Reviews (5)

Helpful Tool
We bought this to use with our daughter who just started fourth grade. We used the third grade version this summer and were pleased enough with it to give this one a try. As with the other, the history portions were well written and easy for her to understand. The choices for poetry and literature are just unusual enough for her to be interested in. If I were homeschooling, I wouldn't rely on this alone, but it does make a very helpful and handy tool for suplimenting a public school education.

coreknowledge.org offers lesson plans to accompany book
One reviewer stated that homeschoolers experience some difficulty making use of this series due to the lack of worksheets. Visit coreknowledge.org for details.

One of the Best Books for Schools
This is one of the best books for school. The only problem about my state is that public schools do not have good programs and things for the school. The students are not well taught. Even though I go to a private school, I glad that I get a good education from this program.

This book is a great book!

A good overview of what your child should be learning.
This and the other books in this series, are such a great idea.

They give a basic structure to what your child should be learning about each year, which is particularly important if your child is likely to change school districts, or go from private to public school, or from homeschooling into a school setting. Because so many schools use the Core Knowledge guidelines, your child won't have big gaps in her education, if she has been taught a curriculum based on these guidelines.

Each book in the series cover all the basic subjects: math, science, history, geography, language arts, art and music. The sections are broken down into small pieces, and one part can be taken up each day pretty easily.

Additional references are included for every subject, so your child can more fully explore the areas that interest him.

The language arts section includees excerpts from some great adventure classics, like "Treasure Island" and "Robinson Crusoe." It also covers poetry, grammar, and common sayings and phrases. The grammar is not in itself adequate, and I would recommend that homeschoolers use additional materials for grammar.

World Civilization covers the Middle Ages. European history is extensive, but this also includes a very nice look at Asia during this period of time. This is much more extensive than what I was taught of the Middle Ages during my entire elementary education. The geography section corresponds with this study, but also looks at all parts of the world.

American Civilization pretty much covers the period from the signing of the Constitution through the 1840's (Manifest Destiny and the Mexican War). Again, if your child has studied the previous books in the series, this will fit in nicely - the 3rd grade book covers the colonies through the signing of the Declaration of Independence. There are lots of pictures and other resources you can use to augment this study.

The fine arts section covers music (hard to do with a book, but notes & reading sheet music is in there) and visual art, which largely discusses architecture during the Middle Ages.

A very comprehensive overview of math is given. This is not to be used as the sole source of math work, but a basic overview of what your child should be learning during 4th grade.

The science section covers paleontology, the cardiovascular system, rocks & the composition of the earth, weather and electricity. The best part about the science section, is that you can find out what really interests your child, and there are additional resources recommended for the various studies... ...

Good Reads - Good Texts for Homeschoolers

The "What Your Nth Grader Needs to Know" books are a narrative of the information your child should know separated into sections such as:

World History
American History
Science
Geography
Fine Arts
Math (list of what they should know)
English (list of what they should know)
Literature (excerpts, poems, sayings, stories)

The writing is wonderful! It flows. It's interesting. It is not dummied-down! My 4th grader (an average reader) reads it out loud so I can help with vocabulary. My 6th grader reads it independently. Unlike books aimed at students, these books are good reads for adults. I finally got interested in history!

The only drawback for homeschoolers wanting to use these as texts is that there are few if any activites or review questions included. However, you can get the Redwood Games worksheets that go along with the books (free) over at http://www.maui.net/~redwood/hs.html.

For homeschoolers, one need only add a math book and the worksheets. For parents of public school kids, these books will be an eye-opener in evaluating your child's education.

Karen Crowthe ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Good for homeschooling, and education in general
Linda Dobson is well known in homeschooling circles. She has written several books; she is invited to speak at homeschooling conferences; and she has been homeschooling her own children for years. Most of the books she has written are very targeted at the homeschooling market. The title of this book indicates the same trend, but the reality is this book is for any family who wants to help their children learn and understand more in their education.

