Here are links to resources that have benefited my family. Included here are some brief reviews of books and resources that we use and love, related to homeschool, parenting, and home management. There are a lot of great books out there, but the purpose of this page is to share those that are my personal favorites.
Household Management
Managers of their homes
You Need A Budget A wonderful budgeting spreadsheet system that creates virtual "envelopes" in which you can allocate your money and track your spending.
The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey: Excellent resource to learn principles of money management.
Parenting and Discipline
Homeschooling with Meek and Quiet Spirit
Ergo Baby Carrier:In my opinion, this is the very best baby carrier out there! I have a history of lower back problems, which required surgery shortly after my fourth child was born. The Ergo is so easy on my back because it puts the weight on my hips. It is comfortable even after hours of carrying a baby. The Ergo can be used through multiple stages of development, allowing you to have free hands while carrying your baby on your front, back or hip.I have used it with my toddler too, and it was remarkably comfortable even then. I didn't have an Ergo until my sixth pregnancy, but I wish I discovered it with my first.
If-Then Chart by Doorposts: The most helpful discipline resource I own. A chart with three columns: 1) a list of ten common misbehaviors with an accompanying picture; 2) biblical references explaining why each of those actions is wrong; 3) a blank column where parents write down a planned consequence for each offense.
Essentials of Discipline
Boundaries with Kids
Creative Correction
Homeschooling
Our homeschooling style leans toward a Classical and Charlotte Mason style. We have used many resources over the years. Here, I would like to share with you the curricula, books, and other resources that we love.
Homeschooling Approach
The following books influenced us most in shaping our homeschooling philosophy:
Teaching the Trivium: Christian Homeschooling in a Classical Styleby Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn: The Bluedorns explain what the Trivium is, why Christian parents should consider homeschooling, how to homeschool in the classical style, and how to train up our children to be solid in their Christian faith. When I first began homeschooling, I was drawn to the idea of classical education, but was very intimidated it. The Bluedorns show that classical education truly is do-able. This is heavy reading, but it is of great use. I refer to certain sections often.
A Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levison: This short book provides a nice introduction to the Charlotte Mason style, with excellent concrete ideas on how to implement this approach.
The Three R's by Ruth Beechick: Three small, inexpensive bookets that are filled with fantastic ideas on how to teach the basics to children in Kindergarten through third grade.
Reading
Leap Frog - Letter Factory DVD: This is not a curriculum, but a half hour DVD that teaches children their letter sounds. Very entertaining as well as eucational. There are other DVDs in the series, but this one was by far our favorite and most helpful.
Alpha-Phonics
Bob Books
Pathway Readers: When the children are proficient at reading, I start them on these sweet and wholesome grade-level readers. They are well written and family-centered. I opted not to use the workbooks, although I have heard good things about them.
Handwriting
Handwriting Without Tears: True to it's name, a gentle approach to teach letter formations. I use this to teach my children to print.
SmithHand Writing: A basic and attractive form of cursive that is designed to be written very quickly and efficiently.
Math
Math-U-See: Is it possible? Have we actually found a math program that we will stick with? After four years of bouncing around between various math programs, I think we found a winner! Math-U-See comes with an instructional DVD that the parent/tutor is supposed to watch, to learn how to teach the concepts to the children. Being that Mr. Demme (the creator of Math-U-See and video instructor) explains the concepts so well himself, I watch the DVD with my children instead. I pause the DVD whenever necessary to explain further, and to make sure the kids are understanding. Math-U-See uses blocks to help the children "see" the math concepts at work. My kids don't use the blocks daily, but the blocks are fantastic for explaining new or difficult concepts. Math-U-See is self-paced. Each level contains 30 lessons. An easy lesson could be done in a day, and the student book comes with enough material that would allow a child to take a week on tougher concepts. If the child still needs more practice, more worksheets are available to download on the Math-U-See website.
Quarter Mile Math: A computer game in which children "race" horses or cars by answering math facts. The software will save previous scores, so that the children will actually "compete" with themselves. Highly motivational! We use this for drill, and even after years of use, my children still aren't bored with it!
Unit Studies
Five in a Row by Jane Claire Lambert: A unit study based on the best in children's literature. This program uses classic, well-loved children's books to teach Social Studies, Science, Math concepts, Art and more. I use this with my preschoolers through about second grade, although with Kindergarten and older, I supplement a good bit for the three R's.
