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Homeschool Resources
Description: Everything that you need to prepare for home schooling. #homeschool #homeschooling #homeschoolresources
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Time For Home School
by Daisy UptonAn exclusive first look at Five Minute Mum: Time for School with the Maths chapter. It may not clear all those home school headaches, but it will make life easier- and a bit more fun too! The Maths chapter from Five Minute Mum: Time for School, is packed full of fun activities to immediately help support your child's maths learning including learning your number bonds, timetables and everything in between. Time for Home School: Maths is THE book you need if you're home-schooling, from former teaching assistant, bestselling author and social media superstar Daisy Upton AKA Five Minute Mum. This short chapter is all based around the maths your child will be taught in their first few years at school - Early Years, Reception and Key Stage 1 - will bring some much-needed laughter to your at-home learning and, if nothing else, give you five minutes where you feel like you are getting it right.Remember: 'IF YOU ARE TRYING, YOU ARE BRILLIANT' Daisy Upton brings her unique five-minute, learning-through-play method to these quick and easy, fun games and activities that are all maths based, using stuff you probably already have at home. Maths is taken from Five Minute Mum: Time for School- the ultimate handbook to support your child through Early Years, Reception and KS1 - available from 15 April 2021. Praise for Five Minute Mum: Give Me Five: 'I love Five Minute Mum. She's managed to come up with a huge array of activities for kids that are fun and educational yet don't require an Art degree or Diploma in Patience to execute. Her blog makes these kinds of games accessible to everyone and for that, I am grateful! - Sarah Turner, Unmumsy Mum 'So many fab ideas in here! Love it' - Rosie Ramsey
How to homeschool the kids you have: Advice from the kitchen table
by Andrew Campbell and Courtney Ostaff and Jenn NaughtonIn How to Homeschool the Kids You Have, three veteran home educators lead you through the process of creating a custom educational plan that works for your family's unique situation and your children's needs. You'll identify your own educational priorities and learn how to translate them into a strong academic program. You'll also learn about what science tells us about how humans- especially young humans-learn, and why that information is crucial for the success of your homeschooling plans. Along the way, the authors share their own experiences and those of other homeschoolers to help you avoid pitfalls so you can provide your children with the excellent education that is their birthright.
The Homeschooling Starter Guide
by Gina M. RileyGet started with homeschooling for grade levels K-12Homeschooling can help kids of all ages immerse themselves in learning that builds on their unique strengths, interests, and preferences. It gives them the chance to thrive with one-on-one attention and customized lesson plans that fit their learning style—and their family's needs. This starter guide to homeschooling is the ultimate resource for turning any home into an ideal school environment and helping any child succeed.Learn how to homeschool:Schooling styles—Compare the most popular education philosophies and homeschool models, and choose the best combination for every homeschool situation.Stay on track—Find checklists, calendars, tables, and step-by-step instructions to help set and track homeschooling goals.Standards and requirements—Get a general breakdown of U.S. homeschooling requirements, along with easy and affordable ways to develop custom curriculum.Inclusive action plans—Learn to create a homeschooling structure that accommodates each child's culture, language, religion, special needs, and more.Build a complete action plan for effective home learning with The Homeschooling Starter Guide.
Think Differently About Learning
by Maren Goerss and Angela SizerHosts of the Homeschool Unrefined Podcast show you how let go of traditional measures of success, and instead measure learning by curiosity, joy, self-regulation, and critical thinking.Children deserve more than the systems we're currently using to educate them. Hardworking teachers, diligent administrators, and devoted parents are trying their best in an outdated system that isn't meeting our children's complex needs. Instead, imagine a different way to learn.With helpful, practical tips and anecdotes from homeschooling families, this guide covers all you need to know about learning differences, mental health, devices and technology, socialization, and more. It's for traditional school families who are learning to balance outer expectations with their own needs with a different way of learning. It's for homeschool families who are looking for a more inclusive, supportive, and authentic approach. Angela and Maren pair their years of teaching in a variety of different schools with their years of homeschooling their combined seven children. As they know first-hand, any parent, child, or family can thrive as they unlearn old ways, lean into their own strengths, and celebrate unconventional wins.
