Our primary goal is to provide a Lifestyle Education through Discipleship™ that is a principled approach to Scripture-centered home education for a Biblical life and world view. Many that have gone before us have provided valuable information that can be incorporated into L.E.D. On this page you'll find resources that can help you develop a Biblical philosophy of education and/or natural methodology. Some well known approaches to education that Lifestyle Education through Disicpleship™ incorporates ideas from are several of the "Biblical Worldview" or "Discipleship" approaches, the "Principle Approach", and the "Living Books/Charlotte Mason" approach.
We have by-passed many great books in this area. The foundational work done to validify home education in light of current government education (then, and 'now' is just 'then' magnified) by such pioneers as Raymond and Dorothy Moore, Samuel Blumenfeld, and Phyllis Schlafly (to name just a few) deserves our deep appreciation. We are truly grateful for all the work and research and "announcing" they did to awaken parents to the state of government education, and also to provide the helps neccesary to get them started at home. Without these pioneers, untold multitudes may not be home educating today. We could also add John Taylor Gatto to this list of those who have done so much to promote home ed. Just from those I've mentioned you could read thousands of pages of the benefits of home education. But our focus on this page will be more current resources, in particular advocating a Biblical purpose for home education. A quote from RJ Rushdoony (see his book in the next section below) sums up our beliefs on education: A curriculum is not neutral: it is either a course in humanism or training in a God-centered faith and life. The resources in this section will help you develop a God-centered reason for home educating.
So, is home education really just another alternative for Christian parents amongst the many options available? Are their Biblical answers that go beyond our cultural conditioning? Does it matter how we educate at home? These are just a few of the hard questions Christian parents face in our society. But there are Biblical answers to these questions. Dig into your Bible to find them. The resources below will also enlighten and encourage you on you journey. They are ones we not only own and cherish ourselves, but also ones we put in our grown children's libraries. We believe you would be greatly blessed by perusing all of them.
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 Freedom & Simplicity™ of Lifestyle Education through Discipleship™ - The Seminar - mp3, pdf, and powerpoint downloads - sessions from a live seminar covering the philosophy, principles, and practical application of L.E.D.™ ~ seeking Biblical Wisdom through Universal Principles with Unique Applications™. 2 different seminars available! Click here to get more info - $30.00 each or $50.00 for both
2005 Seminar
2007 Seminar
Use this button to order Both and get the discount price.
More exclusive L.E.D. resources here. |
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A Home School Vision of Victory Audio CD
By Douglas W. Phillips / The Vision Forum, Inc
If a generation is to rise up and call America back to its biblical foundations, it must surely come from the ranks of her home schoolers. But home education is not an end in itself - only a God-ordained means of accomplishing God's purpose in the home, in the heart of a young person, and in society as a whole. This message is for every exhausted parent who needs to be reminded of the beauty and greatness of the home school vision.
Home education for fulfilling God's purposes. Mr. Phillips' Vision Forum is one of our favorite home education/family ministries. You can check out other resources by Doug Phillips and Vision Forum at these links. Resources by Doug Phillips - Resources by Douglas Phillips - Resources published by Vision Forum
Prefer to Order through our Vision Forum affiliation instead of CBD? Click here: A Homeschool Vision of Victory CD |
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Home Schooling: The Right Choice by Christopher Klicka of the Home School Legal Defense Association points out the failure of public education in 3 critical areas - academic, moral, and philosophical, as well as the "rising hope of home schooling." |
Warning! Public Schools Aren't for Christians by Richard "Little Bear" Wheeler - purchase pdf download from Little Bear's site here, or read online for free here.
Although these are our top picks, that pertain to L.E.D., see a few more recommendations on our next page.
Resources & Recommendations on Philosophy & Methodology ~
How to Home Educate
The Lifestyle Education through Discipleship philosophy and methodology is most thoroughly presented in our Freedom & Simplicity of Lifestyle Education through Discipleship seminar. Of course, our publications, these webpages, and our blogs and elist also present it. We have also gleaned the best of several other approaches for creating Biblically principled education based on Freedom & Simplicity. In other words, home education neither has to bring bondage nor be "hard". The Principle Approach of reasoning from Scripture in all our studies, for a sound Biblical view of life, is probably the closest in philosophy and methodology to L.E.D. The Living Books and Excellent Environment teaching methods of Charlotte Mason and Ruth Beechick have also influenced us. Unit Studies have in their own ways made contributions, and maybe evena bit from Classical Methods, though probably not in ways that are as noticible. And I can't fail to mention Jonathan Lindvall's "Homeschooling vs. Discipleship" and other conference sessions and audios. Before many other "Discipleship" resources were out there, he led the way for us. The resources listed in this section closely align with (at least primary aspects of) our philosophy, or we use them to help us plan our studies.
