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Posted on 02/09/2026 2:33:06 PM PST by ProgressingAmerica
William Holmes McGuffey (September 23, 1800 – May 4, 1873) was an American professor and college president who is best known for writing the McGuffey Readers, one of the nation's first and most widely used series of textbooks. It is estimated that at least 122 million copies of McGuffey Readers were sold between 1836 and 1960, placing its sales in a category with the Bible and Webster's Dictionary.
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How many McGuffey Readers are there?
McGuffey Readers are apparently highly popular among home school parents. So are Ray's Arithmetics.
How many Ray's Arithmetics books are there?
Do home school parents also use Thalheimer's for teaching history?
I would highly appreciate any other author or book recommendations. Authors and books that I have not named or specified.
Friendly ping per our recent conversation
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Maybe you could run it through Grok. Seriously.
Oh and there are eight Ray's Arithmetic books.
Grok worked well once I had enough information to form a cogent question.
McGuffey’s Eclectic Primer (or simply McGuffey Eclectic Primer) — introductory level, often for pre-K to grade 1.
McGuffey’s First Eclectic Reader (or McGuffey’s Eclectic First Reader).
McGuffey’s Second Eclectic Reader (or McGuffey’s Eclectic Second Reader).
McGuffey’s Third Eclectic Reader (or McGuffey’s Eclectic Third Reader).
McGuffey’s Fourth Eclectic Reader (or McGuffey’s Eclectic Fourth Reader).
McGuffey’s Fifth Eclectic Reader (or McGuffey’s Eclectic Fifth Reader).
McGuffey’s Sixth Eclectic Reader (or McGuffey’s Eclectic Sixth Reader).
As luck would have it the entire collection is at Gutenberg. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/5671
In this instance the titles were simple enough and basically incremental in their titling. That is not always the case.
Why would anyone want in audio format a book intended to teach reading?
Bookmark
McGuffy’s home has been preserved on the campus of Miami University (of Ohio, for Miami was a university when Florida was owned by Spain).
That is easy to answer.
1) Everybody learns differently - some learn best though sound that they’re hearing.
2) Repetition. After reading to a youth for so many times, it could be useful to let the audio do the heavy lifting just by using replay value.
2a) In regard to repetition: it shouldn’t be too difficult to have/use as a tool to replay select minutes 17-23, pause, then play 17-23 again, as many times as is needed. For example. Or whatever segments are necessary/useful in that moment.
There probably are other reasons, but I don’t question that really. I think the whole series should be available and ready for use even if only one single person wants it. That one person enough deserves the choice.
Isn’t the purpose of McGuffey’s Reader to teach reading? How are you going to learn to read if you don’t see the text.
I would assume this is in the public domain and freely available to anyone on Internet Archive.
Grok is pretty much giving me books that are still within copyright, so it’s generally not helpful.
When asked about McGuffey’s it didn’t recommend Thalheimer’s, for example. and if I don’t include to ask about Ray’s it doesn’t recommend it at all. It has trouble crossing disciplines.
The other and larger trouble with AI, it’s likely going to be inflicted with the disease of recent-ism. It classed things from the 1950s and 1970s as ‘vintage and old’.
I am required to pre-know the title or author to ask Grok, but then if I already know the title or author why am I bothering to waste my time to ask Grok? Grok doesn’t have the answers I seek. I need humans here.
While I do appreciate every recommendation regardless of its publication date, I can’t audio book them if they’re too new.
The child would have the text in front of them, potentially, as the audio gets played. But I can’t know all use cases. Each parent or educator might have the opportunity to use the audio as seen fit.
Perhaps the reverse needs to be asked though.
What downsides can you foresee of having the entire series recorded as audio? What possible damage could ensue?
Yes, the audio is free and open source and is available on the Internet Archive through LibriVox, as is the text.
One of the rooms in our family homestead has shelves full of McGuffey, math, social studies, etc. books from when my aunt was a “normal school” teacher in the 1920s.
Hubby is a PhD in Physics and he was blown away by the difficulty level in the 6th grade math books.
People have these things but I don’t always know enough to know what I don’t know in order to ask a valid question in a search or ai.
What are some of the social studies authors there from the 1920s or earlier if you’re willing to share?
“What are some of the social studies authors there from the 1920s or earlier if you’re willing to share?”
I’ll try to remember to ask my brother. He inherited the farm when Mom died, and maybe he can take a pic of the books or give info. (Assuming that they haven’t been donated already.)
I do not know much about your questions, but thank God for God honoring sources. I asked perplexity.ai (my recourse);
Response:
Short answers:
McGuffey Readers: 6 original graded readers, plus associated primers/spellers in various “eclectic” editions.
Ray’s Arithmetics: 8 core volumes in the standard school set; 30+ if you include all higher math and teacher keys.
Thalheimer history: Yes, some homeschoolers still use them, especially via the Eclectic Education Series / Dollar Homeschool.
Brief detail:
1. How many McGuffey Readers?
Historically, the McGuffey Eclectic Readers proper are:
Primer (often counted separately)
First Reader
Second Reader
Third Reader
Fourth Reader
Fifth Reader
Sixth Readerwikipedia+2
So people sometimes speak of 6 readers (1st–6th) or 7 books (Primer + 6 readers). Modern homeschool reprints package them in different sets:
Mott Media’s 8‑volume set includes:
Eclectic Primer
Pictorial Eclectic Primer
Progressive Speller
First, Second, Third, Fourth Readers
Parent‑Teacher Guide[mottmedia]
So: 6 core readers, but depending on how you count primers/spellers, sets range from 6–8 volumes.