Raising Critical Thinkers
by Julie BogartA guide for parents to help children of all ages process the onslaught of unfiltered information in the digital age.Education is not solely about acquiring information and skills across subject areas, but also about understanding how and why we believe what we do. At a time when online media has created a virtual firehose of information and opinions, parents and teachers worry how students will interpret what they read and see. Amid the noise, it has become increasingly important to examine different perspectives with both curiosity and discernment. But how do parents teach these skills to their children? Drawing on more than twenty years&’ experience homeschooling and developing curricula, Julie Bogart offers practical tools to help children at every stage of development to grow in their ability to explore the world around them, examine how their loyalties and biases affect their beliefs, and generate fresh insight rather than simply recycling what they&’ve been taught. Full of accessible stories and activities for children of all ages, Raising Critical Thinkers helps parents to nurture passionate learners with thoughtful minds and empathetic hearts.
More Fun Games and Activities for Children with Dyslexia
by Alais WintonDyslexic teacher Alais Winton is back with all-new games and activities to make learning simple and fun.This inventive and practical workbook is packed with tried-and-tested games and activities to help children aged 7-13 who have dyslexia. It is ideally suited to home-schooling, independent learning, or classroom or small group setting, and includes activities such as The Multiply Matrix Game, Drop the Ball and Number Tag.The book is packed with cartoons, and there's a quiz at the start to help you discover whether you learn best from pictures, movement, socially or through music. You can use this book to find the strategies and activities you enjoy the most, and that support you to learn most effectively. If you have ideas about how you would like to add to the games or invent your own, go for it!With even more engaging activities and updated advice for parents and carers, this is another essential tool for making learning simple and enjoyable.
Teaching Your Kids New Math, 6-8 For Dummies
by Kris JamsaIt’s not too late to learn new math tricks—and help kids learn them, too! Teaching Your Kids New Math, Grades 6-8, For Dummies teaches you the new standard way of teaching kids math. It’s all about thinking through how to solve problems and using strategies, rather than just memorizing the procedures. In this book, parents, guardians, and tutors will learn how to use these methods and standards to effectively teach kids Common Core math for grades 6-8. Teaching Your Kids New Math, Grades 6-8, For Dummies shows you how schools are teaching kids math these days, and gives you tools to support kids through the homework and test prep process. You’ll love this book’s clear explanations and examples organized by grade level. With Teaching Your Kids New Math, Grades 6-8, For Dummies?? you’ll also get access to online tools, including dozens of math worksheets for additional support. Learn how to teach 6th through 8th grade math according to the Common Core Discover the new methods and formulas that are standard for math instruction Get best teaching practices, example problems, and tips about common math pitfalls Help your kids with math homework and enhance the homeschool journeyThis is the perfect Dummies guide for anyone who needs guidance on how to teach kids math using new methods and concepts—they’re different from what we learned in school! Future math teachers will also love this user-friendly guide to middle-grade math.
Becoming Homeschoolers
by Monica SwansonMonica Swanson helps you navigate your real-world concerns about school, culture, and what it takes to create an amazing homeschool experience that you and your kids will never regret!If you've ever wondered whether you have what it takes to homeschool your children, look no further. Parenting author, podcaster, and homeschool mom Monica Swanson is here to tell you: you can do it. In fact, it can be the most fun, family-unifying, character-building, life-equipping experience you and your children will ever have.Becoming Homeschoolers tackles your legitimate doubts and fears about homeschooling, as well as the questions you want answered before you commit--questions like where to start and how to choose a curriculum, build social skills, teach what you're not good at, and prepare for college. With humor and encouragement, Monica weaves her own story of homeschooling her four boys with step-by-step, practical advice on how to:Assess whether home education is right for you and your childrenEstablish a foundation of faith in your everyday homeschool routineFind socialization opportunities such as sports and extracurricular activitiesCare for yourself and your marriage even as you spend more time each day with your kidsTackle the practical side of homeschooling, including standardized tests, transcripts, college readiness, and navigating education requirements It's time to trade fear for empowerment and insecurity for confidence as you live out your own story of becoming homeschoolers.
