I wholeheartedly recommend Penny Ross/Tools for the Home Educator as your Homeschool Consultant. Penny is a veteran homeschooling parent of three now successful adults. She has walked many families through the home schooling process and helped them feel comfortable and confident in their chosen homeschooling approach. Penny is very knowledgeable of local homeschooling resources, groups, and classes. I highly recommend Penny to educate and support all, both beginners and those down the road, in their home schooling journey. read more

Penny is awesome! I received a consultation to get some guidance on how to navigate homeschooling for the first time. She provides valuable resources and knowledge that help with the transition from school to homeschooling to not be so overwhelming - it definitely can be! She also helped me appreciate the advantages of homeschooling and different ways to encourage learning to my "student". I recommend signing up for her newsletter - she provides great info, news on events, and even promotions. Thank you Penny! read more

I cannot say enough good things about Tools for the Home Educator! Penny is a wealth of knowledge and I am so blessed to have heard of her just when we were beginning our homeschool journey. My husband and I had a private session with her which was extremely helpful for the both of us. It helped answer so many questions and helped us become more clear(and less stressed!) on what path we wanted to take. I recently attended one of her webinars and it was SO HELPFUL!!! Penny had so much information to share, and she has other parents chime in on their experience! Thank you Penny for all of your help! If you are considering homeschooling or have been homeschooling for years, Penny is definitely someone that can elevate your experience. read more

Just stopped by the store today for some materials for 1st grade. Penny was incredibly helpful. I emailed first and she responded the same day. She was able to help direct me to different resource options and able to give insightful information about how to use the curriculum I was looking at. She was also informed me about some information regarding testing that was helpful for me to understand. I would highly recommend anyone looking for curriculum or information on teaching independently or at home to stop by and check out this store. read more

I have attended a few workshops on different occasions by Tools for the Home Educator. Penny is so knowledgeable and kind and even makes homeschooling through High School and preparing for college seem less difficult than a parent may fear. She seems to be especially gifted at helping parents navigate the waters of homeschooling through their own special circumstances without judgement, just help. read more

I've held off leaving a review for Penny since I'm not officially homeschooling yet, but after attending two of her workshops and doing a curriculum consultation, I gotta show some love. Each time I visit Penny, I leave feeling encouraged, motivated, and energized. She is extremely versed in the many methods of homeschooling, from hybrids to charters to unschooling. She encourages you to find a style that fits YOUR family's needs, and recognizes that homeschooling looks different for each family. Her workshops cover a lot of ground, but she takes times to answer individual questions. In our consultation, Penny had a very clear understanding of my perspective and plenty of guidance to offer. If you are considering home education in any regard, start by attending her "Homeschooling: The What, The Why, and The How" workshop--best five bucks you'll spend on your child's education! read more

Penny is FANTASTIC and so full of knowledge! I looked into homeschooling years ago and was overwhelmed by getting all of the right information. I am now looking into it again and wanted to find help. Luckily I found Penny. Having a one-hour call with her was so informative! It would have taken me days of online searching to possibly piece together all of this information. I now have a highly experienced and trusted friend to help me navigate homeschooling. There were some time-sensitive issues I needed help with and Penny was always available to help us in our decision making. We now have a great short-term and long-term plan. Most will waste time and money trying to get all of the information on their own when in just a short call with Penny, you can have it all figured out. Thank you again Penny for everything! read more

Penny is amazing. I have questions regarding my son and what was the best route for him for high school. She gave me wonderful thoughtful answers to my questions. I do not currently homeschool my kids but I have gone to her with educational questions and when we need specific books for school. I highly recommend her to anyone that home schools or has school questions in general. She also sends out a weekly email that is chocked full of information! Please check her out! read more

After 3 years of homeschooling, I felt stuck and decided to attend one of Penny's workshops for some insight. She was very knowledgeable and presented information in an organized and light hearted manner. It was a lot but it never felt overwhelming. She is very approachable. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a consultation with her whether you are a novice or veteran homeschooler. read more

