We’re at the beginning of our journey of learning, as our DS is almost three and our DD is a month old. We are planning to use CM for homeschool. (We’re currently reading a lot, exploring nature when weather permits, using the ideas in the Early Years guide, and having fun with Little Saints.) Since we have a few years before we get started with formal coursework, I’d like to take this time to build our resource library using PaperbackSwap and holiday wishlists. I’m curious…what are your top ten favorite resources for a CM home? Books that you feel are integral for a child to have access to on a regular basis. (Not specific to young children and not curriculums.) Story collections, poetry collections, etc. What resources would you recommend owning and passing down to the next generation(s)?
I choose these two directly above because they have the fairy tales and folktales, the nursery rhymes, etc, before the politcally correct police came along and detroyed children’s stories. I inhereited mine from my grandmother.
Aesop’s Fables for Children, Illustrated Edition by Milo Winter (also available w/a CD)
I love Rachel’s list. Yes, I agree with those. I would add really good nature field guides from your area. I also like the series by Yesterday’s Classics, Among the Forest People…. those are really good. I would add The Child’s Bible Story by Catherine Vos.
For the mom, I would include Charlotte Mason Companion. That was my first exposure to Charlotte Mason and it painted such a lovely vision of homeschool for me that the Lord used it to soften my heart and convict me to homeschool. My husband was already there, but for different reasons.
I would plan to spend lots of time at the library and local parks. I requested zoo passes for Christmas from the relatives. Many of the great children’s classics can be checked out from the library, but some of our favorites were Heidi, Railway Children, Secret Garden, Little House on the Prairie, Understood Betsy, etc…
For mom: Pocketful of Pinecones and Lessons from Blackbaerry Inn by Karen Andreola. A Charlotte Mason Companion by same author. Wild Days from Karen Radcliffe. Lies Homeschooling Mom’s Believe by Todd Wilson (and probably his cartoon books) Probably the “All-Day Seminar” from here (I don’t have that one yet…)
Lord of the Rings / The Hobbit by Tolkein
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Montgommery (and others from the series)
Little House on the Prairie series of books
Understood Betsy
Just David / Pollyanna by Porter
The complete works of A.A. Milne (ie, Now we are Six, When we were very young, House at Pooh Corner, etc.)
We have liked the Burgess Book…..
A good Child’s Dictrionary. (We started with a Dr. Sues one I think…. then one that is for older kids, but has pictures still. Possibly a good Atlas, although the internet is pretty good for that. I just got one.
Wall map of world, and of your country. Book of street maps of your city. (our kids follow the maps when we drive around.)