Are you new to homeschooling or maybe are contemplating it? If you are at all like me you might like to do a little research and read up on the subject. I thought about some of my favorite homeschooling books and they can be divided into two categories: inspirational stories and “how-to.” Let me share some of my favorites. Now I realize that this list of books might date me. Remember, I’ve been homeschooling for 9 years now and many of these I read 9+ years ago so they may seem old-fashioned or fuddy-duddy to some of you. But in looking online I see that the only one that seems to be out of print is the Susan Richman book. Most of the other books have been updated. A disclaimer: many of these I read for fun-to-read-not-necessarily- how-I’d-do-it although all of them have left their mark on my educational philosophy.
Hard Times in Paradise by David and Micki Colfax is an incredible story of one family's adventure back when homeschooling was unheard of and still illegal. When I think I'm having a bad homeschool d
ay I just think back to the Colfaxes and what they went through. It makes my day look like a pretty spring morning. Inspiring. Head-shaking good. Not the way I do things, by a long shot, but it helps me to relax when I start getting uptight about the curriculum.
The 3 R’s at Home by Howard and Susan Richman is in some ways similar to the Colfaxes book. It is also the st
ory of one family's homeschooling experience when it was illegal to homeschool. This mother has a very relaxed approach to homeschooling, which like the Colfaxes book, helps me to lighten up when I start getting obsessive about my box-checking. Also not the way I do it, but still inspiring to read.
Now, The Three R's by Dr. Ruth Beechick is more of a how-to book. It does not recount a family's story, but rather it gives a parent advice for teaching reading, writing and arithmetic in the early
grades in a very natural way. The reading section explains phonics and comprehension skills. The language section teaches writing skills in a similar way children learn spoken language. Finally, the arithmetic section focuses on understanding math concepts, not just rote memorization. I consider this a "must-have" on my reference shelf and have referred to it time and time again. My copies (it used to be sold as 3 small booklets) are highlighted and a little battered, but still quite valuable.
That's all for now. I do have more favorites but I'll save them for another rainy day. Hope you find some good reading ideas here!
Hard Times in Paradise by David and Micki Colfax is an incredible story of one family's adventure back when homeschooling was unheard of and still illegal. When I think I'm having a bad homeschool d
ay I just think back to the Colfaxes and what they went through. It makes my day look like a pretty spring morning. Inspiring. Head-shaking good. Not the way I do things, by a long shot, but it helps me to relax when I start getting uptight about the curriculum.The 3 R’s at Home by Howard and Susan Richman is in some ways similar to the Colfaxes book. It is also the st
ory of one family's homeschooling experience when it was illegal to homeschool. This mother has a very relaxed approach to homeschooling, which like the Colfaxes book, helps me to lighten up when I start getting obsessive about my box-checking. Also not the way I do it, but still inspiring to read.Now, The Three R's by Dr. Ruth Beechick is more of a how-to book. It does not recount a family's story, but rather it gives a parent advice for teaching reading, writing and arithmetic in the early
grades in a very natural way. The reading section explains phonics and comprehension skills. The language section teaches writing skills in a similar way children learn spoken language. Finally, the arithmetic section focuses on understanding math concepts, not just rote memorization. I consider this a "must-have" on my reference shelf and have referred to it time and time again. My copies (it used to be sold as 3 small booklets) are highlighted and a little battered, but still quite valuable.That's all for now. I do have more favorites but I'll save them for another rainy day. Hope you find some good reading ideas here!
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