy Duffy's book 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum useful in the areas of mathematics and phonics. She goes into great detail (sometimes pages) about each resource/book she recommends. In the first section, there are useful tools/charts/questions to help someone evaluate what curriculum they may want to choose. The history section contained a lot of Christian recommendations, some of which I would purchase/use, but other historical books I will research for historical accuracy before purchasing. From what I have read about Christopher Columbus, he is not an explorer I would put in a positive light. There are some resources she listed I was unfamiliar with, and I plan to look into in the near future. The following link has many of her book/resource suggestions: 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum by Cathy Duffy Homeschooling for Success: How Parents Can Create a Superior Education for Their Child by Rebecca Kochenderfer, Elizabeth Kanna, Founders Homeschool.com, Robert T. Kiyosaki- This book answers a lot of homeschooling questions and covers the basics. I liked the sections regarding college and transition to college, homeschooling teenagers, and sample schedules of different teaching methods. The Homeschooling Handbook by Mary Griffith - This was another book which provided a basic overview. I liked the sections on assisted homeschooling/charter schools, teenage years, special needs, and the great resource pages. Homeschooling for Excellence by David and Micki Colfax - This book is mentioned again and again in every source I come across. The book describes and examines the subject of teaching at home. The authors answer questions, provide reassurance and list materials. Homeschooling: Take a Deep Breath - You Can Do This! by Terrie Lynn Bittner The Homeschool Manual by Theodore E Wade Jr. & Others - An older book, written by over 40 people, which offers details on Christian Home School Instruction. I found the tone of the writing a bit offensive and critical at times, but overall this book provides a nice introduction to homeschooling. The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling This is an older book which provides a great overview for the beginning home school family. I liked the section on teenagers and the brief look at portfolios. Some of the information and resources are outdated, but overall, I wish I had read this book at the start of my home school journey. Homeschooling 101 is written by a husband a wife team. They provide a nice overview of possible ways to cover teaching history through the ages. I also liked there piece on math manipulatives. Unique to this book is an exclusive detailed section on P.E and high school. They also suggested some good educational links. Good for a newbie. Homeschooling on a Shoestring: A Jam-packed Guide offered some unique ideas most of the other books I read lacked. There are great questions in the beginning, if you are considering leaving your place of employment to home school. The authors list 12 specific reasons people choose to home school. I like that the author chooses healthy choices for meals. This is a great resource if you are considering part-time work or self-employment. There is also a library section, computer purchasing section, and free resources, I have yet to find in any of the other books. The last part of the book is about the college bound budget. I highly recommend this book. Teaching Strategies
Homeschooling with TLC in the Elementary Grades: A Practical Guide with Fun and Effective Teaching Tips by Tamara L. Chilver Written by a former public school teacher, this is a small self-published practical guide I purchased when I first started homeschooling. It is a refreshing, easy-to-read book with techniques you can use in your homeschool. I think the book is valuable for a new or established teacher. It is simple and not overwhelming. Charlotte MasonCharlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola I loved this book. As my son would say, "Big thumb up!" Karen Andreola's writing reinforced and reviewed a lot of what I already naturally implement into my home school program. After reading, I felt more confident and connected to my own teaching philosophy and was motivated to begin nature journals, Charles Dickens, and Shakespeare. This is a good book for anyone. Charlotte Mason's original works were Christian-based and inspired, but the ideas can be incorporated by all families, regardless of religious denomination.Homeschooling Methods by Suarez: An overview of the homeschooling teaching methods, with a more in-depth look than the other books I have read. This is a Christian approach and all proceeds go to the special-needs homeschooling organization called, National Challenged Homeschooling Associated Network. (NATHHAN) Other
The Well-Adjusted Child: The Social Benefits of Homeschooling by Rachel Gathercole
This book has a lot of letters sent in from homeschooling parents and children. I don't always agree with the perception some of the children have of public schools (the ones that have never attended) but I found the stories interesting and thought provoking. The author explores many subjects, including: "What is Good Socialization" and "Relationships with Adults."The Home School Source Book by Donn Reed and Jean Reed - provides interesting commentary and unique stories. I especially liked the look at "unschooling" and tales about the wonderful counting dog. More so, the book is a bounty of useful information regarding literature for homeschooling. I borrowed this copy, but might have to get my own, as I keep referring back to the book for more resources. I liked the tone of the author's voice and his style of writing. I spent four hours skimming through all of the wonderful suggested materials. Another thumbs up, for certain. (One last note, the book is very secular, and some Christians may be offended by a small section of the book.) This list didn't seem complete without including the "grandparents" of homeschooling, Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore. Thier book, written in 1975: Better Late Than Early is a reference book for many homeschooling educators. Also, there foundation: The Moore Foundation is an excellent resource for teaching at home and a good place to find Christian biographies. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I love this book. I think it should be required reading for every educator. This book was originally written in 1999, but all of the information is applicable for today. I wish someone had handed me this book when I was a public school teacher. This is one source I use to plan my eclectic teaching. Thumbs up from me: The Educated Child: A Parents Guide From Preschool Through Eighth Grade by William J. Bennett , Jr., Chester E. Finn , Jr.,John T. E. Cribb Home School Books: Curriculum Resources for Special Needs Curriculum Main Page Homepage If you have a homeschool book you would like us to review, please contact us. We are always looking for quality educational resources to share.
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