Whereas many books will be read a time or two, and then perhaps picked up again a few years down the road, the books in this section are ones you will return to again and again, day after day, year after year. I consider them indispensible in putting together your Christian philosophy and methodology of home education (so you don't just learn everything you know from me :-). They are extremely helpful for learning how to base all of life and learning upon the Bible and It's Principles.
R Road to Biblical Wisdom
In addition to our Freedom & Simplicity™ of Lifestyle Education through Disicpleship™ ~ The Seminar, and other L.E.D. resources, that briefly cover our methodology, R Road to Biblical Wisdom, our new resource devoted to teaching our Freedom & Simpicity™ methods, will soon be available. Keep an eye on our L.E.D. blog and L.E.D. Exclusive Resources pages and/or subscribe to our Me and My House musings email newsletter to know when. Other L.E.D. Exclusive Resources to come, bringing more instruction for developing a biblical philosophy of education.
Other Recommended Resources:
Homeschooling from a Biblical Worldview by Israel Wayne is a good introduction to a Biblical worldview in education, throughout all the subjects. Mr. Wayne shows the "other views" also.
7 Pillars of Wisdom tape series by Paul Jehle presents a good understanding of 7 foundational Biblical principles. Gaining a good understanding of these will help equip you to apply your faith to every area of life, and to disciple your children in a Biblical worldview. Listen to them over and over, and take and review notes, until these Principles are thoroughly ingrained in your heart and thinking. These are not available through Me and My House or online. You can find contact info for Mr. Jehle at this website (scroll about halfway down). We are also eagerly awaiting the publication of Volume 2 of his book, Go Ye Therefore and Teach All Nations, which will cover teaching each subject through these 7 Prinicples. This comprehensive two volume book will take "one from formulating a truly Biblical basis for education, to a Biblical methodology, Biblical teaching and learning, curriculum development, Biblical administration and more!"
Encyclopedia of Bible Truths by Ruth Haycock is a Topical Bible for school subjects. This series will help you see the concepts and Scriptures that apply to to every area of knowledge. Use it as a reference when planning Topical Studies and specific lessons. It is also of great help to older students when doing research for writing assignments.
The Philosophy of the Christian Curriculum by RJ Rushdoony is the classic on Biblical Worldview in education. This covers not only the Biblical worldview of areas of knowledge typically taught in "school", but shows the un-Biblical worldview in all aspects of the system of government education.
A Guide to American Christian Education (GACE) is listed on many of our pages. That's because it is foundational for so many areas. It's listed in this section because the first three sections of the book provide the grounding needed to form a philosophy of teaching and learning by Biblical principles. This book brings the generalities of the others down to practical and specific application. We highly recommend that you not only read those first three sections, but that you thoroughly study them. Mr. Rose provides a study guide on page 118. You may instead choose to utilize the Self Directed Seminar by the Foundation for American Christian Education, a study designed for formulating a Biblical philosophy and methodology of education, utilizing the methodology along the way. Of these two, GACE is our favorite. It makes the Principle Approach much easier to understand and apply for many. And it also contains so much more, especially in application in the curriculum. It perhaps is the most used teaching resource year after year in our home. The 7 foundational principles in both these resources are the same as the ones in the 7 Pillars of Wisdom listed above. These PA resources list them as related to American Christian Education; Jehle lists them by their Biblical terms.
The resources in this section weigh in heavily on the Biblical worldview/principles aspect of L.E.D. That is only natural, since we believe Biblical aspect is the most important component of home education. However, some of the Biblical worldview/principles resources can appear somewhat "heavy" and burdensome. We don't think this is necessary. We have, in a sense, wedded the natural, lifestyle methods from Ruth Beechick/Charlotte Mason with the Biblical reasoning and Notebooking methods from the Principle Approach®. Ruth Beechick's books, as well as the "Why?" books in the above section, focusing on the Discipleship/Lifestyle aspect of our teaching, can help put things in perspective.
Ruth Beechick's books give great info for teaching all subjects through more "natural", lifestyle methods. The Three R's covers Reading, Language, and Arithmetic for children up through 3rd grade and teamed up with some of our L.E.D. Resources, (and equipped with the understanding of the above books yourself,) may be just about all you need for the first several years. You Can Teach Your Child Successfully continues on for 4th through 8th grades in all subjects.
If I were just beginning our home library and money was fairly tight, the resources in this and the above section are the ones I would begin with. You can purchase all of them for around $200 (by using our links for the discounted prices). They are all invaluable for giving you the foundation needed to provide a home education for strong Biblical thinking, without burning yourself and your children out in the process.