Her first chapter does focus homeschooling, as she talks about some key factors between public schools and homeschooling. She calls these the "school mind" and the "education mind." The "school mind" is more concerned about preserving the public school system than in educating the students. The "education mind" is focused on trying to help children learn.

The rest of the book is a wonderful collection of ideas on how to help children learn, from reading, to math, to character building, to other facets of a children's education. This is a great resource for rainy days, for when a child is bored, or for when a student is struggling with a particular subject.

If you are looking for ways to educate your children, this is a good book to have.

Some good ideas....some really bad ideas too
I reccomend that you borrow this book before purchasing it. I have found only a couple useful ideas. Some of the ideas are just rediculous. For example...spraying your floor with shaving cream and letting your kids "ice skate" in socks on the kitchen floor.

Learning is Fun-damental!
Just when I was beginning to think that Linda Dobsons books were a little dull and technical, I came across this one. The Ultimate book of Homeschooling Ideas (500+ fun and creative learning activities age 3-12) Is truly a gem. Though she consistently gives books titles as long as paragraphs, this book, which I believe is her latest has lifted my opinion of her credibility and book writing skill. Copy written in 2002, it shows how far the author has come since she started writing homeschooling books almost 2 decades ago.

I borrowed this book from the Library to review along with 12 other books on homeschooling, and now will be purchasing it immediately to keep one on my shelf as a reference book. I just dare one of my kids to say to me " Mom. I'm bored". I have at least 500 activities I am just waiting to introduce to them. Actually because of their ages, I only have about 400 because some of the games are too juvenile for them, but that is still more than one learning experience in a day.

In her usual tradition of book writing, this book by Linda Dobson is another compilation book, with different games and activities submitted from hundreds of homeschooling moms around the country. They are as creative and different as there are people on the earth.

The book's first few chapters are devoted to homeschooling philosophies as usual and introduces terms that are new to me like school mind vs. education mind. The concept is very simple, yet very intelligent and it helps the reader to make a distinction between the way a child is taught at school vs. the ways you can teach a child at home.

The book is also divided up into subject with appropriate games and activities listed in each section that it most closely relates to, thus helping a parent with record keeping because each game or activity counts as a lesson in any particular subject. For example, in the Math chapter, listed are familiar games like math and dominoes, but also new ideas like edible manipulatives and pizza fraction game. Likewise, in the chapter on Language we find old favorites like word bingo, as well as new ideas like read the TV (turn off sound and read closed captioning).

These ideas have me truly excited about homeschooling. We are sure to start playing these games long before our homeschooling start date of June 1, and will use this book for many years to come.

Great find
This book is a compilation of creative ideas submitted by homeschoolers from all over the country. The chapters are organized into subject areas, and each chapter is filled with ideas that actual homeschool parents have used with their kids successfully. There are multitudes of homeschooling curriculum books out there, but this isn't one of them. Instead, it gives you ideas you can really use and I think that, in the process, it can help you come up with ideas of your own. I am a former fourth grade teacher, and any teacher will tell you that kids learn MUCH better when they are learning through games and projects and hands-on experiences than they do from workbooks and rote learning. While workbooks may have their place in your homeschooling day, it is so important to include other elements as well. This book will give you great starter points, many of which can be adapted to different age levels and concepts. Thank you, Linda Dobson! ANY homeschool family would get some ideas from this book, but I have to ESPECIALLY recommend this book to homeschoolers who are either new to it or still searching for what feels comfortable. On top of that, I think it would be a benefit to families who don't homeschool, but who want to make fun learning experiences for their child.

A wonderful source for educational family activities
Written with kids age 3-12 in mind, The Ultimate Book Of Homeschooling Ideas presents over 500 creative and enjoyable learning activities specifically designed for use by homeschooling parents. The learning activities range from flash card games, to a pocket alphabet banner for pre-readers, to learning the basics about DNA, to a math game using Legos. Each of these original, innovative, and practical ideas consists of a brief overview and general suggestions; with the specifics of application being implied or left up to the home-based parental educator. The Ultimate Book Of Homeschooling Ideas is warmly commended as being an excellent resource for enriching young minds by homeschoolers (and equally recommended for those parents whose youngsters attend public or private schools), as well as a wonderful source for educational family activities during school holidays and summer vacations. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

If your child's schoolwork is exhausting you, read on!
This book describes the daily/nightly family homework ordeal that traps so many of us. It promises remedies in non-technical, easy to read words. And it delivers on its promise with usable plans and examples in a variety of real life success stories.

