Homeschool Recourses
Charlotte Mason, Waldorf, Montessori, Secular, Faith based, Unschooled, Child led learning.... Just a few of the many methods of homeschooling…
If I have learned just one thing in my years of homeschooling is that you do not want to limit yourself to only one style/method of homeschooling. Sure, you might lean into one style a little more than another, but you have to keep an open mind, be flexible and do what works best for your family and child as needs change and evolve.
I have a very eclectic homeschool style and I don’t believe there is one right way to homeschool.
If you’re new to homeschooling the first thing I recommend is that you sit down and identify your “why”. Why are you choosing to step outside of the matrix, remove your child from public school and go down the path of home education? Keep these things in mind as you move forward. The goal here is to not re-create school at home, the goal is to create something beautiful, flexible and an environment for your child to thrive!
Next, I highly recommend you purchase a HSLDA membership. It is $14 a month and it is worth its weight in gold! No this is not a paid sponsorship, but it is a valuable resource to help you protect your rights as a parent. HSLDA.com
Even if you’re not a member, HSLDA can help you identify the laws and regulations in your state to help you get started homeschooling. Also, if you are in Massachusetts like I am, AHEM is also a fantastic resource.
Both organizations mentioned above have sample documents that you can personalize and send into your district. I personally like the AHEM documents better and use a modified version of those for my own submissions.
One of the things I learned early on from veteran homeschoolers is that you never want to give the district too much information. Keep it simple. Some districts will try to overstep and gain too much power and control over your home education plan. There are laws and regulations in place in every state so know your state laws and only give your district what is legally required. If you have trouble with this and your district pushes back this is where your HSLDA membership comes in handy because they can help you advocate for yourself and give you legal advice and support (legal advice is included with your membership).
It’s always best to talk to a few veteran homeschoolers and do your research through HSLDA & AHEM before submitting your paperwork. And NEVER Ask your district for curriculum recommendations. You are in control now, not the state. Is it scary? Absolutely! But it is so incredibly empowering and life-changing to step out of this matrix, bring your children home and educate them outside of the conventional system.
Below you will find a list of my favorite books and podcasts that have helped me build my eclectic home school style.
HSLDA
HSLDA - Making homeschooling possible
AHEM
Tuttle Twins Books and Resources
Tuttle Twins Podcast
This is a fantastic family friendly podcast for the kids and adults. These episodes open the mind and sparks great family conversations about how the world works.
My Favorite Homeschool & Parenting Books For The Home Educator
I Love Books!
This growing list are my go-to recommendations for anyone interested in home education or anyone who is already neck deep in homeschool and need some motivation, new prospective or a reminder of why the home education journey is so important for the development of our children and the family unit.
I am a lover of audio books, I listen in the car, while cooking dinner, folding laundry etc. But don't always have the patience to wait for the book I want to read to be available through the library audio app, so I have invested in an Audible subscription and love it! My husband and I use the heck out of Audible.
If you like a physical book, you can hold but don't like spending a fortune, check out Thrift books!
If I'm buying a book, thrift books is always the place I check first!
*Homeschool parents can sign up for a teacher account as well for more saving and perks!
Use my Thrift Books Referral code to start saving today:
Tell-A-Friend Referral | ThriftBooks
Dumbing Us Down - 25th Anniversary Edition: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling
By: John Taylor Gotto
Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom
By: Kerry Mcdonald
Homeschool Hacks: How to Give Your Kid a Great Education Without Losing Your Job (or Your Mind)
By: Linsey Knerl
https://a.co/d/gvtBiDc
My Favorite Homeschool Podcasts For The Home Educator
In addition to audio books, I am a podcast junky! Below are some of my favorite podcasts that have helped inspire me to build the eclectic homeschool style and community that I have today. These podcasts range from super formal to completely unschooled and everything in between. So many interesting prospectives here. I have learned so much and I think you will too!
Keeping an open mind and learning from others is so important on the home education journey.