Demystifying Disability
by Emily LadauAn approachable guide to being a thoughtful, informed ally to disabled people, with actionable steps for what to say and do (and what not to do) and how you can help make the world a more inclusive place ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: NPR, Booklist • &“A candid, accessible cheat sheet for anyone who wants to thoughtfully join the conversation . . . Emily makes the intimidating approachable and the complicated clear.&”—Rebekah Taussig, author of Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary, Resilient, Disabled Body People with disabilities are the world&’s largest minority, an estimated 15 percent of the global population. But many of us—disabled and nondisabled alike—don&’t know how to act, what to say, or how to be an ally to the disability community. What are the appropriate ways to think, talk, and ask about disability? Demystifying Disability is a friendly handbook on the important disability issues you need to know about, including:• Recognizing and avoiding ableism (discrimination toward disabled people)• Practicing good disability etiquette• Ensuring accessibility becomes your standard practice, from everyday communication to planning special events• Appreciating disability history and identity• Identifying and speaking up about disability stereotypes in media Authored by celebrated disability rights advocate, speaker, and writer Emily Ladau, this practical, intersectional guide offers all readers a welcoming place to understand disability as part of the human experience.Praise for Demystifying Disability&“Whether you have a disability, or you are non-disabled, Demystifying Disability is a MUST READ. Emily Ladau is a wise spirit who thinks deeply and writes exquisitely.&”—Judy Heumann, international disability rights advocate and author of Being Heumann &“Emily Ladau has done her homework, and Demystifying Disability is her candid, accessible cheat sheet for anyone who wants to thoughtfully join the conversation. A teacher who makes you forget you&’re learning, Emily makes the intimidating approachable and the complicated clear. This book is a generous and needed gift.&”—Rebekah Taussig, author of Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
by Jane Straus and Lester KaufmanThe best-selling workbook and grammar guide, revised and updated! Hailed as one of the best books around for teaching grammar, The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation includes easy-to-understand rules, abundant examples, dozens of reproducible exercises, and pre- and post-tests to help teach grammar to middle and high schoolers, college students, ESL students, homeschoolers, and more. This concise, entertaining workbook makes learning English grammar and usage simple and fun. This updated Twelfth Edition reflects the latest updates to English usage and grammar and features a two-color design and lay-flat binding for easy photocopying. Clear and concise, with easy-to-follow explanations, offering “just the facts” on English grammar, punctuation, and usage Fully updated to reflect the latest rules, along with quizzes and pre- and post-tests to help teach grammar Ideal for students from seventh grade through adulthood in the US and abroad For anyone who wants to understand the major rules and subtle guidelines of English grammar and usage, The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation offers comprehensive, straightforward instruction.
Science in Seconds for Kids
by Jean Potter and Samuel Cord StierHelp your kids explore the wonders of science with over 100 easy and accessible experiments Science in Seconds for Kids: Over 100 Experiments You Can Do in Ten Minutes or Less, 2nd Edition makes learning science with your children fun and practical. Using ingredients and components found mostly in your home or classroom, Science in Seconds for Kids instructs caregivers and educators on how to create dazzling and enlightening experiments from scratch. This book utilizes bright and colorful illustrations and diagrams throughout, making the simple experiments even more accessible. Guide your kids through experiments including: Making rainbows on the floor Popping balloons with light Bending water from a faucet Making lightning in a room Keeping paper dry underwater The experiments will fascinate youngsters of all ages and encourage a love of science and learning that could last a lifetime. Science in Seconds for Kids is perfect for elementary, traditional, and homeschool educators, as well as parents, grandparents, and other caregivers.
Educated
by Tara WestoverAn unforgettable memoir about a young girl who, kept out of school, leaves her survivalist family and goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University.
Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, she prepared for the end of the world by stockpiling home-canned peaches and sleeping with her “head-for-the-hills” bag. In the summer she stewed herbs for her mother, a midwife and healer, and in the winter she salvaged metal in her father’s junkyard.
Her father distrusted the medical establishment, so Tara never saw a doctor or nurse. Gashes and concussions, even burns from explosions, were all treated at home with herbalism. The family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education, and no one to intervene when an older brother became violent.
When another brother got himself into college and came back with news of the world beyond the mountain, Tara decided to try a new kind of life. She taught herself enough mathematics, grammar, and science to take the ACT and was admitted to Brigham Young University. There, she studied psychology, politics, philosophy, and history, learning for the first time about pivotal world events like the Holocaust and the Civil Rights Movement.
Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge University. Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too far, if there was still a way home. Educated is an account of the struggle for self-invention. It is a tale of fierce family loyalty, and of the grief that comes from severing one’s closest ties.
With the acute insight that distinguishes all great writers, Westover has crafted a universal coming-of-age story that gets to the heart of what an education is and what it offers: the perspective to see one’s life through new eyes, and the will to change it.
