Discovering Great Artists
As an art student myself for the past decade, I wish I’d had a book like this when I was a child. It introduces children to many great masters of western art and provides plenty of interesting, artistic hands-on activities. Visual arts are frequently cut from public schools, so homeschooling can have a distinct advantage in this area. This is the perfect starting place to build a lifetime of artistic knowledge, enjoyment and expression.
Meet the Great Composers, Book One and Book Two
What Discovering Great Artists does for visual arts, these books do for music. They introduce children to the lives and music of the West’s greatest composers. The CDs contain examples of their music, a perfect sampler for discovering the music your children prefer. If they like what they hear of Bach or Mozart, continue in that direction by buying or borrowing more CDs with music by that composer. One of the best things about these survey courses is they can lead in unexpected directions where you can dig more deeply.
The New Way Things Work
This book is optional for Beautiful Feet’s History of Science pack, and it is on the spendy side, but I think it’s a wonderful book. It’s not just a quick read, but a reference book that you’ll use for years. David Macaulay (also the author of the wonderful Castle, Cathedral, City, and Pyramid) writes clear text that is supported by delightful illustrations. Equally fascinating to children and adults, it will come to your rescue when your child asks, “How does a telephone (camera, x-ray machine, etc.) work?”
Shakespeare
I can’t help recommending Shakespeare. Even if you don’t choose one of the Lightning Literature Shakespeare classes, I think every student should read Shakespeare throughout high school (and adults should reread him all of their lives). Precocious children can start in junior high. Below are the Shakespeare plays we carry which I especially recommend, in relative order of difficulty (though this is not an easy thing to gauge). But all of Shakespeare is well worth your time.
Julius Caesar
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Twelfth Night
As You Like It
The Merchant of Venice
Macbeth
Antony and Cleopatra
Hamlet
Richard III
King Lear
State History Chronicles Notebook
State history can be a challenge to study because there are not a lot of handy textbooks to choose from as for US or world history. This notebook greatly helps with elementary or junior high-level state history. It cannot, of course, give you information on your state, but it gives ideas for reports, projects, and field trips and helps you and your child organize the information you gather during the class, providing you with a record worth keeping after the class is done.
My First Reports
Available either as a group or as single units, this is perhaps the elementary product that I would most highly recommend for preparing children for high school and beyond. You can coordinate these with your other studies, whether its geography, history, science, or even physical education, or choose those that match your children’s interest in animals, sports, outer space, or even themselves. (And there are many more options than those I've linked to here.) Our own Kris Dillon gives both student and parent a lot of guidance and suggestions so report writing can be an exciting and successful experience.
Geometric Solids
I think math should be taught in as hands-on a way as possible, especially in the younger grades. We carry many math manipulatives that do just that; this one just happens to be my favorite. Volume is one of the more difficult geometrical concepts for children, and this set can clear up a lot of the mystery.
Set
I love this game. It’s a simple but powerful concept, and works with different thinking skills than most educational games that require strategy, knowledge of facts, or word skills. When I play I am actually aware of my mind working in a different way (think of it as the exercise bike of games, only much, much more fun). Because no special knowledge is required, children can play on equal terms with adults. And don’t be discourage by your first few games – practice definitely helps.
Pre-Math-It, Math-It, and Advanced Math-It
Math, especially for younger children, should be hands-on and enjoyable. A large part of enjoyment for young children comes from success. I’m highly dubious of most computer-math programs (especially for elementary children) that promise to make math fun. Usually these are 95% game and 5% math, and do nothing to connect math to the real work or make the concepts concrete. The Math-It series teaches real math, but in a way designed to make the student successful without unnecessary bells and whistles. This series will help your children nail the basics as a strong foundation for future math. A helpful teacher's guide is also available.
On Writing Well
One of my top-five writing books, I’ve read this repeatedly. I (and everyone who writes) should read it annually. Zinsser is a terrific nonfiction writer, and he gives solid advice that students can use throughout highschool, college, and life.
