In the last issue, the Town Square focused on the homeschooling parent, some statistics surrounding homeschooling, and the conclusion that there is no one more qualified than you, as the parent, to homeschool your child. Why? Because you care about and love your child like no one else does or can.

You probably read that and said, "Well thanks, Heather. I can do this, but how? Where do I start? Have you ever been to a homeschool convention and seen the gazillion choices out there beckoning to us as we walk through the vendor hall? Help!"

In fact, people ask me what I recommend all the time. What do I tell them? I tell them to pray a lot, ask a lot of questions, look at what's out there, and pray again. I also tell them not to worry. They can change if they find they're not happy with their selections. They are not locked in for life. I do tell them what I use and how I use it, but daily I run into nagging doubts that what I'm using might not be the best thing out there. Do others have that same doubt? I hope so; otherwise, I'm out here as the sole doubter.

I can volunteer that there's one curriculum out there that I'm not capable of using because I have yet to figure out the catalog. How is one to order a curriculum for, say, a sixth grader, when you can't figure out how to work your way through the company's catalog to make the right purchase? I like a company like that because I now know that I never have to stop at that vendor booth again - I'm too dumb to purchase anything they have to offer. Plus, their catalog is big and heavy and I know not to ever pick one up again to lug around the vendor hall since I don't understand how to use it anyway.

Does that help? Probably not. However, help is on the way. How is that possible? Well, TOS asked people to submit their choices for the TOS 2004 Awards of Excellence. These submissions were in 24 different categories, ranging from types of curriculum, to specific subject matter areas. The submissions were tallied and the winner for each category was the entry that received the greatest number of independent submissions.

This is an interesting process in that the survey was designed so that individual respondents entered the name of their curriculum or product of choice. They were not given a set of choices from which to choose. Thus, the winners of the Awards of Excellence were clearly chosen by the respondents, not constrained by the crafters of the survey.

That said, how does this information help you? Well, what if you wanted to select a foreign language? You could look at the TOS Award of Excellence in that category and begin your search there. Already, the vendor hall, with regard to foreign language, has become manageable. That's not to say that you won't find something out there that you like better, but this is a good starting point. And often, you'll find that our respondents' selections are in line with what you would pick if you had already looked at the various foreign language vendors out there.

As I write this, and drink my hot tea to warm up, the thought of "comfort foods," for some reason, comes to mind. In a sense, you might look at our awards of excellence as comfort products. Comfort products are where you might begin in your search to find what works best for your family.

So, what are these comfort products, or those products achieving the moniker "TOS 2004 Award of Excellence?" Let's take a look at the recipients (see accompanying table).

Core Curriculum Products. First, focusing on what I'm terming core curriculum products (it's my column so I'm making these category names up as I go), the following products received the TOS 2004 Award of Excellence: in the area of History, Sonlight was the overwhelming choice; Geography went to Knowledge Quest Maps; thePhonics Award went to Dorbooks/Phonics Pathways; the best Science Curriculum was deemed to be Apologia; Math went to Saxon/Harcourt; and the Literature Company of the Year was Greenleaf Press.

Supplemental Products. Once you have your core curriculum products identified, then there are what I'd call the supplemental products that help round out, if you will, your overall curriculum. The TOS 2004 Award of Excellence winners in this area include: Handwriting Without Tears if you're looking for the best Handwriting company out there; How Great Thou Art for the best Art Curriculum; Rosetta Stone for Foreign Language; Alfred Music was the Music Company of choice; and Alpha Omega/Switched On Schoolhouse if you're looking for the best Computer Curriculum.

Foundational Products. Okay, now you've picked your core curriculum subjects, added some supplemental areas of study, and it's time to round your curriculum off with the 2004 Award of Excellence winners in the area of foundational products. These winners include: No Greater JoyMinistries for Character Building Materials; a tie between Doorposts and Kay Arthur's Inductive Bible Studies as the bestBible curricula; andAnswers in Genesis as the best Creation Science/Creationism product.

General Products. Leaping from the specific to the general takes us to a variety of TOS 2004 Awards of Excellence: Elijah Company was voted the Friendliest of the homeschool companies; K12 was the Most Unique; Quarter Mile Math/Barnum Software earned the distinction of best Software; The Well-Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer is the best Resource Book; and Karen Andreola/Charlotte Mason Research and Supply Company was considered the best place to go for Charlotte Mason Resources.

Specialty Products. And the last category of TOS 2004 Award of Excellence products falls under the heading of Specialty. These products include: KONOS, Inc. for Unit Study; Peace Hill Press/Susan Wise Bauer for Classical Resources; NATHHAN for Special Needs; Richard "Little Bear" Wheeler for the best Homeschool Speaker; and Sonlight as the Overall Homeschool Company.

What an incredible line-up of homeschool products in almost every area of study. This is a great place to start your search for specific items you might need. See, after you were told you could homeschool because you care for and love your child more than any one else, you thought we left you adrift. Nosiree! We wouldn't do that. In fact, we've tried to give you a fairly comprehensive list of products from which to begin. And, in addition to the products identified above, we have a list of those warranting an honorable mention. Thus, don't forget these as you begin to work your way through these items. The Honorable Mentions include: Rainbow Resources; Whole Heart Ministries/Clay and Sally Clarkson; Alpha Omega/Power Glide Foreign Language; Rod & Staff; Math-U-See; Beautiful Feet Books; and History Alive with Diana Waring.

I hope the recipients of the TOS 2004 Award of Excellence provide you with a starting ground from which to move forward. I don't think you'll be disappointed with any of these fine companies or their products.