A New York Times Bestseller
The Call of the Wild and Free
by Ainsley ArmentAllow your children to experience the adventure, freedom, and wonder of childhood with this practical guide that provides all the information, inspiration, and advice you need for creating a modern, quality homeschool education.Inspired by the spirit of Henry David Thoreau—”All good things are wild and free”—mother of five Ainsley Arment founded Wild + Free. This growing online community of mothers and families want their children to receive a quality education at home by challenging their intellectual abilities and nurturing their sense of curiosity, joy and awe—the essence of a positive childhood. The homeschool approach of past generations is gone—including the stigma of socially awkward kids, conservative clothes, and a classroom setting replicated in the home. The Wild + Free movement is focused on a love of nature, reading great books, pursuing interests and hobbies, making the entire world a classroom, and prolonging the wonder of childhood, an appealing philosophy that is unpacked in the pages of this bookThe Call of the Wild and Free offers advice, information, and positive encouragement for parents considering homeschooling, those currently in the trenches looking for inspiration, as well as parents, educators, and caregivers who want supplementary resources to enhance their kids’ traditional educations.
The Four-Hour School Day
by Durenda WilsonGiving your child a quality education experience for a life of happiness and purpose is possible--and it only takes four hours a day or less! We want our kids to have the best education, but less-than-ideal school environments and concern about our kids' specific needs have parents uncertain about traditional schooling. Trusted homeschool expert with 25 years of experience homeschooling her own eight children, Durenda Wilson offers a better way and promises that you already have what it takes to give your child a healthy, successful future. In The Four-Hour School Day, she unpacks the lifelong advantages of home education, both for the health of your family and your child's future. With inspiring stories about parents just like you, she demystifies homeschooling and addresses common fears like, what if I'm not qualified, how can I homeschool as a single parent, and what if I don't have enough time? Packed with encouragement and practical advice, this resource equips you with all the information you need to create a sustainable homeschooling plan customized to your child's needs. Wilson will help you to:Work with your child's interests and passions for an enjoyable learning experienceCultivate independent learning in your child so you have more time and your child develops more curiosityNavigate the different schooling stages your child will go throughFind an engaged community so that you can start this adventure with all the support you need. Explore the rich and wonderful world of homeschooling because it's not only more doable than you think, but far more beneficial than you can imagine.
The Phonics Playbook
by Alison RyanA guide for K-3 educators who need to teach phonics at different levels in diverse classrooms—without burning out The Phonics Playbook is the one phonics-focused resource that offers a solution for phonics instruction in real-world K-3 classrooms. Understanding phonics instruction in theory is one thing, but actually integrating it into daily classroom life—in a way that meets the needs of diverse students—is another. This book offers simplified instruction and practical guidance for differentiating instruction using three models: whole group instruction with elements of differentiation, phonics-focused small group instruction, and small group reading instruction that also incorporates phonics. You will learn to assess student needs, choose the model that’s right for you, and make data-based adjustments as time goes on. In addition to guidance on differentiation, this book also weaves in best practices in phonics instruction and effective strategies for teaching phonics skills, which is especially helpful for newer teachers. The Phonics Playbook guides you from start to finish and helps you develop a positive, effective mindset around differentiation. Confront the problem of “so many needs and so little time” in a productive, sustainable way and avoid burnout with this excellent guide. Review the basics of phonics instruction and learn three different methods for differentiating instruction in K-3 classrooms Help students progress with their reading, even when you have many different reading levels in class Reduce the workload necessary to provide differentiated instruction in phonics and reading Find practical ways of implementing phonics instruction in real-world classrooms with real-world challengesNew and experienced K-3 educators, principals, and literacy coaches, as well as homeschool educators and parents, will appreciate the no-nonsense approach in The Phonics Playbook.
Wild Learning
by Rachel TiddWild Learning answers a call in the educational community for practical, easy-to-implement activities that bring core curriculum out of the classroom and into the outdoors. Outdoor learning has risen in popularity in recent years, and it has tremendous benefits. Being outside is healthier, helps children form a strong connection to the natural world, supports a variety of learning styles, increases engagement and motivation, and improves mental health. This book gives teachers practical activities that they can immediately implement, and helps educators overcome common barriers to outdoor instruction. These activities can be done in common outdoor spaces that are accessible to teachers in all school settings, and they are adaptable to their current curriculum—not an extra thing to try to fit into their day. Get ideas for fun outdoor activities that cover core subject matter already being taught Take learning outside, taking advantage of commonly accessible areas, no matter the educational setting Help students develop a healthy appreciation of the outdoors and support hands-on learning styles Support students' physical and mental health without sacrificing learning time This book is a much-needed resource for elementary and special education teachers, as well as those in alternative schools, forest schools, and homeschooling parents.
