Homeschool Books
 
 

How to Homeschool
	Home Learning Year by Year : How to Design a Homeschool Curriculum from Preschool Through High School  By Rebecca Rupp  This book can help you design your own curriculum or give you an idea if you and your child are on the right track. It includes what a child should learn at each grade level
	The Complete Home Learning Source Book : The Essential Resource Guide for Homeschoolers, Parents, and Educators Covering Every Subject from Arithmetic Rebecca Rupp; Paperback  If I had to  buy only one book for homescooling this would be it.  With this book and a good library you can teach anything.  Reviews and suggestions for books, games, software and websites are included.  Its
	Books to Build on: A Grade-By-Grade Resource Guide for Parents and Teachers (Core Knowledge Series) E. D. Hirsh A book about books AND so much more!  The book suggests QUALITY reading material grade by grade and subject by subject (up to grade 6 -more or less).  Whether you are creating your own curriculum as I do or supplementing your child's curriculum, this book will make you both smarter!
No image available	Let The Authors Speak Another book about books!  But this one focuses on historical topics and the quality books that can be read to learn about about each topic.  This book suggests books from 1st grade to college level and is in a very handy chart form.  Classic literature as well as books you might never think of (nor your librarian) are suggested. GOOD RESOURCE FOR OLDER  Homeschoolers.
	Homeschooling The Teen Years Cafi Cohen Back in the early days of online discussions, Cafi helped me through the first two years of homeschooling with great,  practical advice... not on how to school my children but on how to handle worried grandparents.  I valued her sage advice then and now as I read through this book. a
	Homeschooling: A Patchwork of Days : Share a Day With 30 Homeschooling Families Nancy Lande; Paperback  Usually ships in 24 hours This book is a collection of one-day diaries of 30 homeschooling families. You can see how others do it!
	Homeschooling for Excellence David Colfax, Micki Colfax; Paperback  Usually ships in 24 hours This is the book that made me decide to quit teaching in public schools and teach my children instead. The book was an like an oasis of hope when I first read it (my second year of full time teaching.)  That was (wow!) 16 years ago. I still pick it up and read it when I need encouragement.
********************************	Home School High School and Beyond This book was one that I bought and used.... really used. I usd the forms, I used the enclosed CD ( forms and educational goals), I used the ideas, I used the suggested resources.  My copy is tattered and torn.
	You Can Teach Your Child Successfully : Grades 4-8 Ruth Beechick; Hardcover  Usually ships in 2-3 days Common sense help and we all could use a little common sense!
	Getting Started on Home Learning: How and Why to Teach Your Kinds at Home By Rebecca Rupp
No photo availabale	Dr. Beechick's Homeschool Answer Book Ruth Beechick, Debbie Strayer (Editor); Paperback  I have found Dr Beechick's advice helpful and useful when I was first starting out. I still refer to it after 12 years.
	Things We Wish We'd Known Long time veterans of homeschooling help us learn from their experiences.
	Teaching Children by Diane Lopez This book contains an in depth scope and sequence for K-6th grade. Each grade level's subjects and topics are covered with goals for each grade level provided.
MATH	I love math! I love teaching math! My kids even sometimes love math! They are all good at math!  These books are why!  GOOD BOOKS