My Father's World: I chose MFW because with the arrival of our sixth child, I felt a need to have our curriculum already planned. I wanted a Christian curriculum that was relatively easy to implement, but also wanted something that our children would enjoy and really learn from. This Christian program incorporates Charlotte Mason and Classical styles, has a strong missions emphasis, combines children of multiple ages and comes complete with daily lesson plans for the year. This program does all that I have been striving for in years past, but the planning is already done.
I just started using MFW's "Exploring Countries and Cultures" this year, and now in our 4th month, I can honestly say that I wish I had started using it five years ago. Our previous years have been wonderful, but I feel that this has been more enjoyable and the kids seem to be learning so much more.
Exploring Countries and Cultures is a year's study of geography, and provides a foundation for a four year chronological study of history. MFW Bible, Science, and readalouds also include studies relevant to the Geography. For example, while we study South America, we read the biography of Nate Saint, a missionary to South America, and we learn about the Amazon Rain Forest.
The Geography... I can't begin to tell you how much the children (and I!) have learned. The children knew very little about Geography at the beginning of the year, and now in week 14, they can identify most countries in North America (I never realized there were so many!), South America, and Europe. They can point out names of many rivers, lakes, & mountain ranges in these continents. Then there is the fun stuff... when we studied Canada we gazed over pictures of the Northern Lights and got together for "high tea" with another family. When we studied Brazil, we played "futebol" with some other families. In our study of France this week, we made crepes and ratatouille, and the kids are working on making a model of the Eiffel Tower out of Knex. We startGermany next week and are already excited about it!
I love, love, love the Bible curriculum and the YWAM readalouds, which are biographies of missionaries. The scripture readings always inspire good discussions, and the supplemental materials are excellent (Hero Tales and Window on the World.) A wonderful supplement for kids' independent reading are the "Trailblazers" books, written by the authors of Hero Tales.
History
My husband and I were not history buffs until we started homeschooling, but we quickly became so! Who can help it, with such wonderful resources out there? Here are our favorites:
Mystery of History by Linda Lacour Hobar: This solid Christian text could be used as a complete history curriculum for multiple ages and is written as such. The author is a master storyteller who has designed fantastic activities to enrich the text. We use it as a supplement, and love the readalouds.
Your Story Hour: These dramatic CDs make world, US, and Biblical history come alive for our whole family. We all listen in the van, during meal prep,and the kids listen at bedtime.
Science
In the early elementary years, we do not use a science textbook, opting instead to read "living books" on topics of interest from the library and our own shelves. Here are some of our favorite resources:
Jonathan Park: A drama CD series about a young boy (10 years old, I think). His father is a paleontologist who is also a creationist. There are a number of adventures that Jonathan, his family and his friend (a little girl named Jessie) encounter. They work in a lot of science that points to the Bible and evidence for a creator. The Cds are educational, fun, and fascinating! A study guide comes with the CD volumes that enrich the educational experience.
Nature Friend Magazine
My Nature Journal: Children write directly in this nifty book. Provides direction for our nature studies, with many activities to encourage observation. Incorporates art, writing and reading into nature study.
Answers in Genesis:You can't go wrong with any of AIG's products, whether for children or adults.
Other Great Resources
Worship Guitar Class:I have been using this wonderful series to learn to how to play the guitar! I have wanted to learn the guitar for years, specifically so that I could play worship songs at home with my family. I hesitated to take private lessons because I recognized that I would not have a great deal of time to practice regularly, and was therefore reluctant to invest money for lessons. I was also not inclined to pouring over books, spending years trying to figure it out myself. I was excited to find this DVD set, which allows me to learn worship guitar at home, at my own pace, very inexpensively. I have not been disappointed! Jean Welles is an excellent teacher, and even with the limited time that I can spend practicing, I am making noticable, consistent improvement. The program I use is designed for older childen and adults, but a program is also available for children who are five to nine years old.
Signing Time: Fantastic DVDs that are fun and educational for the entire family, from Baby up to Mom and Dad. Great approach to teaching sign language, and the songs are very good. We purchased the CDs as well and listen to them often, signing along with the words.
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine: A quarterly homeschool magazine of excellent quality. Includes product reviews, ideas, encouragement, a peek into the daily homeschool routines of other families, and much more.
A Garden Patch of Reproducible Home Schooling Planning and Educational Worksheets by Debbie McGregor: Reproducible forms that simplify organization of homeschool records, as well as homechool activity sheets. Comes in a book or CD form.
