Favorite Resources

Once a child learns to read, you can scarcely keep him from learning... just keep him interested and learning will come with ease!

We use many resources beyond Montessori in our home school.

Whether you home educate or not, these are resources we highly recommend.

Abeka phonics, language and reading books from Kindergarten through 2nd grade were a joy for us.  Also, Hooked on Phonics made phonics more interesting for the younger kids.

Story of the World history series, found here

 - Interesting for all ages even the young ones!  The CDs are priceless as the storyteller is a master at his craft and all the stories are told in an exciting way.  History comes alive and is typically the first thing they want to do each day.

Math U See math curriculum, found here. 

- It is the first series we've found that is close to Montessori style learning.  It has seen us through from addition all the way to Trig and we're still going.

Wisdom Booklets, found here.

- You do have to be a member of ATI to get this curriculum.  But you can see examples online.  This resource has been invaluable to us.  I don't know what we would be doing without it.  Children from young ages all the way to adults are challenged by this curriculum as the Bible is the main textbook.  God does it better than any of us!

Anything Montessori - too much to explain here, but Montessori is what we have loved the most about learning - particularly the younger ages.  Learning comes alive with all Montessori Materials.
Learn more here and here.  Find materials at a variety of sites, here and here to start.

History Resources -
We have found that most history curriculum miss the learning and adventure that the history of our world presents.  Many are filled with names and dates, but little about the "why" and the "how" it all happened.  This tends to make history dry and meaningless.   We are blessed to have found many resources that help us truly understand how the world became what it is today - both the good and the bad - by reading real accounts by people who were actually there.  The best way to learn history is to read these biographies, autobiographies and the like.  Here are just a few we are thrilled with:

 The War Between the States, by John J. Dwyer.  What a comprehensive, well-illustrated book with dozens of biographical features of politicians, theologians, soldiers, inventors, spies, nurses, musicians, journalists, artists, and many others from that generation.  A vivid account of the wartime experience for those on the home front.  The amazing story of the savage cold war that occurred after the Confederacy surrendered.  Things you don't see in typical school books today.

More to come.... stay tuned as I will add to the list as I have time!