Brains On! Presents...Road Trip Earth
by Molly Bloom and Marc Sanchez and Sanden TottenThe creators of the award-winning science podcast for kids, Brains On!, take readers on a humorous, highly illustrated, fact- and fun-filled journey through Earth—from the core, to the outer atmosphere, and everywhere in between. Perfect for STEM enthusiasts!Did you ever wonder why volcanoes erupt? Or why the ocean is salty? How about why no two snowflakes are the same?Embark on an epic road trip to find the answers to these burning questions and more! The Brains On! team is traveling from deep inside the earth, through the oceans, the land, the clouds, and even into the outer atmosphere in their high-tech ride—to uncover the coolest facts, strangest mysteries, and most incredible marvels of our planet.Packed with scientific research, mind-boggling trivia, and laugh-out-loud jokes, this highly illustrated fact-filled exploration of the earth promises a brain-bending, jaw-dropping, belly-laughing good time that curious kids and budding scientists won&’t be able to resist.Turn your BRAINS ON! with more books and check out:Brains On! Presents...It's AliveBrains On! Presents...Earth Friend Forever
The Brave Learner
by Susan Wise Bauer and Julie BogartA joyful and accessible approach to homeschooling that harnesses children’s natural curiosity and makes learning a part of everyday life, whether they’re in elementary or high schoolParents who are deeply invested in their children's education can be hard on themselves and their kids. When exhausted parents are living the day-to-day grind, it can seem impossible to muster enough energy to make learning fun or interesting. How do parents nurture a love of learning amid childhood chaos, parental self-doubt, the flu, and state academic standards? In this book, Julie Bogart distills decades of experience--homeschooling her five now grown children, developing curricula, and training homeschooling families around the world--to show parents how to make education an exciting, even enchanting, experience for their kids, whether they're in elementary or high school. Enchantment is about ease, not striving. Bogart shows parents how to make room for surprise, mystery, risk, and adventure in their family's routine, so they can create an environment that naturally moves learning forward. If a child wants to pick up a new hobby or explore a subject area that the parent knows little about, it's easy to simply say "no" to end the discussion and the parental discomfort, while dousing their child's curious spark. Bogart gently invites parents to model brave learning for their kids so they, too, can approach life with curiosity, joy, and the courage to take learning risks.
1000 Words
by Jules PottleBuild up a vocabulary and interest in Earth science, wildlife and the environment!Expand your English knowledge and improve your reading comprehension and grammar skills through this natural science book. Learn about plants, animals, natural landscapes, and the oceans — and the human impact on the planet.This picture book helps children and EFL learners build up a vocabulary of 1,000 nature words. Inside, you&’ll find: • A comprehensive range of nature topics — from nature activities, our planet, different habitats and weather to the kingdoms of living things, plant and animal life cycles, and protecting our world and its resources • A mix of real-life photos that build knowledge of the world and imaginative artwork that gives context for the words, and add fun and humor • Layout and vocabulary choices for pre-readers, beginner readers and English language learners Written by award-winning science teacher Jules Pottle, this Earth science book introduces important concepts about the Earth and animals! This educational book broadens students&’ vocabulary and strengthens their early reading skills. Every picture-packed page is full of fascinating things like the parts of a plant, how animals communicate, habitats and what we can do to help protect nature. Topics include questions that encourage learners to find objects on the page or that stimulate thinking, talking and reading comprehension skills. The words include lots of useful nouns, plus some interesting adjectives and common verbs related to wildlife and the planet. 1000 Words: Nature clearly labels each picture, which encourages picture-and-word association and helps early reading.The 1000 Words series is a collection of fun and educational picture word books that help develop children&’s and EFL learners&’ language, science and literacy skills. Include 1000 Useful Words and 1000 Words: STEM to your bookcase!
Homeschool Bravely
by Jamie EricksonQuiet the voices of "not good enough" and step courageously into guilt-free homeschoolingMany homeschool parents have a long-term relationship with self-doubt. "Did I make the right decision?" "Could someone else do this better?" "Am I robbing my kids of something by not sending them to &‘regular school&’?" What if there&’s a better way?Not a 3-step technique or a shiny, new curriculum, but a change in perspective that transforms the way you plan, teach, and homeschool?Homeschool Bravely teaches you to see homeschooling as a calling, helps you overthrow the tyranny of impossible expectations, and guides you through the common bumps in the road, including how to: juggle school and parenting with toddlers at hometeach a struggling learnerplan with the end in mindaccept your own limitations without feeling guiltystay the course even in the face of criticism Reclaim your hope, renew your purpose, and transform your homeschool. Because the truth is: God will use every part of your homeschool, even your fears, faults, and failures, to weave good plans for your kids.
