Reading is the backbone of learning. When educating at home or tutoring, good literature can be the backbone of your curriculum (or course of study). The task becomes creating a great reading list. Here are our six tips for creating a reading list: Tips for Creating a Reading List 1. Include the Youngest Start early. […]
10 Free Read Alouds ~ PreK–2
Reading aloud develops skills and creates a storehouse of knowledge — among other things. So the question remains: What to read aloud? Where do you start? Creating a personalized reading list can be challenging but also fun! They key is to start with someone else’s list and then add and subtract books that appeal to […]
The Reading List: Geography
One of the easiest and most effective ways to cover geography for the younger ages is simply to read, engage, and learn. It all starts with a geography reading list.
8 Places to Find Children’s Books in the Public Domain
We posted our favorites in 2012. But an update is long overdue! There are many quality children’s books in the public domain. These books have survived the test of time! The challenge is to find them. Yes, you can search Project Gutenberg or Google Books. But if you are looking for an easier path, here […]
2016 Summer Reading Challenge
Summer is in full swing. It’s time to break out the books! Reading during the summer is one easy summer learning strategy. Ready to make it fun? Try our 2016 Summer Reading Challenge. Readers can choose books from a variety of categories that will keep them reading and spur their interest. There is no right […]
3 Ways to Choose Literature & Read Deliberately
We recently decided to take up and encourage one another through one of the new year reading challenges. Not that I need help adding books to my overwhelming reading list, mind you. No, I likely read that many books and more in one year. My problem is more one of organizing — reading intentionally. I […]
6 Favorite Thanksgiving Read-Aloud Books
For years, when November rolled around we started one of several Thanksgiving-themed books to take us through Thanksgiving Day. Here are our favorite books to read aloud in November — old ones and new favorites — along with a few suggestions for making this work for your family: Decide how many days you will have […]
10 Favorite “Robinson Crusoe” Books
Summer is a great time to brush up on favorite stranded-on-a-deserted-island books! We love Robinson Crusoe — and that started a Crusoe reading extravaganza. Here are a few of our favorite “Robinson Crusoe” books (in approximate order of increasing maturity): 1. Barty Crusoe and His Man Saturday by Frances Hodgson Burnett Barty Crusoe and His […]
Core Knowledge PreK–8 Book List {Free}
If you are looking for easy-to-find books that complement the Core Knowledge series, or just looking for books to add to your own list, you’ll appreciate the free Core Knowledge Master Trade Book List. The Core Knowledge Foundation was founded by E.D. Hirsch, Jr., author of the What Your nth Grader Needs to Know series. […]
New Recommended Reading List
There are many families who around this time of year make the decision to educate their children at home. They use the time off for Christmas to pull together a plan to finish the year and look ahead to the new year. We’ve added a recommended reading list that we hope will help these families […]
7 Thanksgiving Stories {Free Downloads}
Here are 7 heart-warming Thanksgiving stories by well-known authors—short stories in the public domain, but not abridgements—that the entire family can enjoy as read alouds through the days leading to Thanksgiving Day. Update: We have formatted these stories for easy download. By downloading these files you are agreeing to our terms of use. Enjoy! Happy […]
Favorite Columbus Books & Resources
What is it about homeschooling that makes us cycle through Columbus and the Pilgrims nearly every year? My poor children have read dozens of books about Columbus over the course of their homeschool years, rather out of proportion to any other figure or event in history! Every new year seemed to always begin with…Columbus. So […]
