You know what, when you get right down to it there isn’t really that much to education, if you know what resources to use.  Whether you want to home-school or just supplement a less than adequate public education, you can really make a difference with a few simple purchases. 
 
I have a Masters Degree in Education.  I have taught at two private schools where I was the only teacher and responsible for the comprehensive education of my students grades 7-12.  I took this responsibility very seriously.  Through various grants and other funding sources, I was able to experiment and explore the various resources available.  I created a hodge-podge of great educational resources and tools that I find help make the process of passing along culture simpler.  I am licensed by the State of Tennessee to teach History, Geography, Psychology, Special Education and as a licensed school administrator. 

The first thing to understand is the purpose of education.  It is not to get a good job, or to get into college.  The purpose of education is to pass along culture.  Culture is the sum of human knowledge, ideas and how to just get along with each other.  It has 5 major parts: 

Sociology, Technology, Art, Economics, and Religion.  While these words may not be perfect in conveying what each comprises, they are the best one-word descriptions I can come up with so I will go with them.  It is important for people to understand these areas so they can organize the vast amount of information we try to pass onto them.  If you want the fancy educational term, it is schema, a strategy for organizing information. 

So where do you start?  What is the first day of school so to speak?  I always begin with a categorization activity.  Simply have students write down all the course names offered at their junior high or high school on note cards.  Then categorize the courses into the 5 areas of culture.  This is a starting place for understanding that all courses (whether you like math for example or not) are critical in being a well educated, (cultured) individual.  It also makes a very visual learning tool to show which areas are minimized in our educational systems and which ones are given the extra attention.  Of course these areas of emphasis or neglect often change with time. 

Now I will give you a brief overview of courses from each of the 5 categories and resources that I find are exceptional.  I do not focus on gifted students.  These resources would be most beneficial for a student with average or below average IQ (70-100).

Sociology
Social Studies

World History--Steck-Vaughn World History and You

U.S. History --Steck-Vaughn America’s Story

Geography--AGS World Geography

Government 

Psychology --AGS Life Skills Health 

Communication

Writing

Grammar

Vocabulary-- Plato Vocabulary Builder Software

Research --DK Eyewitness Books

Technology

Sciences

Life Science--AGS General Science
Physical Science--AGS General Science
Biology --A-Beka Biology God’s Living Creation
Earth Science--AGS General Science
Chemistry

 
Mathematics

Foundations
Pre-Algebra
Algebra
Geometry 

Vocational

Health Sciences

Computer
Industrial

Art

Visual--Glencoe Introduction to Visual Arts 

Music 

Literature--Steck-Vaughn Short Classics
--AGS Exploring Literature

Economics

Micro 
Macro

Religion

Character --AGS Life Skills Health
Doctrinal

Every household should have a good resource library.  The easiest way to do this is to purchase the DK eyewitness series.  It covers multiple subjects and is visually based.  Just order one to start with and you’ll get hooked and want them all.  Great for everyone. 

AGS General Science is the most comprehensive and best science source I have ever seen.  It is very comprehensive and easy to understand and use.  Start your kid on this resource in the 5th grade or so.  Science won’t be a problem!!

Steck-Vaughn Short Classics provide classical reading in a condensed version that provide historical perspective, maintains story integrity, while shortening many great works to more manageable levels.  Introduce great works easily.  Read together before bed.  You can get through a great work of art like Great Expectations or The Odyssey in 3 or 4 nights.  These books are condensed so an average 6th grade reader should have no problems.  A great series.

Finally if you only purchase one thing, it should be AGS Life Skills Health.  This book covers many physical as well as emotional health issues.  It ties in life skills like good nutrition with budgeting and is just an all in one how to be a successful person guide.  All I can say is, It’s well put together!

Hope I was helpful.