I'm very grateful that I have had the opportunity to meet Penny and attend her sessions. It's been very helpful for all those who wonder what homeschooling is and how to go about it. She is a treasure trove of information on homeschooling. Although I haven't consulted her on personalized approaches yet I'm sure she has rich experiences to guide homeschooling families as per their unique needs and circumstances. Her little shop also has used books and some educational materials available. She is easy to talk to, not judgmental and kind. I highly recommend her for anyone looking to homeschool, or need help along the way. read more

I had the opportunity to stop at this new store. I bought beautiful teaching materials to help supplement home activities with my preschooler. Penny, the owner, is a wealth of information for educators, parents, and the homeschool community. She will also be hosting informational and educational sessions. I enjoyed my visit and will definitely visiting again soon. read more

Well, I've known Penny for a number of years now and have been very pleased with her business. You can save dollars by purchasing good used home school materials/supplies from the store as well as getting a wealth of advice and consulting there! If you live in Palos Verdes or Rolling Hills or even Hermosa/Redondo Beach I don't know anywhere better to shop! read more

I met with Penny a few weeks ago, to review my plan for the upcoming school year. I went there thinking I should have her help me set up a schedule for the year but ended up coming out with so much more than that. The topics she covered with me, and the way she was able to get me thinking of things in perspective, really helped me to feel much more confident in the homeschool journey. I felt really alone last year since none of my friends homeschool, but this year I know I will never be alone, and she is just a call or visit away. I would recommend visiting with Penny to anyone :) Thank you for your advice Penny read more

Not only is Penny filled with knowledge and experience with homeschooling but she is very sincere and passionate about what she does. Her store is filled with all kinds of different books and curriculum but she also has a section for things that she gives away for free. She's such a great reasource from what curriculum is right for your child to tools and tips on how to help you child if they are struggling. I've taken one of her classes about having a high energy child and she had so much insight I learned so much. I would recommend her to anyone for any and all your homeschool needs and questions. She is amazing And so wonderful and easy to talk to. read more

This place is as good as it gets for educating resources. Penny has many years of experience in the homeschool community and has made it a point to keep up with the changing times. We recently came in for a personal consultation and had every question confidently answered. Walking in we felt unsure and insecure, but walking out we felt so much more reassured and on track. I have also attended a few of her workshops and shopped at her well stocked used bookstore and have always had a pleasant experience. Penny is warm, friendly, and always ready with some words of wisdom to calm an anxious home educator down. This is THE (pun intended) place to take care of all your homeschool needs! read more

Penny has continued to amaze me. She is very helpful, organized, professional and do I need to say a wealth of information. I am so blessed to have her as a resource. Her prices are very reasonable and I have used her for both individual and class counseling. read more

Penny Ross has helped me "think through" my two daughter's educations for over the past16 years! Penny excels in wisdom and in all the educational philosophies of home schooling! She personally guided me when I desired to do a Classical education with my oldest daughter. Every year she helped me find the best books, and weed through the twaddle, to help me use my financial resources in the very best way. My daughter has since graduated High School and is serving our country in Air Force Intelligence. She went on to finish her B.A. in Intelligence Studies with an emphasis on the Middle Eastern cultures. Her love of learning continues to move her forward towards her Master's degree in the future. At this year's appointment Penny gave me the confidence and creativity to develop a plan for my younger daughter who has dyslexia. She showed me how I could use my daughter's strength's in her High School program to fulfill all those required academic classes she is required to take. This daughter can flourish in her personalized education from Penny, especially in her academic study. Penny has been a tremendous encouragement to me personally. I have two very different wonderful daughters and Penny always is able to bring out the best in each of them because of her love to help home school families succeed. I cannot put a value on Penny, as she is worth so much more than I could ever pay for all the help she has given to me and my girls!!! read more