Whether we parents were told wrong, as Rosemond blames modern "Parenting Experts," or whether we heard wrong, certainly parenting has become a bigger, more difficult deal, with parents believing more involvement makes us better parents while giving our kids more self-esteem. But this is not working. "Involvement" becomes interference, helping becomes confronting, their homework becomes our homework, their failure becomes our failure- so we will become more involved to avoid failure, because we want to be Good Parents. And so, homework becomes an exhausting no-win battlefield of wills littered with intellectual and emotional casualties. The answer is to back off and give homework responsibilities back to our kids, along with the rewards (pride, self-confidence, experience and privileges) and the consequences (failure, redemption, wisdom and denied privileges) of taking ownership of their own schoolwork. Stop hovering, checking, correcting, signing, protecting, threatening, pleading, promising, dictating, bribing and exasperating in the name of homework. (What is that saying about teaching a pig to talk, or was it to sing? It's a waste of your time and it only annoys the pig?!) Even more importantly, if you change these old ways of all-consuming conflict, you will stop neglecting yourself, your health, your marriage, and your family.

I'm using the book to set up a framework of goals, privileges and consequences for our 10-1/2 year-old fifth grader. The book doesn't cover some specifics in his case, such as trusting him for the 3-1/2 hours he is home alone after school, so we'll have to work out some things as we go along. But already, immediately, I've had two important revelations. First, I've never written down consequences before. I always thought I disciplined using consequences, but now I realize I only talked about them, made them up as we went along, changed them, threatened with them, held them inside and then blew them out of proportion. Until now I've never sat down with our son and his teacher, negotiated, and agreed to attainable goals and consistent consequences. Second, I didn't realize how entrenched I was in parenting by micro-managing until I tried these changes. As much as I agreed with these changes, I still had great difficulty not following our son around the house and not asking, "Did you finish... don't forget to... have you done... when are you going to...?" Even though I smugly read the book and approved of all the back-to-basics techniques, I still had trouble breaking my old habits, supporting these changes in task ownership, and trusting the motivational power of fair, consistent consequences. We shall see... The potential is exciting, and already there has been an immediate lowering of tension. I no longer take bad behavior or schoolwork personally, I don't get furious, and the consequences are established and accepted. It's a start- a flexible, negotiable start.

Among my favorite quotes from this book:

"...if the child fails to do his homework, no one should get upset but the child, and no one should be inconvenienced but the child."

"Kids are smart, but teenagers are clever."

"It is a simple statement of accountability that proposes that parents should never agonize over a child's behavior if the child is perfectly capable of agonizing over it himself."

"It's about coaching from the sidelines, as opposed to getting swept up in the action on the field."

Read, enjoy, learn, implement, then learn more!

(submitted by Larry Borshard)

IT'S SO OBVIOUS...NOW
It seems so obvious once you read it, we are trying to help our children with homework but end up doing it all for them. Homework becomes a ghastly focus of tension for the entire family.This book tells you its OK to let them do it alone, that it is the child's work, not the parents.It puts homework back into perspective. Teachers need to read this too, some of their expectations are not realistic. This has certainly helped to stop me agonising about how I was doing their homework.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Before I read this book, I planned and spent my afternoons and evenings around my daughter's elementary school homework, keeping me from having time with the rest of my family. I spend countless hours asking her study questions, definitions, and checking her work. I hovered to make sure she "got it right". I used the Internet to brush up on concepts and topics that SHE was to be learning. Now I realize that by taking control of her homework, I was not allowing her to be responsible for it; I was sending the message that she couldn't handle the responsiblity on her own. Boy was I wrong! Now, although her grades are not perfect, they are HERS alone and she has earned them. Talk about boosting self-esteem! And I am now free to spend time with my family instead of re-learing mode, median and range! Thank you Mr. Rosemond!

