Homeschool Books Written by Homeschoolers

Teaching at home is very different from teaching in the classroom. While many homeschoolers use the same books as are used in schools, there are a growing number of books that are now written by homeschoolers. These books tend to be better for homeschoolers to use because homeschooling one or a few children is very different from homeschooling 20 to 30.

Here is a list of the homeschool books that have been written by homeschoolers. If you know of any more, please let me know.

Language Arts

IEW - Institute for Excellence in Writing

An effective method for teaching writing skills.

First you need “Teaching Writing: Structure and Style”, then you need “Student Writing Intensive”, there are three level, A, B and C and there’s a pre level A. Pre-Level A is for Grades K-2, Level A is for Grades 3-5, Level B is for Grades 6-8, Level C is for High school and Adult. For the advanced writer there are the “Student Continuation Courses”.

Spelling Power

One book will teach all your children from Grade 3 to Grade 12. The method only works one on one or in small groups and would never work in a classroom.

Write shop

The main Write Shop program is for 6^th to 10^th Graders, but now there are Write Shop books for elementary children too.

First Language Lessons for the Well Trained Mind

This uses classical techniques to develop the child’s language in the use of reading, writing, spelling, storytelling and comprehension skills. This is for the first two years of your homeschooling.

Easy Grammar

There is a lot of drill work, but with the drill comes understanding. The pages are not cluttered and are visually appealing to a child. There is a student book and a teacher book for each level from Grade 2 to 12.

Math

Math U See

The levels in math u see follow the Greek letters, Alpha is Grade 1, Beta is Grade 2 etc. Each level comes with a teacher’s guide, student book, test book and DVD. The student could watch the DVD and work through the book by themselves. There are levels from Kindergarten to Grade 12.

Science

Apologia

These have a Christian Worldview and cover the high school and junior high school levels. Originally all Apologia books were for high school and written by Dr Wile, but now they are publishing junior high with books written by Jeannie Fulbright.

God's Design Science Curriculum

Published by Answers in Genesis, this series consists of a passage to read with your children and then hands on experiments. The books are for grades 1-8 and can be used in any order. The subjects covered are chemistry, ecology, biology, heaven and earth and the physical world.

History

Story of the World

There are 4 levels of Story of the World, which tell the story from the beginning of time to the modern day. These 4 levels can be used with Grades 1-4. There are workbooks to go with each of the books and all books are available on CD. We listened to them in the car.

Geography

Journey Into Africa

This book is written for any age student, K through 12. There are coloring books for the lower elementary, and work by yourself books for older children. I did it with a 5th Grader and learned so much myself. There's a text book and a book with questions that the child fills in in another book, or answers orally. There are also accompanying CDs if you want to purchase them.

Unit Studies

Five in a Row

Unit Studies are really something that work very well in the homeschool environment. The core Five in a Row are for ages 4-8, but there are also Before Five in a Row, Beyond Five in a Row and Above and Beyond Five in a Row, so now all ages are covered from 2 to 12. There’s also a five in a row Cookbook.

Latin

Latin Road to Grammar

The entire course takes 3 years and can be started as early as 5/6^th Grade. There is a prequel that can be taken 3/4^th Grade.

Guides

The Well Trained Mind

The book lays out the classical method of homeschooling that is currently followed by many homeschoolers. Mother and daughter team wrote this together and then Susan Wise Bauer went on to write the Story of the World mentioned above.

100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum

I have to mention this book. If you are considering homeschooling and don’t know where to start, I would start with this book. It gives a brief review of all the best homeschool curriculum.