Interested in Homeschooling? Read these books.....

If you are a Believer who is interested in homeschooling, or just want to know more about it, here's that booklist I promised you in the last post. First however I would recommend prayer and seeking God, and lots of it!

If you simply want to better understand homeschooling from a Biblical perspective, try R.C. Sproul Jr.'s book When You Rise Up - A Covenental Approach to Homeschooling, available through Amazon.com.

For the nuts and bolts how-to, start with The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach. This book, and the HOW approach, are based on Psalm 90:12 "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. " The following is a description of the books contents from their website - The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach "This book will instruct you, step by step, how to give your child a Bible-focused, comprehensive education from preschool through high school; one that will train him or her to read, to study, to understand, to love to learn and, most importantly, to desire and seek true wisdom. This approach can be used for all grade levels. 500 pages. " I can assure you, this book delivers what it promises and much more! As well, their website is a wealth of information. Visit them at www.HeartOfWisdom.com.

Next, on the list would be, Educating the WholeHearted Child by Sally Clarkson. Amazon's description of this book says, "A handbook for Christian home education. A commonsense, disciple-based biblical approach to home schooling using real books and real life. Filled with Scriptures, anecdotes, insights, ideas, methods, lists and charts to make living and learning at home natural and enjoyable." I can tell you that this doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of what's in this book, or to tell how good it is. I would also recommend another of her books, just for motherhood in general, The Mission Of Motherhood.

When you're done with those two, and that will take you awhile, move on to Teri Camp's book Ignite the Fire. The description, from her website, reads "Ignite the Fire! will ignite the fires in your children so what they learn is both retained and enjoyed. Terri Camp gives parents a vision for their child no matter how much or little they excel academically. She also provides a long list of ordinary household items and their usefulness in educating children. This book is full of practical, easy-to-implement ideas. Prepare to be inspired!" The book is available used through Amazon or through her website and the following link, http://www.homeschoolingfromtheheart.com/hshelp.html#ignite.

Last, but not least, no self-respecting homeschool library would be complete without at least something from Dr. Ruth Beechick, and there is much to choose from! So, if you are starting your homeschooling with young children Kindergarten through about 3rd grade, be sure to get her three booklet series The Three Rs. From Amazon.com, the description of this series and information about the author reads, "Three resources in one READING, WRITING, and ARITHMETIC! Learn how to take the mystery out of teaching the early grades with this practical, down-to-earth guidebook from Ruth Beechick. The book is divided into three sections that are tabbed for easy reference. The READING section tells how and when to begin phonics, and how to develop comprehension skills. The LANGUAGE section shows how to develop written language skills naturally, in the same way children learn oral language. The ARITHMETIC section explains how to teach understanding of math concepts, and not just memorization of facts. Bonus: A removable 2-sided wall chart for phonics and arithmetic. Dr. Ruth Beechick has spent a lifetime teaching and writing curriculum. She understands how children learn. To follow this book, for fourth grade and older, use You can Teach Your Child Successfully, also by Beechick.

That ought to get you started, if you make it through those great books, you will have gotten off to a good start, but there are more, and I have the home library to prove it. :O)

I've often said, "If the Lord is leading you to homeschool, don't be disobedient, but if He isn't, don't try it in your own strength." I think however, that many have never even considered what God's best might be for them, their family, or their child's education. We homeschoolers often refer to that as the "herd mentality" or as being "on the conveyor belt" with the point being that most people, including today's Christians just do what everyone else is doing, because it's what everyone else is doing. And, in doing so, they never stop to seek God's will in every area of their lives, and the lives of their children, and they should!!

Lastly, it's important to note that most homeschoolers do not follow any one specific methodology of homeshooling, but rather use a "little of this, little of that" or eclectic approach. The wise homeschooler will be both prayerful and Spirit Led, while working dilligently to use what works for each child individually. That is the beauty of homeschooling. After all, he point of education is for the child to learn the information, right???

Homeschooling by His grace,
Lori