Tips for homeschooling- a helpful list of homeschool resources
Tips for homeschooling- a helpful list of homeschool resources
We just graduated our first homeschooled student! It was an amazing day when she walked across the platform and we realized…we did it.
That said, I really wanted to share a list of resources that have helped us over the years. When we began the choices were fewer, and today the market overflows! But, there is nothing like the recommendation of a friend.
I hope these can encourage you as they have me. I have included links to help your search, but am not affiliated with any of the following companies. Here is our version of The Ultimate List of Homeschooling Books and Resouces…
Best Homeschooling Books for Parents
Educating the Whole Hearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson- How I wish I had this from the start
A Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levison
You Can Teach Your Child Successfully by Ruth Beechick
How To Create Your Own Unit Study by Valerie Bendt
One Hundred and One Devotions For Homeschool Moms by Jackie Wellwood
The Unschooling Handbook: How To Use the Whole World As Your Child’s Classroom by Mary Griffith
Christian Unschooling by Teri Brown- Whether you agree with the philosophy, you’ll benefit by the encouragement of choices
Any books by Linda Dobson
Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe by Todd Wilson
The Imperfect Homeschooler’s Guide to Homeschooling by Barbara Frank
How To Get Your Child Off the Refrigerator and Onto Learning by Carol Barnier- This book was so helpful with distractable children
Is homeschooling Legal?
We highly recommend membership in HSLDA, Home School Legal Defense Association – Their resources are priceless and they’ll help you navigate laws in your area.
Help With Homeschool Planning
Every year I spend countless hours planning for the upcoming school year. It is a lot. Of. Work. Partly due to making things harder than they have to be.
1. Debra Bell’s Ultimate Planner series. We have used other calendars, unsuccessfully, but this one is different. The focus is teaching the parent how to implement self-teaching methods to the student. It walks you through steps in a way that I haven’t seen in other products through the years.
This product is worth every penny. For high school planning, this resource is valuable! If you are starting out with High School, it is worthwhile to check out books specifically devoted to that age group. Debra Bell has the most exhaustive one I have seen.
2. The Checklist by Cindy Downes. Buy it. It is spendy, and fantastic. It will help you organize learning as it happens, it is phenomenal, truly.
Great homeschool catalogs
The Rainbow Resource (btw, this is HUGE. It took me a few years to really dig in. I sure regret that delay, prices are rock bottom and they review everything!)
Cathy Duffy Reviews, not a catalog but a reputable resource for product/curriculum reviews for YEARS
A few favorite homeschool curriculums
Life of Fred for math of all ages, Primary Math for younger kids, Teaching Textbooks for all grades (especially great if math is not the parent’s strong area)
Times Tables the Fun Way for help with struggling learners
Bob books for beginning readers
Easy Grammar and Daily Grams
A Reason For Handwriting, Handwriting Without Tears (and why it matters)
The Prairie Primer unit study (loved)
Tapestry of Grace unit studies (very popular)
A World of Adventure unit study (unit studies are easy to combine different child’s grades at once)
Hands-on History, activity and lapbooks and excellent for hands-on learners. We especially enjoyed adding on Music and Art supplements through lapbooks. A wonderful investment of learning time
Beautiful Feet, history that isn’t boring
Apologia Science, especially for advanced high school science like Anatomy and Physiology
Considering God’s Creation for the younger ones, and Apologia Exploring Creation science books for all ages (including advanced high school), and lapbooks based on The Magic School Bus books
Galloping the Globe for young geography
Movies as Literature for older kids
Uncle Eric series on economics and government
Supplemental fun videos- Schoolhouse Rock, The Magic School bus, Liberty’s Kids
It is fun to create literature units based on interests, such as The Hobbit
TOPS learning systems for science kits that work
Check out local universities for homeschool programs, and find out if your area has co-ops if you’d like to have additional supplementation!
Travel The Road Dvds for really interesting stories with two young missionaries, a camera and a quest for adventure
Visual Latin I was unconvinced that Latin would be necessary for my kids to learn, until I saw a sample of Dwane Thomas’ teaching (it made me laugh!)
Homeschool Magazines
The Old Schoolhouse -TThe first resource I ever found is still going strong
Homeschool Enrichment– This was the first place I was ever published! It is a great resource with a wide variety of topics
When I started there was no such THING as blogs, ha! Today, there are countless homeschooling websites and blogs from parents just like you, sharing what works for them…and what doesn’t. Search for any topic, and you’ll likely find encouragement and inspiration.
Comparison has no useful place in homeschooling
Homeschooling is hard work and one of the most rewarding investments of time imaginable. Don’t give up, when you start to see the fruit of your labor? It will amaze you!
When the season ends? It is okay to feel a bit lost, or sad. Start now to prepare a new dream for the next season, when your spring comes again.
And please remember, not all kids like all subjects. Not all years are stellar learning, life happens. Not all programs are good fits for your family.
It doesn’t matter a bit of “everyone else” loves something your kids cry over with frustration! It’s ok, truly.
Shoot, my kids still laugh that they learned about some subjects over and over as we restarted. And, it took almost 3 years for one child to learn times tables.
Imperfection is just part of the journey, and embracing it makes the times enjoyable. Fighting it makes everyone miserable.
You’ve got this mama, I believe in you♥.
P.S. If you are just thinking about how to start homeschooling, read this post
