Home Education Magazine (HEM)
http://www.homeedmag.com/ 

Homeschooling Today
http://www.homeschooltoday.com

Books Available from Amazon.com

 "Despite the paradox of his position as a public high school teacher in Washington State who advocates home schooling (and provides it for his three sons), Guterson mounts a strong challenge to "the doctrine of school's necessity." He profiles the home-school movement, which encompasses more than 300,000 families in America, and probes the wide variety of motives behind its growth. The most common, he finds, is parents' dissatisfaction with the mass, prescribed and other-directed nature of public education. Guterson argues that properly practiced home-schooling produces academic success, lessens peer pressure and allows children to become independent. We see these benefits in his depiction of his own family's experience, but he scants the commitment in time and resources that home schooling requires of parents. He covers legal obstacles and community resistance that await those who embark on this traditional undertaking today. While not a panacea for America's educational malaise, home schooling as presented here should prompt educators to reflect on their own approaches."
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. 

Homeschooling for Excellence by David Colfax and Micki Colfax

"For over fifteen years, David and Micki Colfax have been educating their children at home. They don't think of themselves as pioneers, though that's what they have become. Unhappy with the public schools, the Colfaxes wanted the best education possible for their four sons: a program for learning that met the evolving needs of each child and gave them complete control of how and what their children learned. The results? A prescription for excellence - Harvard educations for their sons Grant, Drew, and Reed. (Their fourth son is still too young for college.)

Now the Colfaxes tell how all parents can become involved in homeschooling. In a straight-talking book that reads like a frank conversation among friends, they tell what they did and how they did it: their educational approaches, the lessons they learned, and what material - books, equipment, educational aids - proved most useful over the years. Best of all, they show you how you can take charge of your children's education - in an invaluable sourcebook that will help you find a rewarding and successful alternative to our failing schools." Homeschooling for Excellence: David Colfax and Micki Colfax

Home Learning Year by Year: How to Design a Homeschool Curriculum from Preschool Through High School by Rebecca Rupp

From the Inside Flap
"Finally, homeschoolers have a comprehensive guide to designing a homeschool curriculum, from one of the country's foremost homeschooling experts. , Rebecca Rupp presents a structured plan to ensure that your children will learn what they need to know when they need to know it, from preschool through high school. Based on the traditional pre-K through 12th-grade structure, Home Learning Year by Year features:

* The integral subjects to be covered within each grade
* Standards for knowledge that should be acquired by your child at each level
* Recommended books to use as texts for every subject
* Guidelines for the importance of each topic: which knowledge is essential and which is best for more expansive study based on your child's personal interests
* Suggestions for how to sensitively approach less academic subjects, such as sex education and physical fitness."

The Complete Home Learning Source Book: The Essential Resource Guide for Homeschoolers, Parents, and Educators Covering Every Subject from Arithmetic to Zoology by Rebecca Rupp

From Library Journal
"Homeschooling is becoming the "school of choice" for more and more parents, currently involving one and a half million people. Rupp, who has homeschooled her own children, begins with some background notes on the movement, for instance, that the average homeschool family annually spends $546 per child. She gives a big plug to public libraries, calling them "an unending source of literature, information, [and] free enrichment programs." The bulk of the book provides useful names, street addresses, costs, and E-mail and web addresses for resources. All the basic topics are covered?reading, writing, mathematics, science, geography, American and world history, foreign languages, the arts, and life skills?with various resources, such as books, video games, audio recordings, and web sites, for each. Although targeted to homeschoolers, this book will be useful to any parent; teachers and school and public librarians can also benefit. A good choice for most public libraries." Terry Christner, Hutchinson P.L., KS
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. 

The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas: 500+ Fun and Creative Learning Activities for Kids Ages 3-12 by Linda Dobson

"As a homeschooling parent, you're always looking for new and creative ways to teach your child the basics. Look no longer! Inside this innovative helper, you'll find kid-tested and parent-approved techniques for learning math, science, writing, history, manners, and more that you can easily adapt to your family's homeschooling needs. And even if you don't homeschool, you'll find this book a great teaching tool inside or outside the classroom. You'll discover fun and education activities for kids ages 3 to 12... 