2. How many Ray’s Arithmetic books?
Two ways to count:
Basic school series (what most homeschoolers mean): an 8‑volume set, e.g. Mott Media’s “Ray’s Arithmetics – 8 Volume Set”:[mottmedia]
New Primary Arithmetic
New Intellectual Arithmetic
New Practical Arithmetic
Key to New Arithmetics
New Test Examples in Arithmetic
New Higher Arithmetic
Key to New Higher Arithmetic
Parent‑Teacher Guide
Complete historical Ray’s series (original Eclectic Education Series):
One publisher notes 38 books total if you include all answer keys, higher math (algebra, geometry, trig, analytic geometry, calculus), and applied math (navigation, astronomy, bookkeeping, physics, logic).anniekateshomeschoolreviews+1
So: 8 core Ray’s Arithmetics in the homeschool set; ~38 volumes in the full historical math line.
3. Do homeschool parents use Thalheimer history?
Yes, though it’s a niche, classics‑oriented subset.
Mary Elsie Thalheimer wrote 19th‑century histories used in the Eclectic Education Series: A History of England, A History of the United States, etc.[onlinebooks.library.upenn]
Dollar Homeschool and similar sites explicitly recommend Thalheimer for Christian homeschoolers, noting she wrote from a Christian perspective, treating the Bible as historically factual.[dollarhomeschool]
Some classical/Charlotte Mason‑style homeschoolers still use these as spine texts, but they’re far from mainstream compared to, say, Notgrass, BJU, Abeka, or Story of the World.
So: Yes, some homeschoolers today still use Thalheimer’s histories, mainly via reprints in the Eclectic Education Series / Dollar Homeschool.
. What other authors or books do Christian home schoolers recommend?
Here are the most commonly recommended authors and books for Christian homeschoolers, drawn from 2025–2026 curriculum guides, reviews, and homeschool blogs:
1. Core Curriculum Publishers
These companies make complete K–12 programs:
Abeka (textbook‑based, video lessons; strong phonics/math)
BJU Press (beautiful textbooks, video courses, accredited)
Apologia (award‑winning science from biblical worldview)
My Father’s World (mission‑focused, family‑style, geography‑heavy)
Master Books (creationist science, young earth emphasis)
Notgrass History (narrative history, literature‑based)
The Good and the Beautiful (beautifully designed, affordable, Charlotte Mason vibe)
Sonlight (literature‑based, read‑alouds, missions focus)
Answers in Genesis (creation science, young earth)numaschool+1
2. Literature & History (Living Books)
Classics used across curricula:
D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths, Abraham Lincoln, Pocahontas (beautiful illustrated bios for younger kids)
G.A. Henty (50+ adventure novels set in real history; e.g., Winchester Revolt, For the Temple)
Story of the World (4 volumes by Susan Wise Bauer)
A Child’s History of the World (Virginia Hillyer)
Trial and Triumph (Richard Hanawalt; church history stories)
George Washington’s World, Augustus Caesar’s World (Frances Foster; concurrent world history)
The Landmark History of the American People series
Christian Heroes: Then & Now (Janet & Geoff Benge; missionary bios)simplycharlottemason+2
3. Math
Saxon Math (incremental mastery)
Math‑U‑See (video, manipulatives, mastery)
RightStart Math (hands‑on, Asian methods)
Singapore Math (conceptual, problem‑solving)
Ray’s Arithmetic (classic, as you asked)aliciamichelle+1
4. Science
Apologia (Exploring Creation with … series: Astronomy, Botany, Zoology, Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
Answers in Genesis God’s Design series
Master Books Young Explorer series
Novare Science (rigorous high school; physics, chemistry)wanderhomeschooling+1
5. Bible & Worldview
Answers Bible Curriculum (creation focus)
Grapevine Studies (drawing‑based for kids)
Keep Thy Heart (Not Consumed)
Generations Christian Classics (Augustine, Bunyan, Knox)
Cultural Issues (Kevin Swanson; worldview analysis)sites.generations+1
6. Phonics/Reading
All About Reading / All About Spelling
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
Alpha‑Phonics
McGuffey Readers (classic, as you asked)[aliciamichelle]
7. Writing/Grammar
IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing) – Structure & Style
Writing with Ease (Susan Wise Bauer)
Rod & Staff Grammar (excellent, affordable)
Winston Grammar (hands‑on)[numaschool]
8. Classical / Charlotte Mason
My Father’s World (CM + missions)
Ambleside Online (free CM; public domain books)
Classical Conversations (community, memory work)
Memoria Press (Latin, logic, Great Books)wanderhomeschooling+1
9. Other Popular Supplements
Beautiful Feet Books (literature‑based history/science)
Veritas Press (classical, history cards)
Timberdoodle (eclectic kits, STEM toys)
Wild + Free (nature study, Charlotte Mason)[numaschool]
Trend: Christian homeschoolers lean toward literature‑rich, family‑style programs (Sonlight, My Father’s World) or creationist science (Apologia, Master Books), with classics like Henty, D’Aulaires, McGuffey, and Ray’s as supplements. Many mix publishers (“eclectic”).brighterdaypress+2
We’ve had foreign missionaries in our churches and homes for my entire life.
Since Abeka has been around, most of the missionaries use that for school when on the mission field. Smart, smart kids! (They’re also mature and polite with amazing social skills — but that isn’t the subject here.)
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