Top 9 Favorites for Homeschoolers

So this year we are in our 9th year of homeschooling.  When we began our journey, I really did not know a lot about homeschooling. Nor did I know a lot about what was out there for homeschoolers.  So today I thought I would write about my top 9 favorites for homeschoolers.  These are my "go-to" items, and are especially the items I recommend to families who are thinking about or are brand new to the homeschooling journey.  But they are also great for even the most experienced homeschoolers to have.

1)  I believe an absolute necessity is Cathy Duffy's Top 101 Picks for Homeschoolers.  This book is incredible.  (Although when I was first introduced to it it was only her top 100 picks).  It breaks down homeschooling into manageable pieces and her recommendations I have found to be spot on.  She includes a section to determine your philosophy of education, your teaching type, and your student(s)' learning type.  Then she goes through each subject and breaks the subjects down into what matches up with what teaching AND learning style.  So it is easy to make wise choices.  She also has a website with a lot of the information on it - but I still recommend getting the book.  I share mine often.

2)  The Rainbow Resource Catalog - OK, I admit this book is a monster - I mean it is huge and it is heavy.  But it is jammed packed full of incredible homeschool supplies, materials and more.  Getting it each year is like an adventure that lasts an entire year.  Everything is broken down by subject, topic and even grades so you can easily find things.  Their website is awesome as well.  Their customer service is fantastic.

3)  Homeschool Conventions - I firmly believe in attending homeschool conventions, especially if they are good ones.  When we began our journey 9 years ago, I was blessed to be part of a military community - so we had lots of ladies with lots of experiences and knowledge. But more importantly they were so willing to share that knowledge - especially with someone who was brand new to the world and needed guidance.  I remember several of the ladies giving me some sage advice that I use to this day - never buy on the very first day.  Our family always spends the first first day just looking around (well I should say my husband, my mom and I), while our children typically participate in the Children's Conferences (well they used to participate - now all but our youngest are old enough to help instead).  I bring the entire family.  We use the opportunity as a family vacation.  But I will be devoting an entire post in the future to conventions.  I will end by saying there is nothing like a homeschool convention to be able to see, touch and connect with homeschoolers and homeschool materials.

4)  Homeschool Magazines and catalogs - There are a wealth of maganzines and catalogs homeschoolers can choose from that assist in choosing curriculum and such.  Some of my favorites include "The Old Schoolhouse Magazine" and "Practical Homeschooling".  I love Christianbook.com for homeschooling materials as well.

5)  The Internet:  In these days and times there are a wealth of sites online that can assist with your homeschool journey.  Or even if you don't want to homeschool full time, on those rainy or snowy or dreary days when the children claim they are bored, you can go online and find activities for them to do.

6)  Educational Manipulatives:  I love manipulatives.  I love giving our children a chance to experience learning "first-hand" - if you will pardon my pun.  Some children just learn better by doing, touching or creating.  So they need outlets for those experiences.

7)   Patience and a Sense of Humor:  Homechooling parents need a healthy dose of patience and wonderful sense of humor.  Some days will just not go like you planned, and you need to understand that.  There will be fantastic days where everything just clicks and moves along smoothly.  But then there will also be days when everything and anything that can go wrong does.  But if you keep the right perspective, you will all come out on the other side having learned something.

8)  Some kind of Homeschool record-keeping system:  Whether your state requires it or not, you should maintain some type of records.  We have only homeschooled in two states:  North Carolina and Pennsylvania.  But for both I have used some kind of record keeping system.  In Pennsylvania where we have lived for the past 6 years, I am required to turn in a portfolio at the end of the year that has to include a list of what books we used on what days of the years.  Doing this by hand is tedious.  So instead, I  had a friend recommend a wonderful online program called "Homeschool Skedtrack".  I love the flexibility of this program.  While it is somewhat time consuming to enter everything in initially, the end result is marvelous.  Each subject/course is entered individually.  Assignments are marked off as they are completed.  If the students are responsible enough, you can assign them their own login to where they keep up with what needs to be done each day and mark it off as completed.  At the end of the day, the parent goes through and approves what they have done.  Then the next assignment pops up for the net day.  If for some reason a student does not complete something, it automatically moves it to the next day.  Also the parent can schedule days off and what courses are on what days.  This program is one of the best I have seen.  And the fact that it is free is terrific.  

9)  A Homeschooling community (whether it be found online, in a group, with one or two friends or a co-op).  You need to connect with other homeschoolers.  It is okay if this takes a while to find the right fit for your family.  When we began our journey, I became part of a group that met once a week - moms (dads if they could come) and children.  We did various activities based on the week of the month.  It fit our family perfectly.  I have found tons of community online to give me support.  It is nice to know when I have a question, an answer is as close as my computer screen.  I have never participated in a co-op, simply because I have not found the right fit for our family.  But I know lots of people who have participated in them and found them to be very useful.

So these are my top 9 favorites for homeschoolers.  I hope you enjoyed reading about them.