- The
most highly recommended
Getting
Started
 Whether
you're already homeschooling your kids or just
considering the option, these books will help answer
basic questions, provide valuable references, and
weigh the pros and cons. -- This how-to
guide offers the collective wisdom of six dozen
homeschoolers, their children, and noted writers on
the subject. Written in a question-and-answer format,
it leaves no stone unturned, with chapters on
everything from socialization ("But what about the
prom?") to the tricky teen years ("How will my child
learn the tough subjects, like algebra and chemistry,
if I don't understand them?"). There's also practical
advice on how to handle critical relatives and
friends, how to succeed at the college admissions
process, and how to correspond with the governmental
agencies that may oversee homeschooling in your state.
The writing is authoritative and often humorous, with
anywhere from two to five responses to each question
from different homes across the country. One chapter
exclusively features responses from homeschooled
children. A lengthy appendix of resources provides
national and state support groups, books, magazines,
sources for learning materials, Internet sites,
mailing lists, and newsletters. And, unlike many books
on this subject, a helpful list of state-by-state
requirements for homeschoolers is provided.
Linda Dobson, the author who corralled these
voices, is the news editor and columnist for Home
Education Magazine, and a homeschooler since 1985.
Primarily written for families considering
homeschooling, the guide would also benefit educators,
researchers, politicians, and writers. Despite its
comprehensiveness, however, the book does gloss over
the subject of minorities in homeschooling (only one
parent of color is among the contributors), and
traditional schools come in for quite a bit of abuse
at homeschoolers' expense. But for someone looking for
advice from those in the know, this is the book.
--Jodi Mailander Farrell
(Amazon reviewer)
What's the
Plan?
 So, you've decided to homeschool--now what? Our
booklist of lesson plans for kindergarten through high school covers not
only the three Rs but also science, spelling, social science, and even
games to increase motor skills.
Educational Software
The
State of CD-ROMs
 Kaplan
SAT, ACT, and PSAT Deluxe 2001
by Encore Software
Software personalization
technology has made it possible for educational
CD-ROMs to offer students customized instruction
based on the skills they present during sample
exercises. It's proven to be a stunning success
for typing instruction, SAT preparation,
language study, and more. | What We're
Reading
 |
 One
of the most important books in
homeschooling |
|
Homeschooling Almanac,
2000-2001
by Mary Leppert,
Michael Leppert ---- Revised annually,
Homeschooling Almanac is the up-to-the-minute
resource for information on regional and
national conferences, new products and programs,
and the latest teaching techniques and tools for
no-fail homeschooling. Here, you will receive
guidance and support from two authors who
understand the challenges of the homeschooling
experience. With information on topics like
homeschooling as a single parent, combining a
homeschool and a home business, homeschooling
children with ADHD and other special needs, and
teaching children with various learning styles,
this book answers every possible question
parents might have. These two respected
homeschooling experts have also compiled a
national clearinghouse of everything today's
homeschooler needs--books, supplies, software,
magazines, curriculum plans, Web sites,
catalogs, community organizations and
activities, and more. Extra: includes more than
$500 worth of coupons
for educational supplies!
Make room on the
bookshelf for Homeschooling Almanac
2000-2001, a truly indispensable resource.
Whether you're just getting started with
homeschooling or are an old hand, this almanac
will become the first that you reach for when
looking for new information. It's divided into
three large sections, each with several clearly
labeled chapters. "Nuts and Bolts" helps to
identify the types of learners your children
are, gives overviews of teaching styles, and, in
an easy-to-follow question-and-answer format,
supplies information on the most commonly asked
topics in homeschooling. The "Products" section
sorts by subject, rather than age or skill
level, making it the easiest product hunting
we've encountered. The suggestions here range
from books and software to art supplies and
chemistry sets, and cover ages 5 to 18. The
state-by-state "Resource Guide" gives contact
information for all kinds of conferences and
organizations, as well as state-specific
guidelines for homeschool certification. A
general area details prepackaged curricula
(great for those just getting started) and many
types of homeschooling support groups that can
help answer questions or provide group-learning
situations for your children. At the tail end of
the book are 12 pages packed with coupons for
many of the manufacturers listed in the product
guide. Use just a couple of them and the book
pays for itself! No matter what age your
children or your level of teaching experience,
the almanac is an essential addition to your
homeschooling library |
Homeschoolers'
Success Stories : 15 Adults and 12 Young People
Share the Impact That Homeschooling Has Made on
Their Lives
by Linda
Dobson ---
One of the most
common questions homeschoolers face is whether
or not their children will be able to function
in "the real world." Now that the first children
of modern homeschooling have reached adulthood,
the effectiveness of homeschooling in preparing
children to become successful, capable adults
can finally be assessed. This book is an
in-depth exploration of life after homeschooling
through real lives instead of test scores. You
will meet a cross-section of confident,
well-educated men and women who were
homeschooled as children--men and women who have
achieved success on a variety of levels. You
will see how they have grown up using the skills
they first grasped as homeschoolers, combining
life and learning in the world of higher
education, business, art, religion, and more. In
a Class of Their Own is an inspirational
"why-to" for homeschoolers and those considering
homeschooling.
