The Why and How of Homeschooling

Ooops! We’re working on this right now…If you have any questions, feel free to just join the Niche group and folks there will have a zillion and one answers.

Ann

Books

You Are Your Child’s First Teacher , by Rahima Baldwin Dancy

Playful Learning: An Alternate Approach to Preschool, by Anne Engelhardt

Fun with the Family Colorado, 5th (Fun with the Family Series), by Doris Kennedy

Learning All the Time, by John Holt�A fine work that discusses profound approaches to teaching and learning

The Read-Aloud Handbook: Sixth Edition (Read-Aloud Handbook), by Jim Trelease

Honey for a Child’s Heart, by Gladys Hunt

Books Children Love: A Guide to the Best Children’s Literature, by Elizabeth Wilson

Family Matters: Why Homeschooling Makes Sense, by David Guterson A�great intro to homeschooling, and some of the reasons to consider it

The Three R’s, by Dr. Ruth Beechick (An Easy Start in Arithmetic, A Strong Start in Language, A Home Start in Reading)

You Can Teach Your Child Successfully: Grades 4-8, by Dr. Ruth Beechick

Discover Your Child’s Learning Style: Children Learn in Unique Ways - Here’s the Key to Every Child’s Learning Success, by Mariaemma Willis and Victoria Kindle Hodson

100 Top Picks For Homeschool Curriculum: Choosing The Right Curriculum And Approach For Your Child’s Learning Style, by Cathy Duffy

The Home School Source Book, by Jean & Donn Reed� - Peggy’s favorite - a resource book she refers to almost weekly

The Complete Home Learning Source Book: The Essential Resource Guide for Homeschoolers, Parents, and Educators Covering Every Subject from Arithmetic to Zoology, by Rebecca Rupp

Home Learning Year by Year: How to Design a Homeschool Curriculum from Preschool Through High School, by Rebecca Rupp

What Your [Kindergartner, First Grader, …] Needs to Know (Core Knowledge series), by E.D. Hirsch, Jr.

A Survivor’s Guide to Home Schooling, by Luanne Shackelford and Susan White

Homeschooling: Take a Deep Breath—You Can Do This!, by Terrie Lynn Bittner

The Relaxed Home School: a Family Production, by Mary Hood - Helps soothe frayed or worried nerves about how to start or keep going

The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook: a Creative and Stress-Free Approach to Homeschooling, by Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore

A Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning, by Karen Andreola

For the Children’s Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School, by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

When Children Love to Learn: A Practical Application of Charlotte Mason’s Philosophy for Today, edited by Elaine Cooper

The Original Homeschooling Series, 6 volumes by Charlotte M. Mason - Miss Mason’s original writings for those wanting more in depth information on her ideas.�

A Thomas Jefferson Education: Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the 21^st Century, by Oliver Van DeMille

The Well Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home, by Susan Wise Bauer

Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling, by John Taylor Gatto

The Teenage Liberation Handbook: how to quit school and get a real life and education, by Grace Llewellyn

Just for Mama

Looking for inspiration?� Need to get remotivated. Grab a warm cuppa something yummy and�peruse these resources.

Some magazines to�peruse when the kids are quiet for 5 minutes.�

Lovely books to spend a quiet rainy day with…Send the kids to the zoo with Dad and call it a teacher inservice day.

Grab your laptop and refuel with these web articles while your kiddo finishes their math.

Miscellaneous Homeschool Curriculum

Five in a Row� gentle unit studies for young children, based on picture books� http://www.fiarhq.com/

Critical Thinking� workbooks & software to teach logical thought processes� http://www.criticalthinking.com/

Lauri - crepe rubber puzzles & other educational toys for toddlers & preschoolers� http://www.liveandlearn.com/lauri/

Homeschool Foreign Language Curriculum

Power Glide � Junior or Ultimate Adventure course for Spanish, German, French, or Latin� http://www.multilingualbooks.com/pg-children.html

Rosetta Stone� several languages, using an interactive computer program  http://www.rosettastone.com/

La Clase Divertida� Spanish http://www.funclase.com/

Homeschool Music Curriculum

Classical Kids � CD series that introduces composers & their works through story http://www.greattapes.com/gt/series.phtml/classicalkids

The New Nine-Note Recorder Method� learn to play the recorder along with your child http://www.pennygardner.com/recorders_music-ed.html

