Since beginning homeschooling, we have moved from an extremely textbook-ish way of learning to leaning towards unschooling in most areas. Throughout the years, I have come across some fabulous curricula choices and other helpful resources for homeschooling that I like to keep around our home to promote learning at all times. I’ve shared my list with you below, and I hope that you will be able to find great value in these items too, as you move forward into your new homeschool year this fall.
Books for Learning About Education
Though we are entering our tenth year of homeschooling, educating myself is a continual process. I enjoy finding new books and re-reading well-loved ones, so that I can grasp new concepts about what education is, and renew my mind again about favorite methods of learning. The three books below are my most well-loved titles that I go back to again and again.
Unschooling Rules: 55 Ways to Unlearn What We Know About Schools and Rediscover Education
the unschooling handbook: How to Use the Whole World as Your Child’s Classroom
Educating the WholeHearted Child
Art Supplies
All five of my children enjoy creating art, but my eldest two are especially interested and talented in this area. Our home has been filled with many supplies throughout our homeschool years to help facilitate their learning and spark their interest in various types of art. The following are a short list of some of my children’s favorite supplies for creating.
Faber Castell – Assorted Pitt Pen Nibs Art Set
Watercolor Paper
Model Cars
paintbrushes
crayons
scissors
Curriculum
These days we lean heavily towards unschooling in our homeschool. However, that does not mean that we have not used and sometimes still use, curriculum. I’ve listed below some packaged curriculum that we have used and loved, that each has a Christ-centered focus or add-on, and that worked well for our family at the time we were using it.
Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett
Homeschool Legacy Once-a-Week Unit Studies
Educational Toys & Activities
I feel like all of life is an opportunity to learn. Since this is my philosophy our home has always been filled with what you might deem ‘educational’ toys and activities, though we do enjoy our share of games and toys that may seemingly have no purpose. This list includes those that we currently use in our home on a daily basis.
Toy Animals (plastic)
iPad or Fire HD with educational apps (Fire HD and iPad)
Media & Music
Each person in our family enjoys music of some sort. We also find great delight in movies, both ‘educational’ and otherwise. These ideas may spark some interest in your or your child for how to use media and music in your own homeschool.
Preschool Prep Series Collection – 10 DVD set
Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video
music: Classical Kids Collection and Maestro Classics
musical instruments (piano, guitar, ocarina)
Literature
We are a reading family! As long as I can remember I have been an avid reader, and I have readily passed on the love of the written word to my children. Below is a brief list of some books that have been meaningful to us as a family over the years, and I highly recommend them to you for use with your families, too!
The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name
Classic Books for Kids for Kindle
What are some of our favorite resources for your homeschool? I am always looking for interesting things to add to my list, so please do share your ideas with me!
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I would also love to invite you the community inspired by this series, as we strive to inspire, encourage and empower our readers in everything homeschooling.