	Everything's Coming Up Fractions  by Bradford, John Bradford ; Paperback Special Order Usually ships in 4-6 weeks (but may not be available at all) I have used this book for almost 20 years in the classroom and at home. It hasn't failed me yet! The kids love it! Only use this book if you want your kids to learn fractions painlessly, quickly, completely and independently. Students should start right at the beginning no matter how easy it seems.  The pace picks up quickly <grin>.
	50 Simple Things You Can Do to Raise a Child Who Loves Math  Kathy A. Zahler; Paperback  Usually ships in 24 hours
	Blueprint for Geometry by Bill Lombard, Brad Fulton(Contributor) ; Paperback Usually ships in 1-2 weeks This covers a lot of math skills (grades 7-10) while teaching the child about designing and building a home. We used it to design the addition we hope we'll build one day.  Every homeowner and home buyer should work through this book.
	Key to Fractions: Books 1-4 set   Steven Rasmussen Another painless way to teach fractions!  Lessons are easy to understand and can be done independently yet the lessons illustrate very well important math concepts behind the numbers.  You'll get your money's worth with these work books.
	Key to Decimals - Steven Rasmussen These work books make learning decimals easy! Children grades 4 and up will find these books easy to use. Everything is covered.
Language Arts
	Spelling Power: Complete with New Quick.. . This book came to our house at a good time.  I have been struggling to teach spelling since I was a teacher 20 years ago!  The system provided in this book works and works for grades K-12.
	Language Wars and Other Writings for Homeschoolers  by Ruth Beechick ; Paperback Usually ships in 24 hours
	Simply Grammar; An Illustrated Primer Karen Andreola; Paperback  Usually ships in 24 hours
Photo not avaiable	Home Start in Reading Ruth Beechick; Paperback  Usually ships in 24 hours
Science
	Eyewitness: Matter by Christopher Cooper
	Eyewitness: Chemistry My sons have loved using this book.  Sean (age 14) is reading it cover to cover and using it as a resource for his chemistry assignements.
	The New York Library Science Desk Reference This is so HANDY!  Ben, after watching a Bill Nye video, wanted to learn more about the speed of light, light from stars and distances in space.  I headed for this book.
	Janice VanCleave's Food and Nutrition -  Janice VanCleave offers many very useful science resources.   Food and Nutrition is especially helpful. There are not many resources out there for the subject.
	Earthkeepers -  WONDERFUL!   This book provides biographical accounts of most of the major natural scientists of the western world.  The biographies are an interesting read... some of them my boys just couldn't put down.  The book starts from early times and moves through historical time to the present.  Children and adults will enjoy this book.
History
	The Dorling Kindersley History of the World Simply WONDERFUL!  This book has a running timeline across each page.  It follows the history of each area of the world in each era.  This is one history reference book you and your children will head for time and time again.  I can't say enough good things about this book!
	Victorian Days -  This series of books provide a running fictional story of what life was like in each time period ALONG with teaching ideas and fun projects.  They are great!
	World War II Days
	Lewis and Clark for Kids
Art
	Drawing With Children: A Creative Method -  A mother who used to belong to our homeschool group suggested this book and used it to teach art in a local school.  It has been a standard ever since with many parents in our group using it.  Your child quickly develops REAL skills for drawing realistic pictures.
	Drawing for Older Children and Teens  -  Another wonderful art book by the same author.  This book is just as good as the first!

 
 
 

My Favorite Children's Books	My husband's grandmother insisted my boys have picture books with beautiful, well done illustrations in them. (She was an artist herself).  Jan Brett is my favorite illustrator of children's books. Here are a few of her best ones.
	The Mitten: An Ukrainian Folktale by Jan Brett
	Gingerbread Baby  by Jan Brett
	The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett
	The Hat by Jan Brett
	Comet's Nine Lives  by Jan Brett
	Christmas Trolls by Jan Brett
	Town Mounse, Country Mouse by Jan Brett
	Berlioz the Bear by Jan Brett
	Trouble with Trolls by Jan Brett
	The Night Before Christmas by Jan Brett
	Armadillo Rodeo by Jan Brett
	Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Jan Brett
	Beauty and the Beast by Jan Brett
	The Night Before Christma s by Jan Brett

 
 
 

GARDENING	We grow our own food, organically.  We live across from a beautiful little creek that contains the only brown trout in all of Alabama (according to an outdoor magazine).  Why would we want chemicals to move down our hill into that beautiful creek when just a little effort is all it takes to be responsible stewards of our creek? For that matter, why send your money to large corporations whose chief concern is the bottom line and not your yard?
	Great Garden Formulas I happened upon this book while trying to find a fix for my roses.  You'll find help for roses, vegetables, trees and all the green growies in your yard.  The formulas cover organic fertilizers that are super effective, pest control and pest deterents, as well as not-so-basic compost formulas. You'll NOT find any recipes involving chemicals like some home-formula folks advocate. No need to buy listerine or ammonia for these formulas (shudder) or expensive videos to get more information. Everything you need is probably in your kitchen or already in your garden. You'll get your money's worth if you just use one formula from the book so why not try it?
	Organic Orcharding - Gene Logsden Do you want to simply plant a few fruit and nut trees in your yard or do you want to plant a big orchard?  This book will help with either.  Using this book I've figured out how to keep mice out of the yard, the ant population under control and learned of many disease resistant varieties of apples and peaches.  All that information was in the first chapter! The rest of the book is just as helpful.    While you are at it, you might want to try reading  other books by Mr. Logsden. They are well worth your time.
	Maria Rodale's Organic Gardening (Your Seasonal Companion to Creating a Beautiful and Delicious Organic Garden) Maria Rodale Good basic book.
	Lasagna Gardening My boys read this book cover to cover and it inspired them to join me in the garden! The book contains good basic information in addition to teaching you how to grow plants an easy way in rich, productive soil. Worthwile!
	Lasagna Gardening for Small Spaces I haven't read this book yet but I saw it on the web and have put it in my "want" list.
	1001 Ingenious Gardening Ideas : New, Fun, and Fabulous Tips That Will Change the Way You Garden-Forever! (Rodale Garden Book) Deborah L. Martin(Editor), Sally Jean Cunningham (Editor); Hardcover  IF YOU LOOK CAREFULLY YOU"LL FIND THAT TWO OF THOSE 1001 HINTS ARE MINE WITH MY NAME ON THEM! E-mail me and I'll tell you the pages to look on.
	Square Foot Gardening Mel Bartholomew; Paperback  Usually ships in 24 hours
	The Encyclopedia of Country Living : An Old Fashioned Recipe Book Carla Emery; Paperback  Carla's book is the most practical you'll ever buy. I go to it for recipes mostly but have found the vegetable raising tips very helpful too.
	Four-Season Harvest : How to Harvest Fresh Organic Vegetables from Your Home Garden All Year Long Eliot Coleman, et al; Paperback   I'm a huge fan of Eliot's. Is there a fan club out there somewhere?   GOOD BOOK
	The New Organic Grower : A Master's Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener Eliot Coleman, et al; Paperback  Are you thinking that you have the garden thing down now and want some ideas for making money on your extra produce?  You'll find this the book to get.  The book also extends the ideas laid out in Four-Season Harvest
	The Backyard Orchardist : A Complete Guide to Growing Fruit Trees in the Home Garden Stella Otto; Paperback Not as good as the Logsden book mentioned above but still quite helpful.
	The Sustainable Vegetable Garden : A Backyard Guide to Healthy Soil and Higher Yields John Jeavons, Carol Cox; Paperback  Usually ships in 24 hours
	Keeping Food Fresh : Old World Techniques & Recipes Claude Aubert(Editor), Eliot Coleman; Paperback  Usually ships in 24 hours

 
 

Voluntary Simplicity and Sustainable Living	We do our best to live lightly on the earth. These books have helped! I have listed them in the order of their usefullness.
	A Plain Life: Walking My Belief   - Savage, Scott   This is an interesting book that illustrates, somewhat, the reasons behind sustainable living. Its a light read and worth checking out at the library.
	The Art of the Commonplace: The Agrarian Essays of Wendell Berry  - Wendell Berry.   This is NOT a light read but an important, interesting and insightful read.  Mr Berry's chapter on Christianity and environmentalism was particularily interesting to me. I also found the book helpful in clarifying my views on the American media, sustainability and the importance of community.   Its well worth the time to read this book.
	Living More With Less Longacre, Doris Janzen Longacre (Photographer); Paperback  Great ideas for living.  I refer to this book time and time again. I also bought her cookbook :)
	Rodal's Book of Practical Formulas Rodale Books This book has recipes for wall cleaning solutions, pet treats, garden and home pest solutions,  recipes for ailments.....  LOTS!  I love this book and use it weekly.  You will too.  Practical solutions, money saving ideas, useful recipes that work....  all are part of this book.
	The Tightwad Gazette This book includes all three previous volumes and then some. What a deal! You know I've had these books for six years.  I go back to them time and again.
	The Good Life : Helen and Scott Nearing's Sixty Years of Self-Sufficient Living Helen Nearing, Scott Nearing; Paperback  Usually ships in 24 hours
	Voluntary Simplicity : Toward a Way of Life That Is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich Duane Elgin; Paperback  Usually ships in 24 hours
	The Real Goods Solar Living Sourcebook : The Complete Guide to Renewable Energy Techologies and Sustainable Living John Schaeffer(Introduction), Douglas R. Pratt (Editor); Paperback  Right now all I can do is read this book (and do) and dream about solar living.  Someday I'll get a trombe wall :)  BUT this book also contains effective solutions to sustainable living that I can use.