I’ve just started reading Weapons of Mass Instruction: A Schoolteacher’s Journey through the Dark World of Compulsory Schooling by John Taylor GattoW. I’ve always knew that we have a systemic failure in our education system but never did I expect that was so by design! After reading just twenty pages I find myself with an angry knot in my midsection. This explains everything that is wrong with us. It ought to be read by every American. If that were to happen we would be a different nation.
http://www.newsociety.com/bookid/4012
After some search for a decent resource for spelling we’ve settled on Spelling Workout from Modern Curriculum Press. It uses a consistent method that does not seem to bore our son. Each lesson starts with an introductory text, followed by a list of twenty words, and then by sensible exercises which effectively use those twenty words. Simple, but a very effective method.
After some searching for a decent science learning resource we’ve settled on Real Science-4-Kids series of books. We’ve just finished Biology I and will soon start on Chemistry I.
http://www.gravitaspublications.com/
After our move from the on-line school to full blown homeschooling I missed a sense of structure that the on-line school provided. While we settled on the Well Trained Mind as our foundation we lacked the more structured planning. Homeschool Tracker Plus software fixed all of that. I am sure I use just a fraction of its power but what I am using is most helpful. I’ve created a lesson plan schedule with individual lesson plans and the software creates assignment schedules and much more. I highly recommend this software.
http://www.homeschooltracker.com/
After Miquon and Key to…® Series of materials we have settled on Singapore MathW books as our main math learning resource. We’ve finished with the core fourth grade work, and are mopping up all unfinished practice work along with testing. In a few weeks we start on the fifth grade math work. We love Singapore Math because it keeps out informational fluff and noise so prevalent in American books. It concentrates on learning information and heavy practice. Singapore Math also offers additional more challenging math book with particular emphasis on learning to solve word problems.
http://www.singaporemath.com/
We’d used Miquon Math Materials with our older daughters, who have both excelled in math ever since. And we’ve used Miquon for our younger son. All three started their education at excellent Our Children’s Center in State College, PA. We’ve used Miquon to supplement their school math learning adventure. Using Miquon children learn in almost imperceptible increments while having fun doing challenging math work. We highly recommend Miquon Math Materials as your child’s first math learning resource.
http://www.keypress.com/x6252.xml
We have chosen The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child by Susan Wise Bauer for our primary resource for learning history. At first I was a bit afraid our son will have trouble relating to the classical world but I was quickly proven wrong. History has become one of his favorite subjects and to a great extent this book is responsible. We also use the The Story of the World: Activity Book to point us to other resources and activities. This book recommends further reading of specific pages in several of popular encyclopedias for kids. We use Useborne Internet Linked Encyclopedia of World History. Along with history our son learns geography of the areas of the world about which he is learning. I print out maps from Blackline Maps of World History.
After looking at several other grammar learning tools we’ve settled on Easy Grammar system. Our son has enjoyed working through the exercises and learning much in the process.
http://www.easygrammar.com/
We started with Prima Latina but our son wasn’t particularly excited about it. I’ve stumbled upon Getting Started With Latin at our local library. We gave it a try and it has since become our main tool for learning Latin. The author William E. Linney has provided free MP3 audio files at his web site. These include both classical and ecclesiastical pronunciation, along with commentary audio file for each lesson.
http://www.gettingstartedwithlatin.com/
I’ve written a short review of Getting Started With Latin on Amazon.
After our short time with the eDCD.org, I needed a basic structure for homeschooling. Fortunately a friend with solid experience with homeschooling recommended The Well Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise, which she had successfully used with her children. This book gave me a quick foundation on which to build and it has served us well ever since.
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/
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