Despite their
growing numbers, many homeschoolers still find
their experience somewhat isolating. This
collection of short biographies aims to
alleviate some of that loneliness. While the
stories profile modern-day homeschool grads and
students, famous homeschooled personalities from
the past are offered up early in the book for
historical inspiration. John Adams, Abraham
Lincoln, steel magnate Andrew Carnegie,
newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer,
photographer Ansel Adams, poet Robert Frost, and
songwriter Irving Berlin join the long list dug
up by author Linda Dobson. And just in case
there were any doubts that fame has eluded
today's homeschooled, Dobson throws in actresses
Whoopi Goldberg and Jennifer Love Hewitt, the
Hanson singer siblings, and conservative
commentator William F. Buckley Jr. The people
whose stories are told here are successful
entrepreneurs, Ivy League students, and
athletes, such as Miami Dolphins defensive end
Jason Taylor and U.S. ski team member Todd
Lodwick. But to Dobson's credit, she unearths a
healthy array of "regular folk" as well. Their
stories are no less interesting and, most
importantly, they dispel the notion that
homeschooled children are over-the-top achievers
and freaks of nature. Among the subjects here
are an Arkansas state trooper, a private chef,
an art gallery owner, and a Cost Guard Reserve
seaman. |
 Rebecca
Rupp is a font of
homeschooling knowledge. the author of The
Complete Home Learning Sourcebook talks about
the joys and challenges of home learning and offers
tips on where to find the best resources and support
networks. She also debunks many homeschooling myths,
including the issue of inadequate
socialization.
Amazon.com
This ambitious reference guide
lives up to its name. Practically three inches
thick--and we're not talking large print here--it's
packed with titles, ordering information, and Web site
addresses. From where to send away for a kit to make
your own Chilean rain stick to how to order a set of
Elizabethan costume paper dolls, the book connects
families to a world of learning possibilities. Book
titles, short synopses, authors' names, publishers,
and years of print make up the bulk of the guide.
Classics such as The Cat in the Hat and
Curious George share billing with lesser-known
titles like Stone Fox, the story of a legendary
Indian dog-sled racer. Every entry appears with
recommended ages and an icon that shows whether the
item is a book, computer disc, or video; an
outstretched palm denotes hands-on materials. Most of
the resources seem to have been test-driven by the
author and her three homeschooled sons. Rebecca Rupp,
a former scientist who has been teaching her kids at
home for more than 10 years, peppers the guide with
anecdotes about her children's experiences in various
subject areas, much of it drawn from the family's
extensive journals. Along with books, magazines, and
kits for reading, math, writing, science, and history,
a considerable amount of space is given to computer
and television resources, as well as "life skills," a
broad category that includes everything from etiquette
and carpentry to sewing and sex education. Like a
Yellow Pages guide to knowledge, The Complete Home
Learning Sourcebook belongs on the shelf of anyone
looking for new ways to spark a child's imagination.
--Jodi Mailander Farrell
Book
Description
This exhaustive and
comprehensive sourcebook provides parents and teachers
with information on all the resources needed to plan a
well-balanced curriculum for the home or the
classroom, from preschool through high school. The
Complete Home Learning Sourcebook not only covers
basic academic subjects--the three R's--but also
addresses interests that are off the beaten path of
public school curricula, such as paleontology and
meteorology. Thorough and up-to-date, this invaluable
resource reviews all possible learning tools:
Arranged by subject, including "Philosophy," "Life
Skills," and "Electronic Media," the sourcebook's
organization and succinct and insightful entries make
it a breeze to use. Icons next to the entries denote
the format and intended age group of each resource.
Whether readers are looking for the best way to
explain relativity or Egyptian mummification, The
Complete Home Learning Sourcebook opens the door to a
whole new universe for teaching and learning.
- Books
- Videos
- Magazines
- Catalogs
- Timelines
- Kits
- Hands-on activities
- Board games
- CD-ROMs
- Educational Web sites
Synopsis
Designed for
the more than half-a-million families who are
homeschooling their children, this book contains
annotated lists of sources, including books, CD-ROMs,
Web sites, audiotapes, and other essential tools.
About the
Author
Rebecca Rupp, Ph.D., has
homeschooled her three sons for more than ten years
and has been a leading proponent of the burgeoning
homeschooling movement. She is the author of many
books and articles on education and natural history,
including How We Remember and Why We Forget (Three
Rivers Press, 1998). She lives in Shaftsbury, Vermont
The
publisher, Crown Publishers Inc.
(apande@randomhouse.com) , December 11,
1998
The definite all-you'll-ever-need
homelearning sourcebook
This exhaustive
and comprehensive sourcebook provides parents and
teachers with information on all the resources they
need to plan a well-balanced curriculum for the home
or classroom, from preschool through highschool. The
Complete Home Learning Sourcebook not only covers
basic academic subjects--the three Rs-- but also
addresses interests that are off the beaten path of
public school curricula, such as paleontology or
meteorology. Thorough and up-to-date, this invaluable
resource reviews ALL possible learning tools: " Books
" Videos " Magazines " Timelines " Activity books "
Boardgames " CD-ROMs " Educational web-sites Arranged
by subject, including Philosophy, Life Skills and
Electronic Media, the sourcebook's organization and
succinct and insightful entries make it a breeze to
use. Icons next to the entries denote the format and
age group of each resource. Whether readers are
looking for the best way to explain relativity or
Egyptian mummification, The Complete Home Learning
Sourcebook opens the door to a whole new universe for
teaching and learning.
Teaching
from a Christian Perspective
Resources and
Manuals
|
