Books, Blogs, and Podcasts for the Homeschooling Mom
Looking to learn more about homeschool or simply wanting to put the mojo back into your existing home education? If so, today I’m sharing some books, blogs, and podcasts to get you motivated!
I love reading about different philosophies of education. In fact, I read books that reflect all of the six homeschool styles, and have gleaned something new each time.
This post isn’t meant to tell you what homeschool style to choose or what to think, but rather, to encourage you to feed your mind with new wholesome ideas and inspire your homeschool on.
Books for Homeschooling Moms
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Okay, let’s jump right into these homeschool resources, by starting off with some wonderful homeschool books. I frequent my collection of homeschool books often, either for reference and planning or for encouragement. Here are some of my favorite books for homeschooling moms:
Homeschool Books:
Home Learning Year by Year by Rebecca Rupp
This is a fantastic resource book for your library. I’m so glad I finally broke down and bought it! It’s a curriculum planner, in that it has TONS of resource ideas for every subject; book lists, classes, programs, you name it this book has it!
Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola
This is a twenty dollars well spent! Karen Andreola inspires her readers with Charlotte Mason’s methodology. She comprehensively addresses all subjects with practicality, problem solving, personal stories, and lots of great ideas for homeschooling parents.
The Brave Learner by Julie Bogart
Julie Bogart gives insight into keeping the magic of learning alive. As a veteran homeschool mom, she shares her experiences and seeks to encourage homeschool moms at all stages.
For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay
Susan Schaeffer Macaulay demonstrates how education is not confined to school hours but is a lifestyle of that is full of rich ideas, new experiences, and joy for living.
The Well Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise
This is a rigorous resource for parents homeschooling with the Classical Method. Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise give detailed book lists, and comprehensive curricula choices, and Classical methodology. I use this as a reference resource for for books and curriculum ideas.
When Children Love to Learn by Elaine Cooper
In this book, Elaine Cooper uses Charlotte Mason’s philosophies to encourage homeschooling parents to harness their child’s natural curiosity instead of squelch it; Rather, turning it into a lifetime love of learning.
Teaching from Rest by Sarah McKenzie
This book is for the weary mother who needs to work to remove stress and angst from her homeschooling day. This is an encouraging, faith-based read by Sarah McKenzie about her journey and struggles while homeschooling her six kids.
A Pocketful of Pinecones by Karen Andreola
This is a fictional story about a mom and her early days of homeschool. It highlights how this family did their nature study and learned a slower, more enjoyable, way to homeschool. With antiquated vibes, I found this an easy and pleasurable read.
Educating the Whole-Hearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson
Clay and Sally Clarkson share their experience and expertise on how to raise and education children to become faith-strong, life-ready adults.
Know and Tell by Karen Glass
This book focuses in on the topic of narration. The benefits of doing narration, how to do it, and tons of helpful tips. I found it very useful in teaching me about how kids process reading and comprehension.
The Call of the Wild and Free by Ainsley Arment
Ainsley Arment is a mother of five children. This book seeks to inspire a wonder-filled education full of nature study and quality reading choices, while making a point to allow your kids to pursue their interests. I found this to be an easy and motivating read.
The Unschooling Handbook by Mary Griffith
In this book, Mary Griffith gives some insight on how children naturally learn. She teaches parents how to capitalize on their children’s curiosity and impulses to learn without the structure of school pressures and schedules.
Podcasts for Homeschooling Moms
I love listening to homeschool podcasts when I am driving, folding laundry, or making dinner. It’s a fantastic way to get encouragement and new ideas, while learning from others how we can improve our homeschool. This is, by no means, an exhaustive list of homeschool podcasts, but they have been my go-to’s for years now.
Your Morning Basket with Pam BarnHill
This conversational podcast with Pam Barnhill is a compilation of parents and educators sharing their morning basket ideas and routines. This podcast covers so many topics from so many perspectives, I would says its probably one of my favorites!
The Mason Jar with Cindy Rollins
Cindy Rollins is a homeschool mom of nine. In her podcast, she explores the atmosphere, discipline and life of the Charlotte Mason method. With useful ideas and encouragement, she assists families on their homeschool journey through this method.