Applied 10 years ago with my 2nd grader! Book is a classic.
I first read this book in 1992 when my daughter was in the second grade. We were caught in the terrible homework cycle many families can find themselves in. We were attempting to "help" her by doing her homework, sitting her down at the kitchen table, and basically doing the thinking for her. Almost immediately after applying the techniques outlined in this book we started making progress towards having a child that would ultimately be doing her homework, science projects and reports on her own. Whenever anyone expresses their frustration with their children and homework I recommend this book and recount the success we experienced.

Great - Much to My Surprise
My wife picked this book up somewhere, but I was the first to read it. I wasn't optimistic. It starts out great, describing the problem(s) that many parents have, and describing the way things should be. Fine! But how do I go from here to there? Well, he tells you. And whereas his basic method(s) don't necessarily work with all kids, they work great with our main problem kid (6th grade).

In a nutshell, his teachers sign off on a checklist each day indicating whether or not his did all his homework, behaved, and completed his seatwork. It's his job to get the sign off. Any No's, and his loses priviledges (TV, phone, computer) for the evening. No's on as many as 3 days in a week means he loses priviledges for the week-end as well. If he get's all Yes's, then he has his priviledges, and we in no way bug him about homework. All we care about is the daily checklist. No excuses are accepted.

This kid never seemed to care what grades he got, and 'lost' or 'forgot' homework all the time. We wasted way to much effort trying to get him to behave responsibly. And all we had to do was put together a form, discuss the new rules with him, and talk to his teachers about it. It has worked great and his teachers are thrilled with his turnaround: not just on his homework but on his attitude and behavior.

My only gripe with the book is that the author, while giving lip service to the fact that there are as many kids that are below average as there are above average, nevertheless used almost exclusively examples of kids who basic IQ is well above average. ... Read more

Book Description

A handbook for Christian home education. A commonsense, disciple-based biblical approach to home schooling using real books and real life. Filled with Scriptures, anecdotes, insights, ideas, methods, lists and charts to make living and learning at home natural and enjoyable. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

this book is incredible!
I was thinking about homeschooling before I started reading this book. After I read just the first chapter, I was convinced it was the best thing for my family! There is tons of scripture used to back up their views and it really makes you think about your choice of schooling. Also, they give others arguments against homeschooling and their response to it. I have read about 6 other homeschooling books now and this one is still the best. For anyone who even remotely thinks that they might be interested in homeschooling, this is a must read! It is very challenging to our society's way of thinking and a real eye-opener to how we so easily accept the status quo. Great Book!

An Essential Guide
If I only owned 2 books on homeschooling, they would be "Educating the Wholehearted Child" by the Clarksons and "The Charlotte Mason Companion" by Karen Andreola. The Wholehearted Child is a manual with many how-to ideas, lots of background information on homeschooling and numerous helpful forms. It provides information on curriculum, methods, scheduling, resource availability and much more. This book is an excellent resource for every homeschooling parent and is must-reading for those who are just beginning to homeschool.

The best homeschooling book I've read to date!
This book in an inspiration to me. More than just a quick read, it is an important tool to be referred to over and over again. I am so excited to have this resource on my shelf. There is quite a lot of guidance on how to make the entire home a place of learning, including specific info on establishing a learning room and discovery centers. Lots of useful info on building a home library as well. I LOVE this book.

What An Inspiration!
I was able to see Clay and Sally Clarkson at their conference. I picked up this book there and have poured over it for 3 days. They are inspirational to me personally. I am so glad I was able to get this in the beginning of my homeschool journey; there is so much practical information to use.

Be sure to pick up Sally's other book The Mission of Motherhood too! I am reading it as well! :)

Wonderful!!!
This book has lots of information to digest. I am glad I read it now while my children are young. It is my goal to teach the way the Clarksons do! ... Read more

Book Description

This spirited reading of the second volume in Susan Wise Bauer's four-volume series brings to life the stories and records of the peoples of historical times. Volume 2 covers world history from the fall of Rome to the rise of the Renaissance (AD 400-1600).

