EDUCATION AND HOW TO TEACH
For Home Schoolers and Teachers and Administrators in
Schools
We do not attempt to stock every book written on
these subjects, but we do try to promote those we have personally used and found valuable
and those that come highly recommended by others we know, and a few we think look
interesting but we haven't had time to read yet. If there's a book you want on this
subject that's not listed, feel free to ask about it anyway. Chances are we can get it for
you.
We have not attempted to separate these into books
for home schoolers and books for those who teach in public or private schools. We have
discovered that many public school teachers attend Christian and other home school
conventions during the summer to look for materials not available elsewhere. We know they
are there -- they have walked into our booth. We have also been happy to see
that teachers in the private schools where we have held book fairs are excited to find
teaching materials written by home schoolers. And home schoolers are quite used to
picking up good ideas wherever they find them. We see ourselves as a bit like honeybees --
facilitating the cross-pollination of the best ideas into homes and schools who want to
provide excellent education.
If you are a parent whose children are currently in
school, you might find books with a * right before the title especially helpful.
The ABCs of Homeschooling by Vicki Caruana.
Crossway Books, 2002, paper. 186 plus space for notes. The author had never
intended to homeschool her children, but she finally pulled her children out of
school to teach them at home. She shares here how you can decide which
educational choice is right for your family, the basic things one needs to know
to get started, and what end results to expect. Cat. #158134-2586. $10.80 -D
The Attention Deficit Child: What You Need
to Know About Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder -- Facts, Myths, and Treatment, by
Dr. Grant Martin, Chariot Victor Publishing, paper. This book was designed to help parents
Identify the symptoms and causes of hyperactivity
(ADHD)
Find caring individuals who can offer effective
treatment
Evaluate the pros and cons of medication for ADHD
Improve the way you deal with your child at home
Devise appropriate educational strategies at home and
at school
Discover sound spiritual guidance for the problem.
If your child is abnormally restless, impulsive, easily
upset, or hyperactive, you may want to read this. $9.89-D
A Biblical Psychology of Learning,
by Ruth Beechick. This book may be out of print, so supplies may be limited.
$15.00*
Charter Schools: The Parent's
Complete Guide -- Everything You Need to Know to Make the Right Decision for Your Child by
Frederick A. Birkett. Are you unhappy with your child's public school? Are you seeking an
alternative? You might want to try a charter school - a public school that operates
independently of the regulations governing the traditional public schools. This book will
tell you how a charter school can respond to your child's unique talents. You'll be led
though a step-by-step process to help you determine if the charter schools in your area
will meet the needs of your child. Charter Schools are listed by state (though the list
isn't complete), and there are also lists of State Charter Granting Agencies, Web Sites,
and Publications where you can find more information. Trade paper, 235 pages.
Cat#07615-25165. $13.50-D
Dr. Beechick's Homeschool Answer
Book, by Ruth Beechick, edited by Debbie Strayer. This book contains the
answers Dr. Beechick has given to questions asked in "Homeschooling Today," and
at conferences where questions asked from the floor. Debbie Strayer offers this book as a
help line to home schoolers who need help and who can't pick up the phone as she
does to call and ask Dr. Beecher questions. Questions and answers are on these topics:
philosophy and learning theory; curriculum; preschool; reading; spelling; writing; math;
Bible; high school; issues of family life, testing, and special education. 218 pages.
Cat.
#ARW-128. $10.80-D
 Educating the WholeHearted Child:
A Handbook for Christian Home Education, by Clay and Sally Clarkson, 1996
edition. This book explains how to use real books and real life to make your
home the center of living and learning for you and your child. Discipleship and
education are combined in this home-centered learning approach. The book
includes practical ideas, teaching methods, and lifestyle suggestions, as well
as Scriptures, personal anecdotes, inspiring quotes, and helpful notes. The book
also includes recommended reading lists and a directory of home school suppliers
and organizations. There are also reproducible forms for planning and
record-keeping. $ 20.95*
Education that is Christian by
Lois E. Lebar. This is a classic bestseller with fresh insights from James E. Plueddemann.
