Following is a list of the books that were most helpful to me throughout our homeschooling years. They’re the ones I’ve recommended most often when helping others get started.
In addition to them, I highly recommend 9 Easy Steps to Homeschooling. If you’re new to homeschooling, or still feeling unconfident, I wrote it especially for you. Click to learn more!
Better Late Than Early by Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore. When I hear parents talk about homeschooling preschoolers, or worry about the development of their early elementary students, this is the book I recommend that they read. Dr. and Mrs. Moore present evidence for why they don’t recommend formal schooling for young children. It’s likely different than anything else you’ve read. They have other great books as well, such as Home Grown Kids.
The Strong-Willed Child by Dr. James Dobson. Obedience is the foundation of your homeschool. If you have rebellious children, your first task is to work on their obedience. I read Dr. Dobson’s book when our oldest was just three months old, so I was prepared when disobedience reared its ugly head. Also, Dare to Discipline.
The War Against Boys by Christina Hoff Sommers is another book that I read when my son was very young, and I’m so glad that I did. It opened my eyes to the difficulties boys face as a result of feminism and its influence in the public schools.
Nurture by Nature by Paul D. Tieger & Barbara Barron-Tieger. This book uses personality-type analysis to help you determine which type each of your children are. This in turn is helpful in choosing your homeschooling style and curriculum.
The Three R’s by Dr. Ruth Beechick. This book gives tips on teaching young children reading, writing, and arithmetic. I read several of Dr. Beechick’s books and found them all easy to read and worthwhile.
Learning All the Time by John Holt. John Holt was a former teacher who wrote many good books about education and the way children learn. I found his books fascinating and encouraging. They gave me more confidence in my own maternal instincts.
College Without Compromise by Scott & Kris Wightman. When you start looking ahead to college, this book starts off with whether or not your child should go to college, then it explores ways to go about it to save time and money.
Apologia textbooks. We especially enjoyed those written by Dr. Jay Wile. My daughter credits him with her love for science. I appreciated that they were interesting, easy to teach from, and from a Christian perspective.
Sonlight Curriculum We used Sonlight for over ten years. It was easy and enjoyable to use, yet highly customizable. Even I learned a lot! I stretched the “Cores” to about a year and a half, which made it more economical.