Books about homeschooling
Science
"How-To" Guides
Miscellaneous Books
Resource Files
The current requirement for borrowing material is to have attended at least 3 NCHE events. This is to help ensure that items are returned for all to enjoy. Material may be borrowed for up to two months (there is some leeway here, depending on the demand for the item). If this policy bothers anyone, please let us know and give us suggestions on how to improve it. Thanks!
Child's Work by Nancy Wallace. This is a book about how children learn when they choose their activities and direct their education. Through examples of her two children's self-chosen work, we see how children learn and in what conditions children are most likely to flourish. It also shows how her children grew up & found work they love, while Nancy learned to take the work of childhood seriously. Donated by the Greers
Countdown to Consistency: Understanding and Clarifying Your Educational Philosophy by Mary Hood. After giving an overview of philosophies of education (Mary lists her five definitions as essentialism, perennialism, progressivism, and existentialism), a set of worksheets follow for the reader to complete. Mary believes that in order to develop a consistent approach to education, you need to clarify your philosophy (which usually is a combination of the above). As a result, it will be easier to decide what method of preparation, instruction, evaluation, record- keeping, and curriculum to use. A concise, hands-on book.
The Day I Became an Autodidact by Kendall Hailey. This book was written by a girl who graduates from high school a year early in order to begin her self-education. She begins by reading great works (Greek, Roman, Romantics), and continues with painting, writing a novel, writing a play and acting in it, and traveling. While her friends pursue college, she decides to stay at home to continue learning on her own. Definitely not a "how-to" book, but I enjoyed her witticisms and comments on her relationships.
Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling by John Taylor Gatto. Winner of the 1991 New York State Teacher of the Year, these are a collection of essays based on speeches by John about schooling versus education, why we need less school and not more, his controversial Teacher of the Year acceptance speech and more. Donated by the Greers
The Education of John Holt by Mel Allen. This 7 page reprint of an article that appeared in Yankee magazine in December 1981 gives some personal insights into John Holt, the man.
Good Stuff: Learning Tools for All Ages by Rebecca Rupp (Home Education Magazine's resource editor) reviews thousands of books, magazines, audio & video programs, equipment, games, & much more. Broken down into subjects such as history, math, science, reading, writing, arts and crafts, foreign language, and life skills. Includes complete address listing.
Homeschooling for Excellence by David & Micki Colfax. You've heard and read their names everywhere and would like to know more about this much publicized family. Then this book is for you! A classic book on why and how one family homeschooled. Donated by the Greers
Homeschooling in the News - Presented by Growing Without Schooling, this book covers articles about homeschooling in the news from 1986 to January 1991. Donated by Kathy Hays.
How Children Learn by John Holt, 1967, Rev 1983 How little children figure out things for their own satisfaction with little or no help, before their intelligence & curiosity is crippled by having to learn under orders, for praise & reward. Original text, plus new material. Donated by Anne Martin
John Holt 1983 Interview - Interviewed on the radio show, Fresh Air, it's interesting to hear John Holt talk about the concepts he wrote about in his many books.
I Learn Better by Teaching Myself by Agnes Leistico. An introduction to interest-initiated learning. Agnes' questioning and searching for answers may help someone who is seeking less structure in their own homeschool. Donated by the Greers
Instead of Education: Ways to Help People Do Things Better by John Holt. The basic premise of this book is that we learn by doing. It goes on to show how communities can provide exciting and simple alternative resources for learning. This books points toward John's later thinking of homeschooling as the most hopeful path for changing education.
Learning Styles, Temperaments, & Independent Learning: Our Family Journey by Carolyn Ellis. Booklet.
The Lives of Children by George Dennison. I haven't read this one yet; it is the story of the First Street School, where poor children with severe learning & behavior problems came together with teachers who believed that "the business of school is not, or should not be mere instruction, but the life of the child." John Holt considered this a very important book. Received free from GWS.
Negotiating Structure: An Alternative Way to Organize Learning by Madalene & Tom Murphy. 32-page booklet about how to organize work in the homeschool. Donated by Renee Hohrein.
Real Lives: Eleven Teenagers Who Don't Go to School edited by Grace Llewellyn. This book contains the writing of 11 homeschooled teenagers . Emphasis on self-directed learning.
The Relaxed Home School: A Family Production by Mary Hood. This book discusses how to help your children learn without the need for expensive curriculum & lessons plans. Also how to create units based on your child's interests, how to motivate reluctant teens, how to set goals & design your curriculum, and more.
