As a homeschool mom dedicated to nurturing a love for learning and exploration, I understand how important it is to have the right resources at our fingertips.
In this post, I’m excited to share some of my favorite books, resources, and products that have enriched our homeschooling journey and enhanced our nature studies. These selections have been invaluable in encouraging me as a homeschool mama over the years. I’ve listed our favorite curriculums that we have used and loved, along with some of the activities and materials we’re enjoying in the Little Explorers Nature Club.
I’ll be continually updating this list with new discoveries and cherished classics as they come to mind. Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase through them. Your support helps fuel our adventures in learning!
Books of Encouragement on Your Homeschool Journey:
Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable Peace by Sarah Mackenzie
Finding calm and balance in the busy homeschool life. If you only read one book, THIS IS THE ONE!
The Call of the Wild + Free by Ainsley Arment
Encourages a nature-based, unstructured approach to learning.
Modern Miss Mason by Leah Boden
A contemporary take on Charlotte Mason’s educational philosophy.
A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola
Insights into implementing Charlotte Mason’s philosophy.
Simply Charlotte Mason Presents the Early Years: A Charlotte Mason Preschool Handbook by Sonya Shafer and Karen Smith
A guide focused on the early years of education using the Charlotte Mason approach.
Laying Down the Rails: A Charlotte Mason Habits Handbook by Sonya Shafer
A resource for cultivating good habits in children through the Charlotte Mason method.
A Charlotte Mason Education: A Home Schooling How-To Manual by Catherine Levison
A practical guide for parents wanting to adopt the Charlotte Mason method in their homeschool.
More Charlotte Mason Education: A Home Schooling How-To Manual by Catherine Levison
Further insights and guidance on implementing Charlotte Mason’s educational philosophy.
Mother Culture: For a Happy Homeschool by Karen Andreola
A focus on the importance of self-care for homeschooling mothers.
The Unhurried Homeschooler: A Simple, Mercifully Short Book on Homeschooling by Durenda Wilson
A concise guide to homeschooling with less stress.
The 4 Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life by Durenda Wilson
Strategies for thriving in a homeschool environment.
Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay Clarkson and Sally Clarkson
A holistic approach to homeschooling that emphasizes nurturing the heart, mind, and spirit of children.
The Big Book of Homeschool Ideas: 55 Moms Share Their Expertise on 103 Topics
by iHomeschool Network
Practical insights from experienced homeschooling mothers.
The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling by Debra Bell and Michael Farris
A comprehensive and very practical resource for homeschooling families.
Beyond Survival: A Guide to Abundant-Life Homeschooling by Diana Waring
Practical strategies for creating a rich homeschooling experience.
102 Top Picks For Homeschool Curriculum: Choosing The Right Curriculum And Approach For Your Child's Learning Style by Cathy Duffy
Guidance about how your child learns best and selecting the best curriculum for their learning style. I believe most of her reviews are also found on her review website.
The Way They Learn: How to Discover and Teach to Your Child's Strengths by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias
Understanding and teaching to children's unique learning styles.
How to Have a HEART for Your Kids by Rachael Carman
A guide to fostering a nurturing and loving environment.
For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay
A foundational book that outlines the philosophy and principles of a Charlotte Mason education, encouraging a nurturing approach to learning that values the child as a whole.
When Children Love to Learn: A Practical Application of Charlotte Mason's Philosophy for Today by Elaine Cooper
This book provides practical strategies for implementing Charlotte Mason’s educational principles in today's context, helping children develop a love for learning.
The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life by Julie Bogart
This book encourages a joyful and imaginative approach to homeschooling, helping parents find magic in everyday learning experience
People Who Have Encouraged Me Along the Way
There are lots of resources out there to encourage homeschooling mamas. These are some of the main homeschool educators who come to mind and have encouraged me over the years.
Charlotte Mason
Sarah Mackenzie - Author of Teaching from Rest
Sonya Shafer (Simply Charlotte Mason)
Jessica Hulcey (KONOS)
Sally Clarkson
Heidi St. John
Rachael McCaghren Carman (Apologia)
Diana Waring (History Alive)
Mary Pride - Practical Homeschooling Magazine
Steve Demme (Math U See)
Andrew Pudewa (IEW)
Homeschool Curriculum
Complete (Mostly) Curriculum (PreK/K-12th)
A multi-subject curriculum that integrates history, geography, and literature, focusing on a hands-on approach to learning. MFW is wonderful Hands down my FAVORITE! We have done 10 different years of the MFW program. They provide fantastic booklists in the back of their teacher manuals, making it easy to find great literature and resources.
A publisher that offers a wide range of engaging, faith-based educational materials for various subjects, particularly strong in science and history. We have used many of their books for the kids through middle and high school. My kids have all enjoyed these books, and I plan to incorporate some with Charlotte as well, as they are engaging and educational.
This curriculum provides resources and tools aligned with Charlotte Mason's philosophy, emphasizing literature, nature study, and the development of good habits. They have great booklists available on their website, along with a comprehensive scope and sequence that aligns with Charlotte Mason's educational philosophy.
Known for its strong literature focus, Sonlight provides excellent booklists that can be easily accessed on their website, allowing for rich, immersive learning experiences.
