How many of these books have you read? Do you think you need to?
5 Books Homeschool Parents Must Read
Bohemian Mom
Activist Post
Making the decision to homeschool is not an easy one. Societal pressure,
family interrogations, and our own insecurities and fears are things we
have to wrestle with on a regular basis.
Having a good support system is vital, whether it is local homeschooling
groups, your spouse, or simply some good friends to listen to you and
encourage you.
But another important component to starting the journey or just battling
through some of the tougher times along the way, is to have a good
arsenal of books that you can read and continue to refer to.
These books brilliantly shape the philosophy of homeschooling and offer
creative alternative ideas that are essential knowledge for all parents.
I've found the books on the list below to be invaluable for my
homeschooling experience.
Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling by John Taylor Gatto
It is a great book to read before starting your journey, but I have also
referred to it several times when I have felt insecure about my
decision, as a reminder of what I am pushing against by home schooling.
You will feel enlightened, captivated, and most of all inspired!
Learning All the Time by John Holt
Considered by many to be the forefather of the homeschooling or unschooling movement, John Holt's Learning All the Time
shows us how children learn the basics of life, at home, in every
moment of their day. Through play, cooking, and interaction with parents
they learn to read, write, do math, and figure out how the world works.
As he says, "Learning is as natural as breathing!"
Again, this is a seminal book to read both before and during the process
of homeschooling, but it is also a good book to teach us to enjoy and
encourage play in the lives of our children. When you read his common
sense ideas about relating to children it is hard to dispute, or to go
on living any other way. His joy and respect of children shines through
the pages and makes you yearn to lead the same type of life with your
children that he proposes in his writing because it's a brilliant
formula for happiness!
Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn
A personal favorite, Unconditional Parenting
is a book that not only every homeschooling parent should read but
every parent in general should, at a minimum, browse. No book has done
as much to change the way we relate to our children, for the better,
than this one. His peaceful approach to parenting is simply impossible
to argue with if you love your children more than anything else in the
world.
A great "mindset" read for all parents, but especially those that are
interested in investing in a relationship of mutual respect and
peaceful, unconditional love through an attachment style of parenting.
You may not agree with some of the ideas, but I guarantee you will look
at your children in a new light. Rather than focusing on getting our
children to do what we want, Kohn contends that, the true question we
should be asking is 'what do our children need!'
You may feel skeptical at first of some of his radical ideas, but by the
end of reading this book packed full of research and alternative ideas
that he offers, makes it a very helpful guide. What do you have to
lose? Try living by his approach for just a month and I am willing to
bet you and your children will be happier for it. Incidentally, you
will naturally feel a deeper understanding of what it is to be parents.
Excellent read!
Deschooling Our Lives edited by Matt Hern
One of the things that I tell parents who are new to the idea of
homeschooling or unschooling is that they first need to de-school
themselves before they can fully commit to homeschool their children.
By that, I mean you must first rid yourself of the conditioning that
you endured in school in order to see that school and education are not
mutually exclusive. Hern attempts to show how the day-to-day public
school experience kills children's natural love of learning, crushes
self esteem and creativity, and teaches children to be subservient. It
can even destroy independent thought.
So You're Thinking About Homeschooling: Fifteen Families Show How You Can Do It by Lisa Welchel
One of the harder things to comprehend before embarking on a homeschool
journey is what your days will look like and how exactly it is all done.
I find that one of the best ways to get a clear picture in your head
is to hear from people actually doing it. This book gives you just
that.
So You're Thinking About Homeschooling
answers many of the most common questions regarding socialization, time
management, curriculum, learning disabilities, sports involvement, and
so much more. It offers a diverse view so that you can see that, in
fact, anyone can homeschool if it is what they really want to do.
Welchel's book will give you the confidence you need and the resources
you seek all in one spot!
It is essential that you educate yourself before attempting such a
drastic change in the normal lifestyle. Most of these authors have
written several books that can help in your path of homeschooling your
child. If you are looking for even more inspiration, start with these
and your journey will lead you to many more. Happy Homeschooling!
The article first appeared on Bohemian Travelers bog about nomadic family travel. Follow their world schooling adventure on Facebook!
None, but I'm interested in reading some of them... if I had the time.
None, but I have read tons of Cafe Moms advice. :)
None. Some of them I've heard of and never seen, some I've never heard of. I don't think you need to read them, they might be enlightening though.
The attachment parenting...I just can't get on board with that one. I see SOME of the points as positive but others are too catering/babying IMO.
None and no. Homeschooling comes as naturally to me as being a mother, wife, and friend.
If homeschooling didn't feel natural and right but everybody wanted to stick with it then I would study and learn different ways to make it work by reading some of those books.
None of those. lol But I have successfully home educated for 20 yrs so I don't guess it is "must" read but suggested to read. :-)
same here bren, ive been trying to think what i have read about homeschooling!!
ive read the moore books which i think every homeschooler should read, but i cant think of any more books ive read! i know there must be more!! what about you bren? what have you read?
Quoting bren_darlene:
None of those. lol But I have successfully home educated for 20 yrs so I don't guess it is "must" read but suggested to read. :-)
No, many of them seem more of the unschooling train of thought, which is not our approach to homeschooling.
How would they know...
What's the difference STATE BY STATE!
- gacgbaker
on Oct. 8, 2012 at 9:32 AM