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.

My 5 Favorite Homeschool Blogs

 

I have to admit that reading blogs can be very addicting and something that I have to keep in check. On the other hand they are also very helpful to have for reference and encouragement during the school year. Today I'm going to share my 5 favorite homeschool blogs that I go to for inspiration or for reference. (You may notice most of these blogs have a Charlotte Mason bent to them.)

1. Ordo-Amoris - I have been reading Cindy's blog for quite a few years. She isn't blogging very much right now, but there is plenty in the archives to inspire. Favorite blog posts: 31 One Days to Morning Time

 

2. Afterthoughts - Another blog I have followed for awhile. Brandy uses Ambleside Online curriculum, which we also use. She also has a lot of insight on Charlotte Mason. I am really enjoying her Learning How to Live series right now.

3. Amongst the Lovely Things - I kept coming across Sarah's blog time and time again and finally started following it faithfully earlier this year. She has some very encouraging posts about Teaching from Rest, which is now a book and one I recommend getting. Another favorite: The Read-Aloud Revival Podcast--If you love to read-aloud to your kids or have a desire to get started you don't want to miss this inspiring podcast.



 

4. Schole Sisters - "...a community of homeschooling moms who believe that teaching is the art of being imitated, who long to teach from rest, and who draw on wisdom from the classical tradition..." This blog just started and so far I have enjoyed everything I've read.

 
 

5. Living Books Library - I love to read Living books to my kids and Elizabeth has such great lists on her blog. Posts are few a far between, but I do reference it quite a bit.

 

On Wednesday head over to the Schoolhouse Review Crew to see other crew member's Favorite Homeschool Blogs.

 

My One Word for 2014

While thinking of a word to focus on for 2014 every idea I kept coming up with could be summed up in the word "time"--a word I don't really care for.  So why focus on it, you may ask?

This year I want to focus on two different aspects of time. The first is using my time wisely. My oldest recently turned 18 years old and it really drove it home for me how quickly time passes. I have struggled the last few years trying to use the time I have been given efficiently and feel that I can really improve in this area.

I want to use my time wisely and focus on these areas: 

• Devotions
• Home management
• Preparing my son's transcript (Yes, I know I should have started that a loooong time ago.)
• Organizing photos
• Scheduling time to sew

On one hand while time flies by, there are many times that time seems to creep by slowly. There have been a few situations in my life in the past couple of years that I honestly wonder if God even knows I'm alive. I feel like I have been waiting forever for God's timing, which isn't coming soon enough for me!

So while I working on using my time efficiently my biggest focus for this year is to wait for God's time and to put my trust in Him instead of fretting and worrying about when His time is going to come.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11a

 

See more at the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog.