When I go to plan for the up-coming school year, I begin by reading books on education.  It helps me remember what things are important.  And, I begin by setting goals.  My goals will not be strictly related to “schooling” in every sense of the word, but will also include family goals, life skills I want my children to learn, etc.

A great book is Robin Sampson’s, The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach.  It will change your perspective on your child’s education.  I think every Christian mother and father should read it.  It is that life-changing.  Ms. Sampson practices what she teaches on her 11 children and helps others understand what it means to put God first in our lives as parents, educators, etc.  She has a great website with articles, bookstore, and more at Heart of Wisdom.  Reading this book will help you set your priorities for the up-coming year as well as renew your purpose for choosing to home school.

Another one of my favorite reads is by Karen Andreola.  Her book,  A Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning, is her interpretation of Charlotte Mason’s Original Home Schooling Series written in the late 1800s.  My library has the original series in a six-volume set.  It is not difficult to understand her writing, but Ms. Andreola’s is more easily read.  She combines the most important parts of Ms. Mason’s philosophies into one book.

If you are interested in teaching your child naturally, then you need to read Charlotte Mason’s work either in her own words or in Ms. Andreola’s book.  If you don’t want to purchase the original series and cannot find it in your library, Ambleside Online has the series available for free.

Other books by Karen Andreola are inspiring for the home schooling mother.  She has two fictional books that weave Charlotte Mason’s ideas throughout the tale to give you practical ideas of implementing the gentle art of learning.  The first book is A Pocketful of Pinecones.  The sequel is Lessons at Blackberry Inn.  Even though both books follow the same family, both books stand on their own.  You do not have to read both of them to be ready for the next school year.

Lately I have discovered another set of books that will change the way you see your child’s education.  A Thomas Jefferson Education: Teaching a Generation of Leaders in the Twenty-First Century by Oliver DeMille, is the first book in the series.  It is definitely the one to read first.  I personally feel that Mr. DeMille puts too much emphasis on leadership and higher education; however, I gleaned so much from this book.  The Phases of Learning as well as the Seven Keys to Great Teaching are my favorite parts of this educational philosophy.  To find out what their seven keys are and to read more about the Thomas Jefferson Education without purchasing the book, click here.

Reading this book in conjunction with Robin Sampson’s book will help you select what will work best for your family.  If you enjoy this first book by Oliver DeMille, then read the others in the Thomas Jefferson Education series.  You can find them at Amazon or on the TJEd site.  There are three more books:  A Thomas Jefferson Education Home Companion, Leadership Education: The Phases of Learning, and A Thomas Jefferson Education for Teens.

Through the Thomas Jefferson Education books, the DeMille family inspired me to continue my education.  I am not going back to an university to obtain my master’s degree.  I am simply going to the classics and reading as much as possible.  I making time to explore my interests.  And, I am finding that they are correct in that your kids watch you.  You can inspire them by studying for yourself.  It helps to create an environment of learning in any and all circumstances.

All of these books have one thing in common.  They all give you the freedom to teach your child.  They are not set curricula.  They are all practical and show you that you do not need a lot of money to educate your children.  All the books give sound advice to home schooling parents.  If you need to be inspired or excited about the up-coming school year, then start with one of these books.  Read and take notes.  Pick out what appeals to you.  Allow them to help you do the best for your children.

Other articles of interest:

“Home Schooling High School” from Susan’s Home School
This article explains delight-directed education in a meaningful way.  You get to peek into her high school-aged daughter’s education and see how following one’s own interests can lead almost anywhere.

“Delight-Directed Study” by Gregg Harris.
Mr. Harris explains the difference between un-schooling and delight-directed study.  It goes along nicely with any of the books I recommended.

“Quotes on Education” compiled by Lock Haven University.
An interesting compilation of quotes by some of the greatest minds in history.  The earliest quote is from circa 66 CE by Petronius.  Other quotes are from authors, poets, philosophers, scientists, etc.  From Albert Einstein to Ralph Waldo Emerson, you can get a wide view of what education means to these minds.

Tags: charlotte mason, delight-directed education, Heart of Wisdom, home school planning, Karen Andreola, Oliver DeMille, Robin Sampson, Thomas Jefferson Education

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 7th, 2010 at 6:13 am and is filed under Homeschooling. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.