Resource List by Educational Philosophy
Prepared by a few JCHEA members

This is a list of curriculum resources listed by educational philosophies. Some curriculums may be under more than one heading. There is no "right" way to home school. Different styles of home schooling fit different families and different students. One suggestion from veteran home educators is for the first year, at least, go with one curriculum, preferably one that has good teacher manuals. After you get that first year under your belt, then you may want to branch out, mixing and matching curriculum, adding supplements, and so on. But, the first year is often full of adjustments, and having to plan and write your own curriculum may overwhelm and frustrate both student and parent.

This is not an exhaustive list. It was compiled by a few members of JCHEA and contains our favorite suppliers and the most popular suppliers. One thing to remember: many of these companies are small, family-run businesses. If you appreciate their catalogs and the work they have done to supply you with curriculum needs, teaching tips, home schooling insights, and the like, please buy your books from them. Sometimes you may be able to get a book cheaper somewhere else, from a bigger supplier, but remember these "little guys" when you order. They depend on selling books to support their families and their ministries.

You can also look at the companion resource list— it has teaching resource books organized by teaching philosophies and interests. Educate yourself as you educate your children!

The Text Book or Traditional Approach

This is a very common approach to home schooling and includes graded textbooks or workbooks that cover each subject. It can be described as "bringing school home." Teacher's manuals, tests and record keeping materials are usually available with the curriculum. Worktext programs are along the same lines, except that the textbooks are written as consumable workbooks. These programs allow more independent study and require minimal teacher preparation and supervision.

Video programs are available, and they are actual classroom instruction on video that your child watches and then does the assigned work, just like the children on the classroom video. Traditional curricula is also available on computer, through satellite schools, on CD Rom and through the internet.

A Beka Books
1-800-874-2352
www.abeka.com
Textbooks, correspondence school, video school.

Alpha-Omega
1-800-622-3070
www.home-schooling.com
Self directed workbooks, also CD-ROM.

Bob Jones University Press
1-800-845-5731
www.bju.edu/press
Textbooks, satellite school.

Christian Liberty Academy
1-800-348-0899
www.homeschools.org
Full curriculum, correspondence school.

Calvert
1-888-487-4652
www.calvertschool.org
[email protected]
Correspondence K-8.

Covenant Home Curriculum
17800 W Capitol Dr
Brookfield, WI 53045
414-781-2171
Classical Education, Reformed Classical Education Theology.

Robinson Self Teaching Curriculum
1-888-223-3237
www.robinsoncurriculum.com
Complete curriculum on CD-ROM.

Rod and Staff
1-606-522-4348
Crockett, KY 41413
Traditional curriculum—Mennonite.

The Living Books Approach

This approach advocates studying most subjects by the reading of "living books" as opposed to textbooks. This approach is based on the writings and philosophy of Charlotte Mason and Ruth Beechick. Mason's approach to academics was to teach children the basic "3 Rs", then expose them to the best sources of knowledge for all other subjects. This is accomplished by using living books that make the subject come alive. Typically biographies, historical fiction and great literature are used to educate children.

Beautiful Feet
1-800-889-1978
www.bfbooks.com
Literature-based history.

Cornerstone Curriculum Project
2006 Flat Creek Place
Richardson, TX 75080
Chronological history, literature-based.

Five in a Row
1-717-533-1669
www.hsrc.com
Pre K - Grade 7
Literature-based.

Greenleaf Press
1-615-449-1617
www.greenleafpress.com
e-mail: [email protected]
Literature-based history.

Sonlight Curriculum
1-303-730-6292
www.sonlight.com
local contact: Jill Evely 858-3652
Full curriculum, literature- and history-based.

Far Above Rubies
Bethany Book Room
1-800-990-9680
Bible-based high school curriculum for girls.

Queen Homeschool Supplies
www.queenhomeschool.com
1-724-447-2034

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Unschooling Approach—or Relaxed Home Educators

This type of schooling was made popular by John Holt, who believed that traditional schooling inhibits a child's creativity and enthusiasm to learn. He promoted the idea of allowing children the freedom to pursue whatever interests they might have, doing all their learning naturally in real life situations. He thought children learned best when they had more access to the real world. This approach allows children to pursue their own interests with parental support and guidance.

Fun Books
1-888-386-7020
www.FUN-Books.com

You may also want to order resources from some of the suppliers that are listed under miscellaneous suppliers and parental helps and encouragement.

