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.