Homeschool Art Curriculum

Artistic Pursuits http://www.artisticpursuits.com/

Come Look With Me series� books featuring famous paintings, w/artist bios & questions about the work http://www.amazon.com/Come-Look-Me-Enjoying-Children/dp/0934738769/ref=pd_sxp_f_r/105-6696928-1130853

Discovering Great Artists � hands-on intro. to great artists from the Renaissance to the present for ages 4-12��http://www.brightring.com/Books.html (scroll down to book title)

Drawing with Children�http://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Children-Mona-Brookes/dp/0874778271

Homeschool Language Arts Curriculum

A�library card and a big comfy couch (Ann B.’s favorite LA curriculum)

Handwriting Without Tears� http://hwtears.com/

Bob Books – simple but popular phonetic readers for emergent readers – black & white illustrations  http://www.bobbooks.com/

Phonics Practice Readers – short phonetic book series for emergent readers – colorful illustrations  http://plgcatalog.pearson.com/program_multiple.cfm?site_id=2&discipline_id=804&subarea_id=907&program_id=214

Happy Phonics – simple games for teaching reading  http://www.lovetolearn.net/catalog/product/0707301

Sing, Spell, Read & Write  http://www.pearsonlearning.com/index.cfm?a=65

Spell to Write & Read – based on Romalda Spalding’s The Writing Road to Reading  http://www.bhibooks.net/swr.html

Phonics Pathways  http://www.dorbooks.com/phonics.html

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons  http://www.startreading.com/

Learning Language Arts Through Literature (LLATL) – “complete” program; 1^st-8^th grades, + 2 HS books  http://www.cspress.com/covers.htm

Spelling Power – one book of spelling lists & study method for grades 3-12  http://www.castlemoyle.com/shopping/spelling/spellingpower.htm

Spelling Workout  http://plgcatalog.pearson.com/program_multiple.cfm?site_id=12&program_id=836&searchType=Title&searchTerm=Spelling%20Workout

Vocabulary from Classical Roots – workbooks using Greek & Latin roots for grades 4-11  http://www.epsbooks.com/dynamic/catalog/series.asp?seriesonly=2252M

Easy Grammar (main text) and Daily Grams (review)  http://www.easygrammar.com/index2.html

Grammar Rock – videos/songs featuring parts of speech; computer game available too  http://www.school-house-rock.com/GrammarRock.html 

Brave Writer - The Writer’s Jungle is the centerpiece to the Brave Writer lifestyle. In it, homeschooling parents find the insight, support and tools that help them become the most effective writing coaches their children will ever have.   http://www.bravewriter.com/home.html

Winston Grammar – uses cue cards and a marking system to break sentences into parts of speech  http://www.winstongrammar.com/

Institute for Excellence in Writing  http://www.writing-edu.com/writing/

Writing Strands  http://www.writing-strands.com/home.asp

Homeschool Math curriculum

Living Math – free web site – a different way to approach math, through history, books, & games  http://www.livingmath.net/

Calvert math  http://www.calvertschool.org/engine/content.do?BT_CODE=CES1551

Math-U-See – sequential, mastery-based approach emphasizing concrete understanding before abstract  http://mathusee.com/

Miquon Math – 6 ungraded workbooks for 1^st-3^rd or 4^th grade, using Cuisenaire rods  http://www.keypress.com/x6252.xml

Right Start Mathematics – one-on-one teaching using games & manipulatives, incl. a unique abacus – K-5th  http://www.alabacus.com/

Saxon Math – a textbook series popular among homeschoolers  http://saxonpublishers.harcourtachieve.com/en-US/saxonmath_home

Singapore Math (Primary Mathematics) – used in Singapore schools, U.S. editions available   http://www.singaporemath.com/

Times Tables the Fun Way and Addition the Fun Way – pictorial stories to help children learn math facts  http://www.citycreek.com/

Homeschool Science Curriculum

Anatomy book & lesson ideas – a short file with recommendations from NICHE members  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ColoradoNICHE/files/  (click on “Curriculum opinions”, then “niche ideas.doc”)

Noeo Homeschool Science – elementary level - uses interesting books & experiments, student narration  http://www.noeoscience.com/

Sonlight – uses interesting books & has supply kits & DVDs to go w/experiments, opt. workbook pages  http://www.sonlight.com/science.html