Unit Studies Approach

The Unit Studies approach to education is to study one topic at a time and then learn all you can about that subject by looking at it in all different ways. As an example, if the current study is about baseball, it may include researching the history of baseball, reading biographies about great baseball players, writing a report about baseball, going to a baseball game, researching and read ing books about baseball equipment, figuring out baseball statistics, playing a baseball game, organizing (alphabetically) baseball cards, and so on. With this approach , children of different ages can learn together, and many subjects are covered together. There are many good prewritten unit studies, and many resources for writing your own unit studies.

Beautiful Feet
1-800-889-1978
Literature-based history.

Five in a Row
1-717-533-1669
Literature-based unit studies.

Greenleaf Press
1-615-449-1617
Literature-based history studies.

Konos
1-972-924-2712
Complete curriculum
Character-based unit studies, hands-on.

Sonlight Curriculum
1-303-730-6292
www.sonlight.com
local contact: Jill Evely 858-3652
Full curriculum, literature- and history-based.

Weaver Curriculum
1-714-688-3126
2752 Scarborough
Riverside, CA 92503
Chronological Bible study, full curriculum.

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Classical Education

The Classical Approach draws from teaching methods that have been around throughout history. Many home educators have been looking back through history to see how great scholars of the past were educated, and have found that the Classical Approach, which includes three stages, called the trivium, were used. The three stages are the Grammar Stage (K-4), the Logic Stage (4-8), and the Rhetoric Stage (9-12). Usually it is a rigorous curriculum used by highly motivated parents and children.

Calvert
1-888-487-4652
www.calvertschool.org
K-8 classical education, and correspondence.

Covenant Home Curriculum
17800 W Capitol Drive
Brookfield, WI 53045
1-414-781-2171
Reformed theology, classical education.

Veritas Press
1-800-922-5082
Reformed theology, classical education, full curriculum.

Miscellaneous Suppliers

Catalogs

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Other

These are hard to classify, but great resources as well.

Academic Advantage
1-813-321-1868
New and used curriculum.

Aristoplay Learning Games
1-800-634-7738
Educational learning games.

Christian Book Distributers
Box 6000
Peabody, MA 01961
1-800-247-4784
Discount books.

Firm Foundations
New Child's Mission
1-800-321-5375
Bible-based studies and resources.

Modern Curriculum Press
1-800-321-3106
Language Arts Materials.

Dover Children's Books
31E 2nd Street
Mineola, NY 11501
www.doverpublications.com
Inexpensive literature, history and science coloring books and stickers.

Childen's Books
PO Box 239
Greer, SC 29652-0239
1-864-968-0391
Discount books.

Rainbow Resources
www.rainbowresource.com
1-309-695-3200
Extensive selection of discounted resources.

ROCK Solid
1-800-705-3452
Discount book supplier.

Sing and Learn
www.singnlearn.com
1-800-460-1973
Variety of subjects covered using tapes and CD’s, etc; great for auditory learners.

Sycamore Tree
2179 Meyer Place
Costa Mesa, CA 82627
Full curriculum consultations for free books and supplies.

Saxon
1300 McGee Suite 100
Norman, OK 73072
www.saxonmath.com
1-405-329-7071
Math and phonics, free placement tests.

Timberdoodle Company
1-360-426-0672
1510 E Spencer Lake Road
Shelton, WA 98584
Discounted hands-on and enrichment supplies.

Urban Homemaker
PO Box 2137
Pocono Summit, PA 18346
www.urbanhomemaker.com
The catalog for homemakers who are interested in basics—kitchen supplies and helpers.

Wall Builders
PO Box 397
1-817-441-7604
Christian perspective of American history, resources and books.

Library and Educational Services
PO Box 146
Berrien Springs, MI 49103
www.libraryanded.com
E-mail: [email protected]
(269) 695-1800
Fax: (269) 695-8500 (available 24 hours)
Showroom:
15437 North Red Bud Trail
Buchanan, MI 49107
Highly discounted books, videos and tapes.

Queen Homeschool Supplies
www.queenhomeschool.com
1-724-447-2034
Charlotte Mason, living books.

Back Pack
1-252-244-0728
New and used curriculum, and used book search.

Bethany Book Room
55 Main Street
Winchester, KY 40391
1-859-744-6024
www.bethanybook.com
This is a local supplier with lots of curriculum.

Parental Helps and Encouragement

Lamplighter Publications
Cornerstone Family Ministries
PO Box 727
Waverly, PA 18471
1-888-246-7735
Character helps with stirring stories.

Lifestyle of Learning
PO Box 145
Bedford, VA 24523
e-mail: [email protected]
Making learning a lifestyle.

No Greater Joy
1000 Pearl Road
Pleasantville, TN 32033
Advice on joyful child training.

The Learning Parent
2430 Sunnymeade Road
Rustburg, VA 24588
Advice from home school parents of 14. Offers a free newsletter.

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