Christ's Church of the Valley has a homeschool ministry which put together this invaluable listing of resources for those considering or new to homeschooling. Many thanks to Carol Gary for sharing this compilation of information.

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GETTING STARTED BOOKS AND RESOURCES
The Well Trained Mind by Jesse and Susan Bauer and Teaching the Trivium by the Bluedorns are great for those considering the classical education approach and Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson is similarly great for those who choose a life-style of learning approach. But this is rarely where you want to start at the very beginning of your journey, since they tend to be more specific to implementation.

A first good step, then, is to contact The Elijah Company . They are a family- owned national resource center source for curriculum and books of all kinds related to homeschooling. We are not suggesting that you purchase all of your materials here, for there are many other excellent resource centers and curriculum designers that you would want to check out over time. What we do suggest, though, is that you phone them at 1-888-2-ELIJAH and request that a current catalog be sent to your home. For, in the front of their catalog, they have written an EXCELLENT introduction to homeschooling that provides helpful information on explaining and determining your educational philosophy as well as your child's needs. They explain the reasons why people choose to homeschool, the various teaching approach options (i.e.classical, traditional, unit studies, lifestyle learning, principle, etc. approaches) and have extensive descriptions of resources to fulfill these and other needs. It is like getting a crash course in homeschooling for free! You will find that several of the resources they suggest, we have also suggested below. Essentially, it is a good place to start and then, once you have your feet wet in the overall issues and concepts, you will probably find that you are drawn to check out more specialized resources over time. Their catalog also has excellent personalized, first-hand reviews of all of the items they carry. If you would rather request this resource catalog on-line you can go to the following link: http://www.elijahco.com/catalog.htm.

Another resource center who has a wonderful catalog filled with personalized reviews and is also run by a Christian Homeschooling Family like Elijah Company is Lifetime Books and Gifts. Bob and Tina Farewell follow a living books/life- style of learning approach and are the owners and homeschooling parents who have put together a wonderful resource. Though there is a nominal charge for their catalog, it is well worth it. However, they do have their resource and curriculum reviews available through their on-line store as well.

We also suggest going to your local library to check out a few books on homeschooling. If you utilize the Glendale Public Library, they have an EXCELLENT website and the ability to put titles on hold. The Foothills location north of Union Hills off of 57th Avenue is particularly great. They have an extensive offering of Storytime Hours and other events for children and even have a drive-up window that you can utilize for dropping off books or picking up your holds!. The Glendale Branch holds about 20+ different Homeschooling titles on hand. For example, they have several resource and curriculum guides including: The Homeschooling Resource Guide and Directory by Mary Hood, Christian Home Educators' Curriculum Manual: Elementary Grades by Cathy Duffy, and Big Book of Learning by Mary Pride. They also carry "how-to" books such as Homeschooling the Early Years: Your Complete Guide to Successfully Homeschooling the 3 to 8 Year-Old Child by Linda Dobson, which is particularly useful for ideas in getting started with the young ones.
Phoenix Public Library has an online catalog, the ability to request items to be sent to your local branch to be held for you to pick them up and books on teaching specific subjects and curriculum methods in general.

Additional "general" resources you may want to consider are listed below. We have also included some of the most popular references recommended for the specific approaches to homeschooling once you choose a general path to follow. Again, the information in the Elijah catalog will provide you a good description of the most of these educational approaches. In reality, most homeschooling families combine a variety of these approaches as the lines between and among the approaches are not mutually exclusive. Though you may find some of these at the library, most of them would need to be sourced through Amazon.com or Half.com. The Covenant Resource Center described below may also have them available to check out on a temporary basis if you become a member of the center (Annual membership for a family is only $25).