This book focuses on distinctively Christian ways for educating for the purpose of
enabling persons to know God. The author examines the teaching methods of Jesus and
insights from other parts of the Scriptures. This book addresses the use of the Bible in
teaching, the teaching-learning process, authority and creativity, and structuring the
curriculum. It also discusses patterns for education and the interaction between the human
teacher and the divine teacher. At the end of each unit there is a section called
"Implications and Questions for Group Discussion" that transform this book into
a wonderful tool for any form of Christian Education teacher training classes. But this
section also points out the implications for practical application of the principles at
home. This book is foundational to anyone involved in Christian education in any form --
at home, in schools, or in churches. 299 pages, paper. Published by Chariot Victor. $14.95*
This book is out of print, so my supply is limited. When and if it is reprinted,
it may be more expensive.
 Evaluating
for Excellence: A Handbook for Evaluating Student Progress by Teresa M.
Moon. Recommended by Cathy Duffy and Mary Schofield. Beautiful Feet Books, softcover, 199
pages. 8.5" x 11". Ever wonder if your children are progressing the way they
should be in your home school? Are they learning all they should? Are they doing enough?
Or are you, perhaps, pushing them too hard? This book will help you find out in an
emotionally objective way. The basic model for teaching and evaluating that the book
details is Diagnose -> Plan -> Guide -> Evaluate -> Diagnose
and so on around the circle again. Tools are given for each of these phases --
check-lists, ideas, scope and sequence through sixth grade in language skills and math,
Individualized Education Program (IEP) forms, sample evaluation forms for the various
subjects and skills, step-by-step instructions for evaluating the progress of students at
all grade levels from preschool through high school, and much more. This book is designed
especially for Christian home school parents. This book was formerly published under the
title How Do You Know They Know What They Know? Cat. #BF-048.
$17.95*
A Field Guide to Home Schooling: A
Practical Guide for Parents, by Christine M. Field, paper.
This book is similar to You're
Going to Do What? Helping You Understand the Homeschool Decision,
farther down this page, in that it provides much of the same information. This book,
however, is directed toward the parent who is making the decision about home schooling or
trying to implement it, rather than toward a member of the home schooler's extended
family. Thus this book includes material the other doesn't, including a discussion of the unschooling
and delayed academics approaches. It also has practical ideas for those
just getting started, on everything from goal setting, schedules and record-keeping to
character building and finding support groups. It discusses using technology wisely, how
to get children who have been in school used to home schooling, how to build positive
relationships with the schools and community, and what it takes to be a successful home
schooling parent. It suggests places to obtain home schooling resources -- if you can't
find everything you need here -- and how to find a support group near you. It also
contains a summary of the laws in all 50 states that affect home schooling. $11.69-D
 For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and
School, by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay. This is an educational philosophy that
takes for granted the truth of the Bible and is based on a Christian understanding of what
it means to be a child, a parent, a teacher, and on the Christian meaning of life. The
book also devotes a lot of space to the work of Charlotte Mason. It is very practical.
Many of the central ideas has been tried and proven true over a century in almost every
kind of educational situation. The author and her husband have also tried and proven them
in their own family and school experience. This book can help any parent or teacher awaken
the minds of their children and give them a new stability and joy for living. I have read
and highly recommend this book. Paper, 165 pages. $11.69-D
 Government Nannies: The Cradle-to-Grave Agenda of Goals 2000 and
Outcome Based Education, by Cathy Duffy. Anyone concerned about education in
America should read this book. It is, to quote Samuel Blumenfield, "...a much-needed
exposé of the federal government's intrusive educational reform programs ...that will
turn America into the most socially controlled society on earth." Would the federal
government consider your family "at risk" and your children
"disadvantaged" or "disabled" because a child is born ill or with a
handicapping condition, because his/her development seems delayed? Might you be considered
a low-functioning parent or a parent who can't connect to your child? Could you be
considered under "undue stress" or someone who has the potential for abusing a
child? You might be surprised at how your government social worker might classify you and
how easy it can be to suddenly find the government intervening in how you run your family.