Schooling at Home edited by Anne Pedersen & Peggy O'Mara. Addresses full-time & part-time homeschooling. A compilation of various authors. Articles "range from the philosophical to the practical, about the meaning, methods & magic of schooling at home." Donated by Katie Torrey
Successful Homeschool Family Handbook by Dororthy & Raymond Moore (formerly Homeschool Burnout). This book emphasizes a low-stress, low-cost program that shows you how to build a curriculum around your child's needs and interests.
Summerhill: A Radical Approach to Child Rearing by A.S. Neill. This book is about an alternative school in England, not homeschooling, but you may want to read it since Summerhill is often referred to in homeschooling literature. Donated by Stacy Batchelder
Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Quit School and Get a Real Life and Education by Grace Llewellyn. Written especially for teenagers and people with teenagers in their lives, it is also helpful for anyone who has ever gone to school. Leans strongly towards an "unschooling" approach. GREAT book!
The Three R's by Ruth Beechick. Includes three booklets: A Home Start in Reading, An Easy Start in Arithmetic, A Strong Start in Language. Also includes a 2 sided chart for phonics and arithmetic. (K-3)
Who Does What When? Curriculum Planning in the Home School by Kate Kerman. 28-page booklet of curriculum planning & record keeping I got the idea of putting a statement of our homeschooling philosophy at the beginning of Glen's portfolio from this booklet. Donated by the Greers.
Be A Dinosaur Detective by Dougal Dixon. "Uncover the mysteries of the dinosaur world by answering questions, solving puzzles, and following clues.
Einstein Science Parties by Levine & Grafton. This book shows how to put together 14 clever and inexpensive science theme parties using regular household items. It also includes illustrated invitations that can be photocopied.
Explorabook: A Kid's Science Museum in a Book by John Cassidy. Another in the series of books by Klutz Press, this is the book that was in just about every catalog I got last year. It's hands-on, has most of the tools to do nearly all of its 50+ experiments, and it's fun!
Looking at the Body by David Suzuki. Through projects and activities, discover what the different parts of the body are, how they are formed, and how they work.
Looking at Weather by David Suzuki. Projects & activities to find out what makes weather, where clouds, rain, snow, & lightening come from, and how weather effects our everyday lives.
The Ocean Book: Aquarium and Seaside Activities and Ideas for All Ages - The Center for Marine Conservation, forward by Isaac Asimov. The activities in this book were created by leading aquatic centers in the U.S., including the Nat'l Aquarium in Baltimore. "The activities are designed to teach by doing... ideal for grades K-6, but children & adults may just learn a thing or two as well."
Projects for a Healthy Planet: Simple Environmental Experiments for Kids by Shar Levine & Allison Grafton. Simple activities to foster understanding and respect the environment.
Science Can Be fun by Keith Wicks. Learn how to set up a weather station, create optical illusions, build a radio, construct a microscope, & much more. Materials used can be found at home or a hobby shop.
The Thomas Edison Book of Easy and Incredible Experiments - The Thomas Alva Edison Foundation.. This book presents the best, most popular experiments sponsored by the Edison Foundation. The range of activities cover the very simple to the complex. They say the topics range in interest from grades 4 through 11. No science background required.
Janice VanCleave's books:
Animals - "20 simple & fun experiments that allow you to discover the answers to questions about animals, plus suggestions for developing your own science fair project."
Earthquakes - What is the San Adreas Fault? Where are earthquakes most likely to happen? How can you make a seismograph? These are other questions are answered with 20 experiments that can also turn into science fair projects.
Earth Science - "20 simple & fun experiments...plus suggestions for developing your own science fair project."
Gravity - "20 simple & fun experiments that allow you to discover the answers to questions about gravity, plus suggestions for developing your own science fair project."
Machines - 20 fun experiments that answer such questions as: How is your forearm like a lever? How can a windmill help to do work. Can also be used in science fair projects.
Magnets - "20 simple & fun experiments that allow you to discover the answers to questions about magnets (how does a compass work?, what is a magnetic field?, how can you make a magnet with electricity?...), plus suggestions for developing your own science fair project."
Microscopes and Magnifying Lenses - 20 chemistry and biology experiments you can turn into science fair projects (why does a water drop magnify? How do crystals form? What does the inside of a seed look like?).
Molecules - What are molecules made of? How do water molecules stay together? How does heat affect the movement of the molecules. These and other questioned are answered in 20 experiments. Also suggestions for science fair projects.
