Whether you are new to homeschooling or have been at it several years, I think we’ll all admit we don’t have all the answers. Sure you can just wade on through your homeschool experience, but wouldn’t you like to feel a little prepared. Ready with a variety of experience, methods, and knowledge to draw on.
So because we homeschool moms are busy – really busy. Here is a short list of 12 must read books for Homeschooling Moms. You’ll notice there are books from a variety of homeschooling styles and that’s very intentional. How do you know if you are using the best approach for you as a teacher and your kid unless you learn about the variety of methods.
Personally, reading from so many different sources has allowed me to be a very well-rounded homeschooling Mom. I am ecclectic in my approach and that gives me an advantage when something doesn’t work just right – I just dive into another approach.
So get ready to be the homeschool Mom you’re meant to. Informed. Equipped. Ready to face new challenges.
101 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum by Cathy Duffy
This was the very first homeschooling book I picked up. It was also one of the most helpful. Cathy Duffy has done an exceptional job of finding the best homeschool material out there for us moms. I love her descriptions that allow to to see if it would be a good fit for my family. With all the variety of curriculum I’ve read about and used, I can’t think of a single time that Cathy led me astray.
This is a must read (and probably own) for Homeschooling Moms ready to tackle the daunting task of picking homeschool curriculum.
Home Learning Year by Year by Rebecca Rupp
Do you ever worry about you are suppose to teach when? I know when I first started I was terrified of not teaching everything I should. This little gem of a book not only covers what kids should know at each grade level (Preschool – 12th grade), but it also provides excellent book, electronic, and web based resources to help you each year at a time.
Beyond Survival
Are you starting out and wondering how to “do homeschooling” or just wondering if there is a better way to survive your homeschooling years. This book is filled with ideas, encouragement, and perspective from a homeschool families journey.
Honey for a Child’s Heart
Okay, this book is not strictly for homeschooling. But one of my favorite parts of homeschooling is the chance it gives our family to cuddle up on the couch to learn, explore, and imagine with the help of a good book. With all the other things on our plates sometimes it can be time consuming to find those good books we want to invest our time reading. This book is filled with fantastic book selections to read aloud to your family.
So You're Thinking About Homeschooling: Fifteen Families Show How You Can Do It
If you’ve ever been to a homeschool convention or read homeschool blogs you’ve probably heard speakers tell you that your homeschool family is unique. Each family should teach, plan their day, and pick their curriculum based on their unique family. But those who are new to homeschooling or are just not in a groove often wonder what homeschooling can or should look like. I love this book because it gives us a rare glimps into 15 different homeschool families. You can see what they do and pull out of if different pieces and ideas that might work for your unique family.
Educating the WholeHearted Child
Get ready for a whole lot of wisdom and advice for homeschooling families looking to build a solid Biblical foundation. You will be encouraged to nurture your child’s hearts and minds.
For The Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School
This book is wonderful for homeschoolers, but can be appreciated by parents and educators alike. It emphasizes that parents are the primary educators of children as well as explaining and advocating “living books”. This is a Charlotte Mason approach based book but from a Christian world view. Excellent read for all homeschoolers.
A Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning
If after reading For the Children’s Sake you find yourself wanting to know more about the Charlotte Mason approach of home educating this book is for you. This book not only thoroughly explains how to homeschool using the Charlotte Mason method, but WHY.
The Well Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home
This book is a how to homeschool using the classical education method from preschool through 12th grade. This academically challenging method uses “real” books as apposed to text books. Whether you lean towards a classical education or not you will likely desire to incorporate some of it’s philosophies in your homeschool after reading this book.
The Way They Learn
Although not written strictly for homeschoolers, this book offer great insight and tips for teaching to your child’s individual learning style. Because as any homeschool mom can tell you, all kids learn in their own unique way.
The Three R’s
Practical book on how to teach what’s really important academically in the early years – Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic. With a solid foundation in the 3 R’s you child will be set-up with a solid foundation with which to build his or her entire academic career.
So what other MUST READ would you add to my list?
I’m always on the lookout for more great books to read to help enrich our homeschool. Please leave me a comment below!