"Forewarned is forearmed" goes the old saying. So it's best to read this book
and see which way the wind's blowing before it knocks you down. Noble Publishing, paper.
Contains bibliography and index. 263 pages. $11.69-D
 Heart
and Mind: What the Bible Says About Learning by Ruth Beechick. Mott
Media, 2004. Dr. Beechick has written using the most complete research available
about heart as it's used in the Bible and how it relates to the brain. She also
reports the physiological research that supports the Biblical view. All of
this information is important in teaching and learning processes, because the
heart is important in learning. Secular learning theories view man as simply a
body that learns by seeing, hearing, and using the other senses without a
"heart" to act upon the sensory stimulation. Dr. Beechick explains the secular
learning theories and then compares them to the Biblical view of learning. This
book is useful for anyone training to be a teacher at home or in some field of
Christian education, and will also be useful to parents, who are always the
first teachers of a child. BTH-3178. $10.76-D
 Home Learning Year by Year: How to Design a Homeschool Curriculum
from Preschool Through High School by Rebecca Rupp. Trade
paper. The author has homeschooled her three sons for more than ten years. She presents a
structured plan that will help you make sure your children learn what they should at each
grade level. She recommends textbooks to use for every subject. There are also suggestions
for how to sensitively approach the less academic subjects such as sex education and
physical fitness. A wonderful guide through the maze of homeschooling for those who want
to do it their way. 415 pages, including index. Keep in mind that we carry many of
the resources listed in the book -- at a discount. Cat. #RH-805851. $12.60-D
Click on image to enlarge.
Home School: Taking the First Step, by
Borg Hendrickson, Trade paper, 1990. Answers the beginners' most common questions,
explains how to plan in light of your state's requirements and how to find curriculum,
plan lessons, and keep good records. 11.00-S
 Homeschooling the Teen Years: Your Complete Guide to Successfully
Homeschooling the 13- to 18-Year-Old by Cafi Cohen. Yes, you can teach your
teens at home, and it's easier if you have this book to guide you. You'll learn how
to create a unique, individual learning experience for your teen; make coursework
interesting, challenging and fun; help your teen to discover the best vocational path,
including finding the right college; and how to know when your teen has
"completed" high school. The author is a respected speaker at home school
conferences and has taught her own teens at home and helped them successfully move on to
higher education. Trade paper, about 7 x 9 inches, 344 pages.
Cat. #07615-20937. $15.26-D. Click on image to enlarge it.
The Homeschooling Father: The Key to
Success and Sanity, by Michael P. Farris. Trade paper, 1992. Challenges
homeschooling fathers to take their proper leadership roles in their families,
support their wives in their efforts, and fulfill their role as protectors. Farris
also shares advice on preparing children for a career, for marriage, and for citizenship.
$6.30-D.
 How to Help Your Child with Homework: Every Caring
Parent's Guide to Encouraging good study Habits and Ending the Homework Wars by
Marguerite Radencich and Jeanne Schumm. Free Spirit Press, 1997, trade paper. For the
parents of children 6-13. Experienced teachers share their techniques, step-by-step
strategies, and expert advice on how to
set up a homework schedule and
home study center
communicate effectively with
your child's teacher
quickly identify problem areas
and carry out solutions, including getting ready for tests
help your child with
reading, writing, spelling, math, science, social studies, and foreign languages
help with projects,
reports, papers, and thematic units.
promote responsibility
and independence
use technology wisely
play games that will make
learning fun
teach study skills that
will last a lifetime.