If you must cut the list down, begin with the Freedom & Simplicity of Lifestyle Education through Discipleship seminar, When you Rise Up, Wisdom's 7 Pillars (not sure if this is still available - I'm checking), A Guide to American Christian Education, Encyclopedia for Bible Truths set, and The Three R's.
Another resource is invaluable to me in our methodology, but it isn't for teaching you methodology. It's for actually doing it! We utilize Learning Maps™ (our terminology for mind mapping) in our process of teaching and learning. Mind mapping helps demonstrate relationships, a key part of L.E.D. Read more about it here. I make most of my Learning Maps™ with computer software. The programs we use are iMindMap and Inspiration and NovaMind. You can read more about Learning Maps™, or order iMindMap or NovaMind through our affiliate partnership links.
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The Three R's, One-Volume Edition
By Ruth Beechick / Mott Media, Llc
A wonderful alternative to overly academic books! Combines three titles: A Home Start in Reading offers five simple steps for teaching your children to read; A Strong Start in Language presents a proven 4-step method for teaching writing; and An Easy Start in Arithmetic helps facilitate learning by focusing on the "four attitudes" of math education. Includes a phonics/arithmetic chart. Grades K to 3. 85 pages, softcover from Arrow.
You Can Teach Your Child Successfully available for grades 4-8. |
![444540: A Biblical Home Education: Building Your Homeschool on the Foundation of God"s Word](http://ag.christianbook.com/g/tiny/4/444540.gif "444540: A Biblical Home Education: Building Your Homeschool on the Foundation of God"s Word") |
A Biblical Home Education: Building Your Homeschool on the Foundation of God's Word
By Ruth Beechick / B & H Publishing Group
New from Ruth Beechick. I'm reading it now, so can't make comment yet.
The Bible is not only the foundation for Christianity, but it is the unique tome through which much of Western civilization, literature, history and science have been influenced. Let Ruth Beechick, well-respected author of many practical homeschooling books, provide an educational template with the Bible as the center and reason for studying. She moves through specific subjects with suggestions for teaching, along with reading, study, thinking and writing skills...always with the Bible first in mind. This book is full of the foundational guidance that will benefit new or experienced homeschoolers, and provides solid practical support as well as an encouragement to return to a wiser, more Biblically centered model of education. 214 pages with index, softcover. |
An "oldie but goodie" that is not home ed directed, but you can glean much common sense help from, for teaching. This is the only reprint of the original that I've found. i.e. not edited - removing the Biblical references, and adding "modern" educational ideas. (We see where that has gotten us.) Ok, the edited version isn't THAT bad. But it certainly isn't the excellent book that this is. If you'd prefer a free downloadable ebook scan of the original from the 1880's, click here or here.
Other "Principle Approach" Resources We Recommend
Just about anything you read on the Principle Approach will be helpful to you as you seek to teach and learn from and for a Biblical Worldview. Here's a few for you to check out. Others are on our Biblical Worldview Resources & Recommendations page.
Resources published by F.A.C.E. Publisher of Principle Approach materials (We are unable to get a direct link to bring up this full listing, enter f.a.c.e. into the search box below, and switch the search from keywords to publisher.) This is a CD-ROM compilation of many of the foundational resources by F.A.C.E. Most of these are Primary Source Documents. Others are helpful for learning how to teach by biblical principles.
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The Christian History Library in Libronix CD-ROM
By F.a.c.e.
This is the study tool you have been waiting for. All 11 books available to use at your computer—each one interacts with All the others to make teaching, studying and school work a breeze. Each of these timeless resources is a treasure in itself. Now FACE has set them into a modern easy to use format that brings these books to your fingertips.
The Christian History Library Books include: - Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language
- The Bible and the Constitution
- The Christian History of the American Revolution: Consider and Ponder
- The Christian History of the Constitution: Christian Self-Government, Vol. 1
- The Christian History of the Constitution: Christian Self-Government with Union, Vol. 2
- George Washington: The Character and Influence of One Man
- The Noah Plan Self-Directed Study in the Principle Approach
- Rudiments of America's Christian History and Government
- Teaching and Learning America's Christian History
- The King James Bible
- A Republic if You Can Keep It: America's Authentic Liberty Confronts Contemporary Counterfeits
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Resources by Stephen McDowell a Principle Approach author.
We have no doubt passed over many excellent resources, however, we believe these to be excellent and sufficient for the purposes we have, and they are ones that we are thoroughly familiar with. See our next page for General Home Ed Resources that we have read and enjoyed but didn't necessarily help shape L.E.D.
