Must Read Books for Homeschool Moms
Looking for an encouraging list of must read books for homeschool moms? Look no further! These are the books I have read and enjoyed over the past 15 years of homeschooling.
You can learn a lot about a person just by looking at their bookshelves.
You can see what matters to them by the things they choose to read — or what might be conspicuously absent from their reading selections.
If you looked at the books on my bookshelves, you would see that:
- I’m a Christian (several editions of the Bible and Christian living titles, along with Christian fiction).
- I believe in attachment parenting (Dr. Sears books, among others).
- I enjoy classic literature (Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and more).
- I’m a homeschool mom (read on for my list below).
Those are just a few things you could learn about me just by looking at my bookshelves, without ever meeting me. Isn’t it amazing how much our reading choices can shape us and vice versa?
On that note, I’ve made a list of some of my favorite books for homeschool moms that have really enriched my journey. Grab a cup of your favorite beverage and curl up with a good book!
The Best Books for Homeschool Moms
{in no particular order}
NIV Homeschool Mom’s Bible {read my full review here}
This is perfect for my daily Bible reading, combined with devotionals written just for homeschool moms by Janet Tatman.
Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child’s Heart to the Beauty of Learning by Sally Clarkson
Another favorite by Sally Clarkson, this book delves into the idea of lifelong learning and instilling that in our children. To take the time to appreciate their wonder and encourage it. That’s exactly what I believe in doing, too!
Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschooling, Learning, and Life by Julie Bogart
This book offers insight into a very relaxed, delight-directed type approach. Again, it encourages a lifelong love of learning, which I believe in very much. It gives examples of learning from real life, not just formal curriculum.
Homeschool Bravely: How to Squash Doubt, Trust God, and Teach Your Child with Confidence by Jamie Erickson
We all have moments of doubt from time to time on this homeschool journey. 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.
Flourish: Balance for Homeschool Moms by Mary Jo Tate
This book has something for every homeschooling mom, from single moms to working moms to moms of littles and everyone in between. Addresses the real challenges with encouragement for your heart.
Plan to Be Flexible: Designing A Homeschool Rhythm and Curriculum Plan That Works for Your Family by Alicia Michelle
This book encourages finding a workable rhythm to your homeschool days and the flexibility to lighten up on the plans and allow children time to follow natural “rabbit trails” of delight-directed learning while still maintaining some structure.
Teaching in Your Tiara: A Homeschooling Book for the Rest of Us by Rebecca Frech
I love the humor in this book that tells us it’s okay to not only teach to our children’s bent, but to teach to our own. Stop comparing yourself to other homeschool moms and just enjoy the experience!
How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. for Your Kids by Rachael Carman
Sometimes in the daily grind of getting things crossed off our to-do lists, planning lessons, meeting deadlines, doing errands, and just the busyness of life in general, we lose sight of why we do these things in the first place. Sometimes we need to take a moment to remember what led us to homeschool to begin with and why we press on even during the challenges.
Seasons of a Mother’s Heart by Sally Clarkson
I have read all of Sally Clarkson’s books and I love them all! She writes beautifully to the deepest hopes and plans in a mother’s heart and calls us forward to accept the trials and triumphs of parenting our children for the Lord. I always finish her books with a renewed mind and refreshed spirit.
Educating the WholeHearted Child by Clay & Sally Clarkson
One of the very first homeschool books I ever read. It has become my homeschool gold standard. Distills everything I believe and want to achieve with homeschooling my children into one book that I return to again and again.
Beyond Survival: A Guide to Abundant-Life Homeschooling by Diana Waring
Another one I read early in my homeschooling journey and can read again every other year. Emphasizes homeschooling as a lifestyle of learning, which it very much is!
Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable Peace by Sarah Mackenzie
This beautifully written book uses scripture to guide us to true peace in our homeschooling journey. It’s a reminder to pray, not worry, over our children’s education. There are real gems of wisdom here for trading our chaos for God’s peace. I felt like Sarah Mackenzie was reading my mind and expressed all that I believe about homeschooling and motherhood.
Homeschooling: What to Do When You Want to Quit by iHomeschool Network
Over 250 pages of encouragement and practical tips to get you through the tough times on your homeschool journey. Whether you’re trying to homeschool with little ones, with chronic illness, while moving, or just feeling burnt-out in general, this book has something to help. Written by 30 veteran homeschool mom bloggers from the iHomeschool Network. {I wrote two of the chapters in this book, but I would recommend it regardless.}
The Big Book of Homeschool Ideas, Volume 2 by iHomeschool Network
In this book, the iHomeschool Network goes beyond the basics of academics and delve into delightful, yet practical topics like dual enrollment and college prep, transcripts, personality and learning styles, ADHD, book clubs, flashcards, STEM, small spaces, and much more! The 38 experienced homeschool moms who contributed to this book don’t hold back from sharing their best advice about managing your homeschool, your home, your life, and your sanity. {Yes, I wrote a chapter in this one, too. It’s definitely worth a read, no matter what your stage of homeschooling.}
Better Together: Strengthen Your Family, Simplify Your Homeschool, and Savor the Subjects that Matter Most by Pam Barnhill
She writes one of my favorite homeschool blogs and hosts one of my favorite homeschool podcasts. Homeschool mom Pam Barnhill taught me a lot about morning time and has confirmed to me over and over again that homeschooling can be done well without beating ourselves up or sacrificing relationships. Good stuff!
This is my current short list of books for homeschooling moms. I originally wrote this in 2015, but have updated it with some changes and additions for 2022.
One of the things these books all have in common is the emphasis on relationships. It’s so important to connect with your children, not just give them academics. This is the heart of our homeschool. It’s also important to keep growing and learning as a person yourself!
I hope you find something that speaks to your homeschool mom heart!
What’s on your list of must-read books for homeschool moms?
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Brene Brown Gifts of imperfection It changed the way I look at life. I think I need to reread it!!
Thanks, I haven’t read that one. I’ll look for it!
Love your ideas!
Thanks! Hope you enjoy reading some of these as much as I have. 🙂
The Read Aloud Handbook. Great book with statistics on the importance of reading aloud and a list of books to read for different ages.
That sounds like a good one! I’ll add it to my reading list. Thank you!
Thanks so much for joining us at #LMMLinkup. I’ve had Teaching From Rest on my list. Can’t wait to read!
Great list!!
This is sort of an old one, but I first read Things We Wish We’d Known (compiled & edited by Bill & Diana Waring) some years ago, and it was incredibly helpful for me. At some point, I must have let somebody borrow it because I couldn’t find it on my shelves anymore, so when I spotted it at the Used Curriculum Sale for our state’s homeschool convention a couple weeks ago, I JUMPED at the chance to have it again. I’ve read some of it during the past few days and really, really appreciate the way that it emphasizes the HEART of what homeschooling is all about. 🙂
I haven’t read that one, Davene! Now I’ll have to look for it. I like Diana Waring’s other books and history resources. Thanks for sharing!
This list is missing the best one: When You Rise Up – A Covenantal Approach to Homeschooling, by R.C. Sproul, Jr.
It’s one of my favorites as well. I’ll add it to the list.
I highly recommend the book: Education: Does God Have an Opinion? By Israel Wayne.