Brave Writer with Julie Bogart
These are practical talks with veteran homeschool mom of five, Julie Bogart. This podcast is for all homeschooling parents who want to learn and grow in the area of education. She tackles topics from ‘expectations in homeschool’ to ‘natural stages of growth in writing stages’. I love the variety of subjects and I feel like I learn something new each time I tune in.
Read-Aloud Revival with Sarah McKenzie
This delightful podcast is conversation all about literacy and books from a community of authors, parents, and teachers. Listening to this, you will never run out of great read-aloud ideas! She also sprinkles in some wonderful homeschool topics for discussion that are uplifting and motivational!
Schole Sisters with Homeschool Moms
This podcast was originally started with by Sarah McKenzie from Reading Revival and some of her great homeschool friends including Pam Barnhill. The podcast is now run by another one of those friends, Brandy Vencel, who continues to deliver awesome content for homeschool families. She covers all sorts of homeschool topics including things like: building community, character training, getting your kids started with independent work.
Blogs for Homeschooling Moms
Homeschool blogs are wonderful places to find encouragement, ideas, book lists, printable resources, and community! Once again, this is a just a drop in the bucket of great homeschooling blogs.
Homeschool Blogs:
- Not Consumed
- The Measured Mom
- Homeschool Giveaways and Freebies
- Confessions of a Homeschooler
- Hip Homeschool Moms
- The Unlikely Homeschool
- My Joy Filled Life
- Growing Curious Minds
- Raising Arrows
- Life of a Homeschool Mom
- Hip Homeschooling
- My Little Poppies
This is amazing stuff Jessica. Thank you for sharing.❤
sure! ?
Keep it up with these ideas and I just might home-school! It’s been debated plenty these last 3 years and we can’t make our mind, this is a treasure of information 🙂
Thank you and a Happy New Year.
? This is our first year, and so far no regrets. I can only hope my kiddos are learning as much as me. ?
That is awesome, are you in any way worried about the social interaction with many other kids not happening? Or are you making up for that elsewhere? You know, that is the Achilles heels when you tell people you are teaching them everything at home.
Great question! Not at all. Our goal is to raise life-ready kids. No other time in life, other than the classroom, will they be surrounded be a peer group. I think that daily life, submersed in diverse community, as well as, the intentional opportunities and experiences we give them will be great preparation. ❤️ Practically speaking, we are quite involved in church as well as, community, and plan to do some integration when it comes to sports, music, other elective opportunities.
That is really awesome, specially having social circles outside of school, I am still mulling over the options. As a parent you want to give your child the best chance in life but you never know how things will turn out. Keep posting about your homeschooling journey so we can all benefit 🙂
Yes, so many hard choices to make in parenting without knowing where they will all lead…
Happy 2018 Jessica! Why is it with those those sugar cookies you have to count in reverse from the last time you counted!! There is a goldmine of learning opportunities here for homeschooling, I wish I could do it but I have to send them to local school. I don’t get to read too much but I would like to get into listening to more podcasts. Your blog is right up there as a motivator and favorite , you set a great benchmark even for those who don’t homeschool, take care Dear, hugs, Terri xo.
I know, right?! ? I’m already missing the Christmas treats, guess its time to be good for a while. ? Thank you for your encouraging words!❤️
Literally just hung up the phone with my sister (which of whom homeschools) to tell her to check out this post. Great resources. Thank you!
Thats awesome! Thank you so much for the share! ?
What an absolutely fantastic list. We are starting preschool this year in Australia, as our school year starts January, and I’ll be sure to check some of these out. I was homeschooled myself, but these are mostly new to me.
How exciting! I hope you enjoy them!
An amazing list, wonderful!
Thank you! ❤️
This is such an amazing resource, thank you for sharing!!
Absolutely! ?
Hi Jessica! Thank you so much for sharing my site! I am honored to be among those amazing women and hope I can be some help!
Absolutely! I love what you are doing and all the wisdom you share with the homeschooling community! ❤️❤️❤️
Hi Jessica,
Thank you posting such a wonderful stuff. Also the resources you have posted in blog will be amazing to read. And as you homeschool your children can you please write something which would help mom who have a planing to homeschool their children.
You’re welcome, I’m glad these resources will be helpful to you. I’m a little confused by your question, you would like me to write about about how to get started with homeschool? ?