Designed for parents to share with elementary-school children, enjoy listening together and introduce your child to the marvelous story of the world's civilizations. An effective educational tool, use this audio edition as an accompaniment to the print book, a supplement to a traditional history curriculum, or on its own.

This CD audiobook features detailed track marks and an indexed booklet, allowing you to follow along with the printed version of The Story of the World or to enjoy as a stand-alone audio version. Read by professional voice actress and veteran homeschool mother Barbara Alan Johnson. Eight audio CDs in a sturdy plastic case. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A great history book for young children
Susan Wise Bauer has done it again. This book is a quick read for adults, but it is packed with information. The target audience is young children, after all it is "The Story of the World" and it doesn't bore young children. Our children often would rather hear the next chapter than go play. And sometimes I'll catch my oldest reading it on her own.

The book does a good job of providing a balanced look at the major events during the Middle Ages. The book will focus on one area of the world, going over the major events, who was in charge, and who accomplished some of the important things, like discovering America. Then the book will move on to another part of the world for a couple chapters.

Susan Wise Bauer did an excellent job of weaving in various parts of history. For example in talking about a culture the book might go into a major myth or story of the group. The variety in pacing flows nicely from history, to what it might have been like to live at the time in a given culture, to some of these myths, and then back again. This helps keep the children interested.

The book is just right for young children. When they are young they don't need another 1000 pages of details most of us forget anyways. This book is written in such away that young children really want to listen, they want to know what happened, and then what will happen next. They can develop a love for history such that they'll go back and read in more detail about the parts of history they found interesting.

If you are looking for a good book for young children covering the major events of world history during the Middle Ages, this is the best I've found.

I learned as much as my kids!
This series is FANTASTIC. I can't wait for Volumes 3 and 4 to come out! For anyone who hated history in school (as I did), this is a welcome change. I know it sounds cliche, but history really comes alive in Susan Wise Bauer's writing. We got the spiral version of the book, and we also got the Activity Book for it (in looseleaf, to put in a 3-ring binder), and have been thrilled with them. Everyone I've been able to show the books to has been blown away. Thanks, Mrs. Bauer, for writing such a great resource!

European history--but MUCH more
I bought this book as a follow up to Ancient Times, the first volume in the series. That book was great--but this one is better. It covers a very complicated time of history in a simple, straightforward way that helps students makes connections between events all over the world--not just in Europe, but in the Americas before colonialism, in Africa, in Asia, in Australia. The author also talks about great works of literature and even retells some of them to give readers a little more insight into the times. We loved the story of Beowulf told in rhyming couplets! For the first time I have a good grasp of the order of events leading from the MIddle Ages into the Renaissance and Reformation--and my children are EXCITED about the study of history. Highly recommended. Can't wait for Volume Three.

Good history survey for young children.
Our children (ages 7 & 9) are very much enjoying their study of the Middle Ages using Volume 2 of Susan Wise Bauer's Story of the World: History for the Classical Child.

Because it is written very simply and aimed at children from 1st through 4th grade, I had been supplementing this book with Greenleaf's Guide to Famous Men of the Middle Ages. However, if we study each of the "Famous Men" (which is confined to Europe and surrounding areas) in addition to all the topics in Story of the World, Volume 2 (which includes history from Asia, Africa, the Americas and Australia)-- well, we'd NEVER finish! For that reason, we decided to lay aside the Greenleaf Guides until their middle school years.

Susan Wise Bauer writes in a very engaging manner for young students. She writes as though she were speaking directly to them. My children just love the stories in this book! My son would read it all up in a day or two if I would allow him to.

This is the main book we use as our history spine. We supplement it with many library books that correspond to the chapter of SOTW that we are studying. I would not recommend using this book as your ONLY source of history. It is not intended to be used as such, and it simply cannot meet all your history needs.