This comprehensive collection of tried-and-true - and generally inexpensive - ideas provides the best-of-the-best homeschooling activities that can be done anywhere, anytime, and by anyone." The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas: Linda Dobson

The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child: Your Complete Guide to Getting Off to the Right Start by Linda Dobson

"Homeschooling is one of the most robust, promising, and courageous movements in modern-day America. Linda Dobson understands and appreciates this fact and has made a valuable contribution with this, her latest book." William J. Bennett, chairman of K12.com and former U.S. Secretary of Education

The Homeschooling Book of Answers: The 101 Most Important Questions Answered by Homeschooling's Most Respected Voices by Linda Dobson

Reviews
"I can't imagine a more helpful book on homeschooling—a happy marriage of the realistic with the idealistic, the passionate with the practical."
—George Leonard, author, Education and Ecstasy

"Of the many books on home education that have come across my desk, this is the most usable for the beginning homeschooler."
—Jerry Mintz, Director, Alternative Education Resource Organization

"Provides useful information that demystifies and makes accessible the homeschooling experience."
—Marty Layne, author of Learning at Home: A Mother's guide to Homeschooling 

Homeschooling: The Early Years: Your Complete Guide to Successfully Homeschooling the 3- to 8- Year-Old Child by Linda Dobson

Amazon.com Review
"Nothing beats seeking the voice of experience if you want to join the estimated 1 to 3 million parents who teach their children at home. Here's a guide that comes direct from the experts: a mother of two homeschooled, now-grown children and 83 homeschooling families she surveyed. Their stories make reading this starter kit on teaching ages 3 to 7 worthwhile. For those ready to take on what author Linda Dobson calls "a natural extension of being a good parent," the manual provides at-a-glance boxes of insightful anecdotes called "How We Did It," as well as lists at the end of each chapter of helpful books, magazines, Web sites, software, and computer message boards that connect homeschooling households. The straightforward writing covers the basics on reading, writing, and math; different teaching approaches; organizing a curriculum; even how to deal with skeptical relatives and spouses. There are no specifics on each states' homeschooling requirements, which vary widely. But as a primer for parents starting out, the book serves as a confidence builder and an inspiring how-to guide." Jodi Mailander Farrell 

Homeschooling: The Middle Years: Your Complete Guide to Successfully Homeschooling the 8- to 12-Year-Old Child by Shari Henry

Amazon.com Review
"Homeschooling: The Middle Years offers resources and advice for guiding children through the later elementary years. Author Shari Henry emphasizes the importance of a well-rounded education, providing great detail on standard curriculum subjects like math, language arts, and social studies, as well as coverage of additional subject areas like theater, music, and foreign languages (sign language in particular). Each subject is accompanied by practical tips on incorporating learning into life by using interdisciplinary study techniques--learning math and communication skills through starting a business like babysitting or learning the history of the United States by writing stories, drawing maps, and interviewing senior citizens. Lists of popular books and teaching materials help narrow the focus of the huge directories found elsewhere. Parents will find encouragement as well--reminders that homeschooling is worth the extra struggle, along with a chapter devoted to the most common difficulties facing parents (financial problems, age differences in your children, or special physical or intellectual demands) and how to surmount such difficulties." Jill Lightner 

Homeschooling: The Teen Years: Your Complete Guide to Successfully Homeschooling the 13- to 18- Year-Old by Cafi Cohen and Janie Levine Hellyer

Amazon.com Review
"The teen years are when many homeschooling parents start to question or abandon their efforts. It's a precarious time, with challenging academics, pressing social issues, and the prospect of college looming. Parents can now breathe easy: this guide calms the teen-time jitters and even offers hope to those just turning to homeschooling now that their child is about to enter high school. With brief "how we did it" testimonies from other parents sprinkled throughout the book, author Cafi Cohen offers sage advice with the turn of every page. A columnist for Home Education Magazine and Homeschooling Today, two of the most respected periodicals on the subject, Cohen has also homeschooled her two children into college. To comfort doubters, she begins with 10 reasons for homeschooling your teenager (work experience, limited peer pressure, and family togetherness, among them). She goes on to devote long chapters to traditional subjects such as math and history, and even gets to those you might not have considered, like driver education. Her suggestions for parents new to homeschooling: decompress slowly, study only one subject a month at first, and read at least one book on learning styles. This approach will save much time and reduce those trial-and-error episodes.

The guide is neatly packaged and easy to read in the same style of its sister publications, Homeschooling: The Early Years and Homeschooling: The Middle Years. A large collection of lists and quick tips offer everything from the top 10 books for teens and the most popular math programs to money-saver suggestions such as joining a local college's foreign-language club and asking for discarded equipment from local schools. The last chapter contains two college application essays written by teenage homeschoolers. It also provides reassuring information about diplomas. Many universities follow Harvard's policy of not requiring a diploma, but if you or your homeschooling support group do issue one, your teenager can answer "yes" to the diploma question on most job applications--a fact sure to illicit a collective sigh of relief from thousands of parents who homeschool their teens." Jodi Mailander Farrell 

100 Top Picks For Homeschool Curriculum: Choosing The Right Curriculum And Approach For Your Child's Learning Style by Cathy Duffy

Amazon.com Product Description
"The key to successful home education, homeschool veterans will tell you, is determining your educational philosophy and marrying it to your child’s learning style. Then you can make an informed decision in choosing the right educational curriculum for the child. This is the formula for success.

