Thinking back over the years I started homeschooling at the best time. The internet was a thing that very few people had and so the only place you could access information was from your neighbor or the homeschool Mother up the road.
If you wanted to home school you had to find the local support group. I miss the days of fellowship over a cup of tea while the children played outside.
The highlight of our time together would be seeing a new book, new home school catalog or curriculum. Today Mom's ask Google, if you do a search for home school help you will find ten million hits. It's over whelming where do you begin? Today I want to share my top four home school support books.
In no particular order here are My Favorite Four
A Charlotte Mason Companion is Karen Andreola's memoir of implementing A Charlotte Mason education. This beautifully illustrated book is full of encouragement and how to chapters. Karen covers practical topics like: The Art of Narration,
Mother Culture, Shakespeare and Dickens. Topics of Art and Music appreciation along with Grammar, History, Nature Study and a few more kernels of wisdom. A beautiful book full of gorgeous line illustrations.
Purchase this book from
Book Depository,
Amazon
For online encouragement meet Karen over at
Moments with Mother Culture.
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Been on the journey for a few months and needing a little deeper understanding ? This is the book for you.
Bill and Diana Waring have compiled this absolute gem of a little book which is a great reflection of their mission "To serve families by encouraging and equipping".
Things we wish we'd known (232 pages) is divided into five sections covering: The Concepts, The Basics, The Priorities, God's Involvement, Christian Character and The Blessings.
In each section is a number of letters from veteran home school parents to you. Each write up is started with a photograph and short biography followed by their kernel of wisdom. Each one is concise and well written. This little book is worth it's weight in gold and will answer most of your questions with wisdom and balance.
Purchase this book from
Diana Waring Presents,
Book Depository,
Amazon
For online encouragement
Facebook,
Twitter, and Diana shares gems on her blog
Diana Waring Presents!
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After years of feeling like she was barely hanging on Diana cried out to God and desperately asked to get
Beyond Survival (288 pages) and walk in Abundant Life Homeschooling. In her well known conversational style Diana shares the keys that released the joy in her home school journey.
This little gem answered so many of my why is this happening questions. It is full of insight and will broaden your understanding of the way your children learn and do life. Diana shares many funny happenings from her journey along with an honest look at things we struggle with behind closed doors. I enjoy the honest transparency of this book.
Purchase this book from
Diana Waring Presents,
Book Depository,
Amazon
For online encouragement
Facebook,
Twitter, and Diana shares gems on her blog
Diana Waring Presents!
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Educating the Whole Hearted Child has seen a few revisions over the years and still contains a life time full of information to carry you through any season of homeschooling. Clay and Sally have graduated three students and are passionate homeschool encourager.
This book (384 pages) is divided into four main sections: Home, Learning, Methods and Living.
This book is full of words of encouragement and insight. Sally and Clay have filled this book with practical know how and insight. They use wonderful acronyms to help you implement and formulate your homeschool plan. I love how they give information and then share 'In Our Home'. They take each topic and break it down in to easy to understand bite size pieces backed up with research and scripture.
Purchase this book from:
Whole Heart Ministries,
Book Depository,
Amazon.
For online encouragement Sally Blogs over at
I Take Joy,
Facebook,
Twitter &
Pinterest.
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Encouragement and support on line
Final Thoughts
- Many are the things that will take from your energy levels and enthusiasm on the homeschool journey. It is incredibly important for you to invest in your selves or you will find yourselves burnt out and desperate. The art of Mother Culture is something sorely lacking in our sub culture of home education today. I would encourage you to take some daily minutes for yourselves in order to be the very best you can be. Equip yourself well for the task at hand.
- Charlotte Mason advised the teacher to
replenish her soul with a continual supply of ideas. ...stimulates your
educational thought in many directions and keeps you from drifting into
mere routine... Do not think this is a selfish thing to do, because the
advantage does not end with yourself.".
Blessings
Chareen
This week
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