Essentials and Non-Essentials

My good friend posted a list of "must haves" for homeschooling and invited other people to post theirs... Here is my list:

MUST HAVES

Bible.
Parents need this for encouragement all the time. It's also good to give some wisdom to your children from it, but beware, it is easy to get distracted doing other things and you need to make this a priority.

For younger kids:The Bible Tells Me So by Mack Thomas
I too like Diana Warrings perspective on history as it pertains to the Bible.
I have only listened to her tapes, but Thank you Diana!

Scope and Sequence
These can be gotten from a book publisher or encyclopedias have them too. I used the one produced and distributed from ABEKA. This is a great reference point to help you be sure you are covering all the bases that a comprehensive curriculum or test will for each grade level if you do not use a particular curriculum.

Library Card
-indispensable

KONOS...
I like KONOS
but it needs to be updated and there are a lot of other great resources that were undoubtedly inspired by the work the ladies that created this homeschooling resource did.
I also liked the character unit study for girls called Far Above Rubies.

Encyclopedia...
Old or new, there's good stuff in them and you can read who the authors of the various articles are. Augment with the Internet and library card!

NARS High School Course Description handbook.
This one shows one how to consider real life experiences as valuable learning, but more importantly it shows you how to show that such learning meets educational requirements and how to work high school credits from your non-stereotypical school day. I think that is it full of great ideas too, like Konos, but for high schoolers. things like this are great for those moments when you have no ideas or energy left in your brain and you need help being creative.

Apologia Science
These are a treasure, one I would keep on my bookshelves. I value them because of the incredible examples of true/observable science they have within their pages. They show the marvels of creation and cover all that a typical science classroom would. It is written to the reader as if the word on the page is the teacher talking to student. I like that too.


KIDS Discover Magazine
These are little books, like magazines but each is all on one topic. There are no ads. I like the no ads approach to magazines for kids and I enjoyed the subject learning. These are jam packed full of all sorts of information on one topic. Even though evolution was in them, I like them a lot.
I like them for sparking curiosity... to find out more... which then leads you to read your encyclopedia or use your library card.

I also liked getting a magazine in the mail. It was like a surprise. I liked to be surprised as to the topic.

Animal Cards
These didn't come in the mail because we had ones someone else got that way. However, animals cards, probably even the one you get in the mail, make it fun to learn about animals and where they live and what they eat.... and how they are scientifically classified.

Institute for Excellence in Writing ( IEW)
I also liked the IEW Writing program. I liked having the help of a video instructor who was actually a good teacher, he is an excellent teacher. I also thought the lessons were interesting to the kids. They learned a lot and so did I. Thanks Andrew!


Internet Resources:
There are so many things now!
Some of my favorites have been :

Enchanted Learning.com
and s
Christian Answers.net.

I also like the lapbooks. It is like making your own little kids discover magazines!

Computer Related
Ultimate Writing and Creativity Pak- this was awesome for the littler ones, kinda a first word processor for our writing projects.

Spellbound- Spelling

Mavis Beacon Typing... we also have Mario...

Operation Neptune- math practice and fun video game

Oregon Trail- History

Math for the Real World- Math

Math In Music-Math

Scrabble- Spelling

Carmen San Diego_ We loved these computer programs, which were probably state of the art hen we used them. Our favorite was Think Quick

and

For geography, I reccomend Google Earth



Things I would PASS on...
I PASS on most textbooks. Not all, just most. I find they are good reference material, but I prefer to let the student be the focus and not the textbook. I grew a dislike for MOST textbooks when I realized that they were often written by one or two people who had a lot of opinion to offer the readers. Children have to learn the ability to distinguish between a fact and an opinion. I kinda expected a textbook to be facts...real information.

I pass on buying those High School Advantage CD ROMS too. Not my cup of tea.
(Sorry if your the one who produced them. )



My list of Keepers...

KONOS and NARS
I like this one because it taught me and my kids that God is over every subject you study. It also has some great activity ideas to do and lists of verses that apply top various subjects and lists of books for the study of various topics at the library. Unfortunately the lists are outdated now. Still it's one I like and will keep on my shelf.

APOLOGIA SCIENCE
I think it's a great Christian reference book.