1. One homeschooling book you have enjoyed - Hmm...Here's the thing. I have only really read one homeschooling book all the way through. The Well-Trained Mind. And I did enjoy it twelve years ago, but I would say I'm a much different homeschooler now. Most of my homeschooling inspiration now comes from online resources, like the Freedom to Learn blog.
2. One resource you wouldn't be without - Our library system. It's awesome. I can reserve anything I need and even use the online library to download eBooks and audiobooks. They even have several homeschooling titles and textbooks in their collection.
3. One resource you wish you had never bought - I bought a couple of teacher resources with historic plays, thinking they were actually historic plays. Instead they were skits of pretend moments in history that mentioned some facts about the time period. Snooze-fest. Aside from the fact that they needed at least ten children per play, I didn't think they were very interesting, so we never used them.
4. One resource you enjoyed last year - A Wicked History series published by Scholastic. We read a lot of biographies and these were good for looking at the less than stellar characters in history. Great for discussions about these people. Were they truly evil? Misguided? Did any regret their attitudes in later years?
5. One resource you will be using next year - Is next year this year? I tend to play it by ear. If something grabs me, I grab it. Helping at the library book sale, I almost squealed with delight when I came across a copy of the Teenage Liberation Handbook by Grace Llewellyn. It's in Chase's reading pile. I'm also hoping to use Shmoop more often. They have great study guides for teens in various subjects.
6. One resource you would like to buy - Secrets of a Buccaneer Scholar by James Marcus Bach. I had borrowed it from the library a couple of years ago. Good for teens who want to take control of their education. I've been waiting for the paperback edition.
7. One resource you wish existed - I don't know if this counts, but I would love a book of collected essays by homeschooling "graduates" talking about their adult life. Not just a book of success stories, mind you. I want to know their fears during transition from homeschooler to college student/independent living, how they see their life now and in the future. I think that would be useful, especially having a college student who worries about not cutting it and thinks she needs to prove she can handle classes. (She can, but some weeks are hard.)
8. One homeschool catalog you enjoy reading - I don't really read many catalogs since I usually can't afford anything in them, but I do like seeing the offerings from The Teaching Company. Luckily, our library system carries many of their DVDs.
9. One homeschool website you use regularly - Use how? I read homeschooling blogs and I'm on my local homeschooling email loop.
10. Tag six ... O.K. four ... other homeschoolers -I'm leaving this one off. If any of you feels like doing it, please let me know so I can see your list, which will probably be a lot more useful than mine!
5 comments:
This is for Marina from Chad: Thanks for the encouraging words. The syllabus freaked me out, too. Hope college goes well for you this year.
This is from Kate for Marina: Thanks for your words of wisdom. Since college is new for me, too, I'll keep your advice in mind! I'm glad you are taking some classes you enjoy. Hope you have a good year and don't be too hard on yourself - Kate
For Cristina from Kate: Answer to #7: There is a book by Linda Dobson called "Homeschoolers' Success Stories" about 15 adults and 12 young people who share the impact that homeschool has made on their lives (straight off the cover). One of them is Todd Lodwick, of USA Olympic Ski Team fame. Publisher: Prima Home Learning Library. If you'd like, I could mail it to you to borrow (I'd like it back, someday!) Each story is different, of course, and I found it interesting reading. It was nice of Marina to leave a comment for Chad. I hope this year of college goes well for her! Have a good week - Kate
Oh wow! Thank you Kate! See, I knew someone had to have written it! I know Linda's website, I'm sure I can find the book that way. Every college year is different. Oddly, the class giving the most trouble this year is the online class. I would have thought it would be the most like homeschooling. Live and learn!
I loved that idea about the homeschool alums telling their stories. I'm glad there's a book but each story is unique so ... there's room for more. Love, Mom
I totally agree with you on #7! I will have to check into the Wicked History series. Sounds like something my oldest would enjoy. We were using ABeka for history a few years ago (4th grade I think), and it gave a really glossed over nice portrayal of Columbus. He read another book on his own (removed from the library system and purchased for a whopping 25 cents) that went into much, much more detail and really opened his (and my) eyes to the reality.
I love the idea of collected essays from various homeschool grads -- and not just the ones who are running their own online businesses while finishing their degrees at Harvard and playing concert violin. :-P Just real people going through the ups and downs of life after homeschool and finding their paths.
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