In 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum, homeschool guru Cathy Duffy can help you accomplish these critical tasks. Cathy will give you her top choices from every subject area, approaching everything through a Christian worldview perspective. This book is a critical volume for the homeschooling community."

The Well-Adjusted Child: The Social Benefits of Homeschooling by Rachel Gathercole

From Booklist
"Gathercole, who has spent 10 years homeschooling her three children, says what most people wonder about is whether homeschooled children can work and play with others, in other words, their socialization skills. She begins by noting that "once upon a time, all children were homeschooled" before more formal schooling and the development of "school culture." She notes that conventional schools offer "socialization" through peer pressure, the stress of choosing between popularity and academic performance, and excessive attention to appearance. Drawing on her own experiences as a homeschooler, she details the networks of other homeschoolers who provide opportunities for their children—and themselves—to socialize. Gathercole also points to research showing that homeschooled children have stronger self-concepts than children attending conventional schools. Focusing on how homeschoolers address misperceptions, she explores concepts of socialization, the importance of friendships with other children, strong relationships with parents, and how homeschoolers eventually integrate into the "real world." Great encouragement for parents who are homeschooling and those who are considering it." Vanessa Bush

Homeschooling at the Speed of Life: Balancing Home, School, And Family in the Real World by Marilyn Rockett

Amazon.com Product Description
"What should I do next; grade the math test or tackle the laundry? Homeschooling at the Speed of Life gives busy homeschooling mothers a thoughtfully thorough resource for bringing order back to their home. In tune with today's pace, the book provides basic home-management principles, teaching parents how to de-clutter their homes, develop life skills in their children, tame the paper monster, and keep organized records.

Also emphasized are ways to build relationships and use the home as a center for hospitality and outreach. The book even includes Rockett's easily adaptable File-a-Plan organizing system on a bonus CD-ROM. Homeschooling moms will be keeping up with their good work in no time!"

Homeschooling for Dummies by Jennifer Kaufeld

Amazon.com Product Description
"If you believe that a good education is the greatest gift you can give your child, you’re probably pretty unhappy with what’s being taught in most classrooms these days. If you think that education should do more than just train kids to take standardized tests, that it should build their critical thinking skills, enable them to weigh ethical considerations, instill a passion for learning, and reflect your core values and beliefs, then you’re probably fed up with the current state of our schools. If, like many parents, you’re wondering whether homeschooling can be the solution you’re looking for, then you’ll be happy to know that the answer is yes–and Home Schooling For Dummies shows you how.

This friendly, well-informed guide is a valuable resource for parents considering homeschooling, as well as veteran homeschooler interested in fresh homeschooling ideas. It gets you on track with what you need to know to confidently:

• Determine whether homeschooling is right for you and your family
• Get started in homeschooling
• Obtain teaching materials
• Develop a curriculum that reflects your values and beliefs
• Comply with all legal requirements
• Find healthy social outlets for your kids
• Join a homeschooling cooperative

From textbooks to computers to state compliance, expert Jennifer Kaufeld, covers all the bases. She anticipates most of your questions about homeschooling and answers them with clear, easy-to-follow answers enlivened by real-life accounts by parents around the nation who have opted to homeschool their children. Topics covered include:

• Deciding at what age to begin
• Determining your kid’s learning style and teaching to it
• Teaching special needs children
• Developing a curriculum that’s right for your children
• Finding social outlets for you homeschoolers
• Complying with state and federal regulations
• Teaching at the primary, middle school and high school levels
• Preparing for the SATs, ACT and other key standardized tests
• Networking with other homeschoolers

You shouldn’t have to compromise on your children’s education. Get Homeschooling For Dummies and find out how to turn your home into a school and raise smart, well-adjusted kids."

Homeschooling: A Family's Journey by Martine Millman and Gregory Millman

From Publishers Weekly
"The parents of six children home-schooled in Plainfield, N.J., the Millmans offer a positive, encouraging overview of their own efforts and of the nationwide movement, though with scant hands-on specifics. Living on one moderate income in a blighted town with terrible public schools in the early 1990s, the Millmans started their eldest children in the local Catholic school, but were put off by the rigidity of the teaching methods. The only luxury they could afford was a full-time mom. Fueled by a distaste for public school education and a healthy mistrust for institutions in general, they gradually began to inform themselves about what home-schooling entailed: gathering curriculum and materials, then tailoring a program for each child. The authors put great store by serendipity and randomness, that is, letting life provide the teachable moment instead of adhering to strict schedules and plans, and they emphasized free reading, learning languages such as Chinese, music and travel rather than writing and textbook use. However, their insistence on freedom and spontaneity poses the question: how was the day structured, accommodating the needs of six children of different ages, and by one overtaxed mother? Still, the Millmans produce impressive rates of home-schooling success, and have three kids so far in college. Their cheerleading approach, while sometimes defensive, is accessible and resource-rich. (Aug.)"
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.  

Date of Last Update: 11/28/2008