Basic Homeschooling Resources
Title Author Approach Description
Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning Dorothy Sayers Classical Essay re: Classical Approach
Classical Education and the Home School Douglas Wilson, Callihan and Jones Classical Book re: Classical Approach
Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning Douglas Wilson, Callihan and Jones Classical Book re: Classical Approach
Teaching the Trivium Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn Classical Written from a Christian perspective, this is an excellent source to guide the home school who is following the classical structure. Several resource suggestions available in the index and excellent chapters discussing the importance of teaching Latin, Greek and Hebrew as well as logic.
The Well-Trained Mind Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer Classical Practical and comprehensive guide/scope and sequence to using Classical Approach from K-12.
The Three R's Ruth Beechick Common Sense The standard for the three R's and all that is need in a common sense approach to these subjects. Excellent and simple tool.
You Can Teach Your Child Successfully Ruth Beechick Common Sense Common Sense Approach; For middle school years of older children
Dr. Beechick's Homeschool Answer Book Ruth Beechick Common Sense
The Core Knowledge Sequence Dr. E.D. Hirsch Cultural Literacy approach to what child needs to know
What Your Kindergartner Needs to Know, etc. Dr. E.D. Hirsch Cultural Literacy Practical Cultural Literacy approach to what child needs to know. Though not from a Christian perspective, it encourages Bible reading
Cultural Literacy Dr. E.D. Hirsch Cultural Literacy Philosophical description of Cultural Literacy Approach
Books to Build On: A Grade-by-Grade Resource Guide for Parents and Teachers Dr. E.D. Hirsch Cultural Literacy Descriptive bibliography by grade level and topic of recommended books to use for teaching.
Educating the Wholehearted Child Clay and Sally Clarkson Discipling Discipling Approach; Practical aspects; Charlotte Mason approach
Let Us Highly Resolve David and Shirley Quine Discipling Highly inspirational read emphasizing why discipling our children is such an important issue. An excellent read no matter what "approach" you use.
Christian Home Educators' Curriculum Manual - Elementary Cathy Duffy General Excellent and comprehensive collection of curriculum reviews for every subject. Also includes a discussion about learning styles. She has another edition just for the middle grades through high school.
Homeschooling, The Right Choice: An Academic, Legal, Historical and Practical Perspective Chris Klicka General Building a case for home education.
Family Matters: Why Homeschooling Makes Sense David Gutterson General Building a case for home education.
The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling Debra Bell General Covers all aspects of homeschooling, including curriculum and high tech options. She includes many valuable Internet resources and the 2001 edition comes with its own CD ROM.
Beyond Survival Diana Waring General Practical peek inside homeschooling family
The Christian Home School Greg Harris General Building a case for home education.
No Place Like Home….School J. Richard Fugate General Building a case for home education.
Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling John Taylor Gatto General Building a case for home education.
How to Set Up Learning Centers in Your Home Mary Hood General Mary writes from a lifestyle of learning approach but her concepts can be adapted to just about any setting.
Big Books of Home Learning (Getting Started, Pre/School through Elementary, and Junior High through College) Mary Pride General These three separate books are similar to Duffy's curriculum review manuals.
Homeschooling: A Patchwork of Days Nancy Lande General Practical peek inside 30 different homeschooling families
How to Create Your Own Unit Study Valerie Bendt General Unit Study
The Simplicity of Homeschooling Jack and Vicky Goodchild Life-style of Learning Requires a literate home where there is lots of reading since this is a Life-style of Learning approach to homeschooling
Wisdom's Way of Learning Marilyn Howshall Life-style of Learning Life-style of Learning approach.
Relaxed Home School: A Family Production/td> Mary Hood Life-style of Learning Requires a literate home where there is lots of reading since this is a Life-style of Learning approach to homeschooling
A Charlotte Mason Education Catherine Levison Living Books Interpreting Charlotte's philosophy and approach
The Original Homeschooling Series Charlotte Mason Living Books Her philosophy is concerned with kids being able to think on their own, avoiding "twaddle", and focusing on the educational elements of a loving atmosphere, discipline in good habits and giving a child's life/soul lots of ideas by experience and exposure. Very difficult read
Teaching Children: A curriculum guide to what children need to know at each level through sixth grade Diane Lopez Living Books Scope and Sequence that emphasizes Mason's living books approach. Forward is written by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay.
A Charlotte Mason Companion Karen Androlea Living Books Interpreting Charlotte's philosophy and approach
For the Children's Sake Susan Schaeffer Macaulay Living Books Very inspirational book. A must read for homeschoolers. Follows Charlotte Mason's Approach.
For the Family's Sake Living Books Living Books Also very inspirational and useful for keeping the focus on the family.
How to Homeschool: A Practical Approach Gayle Graham Natural Natural approach: (similar to common sense approach seen with Beechick). Takes Ruth's ideas and puts into a step by step approach. Also deals with Delight-Directed approach
A Guide to American Christian Education for the Home and School James Rose Principle Focuses on Principle Approach of researching, reasoning, relating and recording. Requires scholarly approach.
Come Let Us Reason Kris Bayer Principle Focuses on Principle Approach of researching, reasoning, relating and recording. Requires scholarly approach.
Teach Your Own John Holt Unschooling Unschooling
IMPORTANT HOMESCHOOLING RESOURCES IN ARIZONA:

Arizona Families for Home Education (AFHE) is a non profit educational corporation that promotes and supports home education in Arizona. They are the oldest and largest such organization in the state. You can find support group, legal and membership information on their site as well as articles and other helpful homeschool links here. When you sign up for membership, you will receive a welcome packet that includes all of the legal information you need to know (i.e. filing an affidavit with the state, etc.) and you will receive regular newsletters in the mail. Also, AFHE puts on an annual convention at the Phoenix Civic Plaza (located downtown) every June or July that has a curriculum fair and a number of wonderful speakers for two days. This convention comes highly recommend by all who attend and they usually have a special track of seminars/workshops that are just for new homeschoolers. You can find more information about these and other resources on their website at http://www.afhe.org/.

