When we decided we were going to begin our journey into homeschooling, I quickly began to gather resources to read. I do not have a homeschool background. As a matter of fact, the majority of our parents, siblings, and aunts are school teachers. So preparing to homeschool started with reading good books for me and asking lots of questions!
I’m the type of person who likes to know all the different methods for something, and homeschooling is no different. Below are the books I have read that have helped shaped my outlook on how we plan to homeschool our children.
I’m still learning and will continue to read more on the subject, but the following are some of my favorite resources to date. If you’re interested in some of the different homeschool methods, or just wonder why I do things the way I do them, then perusing the booklist below will help.

Preparing to Homeschool: 10 Books to Read
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1. When You Rise Up: A Covenantal Approach to Homeschooling by R.C. Sproul
2. The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home (Third Edition) by Susan Wise Bauer, Jessie Wise
3. Honey for a Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt
4. Teaching from Rest by Sarah Mackenzie
5. A Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning by Karen Andreola
6. A Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levison
7. Charlotte Mason Original Homeschooling Series {All 6 Volumes}
8. Pocketful of Pinecones by Karen Andreola
9. How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way by Tim Seldin
10. Teaching Montessori in the Home: Pre-School Years by Elizabeth Hainstock

Bonus Books
For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay
Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson
Your turn! I want to know what books you’ve read that have helped shape your homeschooling methods! What books should I add to my list?

Homeschool Planning Doesn’t Have to Be Overwhelming
This last year of homeschooling was the best yet for my family, and it was the best yet for me as the primary education director of our home.
I actually had clear goals for my homeschool!
Head on over here to read more about the Your Intentional Family Homeschool Planning Guide and see how you can make plans and set goals based on God’s priorities for your children – right now in this season, right where you are.
These are great recommendations. Brings back memories when I first started Homeschooling. I still to this day go back to The Well Trained Mind for advice. Thanks for sharing!
I love Well Trained Mind. It has been so helpful! Great resource to keep on hand.
Have you read much from Sally Clarkson? Her book Seasons of a Mother’s Heart is not so much a method book, but is “encouragement for homeschool moms”.
Also, Laying Down the Rails is another Charlotte Mason method book that I have used as we are starting out.
I’ve never heard of Laying Down the Rails. I will look that up for sure! I have read a lot of Sally Clarkson’s stuff, but never Seasons of a Mother’s Heart. Will look that up too. Thanks!