To be honest, I am somewhat disappointed in the many spelling errors I have found in this book. Perhaps it was rushed to press because so many homeschoolers were eagerly awaiting the sequel to Volume 1. My son delights in finding the errors, and together we correct them in the text.

All in all, if you are looking for an easy way to introduce world history to your child, I recommend using this book as your entry point. When you reach a chapter that particularly interests your child, find LOTS of library books about that topic. ... Read more

Book Description

This read-aloud series is designed for parents to share with elementary-school children. Enjoy it together and introduce your child to the marvelous story of the world's civilizations.

Now more than ever, other cultures are affecting our everyday lives—and our children need to learn about the other countries of the world and their history.

Susan Wise Bauer has provided a captivating guide to the history of other lands. Written in an engaging, straightforward manner, The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child; Volume 3: Early Modern Times weaves world history into a story book format. Who was the Sun King? Why did the Luddites go around England smashing machines? And how did samurai become sumo wrestlers?

The Story of the World covers the sweep of human history from ancient times until the present. Africa, China, Europe, the Americas—find out what happened all around the world in long-ago times. Designed as a read-aloud project for parents and children to share together, The Story of the World includes each continent and major people group. Volume 3: Early Modern Times is the third of a four volume series and covers the major historical events in the years 1600 to 1850, as well as including maps, illustrations, and tales from each culture. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Susan hate France!!
I read volume 3 very excitingly, but I feel Susan's prejudice. Her story of the France-especially Napoleon-is not fair! There's no good thing about him. Is that true?
If France childern read this book, they will be very angry.
And 'Opium War' is not detailed.
I wonder how she going to write about modern history.
But it's very exciting and helpful like her another books.

Continuing in the same great tradition
Volume three arrived in the mail last week, and I read it in two sittings. It follows the same approach as the first two volumes. The author, Susan Wise Bauer, has targeted this book at young children. It is a great book for thoughtful children. Like the first two books, volume three is written in such a way that it is both entertaining and informative.

Most of the other history books I've read have been very United States focused or European centric. Volume three covers every part of the world. You learn what is happening in Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East, Africa, India, China, the rest of Asia, and down in Australia & New Zealand. The book covers the time period from about 1500 to 1850.

I am surprised by just how much content is in each page. Even though history is presented in an easy flowing story like format, the book is packed with information.

There are 42 chapters, each with a focus. The first chapter starts off with The Holy Roman Empire, and how Spain became so rich with all the gold and silver coming out of Central and South America. The book ends with the California Gold Rush in 1849 and does a brief overview of the current state of the world in 1849. In between the book covers topics like the Protestant Rebellion, Warlords of Japan, the Spread of Slavery, Plague in England, the Ottoman Empire, the colonies in the New World, Chi'en-lung's Library, the French Revolution, and lots of wars. The book also covers how technology was changing the world. After the 42 chapters there is a five page timeline to help the reader understand when key events happened relative to other key events.

The book doesn't pull any punches. For example in the very first chapter, while talking about all the gold and silver Spain was getting from the New World, we're shown the living conditions of young children working down in the mines. The book doesn't go into graphic detail, but it does mention the warts of history, times and places where evil things happened.

To be well rounded and truly educated children need to have a solid understanding of where civilization has been over the last five thousand years. These "Story of the World" books are a good starting point.