Another good local resource for information regarding homeschooling is Home Educators HEART. Here you can view free monthly newsletters that bring you up-to-date access to Arizona home schooling information, resources, and opportunities. They also provide a comprehensive ongoing offering of seminars (located at one of five valley locations) related to this topic and publish their schedule on this website as well. One that would be useful to consider is the “Getting Started” Workshop that they frequently offer. They also publish and maintains an excellent resource called the “Home School Golden Resource Directory”. Holly describes the purpose of the book as follows: “We desire to provide a comprehensive listing of homeschool resources such as classes, services, suppliers, support groups and opportunities within Maricopa County and other regions of the state.” The cost is very nominal and well worth it. Learn more about these resources at the following link: http://www.homeschoolresourcecenter.org/ or email Holly Craw or phone her at 602-942-7296.

Additionally, through the Covenant Home School Resource Center located at 1117 E. Devonshire (North of Indian School Rd.) in Phoenix, families are able to utilize a “multi-purpose resource center” that provides “part-time classes to homeschoolers, facility space for functions and events, special workshops and seminars, curriculum preview capabilities, borrowing and discount ordering.” This is a fee based service. For more information, contact Karen Borg (Director) at 602-277-3497 or e-mail her.

On the link below, you can also find information on other local support groups. There are close to 30 groups in the metro area. They have differences in their focus and/or geographic locations. To find out more, go to http://www.afhe.org/ "Support Groups" listing or check the HEART link at http://www.homeschoolresourcecenter.org/supportgroups.html. Both have the same information about other local support groups.

There are countless more websites out there with useful information, but these are a good place to start. Many other sites devote themselves to a more particular approach to homeschooling (i.e. classical education, lifestyle learning, etc.) or are sponsored by curriculum designers themselves. Some of these would be useful if you decide to pursue homeschooling and as you continue to develop your approach to and style of teaching.

BOOKLIST BOOKS FOR CHILDREN:
 Other great resources for families considering a homeschooling decision or just beginning their journey is to reference some of the wonderful booklist books available for review. This is because reading is so important and foundational to all future learning and sometimes it can be difficult to weed out marginal books from the really great ones. Most of these books spend time discussing the importance of reading to your children from various perspectives. They are all written from a Christian perspective, except for the Read-Aloud Handbook and How to Raise a Reader, which are more secular. However, all of the resources do a good job in steering the parent to classic picture books and children’s literature, which have stood the test of time and define the essence of good literature. I also understand that, in addition to these recommendations, a title called “They’re Never Too Young for Books” by Edythe M. McGovern & Helen D. Muller is also quite good. Some of these books can be found at the local library to review; you may need to locate some at a local bookstore. Most of these resources can be purchased over the Internet from Amazon.com or Half.com, since finding them at the library or the regular bookstores can sometimes be difficult.

Honey for a Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt (Literature recommendations organized by age group.)
Great Books of the Christian Tradition by Terry W. Glaspey (Literature recommendations organized by age and by era, which is very useful for a classically structured education. (i.e. Middle Ages, Ancient World, etc.)
Books That Build Character by William Kirkpatick and Gregory and Suzanne M. Wolfe (Literature recommendations by age and type (i.e. picture books, fables, myths, etc.)
Books Children Love by Elizabeth Wilson (Organized by topic and can be very helpful for supplementing school subjects, such as science and history, with a Christian perspective.)
A Landscape with Dragons: The Battle for Your Child’s Mind by Michael D. O’Brien (Literature recommendations (does not give detailed descriptions of each book) by picture books, easy readers, short chapter books, intermediate readers and even adult selections). Specifically addresses why the inclusion of fantasy literature is important to consider for a well-rounded education of our Christian children.
The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease (Literature recommendations and extensive descriptions organized by book type and age group).
How to Raise a Reader by Elaine McEwan (Literature recommendations and descriptions by age group from birth through the middle grades)

We hope you will find this information useful as you begin to educate your children at home. Please e-mail me if you have additional questions or would like more information on a particular topic. Sincerely,
Carol Gary
Planning & First Connections Committees
CCV Homeschool Ministry
623-580-1888

Updated 8-23-02

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