There are also 42 pages of handouts that can
be reproduced -- assignment sheets, study guides, book report outlines, word lists,
project planners, and more. 198 pages. Cat.#157542-0066. $14.46-D
The How and Why of Home Schooling,
by Ray Ballman, 1993 printing. Presents a solid analysis of the Biblical reasons for
home schooling and some practical guidelines for beginning a home school. Was 7.99. Now
only 4.99-S
 The Language Wars and Other
Writings for Homeschoolers: A series of essays that are especially useful in
helping one evaluate whether one needs to buy a curriculum or just use real books, whether
one should teach phonics and /or grammar as separate subjects or use a whole language or
"living books" approach. The book also gives you Dr. Beechick's thoughts on the
other school subjects. Paper, $14.40-D
Learning
to Learn, Revised Edition, by Gloria Frender. Incentive
Publications, 2004. ISBN: 086530-3487. Large format. 287 pages. This book for
all levels contains ideas, suggestions, and strategies to help everyone achieve
success in learning. It is intended for teachers, students, and parents and is
designed for use as an interactive workbook for self-improvement. It is full of
practical ideas, methods, tips, procedures, resources and tools. What's missing
is educational jargon. It's written in plain English, with key concepts
presented with a sense of humor. There are step-by-step procedures for the
following:
-
Understanding and Making the Most of Learning
Styles
-
Time Management and Organization Skills
-
Note-Taking Skills
-
Reading Skills
-
Memory Skills
-
Test-Taking Skills
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Problem Solving
-
Tips for Parents
-
Independent Study Techniques
BTH-418. $17.96
Lesson Plans Using Graphic Organizers,
edited by Kristne Schwab. ©2000. Available for grades 1-6. This
time-saving resource provides teachers with 22 pre-planned lessons to meet
curriculum standards. There are four units per book: reading, math, science, and
social studies. Academic standards are correlated to each lesson. Each lesson
includes the lesson plan, modeling activity, group activity, and an independent
activity. Bound-in answer key is included. 96 perforated pages. Here are the
order numbers:
Grade 1, BTH-1295, $10.79-D
Grade 2, BTH-1296 $10.79-D
Grade 3, BTH-1297 $10.79-D
Grade 4, BTH-1298 $10.79-D
Grade 5, BTH-1299 $10.79-D
Grade 6, BTH-1300 $10.79-D
Multiple
Intelligences Activities Grades K-4
by Deirdré Wilkens.
This book begins with an
explanation of the theory of multiple intelligences and helpful tips for putting
the theory into practice in classrooms. The remaining pages are devoted to
numerous activities for each of the intelligences as well as assessment
strategies and tools. Reproducible for classroom use. 304 pages. BTH-491.
$22.46-D
Multiple
Intelligences Activities Grades 5-8 by Julia Jasmine.
This book explains the
theory of multiple intelligences and offers helpful tips for putting the theory
into practice in classrooms. There are numerous reproducible
activities for each of the intelligences as well as assessment strategies and
tools. From writing and word games to geometry, music, and drama, there's
something here for every student and every type of intelligence. 304
pages. BTH-492. $22.46-D
 Real-Life Homeschooling: The Stories of 21 Families Who
Teach Their Children at Home by Rhonda Barfield. This book lets you peek at
homeschooling families with differing methods and philosophies. One homeschooling parent
ran for the school board. Another was arrested. Another is blind. Another is single. One
family unschools. Another lives on a Pacific Island. One family is African-American
Christian. Another pursues a holistic New Age lifestyle. Another family is Jewish. Some
families accelerated the curriculum to allow early graduation. Some were teaching ADHD or
Down's Syndrome children. There are many more interesting home schools to view, as well.
Each shares the best and worse advice they have received, a favorite quote, and their
favorite resources. And the author shares the stories of how and why they started
homeschooling, and how their homeschooling integrates into their lives as families. 306
pages. Cat. #07434-42296. $12.60-D Click image to enlarge it.