This is a great way for young children to learn history. If you enjoyed the first two, you will enjoy volume three. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This ambitious reference guide lives up to its name. Practically three inches thick--and we're not talking large print here--it's packed with titles, ordering information, and Web site addresses. From where to send away for a kit to make your own Chilean rain stick to how to order a set of Elizabethan costume paper dolls, the book connects families to a world of learning possibilities. Book titles, short synopses, authors' names, publishers, and years of print make up the bulk of the guide. Classics such as The Cat in the Hat and Curious George share billing with lesser-known titles like Stone Fox, the story of a legendary Indian dog-sled racer. Every entry appears with recommended ages and an icon that shows whether the item is a book, computer disc, or video; an outstretched palm denotes hands-on materials. Most of the resources seem to have been test-driven by the author and her three homeschooled sons. Rebecca Rupp, a former scientist who has been teaching her kids at home for more than 10 years, peppers the guide with anecdotes about her children's experiences in various subject areas, much of it drawn from the family's extensive journals. Along with books, magazines, and kits for reading, math, writing, science, and history, a considerable amount of space is given to computer and television resources, as well as "life skills," a broad category that includes everything from etiquette and carpentry to sewing and sex education. Like a Yellow Pages guide to knowledge, The Complete Home Learning Sourcebook belongs on the shelf of anyone looking for new ways to spark a child's imagination. --Jodi Mailander Farrell ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Excellent resource for homeschoolers doing unit studies
I've purchased many homeschooling books, but this is the one that I use constantly in planning lessons and unit studies. If you prefer to put together your own curriculum, rather than purchasing a series of textbooks, The Complete Home Learning Sourcebook will save you time and money. It is a great starting point - classified by subject area and sub-divided into topics. This is the place to get a sense of what's available in catalogs, games, kits, books, cd-roms and more, with contact info and web addresses, so you can find what you want! Rebecca Rupp includes sections from her homeschool journal to illustrate what worked for her family. If I could only have one book on homeschooling, this would be it.

This is an invaluable resource, and a delightful read.
I do professional reviews of a lot of books about homeschooling, and I must say I found this one unusually fun to read, because there's so much packed into it about so many interesting and unusual resources, with something for everyone. It's gratifying to see a reference book so well done.

The Complete Home Source Book is quite literally a huge delight: with 865 pages, this book is 8 1/2" by 11" and almost 2" thick! The subtitle says it well: The Essential Resource Guide for Homeschoolers, Parents, and Educators, Covering Every Subject from Arithmetic to Zoology.

The book is nicely organized into subjects of study, and the subject titles are thoughtfully printed at the page edges in dark blocks to show even with the pages closed. Each entry is tagged with the age group for which the resource is intended. Symbols are used to identify whether the resource is: a book, curriculum, kit, video, software, magazine, audio, game, on-line resource, hands-on activity, or catalog. The price might at first seem expensive, but this is a huge reference resource for long term use, and should save the average person money in the long run, or even perhaps in the short run.

Just a few of the enormous range of subjects thoroughly covered are reading, writing, math, history, foreign language resources, the arts, sciences, journalism, research, mythology, libraries, ethics, religion, economics, philosophy, and life skills. The format consists of well-annotated lists of books, catalogs, games, hands-on materials, on-line resources, CD-ROMSs, tapes, and videos, along with Rebecca Rupp's comments, insightful observations, and delightful, thought-provoking, stories about her family's own experiences. The personal stories should be very helpful to a beginning homeschooler, in that they open a window into what homeschooling looks like in the real setting of one family's daily life. There's no reason, however, why a school-going family couldn't also enjoy and make good use of the book in the same way.

I really think this is one of the best resources to ever grace the home education market.-Lillian Jones

Sent from heaven!
What can I say that has not already been said? This book has helped me find books, software and sites to aid in our studies on various topics. This is a thick, deeply developed book that really is a must have for homeschoolers.

wow, its huge
Wow, its huge. Its packed with sources. For anyone looking for educational materials for their kids, this is a must-have. It is maybe not as complete as the title suggests, but then it would have to be a 3 volume set. also includes a few interesting excerpts from the authors home-schooling diary.

MEGA-RESOURCE!
Wow, this book blows me away! It's easy to understand and follow and is packed with great information and inspiration. I have used it to write our curriculum for this year. Yes, some of the web addresses are out of date, and some of the books, games, kits, and so on, are hard to find. But with a little work and an open mind, I seem to be able to find everything I need. I am waiting impatiently for a revised edition. I hope there is one! ... Read more

Book Description

Parents can assure their child's success in language arts with this simple-to-use, scripted guide. First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind uses picture study and other classical techniques to develop the child's language study in those first two all-important years of school. Each lesson leads the parent, step-by-step, through the simple oral and written projects that build reading, writing, spelling, storytelling, and comprehension skills. Use this book to supplement school learning, or as the center of a home-school language arts course. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Extremely simple to use and very effective tool for grammar
I am very happy with this book! My six year old now BEGS to "do grammar" because this book is perfectly designed for 1st and 2nd grade homeschool kiddos and their parents.

