Books about Homeschooling

If at all possible,

I highly recommend that prospective homeschooling parents read several, if not all, of the following books on Catholic homeschooling. There are several reasons for this. Together they make up a wealth of information that will be invaluable to you. Secondly, even the various Catholic authors, who have a great deal of homeschooling experience, vary significantly in their ideas and methods. I certainly don't agree with everything I've read in each book! (Several of the books even recommend items that have been placed on the Red Flag List.) The different perspectives will give you a more complete picture of the possibilities of homeschooling - leaving you better informed to make decisions about your children's education.

The Catholic Homeschool Companion

Book cover: 'The Catholic Homeschool Companion'
Author(s): 
Maureen Wittmann
Rachel Mackson
Since I have been homeschooling since the Paleozoic era of the 1980's, there are times when I feel like I've heard it all before. Not with the Catholic Homeschool Companion. Almost every article offered me a fresh perspective, reaffirmed a belief I already had, inspired me with encouragement, or taught me something new.

Real Learning

Book cover: 'Real Learning: Education in the Heart of the Home'
Author(s): 
Elizabeth Foss

Elizabeth Foss, mother of seven homeschooled children (ranging in age from 16 down to toddler), has done a great job synthesizing her approach to "educating a child in the heart of the family given to that child by his Creator" in her book, Real Learning: Education in the Heart of the Home.

A Family Journal

Book cover: 'A Family Journal: A Homeschooling Mother's Companion'
Author(s): 
Rita Munn
This book is a collection of thirty-six "journal entries" (one for each week of the school-year) - stories about the author's family life and homeschooling intertwined with scripture, recipes and her own reflections about life and God's love. (Neat, huh?) The stories are touching, funny, encouraging, sad, uplifting - just like life in this imperfect world (particularly with a family) really is.

Catholic Home Schooling

Book cover: 'Catholic Homeschooling'
Author(s): 
Mary Kay Clark

Note: This review is based on the 1993/1998 editions of this book. The book was rewritten in 2006 and that edition has not yet been reviewed. Mary Kay Clark, who is the director of Seton Home Study has recently revised what was the first book published on Cathholic Homeschooling. It has quite a different flavor from Catholic Education: Homeward Bound and make a strong case for homeschooling from the perspective of Catholic teaching and Church documents.

Catholic Education: Homeward Bound

Book cover: 'Catholic Education: Homeward Bound'
Author(s): 
Kimberly Hahn
Mary Hasson

I know a number of people who decided to homeschool based on the information provided in this book. The authors have done a very impressive job of outlining the positive benefits of homeschooling, in a non-threatening fashion. Because many of the reasons they give for homeschooling focus on practical and "natural law" reasoning they can be easier for some people to handle than arguments that focus on Church teaching (after all, you have to start somewhere =).

The Well-Trained Mind

Book cover: The Well-Trained Mind
Author(s): 
Jessie Wise
Susan Wise Bauer

Jessie Wise started homeschooling her daughter (and co-author Susan Wise Bauer) in 1973. In this book they elaborate ideas and resources for a complete classical curriculum from preschool through high school. From a Catholic standpoint, I think this book would be most useful for those who are already using Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum, but looking for additional ideas.

A Charlotte Mason Companion

Book cover: A Charlotte Mason Companion
Author(s): 
Karen Andreola

I have talked to a number of people who read For the Children's Sake, loved it, and wanted more. Karen Andreola has really provided for that need with this book. It was delightful to read Mrs. Andreola's personal experiences and ideas for applying the philosophies of Charlotte Mason to her own family's homeschooling years.

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