Family Math by Stenmark, Thompson & Cossey. This is a book for parents & children working together with "important math topics such as word problems, logical reasoning, measurement, geometry, spatial thinking, probability, statistics, calculators, estimation, arithmetic, and others." Designed for children 5 to 12 years old.
Families Writing by Peter R. Stillman. "More than 60 ideas to help your family record special moments, share stories, preserve family memorabilia, work through crises, and develop lasting family ties." The activities offered are for roughly age 3 to at least 95." Excellent book!
How to Make Your Own Video by Perry Schwartz. "Explains the elements of storytelling & the technical basics needed to make a great video.
Kid's Gardening (Nat'l Gardening Assoc.) - A guide designed for leaders of youth gardens, but could also be used on an individual basis.
Kites on the Wind by Emery J. Kelly. Learn how to make 13 kites using ordinary household items. Step- by- step instructions. Also read about the principles of flight.
Make Your Own Musical Instruments by Margaret McLean. How to make musical instruments from odds and ends from around the house.
Photography: Take Your Best Shot by Morgan & Thaler. Basic information on camera operation, equipment, film types & developing. Also includes information on techniques such as composition, lighting, special effects, and action and portrait shots.
Pick up Your Socks...and Other Skills Growing Children Need! by Elizabeth Crary. This is a book about encouraging responsibility. It uses exercises to help build responsibility, taking into account children's different learning styles. Donated by the Greers.
Playful Learning - LLL book of preschool activities. Also suggestions for setting up your own preschool. Donated by Renee Hohrein.
Responding to Children's Writing by Susannah Sheffer. A 12-page booklet by the editor of Growing Without Schooling magazine. Not intending to be a complete discussion of children's writing, it is an attempt to answer some frequent questions "and to show how we can become active readers of our children's work."
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons by Siegfried Engelmann. This uses SRA's DISTAR program for beginning reading. It is a step-by-step program that shows parents how to teach their children to read.
Teaching Children: A Curriculum Guide to What Children Need to Know at Each Level Through Sixth Grade by Diane Lopez. An educational approach which integrates a Christian worldview.
Whole Language in Action! by Nancy Polette. Teaching with children's literature.
Why Johnny Can't Read. Classic book arguing the use of phonics. Donated by the Greers
You Are Your Child's First Teacher by Rahima Baldwin. Written by a Waldorf early childhood teacher, this book focuses on children's development from birth to age six.
Going Places with Children in Washington - 1985 edition of a guidebook of the D.C. area (includes Baltimore & other Maryland counties as well as some of Virginia and D.C.). Donated by the Greers
Confessions of An Organized Housewife by Denice Schofield. Donated by the Greers
The Creative Spirit by Goleman, Kaufman, Ray. Companion book to the PBS series of the same name, this books explores the creative process & offers examples of how you can put creativity to work in whatever you do. Donated by the Greers.
Oak Meadow School Curriculum Overview of All 12 grades. Donated by the Greers.
You Are Your Child's First Teacher by Rahima Baldwin. Written by a Waldorf early childhood teacher, this book focuses on children's development from birth to age six. Donated by the Greers.
Volunteer USA by Andrew Carroll. A guide to worthy causes - where to find them & how you can help. Indexed by organization & region. Donated by the Greers.
These files include the following topics: archaeology, birds, book catalogs, children's publications, Christian homeschooling sources, college info, conference info, curriculum providers, catalogs of educational material, foreign language resources, government resources, information on museums & possible field trip ideas, phonics, other homeschooling groups, testing, volunteerism/apprenticeships, youth organizations. Also included are sample issues of : Aero-Gramme, Art-to-Zoo, Childhood, Drinking Gourd, Family Friends, Growing Without Schooling, Home Education Magazine, HoMe School, Mother's Resource Guide, Nat'l Homeschooling Assoc., Mentor, Other homeschooling group newsletters, Teaching Home, HomeBase, America 2000, Tops, A Voice for Children, Treasure Trove, Clubhouse Jr., Practical Homeschooling, and many more.
Some of the books in our library have worksheets/activities for the reader to fill out. Please use a copier to reproduce these for your own use. Thanks!
There are more books available for you to borrow from our personal library. Especially parenting, business & computer books (but just about everything else in between); in case you haven't guessed, we're book enthusiasts and enjoy sharing our books . We also have a computer with a CD- ROM, so if you have any questions about computer resources, feel free to ask!
Fine Print:
This list was created by Nancy Greer and the comments/opinions made are her own.
If you are interested in purchasing books for your homeschooling program, FUN Books offers special discounts for Maryland homeschoolers, and you can look at or purchase materials in the basement of the Greer's house.
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