Our Homeschool Reference Arsenal

When I have a question about homeschooling or technique, I turn to the homeschool arsenal I've created. It's filled with books that I lean on to help me identify where our weaknesses are and what we can do to strengthen those weaknesses. There are times that I just want to ask someone who's been there and I turn to my homeschooling friends. I wanted to share what I keep in my arsenal and maybe find out what's in yours as well.

FAITH
1. NRSV Bible
2. Camille's NRSV Children's Bible

METHODOLOGY
1. The Well-Trained Mind by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer
2. Teaching the trivium: Christian homeschooling in a classical style by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn
3. A Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levison
4. A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola
5. Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum: A Guide to Catholic Home Education by Laura Berquist

LEARNING STYLES & CURRICULUM
1. 100 Top Picks For Homeschool Curriculum: Choosing The Right Curriculum And Approach For Your Child's Learning Style by Cathy Duffy
2. How Children Learn by John Holt
3. The Way They Learn by Cynthia Tobias

BOOKS ABOUT READING
1. THE THREE R'S by Ruth Beechick
2. Books to Build On by E.D. Hirsch Jr.
3. Read To Me: Raising Kids Who Love To Read By Bernice Cullinan
4. Language and Thinking for Young Children by Ruth Beechick
5. The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease

GENERAL EDUCATION & HOMESCHOOL
1. A Survivor's Guide to Home Schooling by Schackelford, Luann
2. The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling (3rd Edition) by Debra Bell
3. What Your First Grader Needs to Know: Fundamentals of a Good First-Grade Education by E.D. Hirsch Jr.
4. What Your Second Grader Needs to Know : Fundamentals of a Good Second Grade Education Revised by E.D. Hirsch Jr.
5. Homeschooling Your Child Step-by-Step: 100 Simple Solutions to Homeschooling Toughest Problems by Lauramaery Gold
6. Help for the Harried Homeschooler : A Practical Guide to Balancing Your Child's Education with the Rest of Your Life by Christine Field

ABOUT PARENTING & TEACHING
1. The Courage to Teach : Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher's Life by Parker Palmer
2. To Know as We Are Known: Education as a Spiritual Journey by Parker Palmer
3. Finding Your Purpose As A Mom: How to Build Your Home on Holy Ground by Donna Otto
4. The Mother at Home by John S.C. Abbott
5. Creative Correction by Lisa Whelchel (Focus on the Family)
6. Teaching Your Children Values by Linda and Richard Eyre
7. The Peacemaker by Ken Sande
8. Peacemaking For Families by Ken Sande
9. Talking Pictures: A Parents' Guide to Using Movies to Discuss Ethics, Values, and Everyday Problems with Children by Ronald Madison, Ed.D and Corey Schmidt

*This list doesn't include books I've read that have been borrowed from friends and the library or include the books I want to own.

When I need to talk to someone, I rely on my homeschooling friends that are a phone call away, the WTM Boards, the Classical Homeschooling Forum and my homeschooling blogger friends.

God Bless the parents that homeschooled their children without the means of support we have today. We are so blessed to have the curriculums, how-to books, the magazines and catalogs, plus the internet to reach out to one another. I cannot imagine the struggles that homeschooling parents in the 1970's and 1980's had to go through. I am so grateful for the homeschoolers before me that have paved the road!

What's in your arsenal? Share yours, it may help another homeschooler!