Home, School, and Community Relations
by Carol GestwickiThis practical book is an indispensable guide for home-school-community collaborations. It meets the needs of current and practicing teachers, as well as administrators, who are trying to create effective partnerships with families. An overview of modern families and their complex roles sensitizes teachers to the diversity and needs of families they will encounter. The book also fully discusses both the benefits of creating productive partnerships and the barriers that teachers must overcome. Abundant examples clarify the book's practical and effective communication strategies. Current developments in the field of early childhood education are emphasized, including legislative mandates in education, professional standards of the field, and strategies for working with families of students with diverse learning needs.
Homeschooling For Dummies
by Jennifer KaufeldSelect the right curriculum Create the perfect homeschooling space Design a schedule that works for you What you should know to become a homeschooling pro! Interest in homeschooling was booming even before the coronavirus pandemic inspired many parents to consider the homeschooling choice as an alternative to in-person classroom learning. Fully updated with new resources and technologies, this guide is just what you need to help you decide whether homeschooling is right for your family. Learn about the rewards and challenges presented by homeschooling, how to ensure that your children receive a well-rounded education, where to find tools that help you develop appropriate curricula, and how to connect with the homeschooling community. Inside... Creating a curriculum Meeting state and federal guidelines How to encourage socialization Using online courses Tips for keeping life in balance Creating or joining a homeschooling community Caring for special needs
How to Teach Nature Journaling
by John Muir Laws and Emilie LygrenExpanding on the philosophy and methods of The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling, John Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren have developed the first-ever comprehensive book devoted to helping educators use nature journaling as an inspiring teaching tool to engage young people with wild places. In their workshops Laws and Lygren are often asked the how-tos of teaching nature journaling: how to manage student groups in the outdoors, teach drawing skills (especially from those who profess to have none), connect journaling to educational standards, and incorporate journaling into longer lessons. This book puts together curriculum plans, advice, and in-the-field experience so that educators of all stripes can leap into journaling with their students. The approaches are designed to work in a range of ecosystems and settings, and are suitable for classroom teachers, outdoor educators, camp counselors, and homeschooling parents. Full-color illustrations and sample journal pages from notable naturalists show how to put each lesson into practice. Field-tested by over a hundred educators, this book includes dozens of activities that easily support the Common Core and the Next Generation Science Standards—and, just as important, it will show kids and mentors alike how to recognize the wonder and intrigue in their midst.
Independent Study That Works: Designing a Successful Program
by Geraldine WoodsIndependent study programs aren’t for the “best” students; they are populated by students at their best. Student disengagement from school is a trending concern, and many schools have turned their attention to independent study programs as a way to nurture student motivation and creativity. But where to begin? Geraldine Woods offers a practical, step-by-step guide based on her experience designing and directing the much-admired independent study program at the Horace Mann School. Under the supervision of teachers, students embark on a remarkable variety of projects and become teachers themselves, conducting seminars with their peers along the way to preparing their final product—which could as easily be an interactive website or musical composition as a research paper. Woods’ book details the nuts and bolts of the approach and shows how to customize it for a variety of age groups, budgets, and curricular requirements. It is a gift to all educators—including homeschooling parents—who want to give students the freedom to pursue their interests.
The Knowledge Gap
by Natalie WexlerThe untold story of the root cause of America's education crisis--and the seemingly endless cycle of multigenerational poverty.It was only after years within the education reform movement that Natalie Wexler stumbled across a hidden explanation for our country's frustrating lack of progress when it comes to providing every child with a quality education. The problem wasn't one of the usual scapegoats: lazy teachers, shoddy facilities, lack of accountability. It was something no one was talking about: the elementary school curriculum's intense focus on decontextualized reading comprehension "skills" at the expense of actual knowledge. In the tradition of Dale Russakoff's The Prize and Dana Goldstein's The Teacher Wars, Wexler brings together history, research, and compelling characters to pull back the curtain on this fundamental flaw in our education system--one that fellow reformers, journalists, and policymakers have long overlooked, and of which the general public, including many parents, remains unaware. But The Knowledge Gap isn't just a story of what schools have gotten so wrong--it also follows innovative educators who are in the process of shedding their deeply ingrained habits, and describes the rewards that have come along: students who are not only excited to learn but are also acquiring the knowledge and vocabulary that will enable them to succeed. If we truly want to fix our education system and unlock the potential of our neediest children, we have no choice but to pay attention.