A curriculum focused on literature and hands-on learning, KONOS promotes an experiential approach to education, making learning engaging and memorable.
A literature-based curriculum that uses classic children's books to guide learning in a unit study style, fostering a love for reading while integrating multiple subjects. They have the volumes for children in preschool all the way up thru middle school. I have used the Before Five in a Row and Five in a Row books, and they are WONDERFUL!
A well-known curriculum provider that offers a full, structured educational program with a focus on traditional methods and comprehensive lesson plans.
This was the curriculum I started with. It offers a very good and thorough education but is quite textbook-oriented, leaning more towards "homeschool at home" vs. "homeschooling." A lot of private schools use Abeka. While I am not a fan of the complete curriculum I do love their phonics program; it's how my older girls learned to read. Their spelling books are phenomenal and can stand alone without the other curriculum.
This curriculum focuses on history, science and geography by utilizing amazing books, focusing on literature-based learning that encourages a love of reading and thoughtful discussions.
A completely online curriculum that offers a flexible and thorough approach to homeschooling. One of my boys is in his 3rd year with this program, he likes it. It is a great option for working parents!
Ambleside Online (Free)
A free Charlotte Mason curriculum that provides resources and guidance for implementing the Charlotte Mason philosophy, emphasizing literature, nature study, and living books.
Phonics & Reading
I taught both of my older daughters to read using the Abeka phonics program, at the time it was all I knew. When it came time to teach my boys, they struggled. A friend recommended Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, Bob Books and Explode the Code books. They were a total game-changer!! The struggle turned into success.
Even today my 18-year-old son will tell you to use "100 Easy Lessons" because it made such a monumental difference.
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
A step-by-step program designed to teach reading using phonics, providing structured lessons that build confidence and skills in young readers.
A series of workbooks that focus on phonics and reading comprehension through engaging exercises, making it easier for children to develop their reading skills progressively.
A collection of simple, phonics-based readers designed for early learners, featuring short stories with repetitive text and fun illustrations to build reading confidence and fluency.
A comprehensive, multisensory program that combines music, movement, and phonics to teach children how to read and write, making the learning process enjoyable and engaging. I also used these workbooks, phonics games and songs with my boys. They really enjoyed them!
Writing
IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing)
A structured writing program designed to help students of all ages develop strong writing skills through a step-by-step approach, focusing on storytelling and effective communication.
Home2Teach Online Writing Courses
Online writing courses that offer personalized instruction and practical assignments, helping students improve their writing skills at their own pace in a supportive environment.
Math
A hands-on, mastery math curriculum that emphasizes understanding concepts through manipulatives and visual aids, providing a solid foundation for problem-solving and critical thinking.
An interactive, computer-based math curriculum designed for independent learners, featuring engaging lessons, practice problems, and instant feedback to help students grasp mathematical concepts. With Teaching Textbooks the teaching and grading are done for you.
Library Card – Seriously! You should definitely know about the Marina Interlibrary Loan System.
Here’s how I get our library books: I visit the Marina website and do a simple search for the book I want. It tells me if my county has it, and if so, I request it from my county. If not, I can request it from another county. The library staff will pull the books for me and have them waiting on a shelf to pick up.
While it's a lot of fun to search for books at the library with a little one (and we do enjoy that), if you’re looking for several specific titles, THIS IS THE WAY!
Nature Club Favorites
Washable 36 Color Watercolor Paint Set with 2 Brushes and Palette
12 PCS Water Color Brush Pen Set
Binoculars for Kids, Kids Binoculars for 3-12 Years
Kids Toddler Rain Suit - Muddy Buddy Waterproof Coverall One Piece Weather Resistant Baby Jacket
Kids Toddler Rain Suit - Muddy Buddy Waterproof Coverall One Piece Weather Resistant Baby Jacket
Crayola Air Dry Clay (5lbs), Natural White Modeling Clay
Acrylic Paint Set of 24 Colors 2fl oz 60ml Bottles with 12 Brushes
600 Pcs Black Wiggle Googly Eyes with Self-Adhesive Backs
200 Pipe Cleaners for Arts and Crafts
300pcs Multicolored 1inch Pom Poms with 100 Googly Eyes for Crafts & DIY Projects
Foldable Outdoor Blanket with Shoulder Strap - Perfect for Picnics, Camping and the Beach
3Pc 16" Metal Beach & Sandbox Shovels
2 Pack 75mm 10X Magnifying Glass For Kids
2774pc Self Adhesive Gem Stickers for Crafts
Toddler Boys & Girls Raincoat Waterproof Hooded Jacket+Pants Suit
Scotch TL901X 9inch Thermal Laminator
Clear Thermal Laminating Plastic Paper Laminator Sheets - 9 x 11.5-Inch, 200-Pack, 3mil
Canon G7020 All-in-One Printer Home Office | Wireless Supertank (Megatank) Printer | Copier | Scan, | Fax and ADF with Mobile Printing. I'm including this printer on my list because it is seriously amazing! I’ve gone through countless printers over the years, and I feel like I have finally found "the one!" I’ve had this printer for over a year, and I honestly don’t think I’ve refilled the tanks yet; if I have, it was only once. I print a lot—everything from nature club materials to recipe pages. I’m always printing something!