The Right Choice: Home
Schooling, by Christopher Klicka, with supplementary chapters
by Gregg Harris. 1993 Revised edition. (Not the latest edition.) Was 13.00. Now only
7.50-S
 Teaching Children: A Curriculum Guide to What Children Need to
Know at Each Level Through Sixth Grade, by Diane Lopez. Introduction by
Susan Schaeffer Macauley. This book uses Charlotte Mason's approach to learning as it
culminates in the Child Light approach, which views curriculum as all the experiences a
child encounters in the learning process -- not a series of textbooks to finish. This
Child Light curriculum guide is broad-based in scope, and applies a written, literary, and
verbal approach to teaching. It makes provision for each child's uniqueness and special
needs. It incorporates critical thinking and problem solving skills. It aims at
helping children arrive at a Christian world view. If you are a Christian educator
who does not plan to use a packaged curriculum, I highly recommend this book as a planning
reference. Paper, $14.39-D
The Three R's by Ruth
Beechick. This may be all you need to start teaching the basic skills to your K-3
children. It includes three separate manuals in a package: A Home Start in
Reading; An Easy Start in Arithmetic; and A
Strong Start in Language. It also includes an 11" x 17" 2-sided
chart for phonics and arithmetic. Please read this first before investing in any other
curriculum. BTH-2337. $10.80-D
 The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by
Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer. Hardcover with jacket. This is a resource for
homeschools or parents who want to supplement their child's learning at home. It provides
the techniques, curriculum, and resources to make your child's education the best that it
can be. It uses the pattern of classical education for instructing children in reading,
writing, history, geography, mathematics, science, foreign languages, logic, art, and
music. There is also a section of the book devoted to the nitty-gritty of home education
-- record keeping, scheduling, testing, dealing with schools, finding materials, getting
help, preparing for college, working, apprenticeship, and more. 764 pages. $31.50-D Click
on image to enlarge it.
 You Can Teach Your Child Successfully:
Grades 4-8 by Ruth Beechick. Dr. Beechick, whom I've had the privilege to
meet and talk to, is a highly experienced teacher and curriculum developer. This has led
her to believe that parents are the best teachers for their children. Here are some of the
questions this book answers:
Is there a way out of the grammar treadmill?
What do you do after your child can read?
What should be taught in each grade?
How can you make the best use of achievement test
scores?
How can you make history more exciting to your
family?
Which of three major approaches to teaching spelling
works best?
Why is the Bible the best possible core for education
in the Western world?
Do you need textbooks for every subject?
How can you teach art and music without being a
musician or artist?
What should I teach in science?
This is, in my opinion, the
basic book to have if your children are in grades 4-8. It teaches the teacher everything
he/she needs to know about building reading, arithmetic, and language skills, and also
offers plenty of solid tips on teaching social studies subjects, science and health, music
and art, and the Bible. Read this book first, before you spend money on buying an
expensive curriculum. You could save yourself a lot of money. This book, in paper, is only
$12.60-D. BTH-3177.
 You're
Going to Do What? Helping You Understand the Homeschool Decision, by
Laurajean Downs. This book was written primarily for new homeschoolers who face objections
from their parents or other extended family to give to those family members in order to
help them understand home schooling better. I would also recommend this book as a
beginning point for those just beginning to home school or who are considering if they
should. It discusses the three main reasons families choose home schooling: It can be a
path to academic excellence; it can help build stronger families; it's a Biblical mandate.
The author then addresses the most common concerns and objections that are often raised:
Is it legal? What about socialization? The author also offers one of the best brief
overviews of the different educational philosophies and approaches that many home
schoolers choose: the textbook method; the Classical Approach; the Unit Study Approach;
the Principle Approach; Living Books and the Charlotte Mason Approach. (This book does not
really get into "unschooling" -- probably because of it's purpose for being
written.) The last chapters discuss available resources and curriculum (not in detail --
just enough to convince someone that a home schooler doesn't have to "wing it"
anymore), the challenges of homeschooling, and, best of all, how that extended family
member who is reading the book can be supportive and even be involved, should he or she
care to. I think this is a "must read" for a beginner -- especially one who has
opposition in the extended family. Paper, 176 pages. $8.05-D
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