Homeschooling Reference Books

If you are new to homeschooling, curious about homeschooling or veteran homeschooler who wants to try out a new ways to teach at home, there are plenty of books out there. I have read them all (okay, most) and I am sharing the top and best of best homeschooling books for you here so you do not have to waste your precious time reading duds.

1. The Unschooling Handbook : How to Use the Whole World As Your Child’s Classroom

This 240 page book shares Unschooling, a homeschooling method based on the belief that kids learn best when allowed to pursue their natural curiosities and interests, is practiced by 10 to 15 percent of the estimated 1.5 million homeschoolers in the United States. There is no curriculum or master plan for allowing children to decide when, what, and how they will learn, but veteran homeschooler Mary Griffith comes as close as you can get in this slim manual. Written in a conversational, salon-style manner, The Unschooling Handbook is liberally peppered with anecdotes and practical advice from unschoolers, identified by their first names and home states. The book also includes resources such as one teenager’s sample “transcript,” a typical weekly log of a third-grader’s activities, and helpful lists of magazines, online mailing lists, Web sites, and catalogs. Griffith, a board member of the Homeschool Association of California (and the author of The Homeschooling Handbook), names Margaret Mead and Thomas Edison as two examples of those who have profited from unschooled childhoods, and further claims that research validates support for this controversial form of education. The “evidence” she cites, however, is predominantly theoretical writings from noted educators about the benefits of child-centered learning. The handbook suffers from a mild case of the Lake Wobegone syndrome–every unschooled children is seen as an above-average self-starter on the verge of genius–yet despite this overly rosy approach, the book is a well-organized guide for homeschoolers and other families contemplating the “un” life.

2. Homeschooling for the Rest of Us: How Your One-of-a-Kind Family Can Make Homeschooling and Real Life Work

Here what back book Jackets says
“Overwhelmed?
Wonder how others do it all?
Not sure you’re cut out for homeschooling?
It’s time to break a myth: Homeschooling families aren’t perfect. In fact, real-life families like yours can be–and are–successful homeschoolers! That’s the life message of Sonya Haskins, who is dedicated to helping everyday families meet the challenges of home education and enjoy its countless benefits.
In this practical, encouraging guide, Haskins shares tried and true ideas for how to:
Discover a realistic vision of homeschooling for your family
Help your child get excited about learning
Find a routine that fits your goals and lifestyle
Nurture a biblical worldview in your child’s heart and mind
And much more
Whether you are already homeschooling or just considering it, this book offers the support, answers, and flexible strategies to help you succeed. Great resources for many homeschooling parents.

You can find more homeschooling reference books and k12 curriculum ideas on Homeschool world site.

Sing, Spell, Read and Write Kindergarten Education Kit

Sing, Spell, Read & Write

If you are homeschooling your child, then this kit is perfect for you. This Combo Kit is packed with singing, reading, spelling and writing  ideas and with enough language arts instructional material for two full years. Featuring age-appropriate lessons for the younger child, the kindergarten portion of this kit covers the first 15 steps of the 36-step Level 1 program.

Two kindergarten student workbooks are included featuring larger print and fewer words per page. Topics covered include letter recognition, letter sounds, manuscript writing, and beginning reading.

Here are some of the Features for Sing, Spell, Read & WriteKit:

• Sing, Spell, Read & Write helps you: • Put the proven power of multisensory learning to work in your classroom.
• Develop a complete Language Arts curriculum with correlated and sequenced phonics, reading, writing,   spelling, comprehension, and grammar lessons. • Engage students and make learning fun with catchy sing-along songs, games, phonetic storybook readers, and hands-on activities.
• Boost Language Arts skills for all students, including those who struggle with traditional approaches.
• Promote independent reading by the end of Grade 1 for virtually every child.
• Incorporate step-by-step guidelines and scripted lessons into your curriculum.
• Track each child’s progress using built-in assessments and achievement tests.
• Improved reading scores nationwide — 42 percentile-point increase in total reading scores, 34-point increase in comprehension, increase of 2.7 reading grade levels in one year.

You can learn more about Sing, Spell, Read and Write Education Kit for Kindergarteners and other homeschooling curriculum reviews. 

How To Start Homeschooling?

Once you  have decided to start homeschooling, you will need step by step guide to get you started off in right foot. Here are some simple steps for your homeschooling guidance that may help you get started in Homeschooling.

Getting Started in Homeschooling

1. Making a Decision:
Choosing to do homeschooling is not for everyone and requires planning. Once you have read up information here, decide if that is something you and your child is ready to take on. Decision to homeschool is not easiest and it does not have to be all or nothing. You can decide to homeschool one year at the time, but give it your best shot if you decide to go for it.

2. Start off on right way:
Starting off right will make you new adventure in homeschooling much smoother as with any new thing you start. Here are some simple steps to get it organized and plan for it.

• Get your mentally ready as a family
• Set up area for homeschooling in home
• Set up a time table and organization so you will stay focus on schooling
• Decide what type of schooling you will be doing such as setting up school your self, using public school or charter’s school’s homeschool or independent study program.
• Have school supply list ready and buy record keeping planners and organizers
• Keep all kids vaccines, birth certificates in school file cabinet just like local school. You may never need to show it anyone, but have it ready just in case.
• Find a local support group for you and your child.

3. Legal issues:
Homeschooling is legal in 50 states of US and Canada and other countries but rules are little different everywhere. Find out Local Homeschooling Legal Laws and follow it to stay legal and proper.

4. Find Support:
Once you decide on homeschooling, find support from your child, spouse, friends and relatives as you need. The most important support are from your kids and spouse as they will be facing it daily. In addition to this, you may want to find local homschool support group of other like minded homeschooling families to meet for park days, play dates or field trips together. When you are starting out, this support is very crucial and helpful.

You can learn if homeschooling is right for you and how to start homeschooling today with homeschooling tips and homeschooling curriculum ideas and choices.