L.E.D. Resources & Recommendations
for Home Education:
Choose a section in our Home Education catalog: L.E.D. Resources - Home Ed Resources by Me and My House Order & Resources Info General Home Ed Resources - to Lay a Good Educational Foundation Biblical Studies - Biblical & Christian Studies Biblical Worldview - General, Overview Resources Communication - Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening Governments - Self/Character, Family, Church, and Civil Stewardship - Personal, Financial, Business, Economics HisStory - including Geography, Biography, Literature, Music, & Art Creation: Design & Order - Science & Math Dominion Skills - Life Skills for Home and Vocation
Our Resource & Order Info page tells what type of resources are on each of these pages & gives ordering information.

Me & My House Resources
& Recommendations:
Choose a section in our Christian Family Living catalog: Resource & Contact Main Page 2 Shall Be 1 - marriage Eve's Treasures - womanhood Keepers at Home - homemaking Mykayah's Things - babies Beyond Babies ~ Parenting and Family Fun Beyond Babies ~ Family Fun Clear Vision - Christian Growth Lifestyle Education through Discipleship - home ed Good for You - Naturally! - Biblical Nutrition
We're much more than just home ed!
Recommendations for the Christian family.

L.E.D.™ Resources & Recommendations

Wisdom's 7 Pillars: Communication

Our Communication Pillar covers Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing, including Foreign Languages. This page includes L.E.D. Resources and Recommendations for all areas of Communication.

See also our HisStory: Fiction and Literature page and many of our other Resource & Recommendations pages for great reading material.

Thank you for your order through our links. It helps support the many aspects of "free" ministry from Me and My House.

The HeartHome tells you a product is exclusively from Me and My House.

History

What better place to begin your study of the English Language than with the History of it? Every subject has a history, and that's why HisStory is the backbone of our studies. I highly recommend the book below for youth - and YOU, the parents. It's an enjoyable overview of how we got the language we speak. Woven in the story is a brief history of the English Bible, and how it influenced our language. Read my full review of King Alfred's English on my L.E.D. blog.

Other Foundational resources are listed under the area of Language below. This History covers the language we speak, hear, read and write, thus its own category.

King Alfred's English: A History of the Language We Speak and Why We Should Be Glad We Do  By Laurie J. White / The Shorter Word Press One needs only to glance at Chaucer, or even further back at Beowulf, to see that English has not always what we call English. Divided into the major epochs of the language--Pre-English Britain, Old English (which was formed from an invasion of Latin & Old Norse), The Transition from Middle to Modern English, and finally Modern English--this casual re-telling of history will engross you. Mingling history, religion, famous people, and linguistics, the story of English is integrated into the story of Western History. 150 pages, softcover. Supplemental material is available online (website in book) for chapter worksheets, unit tests, links, and suggested movies.

Listening

"Come my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord." Psalm 34:11 Long before your child reads or writes, he should learn to listen well. He will listen to your instruction, listen to your encouragement, listen to your heart. He will learn much just by listening.

One of the first character qualities young children should be taught is Attentiveness. Before a child can even learn to obey, he has to pay attention to your instructions. It won't be a formal lesson, it will be a day by day, line upon line.

One of the greatest listening times you will have is during family read-aloud time. This is an age-old tradition, previously called the Children's Hour. On this page you will find books about choosing books to read-aloud (as well as individually.) On other Resources & Recommendations pages you will find suggestions for great books to read.

Reading

We believe in teaching Reading by explicit phonics instruction, but that doesn't mean it has to be rigorous, lengthy times of seat work. Excellence and natural gentle methods combine for Freedom & Simplicity™.

Freedom & Simplicity™ in Reading

A Lifestyle Education through Discipleship Learning Guide from Me & My House

Learn to teach Phonics and Reading the Freedom & Simplicity™ way - future publication.

Encyclopedia of Bible Truths: Language Arts/English
By Ruth C. Haycock / Assoc. Of Christian Schools

This series integrates the Bible into virtually every curriculum area and is an outstanding resource for lesson preparation, research, and project completion. The series is formatted by content area; each section lists biblical concepts and background for that subject. Scripture references and scriptures that pertain to those concepts are then provided.

Also available as a 4 Volume Set.

A Home Start in Reading
By Ruth Beechick / Mott Media, Llc
Not intensive phonics, but it guides us into a gentle approach to teaching beginning reading.

This booklet tells how and when to begin phonics, and what to do after phonics in the fluency stage. 32 pages. Grades K-3.

Beechick's 3 R's series in one volume.

Spell to Write and Read
By Wanda Sanseri / Back Home Industries
A much easier to use program but similar in content to WRR.

A unified language arts program you can use for four to six years! The companion to The W.I.S.E. Guide for Spelling, this comprehensive teacher's manual helps frame the big picture for the "thinking to spell" process. Covering K to 12th-grade spelling words, penmanship, reading, diction, composition, dictionary skills, and grammar, it charts the course for improving comprehension and building vocabulary. 238 pages, spiralbound softcover from Back Home Industries.

Other books needed for the program and others by Mrs. Sanseri here.

The Writing Road to Reading, Fifth Edition
By Romalda Bishop Spalding, edited by Mary E. North, Ph.D. / Harpercollins Publishing

One of the best programs for teaching intensive phonics through spelling, though not necessarily easy to use.

Utilizing all of their senses, children learn to spell, write, and read by mastering the symbols that represent speech sounds and recognizing how they combine to make words. As students hear, say, and then write high-frequency words in their notebook, reading begins naturally. Also boosts understanding and test performances for older students having difficulties. 480 pages, softcover from HarperResource.

Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828 Edition
By Noah Webster / F.a.c.e.

Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language was produced during the years when the American home, church and school were established upon a Biblical and patriotic basis. Webster made important contributions to an American educational system which kept the nation on a Christian Constitutional course for many years.

Also available on CD-ROM.

Writing

Starting at the beginning! Handwriting!

I'm finding that basic writing handbooks are getting really hard to find. All the ones we have and love are no longer in print. It seems many are going to just basic instruction in each grade level workbook, rather than having a reference book for all ages to use. The few that are available are for high school and beyond, which isn't a bad thing, but doesn't teach our young children to use this invaluable resource.

Winston Grammar is a good alternative to traditional diagramming, that our children have enjoyed.

Freedom & Simplicity™ in Handwriting - eBook

A Biblical way to teach Handwriting? Really? Really! God and His Word are the Source of All we learn - even Handwriting.

Learning and Teaching Handwriting Biblically doesn't mean you just use Scriptures for your Copywork. This L.E.D. Freedom & Simplicity™ Guide will help you find the Biblical foundation, principles and rudiments of Handwriting and even lead you through the application with instruction in both Manuscript and Cursive. Find Freedom & Simplicity™ in why we teach it, what we teach, and how we teach it!

Principled Handwriting instruction - From the introduction:"Who would have ever thought that there is a principled way to teach Handwriting? Not I. Oh, I know that everything comes from God, and should be taught based upon this, but I never thought I would delve into what principled teaching of Handwriting looks like. Perhaps you haven’t either. Then this study is for you. This guide does not cover the broader details relating to writing and English in general, only as applied to Handwriting." - Teaches the foundations of Handwriting, and instruction in Manuscript and Cursive.

BONUS! Handwriting Journal Pages included with purchase. Over 50 Journaling forms to go along with Freedom & Simplicity™ in Handwriting. Get more info. -$17.50 Special $15

After your order payment is received you will receive a confirmation email immediately. Another email will follow within 24 hours providing the information you need to download your resources.

Learning Grammar through Writing 
Bell & Wheeler/ EPS

Our favorite beginners writing handbook is out of print. A "simplified" resource. Check availability.

The Write Source - Student Handbook (for grades 4-10)
Sebranek/ Great Source Education Group

Great for your upper elementary and junior high students. A "fun" to use English Handbook. Out of print.

In updating they have made many more levels and types of books. I believe Write Source 2000, handbook for 6-8th grade, is the one that would be comparable.

The Writer's Toolbox: A Writing & Grammar Handbook for Christian Schools
By Grace Collins Hargis / Bob Jones University Press

My favorite high school and parent reference is the English Handbook for Christian Students from Bob Jones University Press. I love having a reference for writing with a Christian perspective. It is no longer available. I don't have this new one, but it's by the same author, and some of it just rearranged, some updated.

The Writer's Toolbox covers all eight parts of speech and the seven sentence patterns in detail. It explains grammar, usage and mechanics rules and provides an overview of the writing process and strategies for effective writing. The text discusses research skills such as using the dictionary, using the library and documenting sources in a research paper. Included are up-to-date examples of MLA documentation style and a sample research paper.

Other Communications resources we've used and enjoyed:

• Scaredy Cat Reading Rules & Fun by Joyce Herzog
• You Can Teach Your Child Successfully by Ruth Beechick
• Language Arts the Easy Way by Cindy Rushton
• Communications resources by Jeff Myer
• Poetry – Verses of Virtue and Poems for Patriarchs by Doug & Beall Phillips
• Understanding Writing by Susan Bradrick
• Institute for Excellence in Writing - we've not used this curriculum, but I've enjoyed learning from workshops, audios, and videos by the author, Andrew Pudewa.

Foreign Languages

Although no one is proficient in a foreign language in our home, we work at it. Sign Language has been our first "foreign language". In addition we work on French, a bit of Greek and Hebrew in our Bible Studies, and Greek and Latin roots in our Vocabulary Studies. Here are some of the resources we have enjoyed.

We have used The Learnables for French for our children.

Our younger children also enjoy the Teach Me... series.

Our daughter is working through The Easy French. I met the author through a egroup for parents teaching by biblical principles. I like that this program is phonetic, Christian - includes Scripture, as well as French culture. Marie has also written The Easy Spanish.

Sign Language resources to be listed later.

For Hebrew and Greek, we mainly use our Strong's Bible Concordance along with our Bible studies. We haven't done much formal study of these or Latin. <gasp!>

But we do study foreign roots of English words. English from the Roots Up is a great introduction to our Vocabulary studies. We also have the Rummy Roots games that are good to go along with it.

Teach Me Tapes-French CD
By Teach Me Tapes

Teach Me French: A Musical Journey Through the Day! Enjoy a musical journey through the day with Marie and her family--sing songs, learn common expressions, colors, numbers, the alphabet and more. Songs are in French and English; for children ages 2-12.

Others in the French series here. Other languages also available.

English from the Roots Up
By Joegil K. Lundquist / Literacy Unlimited

Yes, you can teach your kids Greek and Latin root words without having a background in classical languages. With this book (and other affordable aids), you'll introduce students to 100 key root words, helping them to improve their reading, writing, spelling, and testing skills. Includes a new Latin pronunciation guide, word definitions, and teaching notes. For elementary through high school grades. 121 pages, spiralbound softcover from Literacy Unlimited.

English from the Roots Up - Greek & Latin Flash Cards

English from the Roots Up - Book & Flash Cards

English From The Roots Up Volume II continues the program begun in Volume I. It gives you 100 new Greek and Latin root words which you can teach to students from elementary school through high school. Pronunciation guidance for Latin and Greek root words on every page.106 pages, softcover, spiral-bound.

Volume 2 - Book & Flashcards

Books 1 & 2

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