My Favorite Reads for Homeschool Encouragement

  

Need a total refreshing? Check out...

Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace by Sarah Mackenzie (ebook & companion) - An encouraging book that helps the homeschool mom bring the "why" of homeschool back into focus and how to embrace a "less is more' philosophy when it comes to teaching. The heart of the message of this book is the importance of learning to depend on God for what our children need over what we thing they need. The audio's in this set are not to be missed!

Do you appreciate Charlotte Mason? Check out...
Charlotte Mason's methods hold a lot of appeal for me and we her methods in our home.  A Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on The Gentle Art of Learning by Karen Andreola is the first book I ever read about Charlotte Mason and I was immediately drawn to it and related to it so well. After learning more about Charlotte Mason I have relied a lot on When Children Love to Learn: A Practical Application of Charlotte Mason's Philosophy for Today by Elaine Cooper which gives a lot practical tips for applying her methods. The Living Page: Keeping Notebooks with Charlotte Mason by Laurie Bestvater gives a whole new look at keeping notebooks.
  

  

Frustrated with reading aloud? Check out...
Honey for a Child's Heart: The Imaginative Use of Books in Family Life by Gladys Hunt and Read for the Heart: Whole Books for WholeHearted Families by Sarah Clarkson will do a great job of encouraging you to read aloud, plus they are filled with pages of book recommendations.

 

Are you discouraged, facing obstacles, or frustrated with struggling student? Check out...
 Marva Collins' Way by Marva Collins - This is such an encouraging read about a teacher who was willing to give kids an education that was a cut above what was being offered in the public schools. It may not solve your problems, but it will encourage you.  A Life in Balance: Discovery of a Learning Breakthrough by Frank Belgau (review) is another encouraging story of a man who was willing to work with kids with learning disabilities and eventually founded a company that offers a brain training system to help kids with learning disabilities. Since I had two kids who benefited from different programs that retrained the brain I found it a fascinating read.

Need some humor and fun in your life? Check out...
I know, I know, you're thinking, "Beth, what does this have to do with homeschooling?"  Nothing really, but...sometimes it is good for mom to take a break from the duties of life that can weigh you down and I have found the curling up with a P.G. Wodehouse book is just the ticket. Not familiar with Wodehouse, I recommend his Jeeves and Wooter series along with his Blandings series. My personal favorite: Money in the Bank . (If Wodehouse doesn't do much for you then find an author that does. Read, relax, and enjoy!)

Looking for more recommendations? Check out...

• Flourish: Balance for Homeschool Moms by Mary Jo Tate (review)
• Pocketful of Pinecones: Nature Study With the Gentle Art of Learning: A Story or Mother Culture ® by Karen Andreola
• Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World by Ken Ham & Steve Ham
• For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School by Susan Schaeffer MacCauley
• Charlotte Mason's Original Homeschooling Series by Charlotte Mason
• The Core: Teaching Your Child the Foundations of Classical Education by Leigh Bortins (review)

Head on over to the Schoolhouse Review Crew and see what other mom's are reading.