I love the scope and sequence of this book! It covers all the basics of elementary grammar. Nouns, all types of verbs, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, articles, conjunctions and interjections are all taught in a very quiet, gentle manner. Students learn how to construct a complete sentence, how to write a simple letter to a relative, how to narrate (re-tell) a simple story, memorize short poems, and much more.

In the style of Saxon textbooks, Jessie Wise has completely "scripted" the parent's conversation / teaching time with the child. This script can be used word-for-word, used as a springboard, or completely ignored. Using the book as a scope-and-sequence guide alone makes it worth its price. Having 200 quick and easy lessons to present to your child makes it invaluable!

Although the 200 lessons are designed to be used over a 2-year period, I think that most average students would move more quickly through the material. There is much repetition and review built in (on purpose... this is for a grammar-stage student). If your child has thoroughly mastered action verbs, simply move past that topic when it comes up. Just make sure to review the concept from time to time, so your child isn't stymied when they are confronted with a formal grammar textbook for the first time.

I very much appreciate these short, easy grammar lessons! Thank you, Jessie Wise, for fulfilling this homeschooler's need.

Wow!
Wow! Incredible balance of easy to teach from (no preparation), "meaty", quick paced, and gentle. Includes lots of repetition of only a few concepts so that the child really learns something. This is how I would write a first language book for my own kids if I had the time. It is good for my gifted kids, my learning disabled kids, and my ESL/internationally adopted kids.

--by a homeschooling mom of six kids

A Gentle Start to Schooling
This book is a wonderful way to begin homeschooling in a relaxed and easy way. This is easy on the teaching parent, and very easy on the young student, and takes no more than 5 minutes per day. An added benefit is that the learning percolates up: as the work is oral and repetitive, any older students in the family will absorb anything that they have missed along the way.

Don't be decieved! Poems have been altered!
Although this grammar book has been highly recommended by individuals following "The Well Trained Mind", and the author is familiar, Please be forwarned that the

POEMS HAVE BEEN ALTERED and miscredited.

The poets would be appalled at the changes made in their poetry. The editor does not indicate that the poems have been changed to suit the editors views. When I asked why there was no disclaimer of the edited poems, they told me the poems were the originals. However with just a little research, you can find the originals on the internet, and in other poetry books.

We memorized several of these watered down, altered poems without knowing that it was not the work of original authors. The grief of this mental violation is difficult to explain. Anyone teaching the Classical method is surely aware of the importance of the original work, not a dumbed down version.

Please, PLEASE, if you do decide to use this grammar book - find the original poets work. We have moved on to "English for the Thoughtful Child" - the Original book FLL is based upon.

First Language Lessons
Excellent! Easy to use and very through. Self paced for any learning ability. Covers everything plus more for national standardized test. ... Read more

Book Description

An all-inclusive guide for the parents of the 1.5 million homeschooled children

Homeschooling, once an alternative to conventional education, is experiencing a boom all across America and has become a highly valued option for more and more mainstream parents. The McGraw-Hill Homeschooling Companion provides parents with a complete, authoritative, truly balanced guide to every aspect of homeschooling, from the primary years through high school.

This all-in-one manual covers the different approaches to homeschooling as well as the specific methods for setting up the home learning environment, including legal requirements, supplies, and lesson plans. Individual chapters examine the stages of homeschooling: what curriculum planning involves, the indispensable tools for the home classroom, computer use, and tips and techniques on teaching all the core curriculum requirements. Special features include comprehensive treatment of standardized testing, state by state; practical counsel on integrating homeschooling and living in the outside world; 10 favorite homeschool suppliers; websites; and homeschooling laws for all 50 states.

Reviews (10)

Very Helpful Homeschooling Book!
I just received a copy of this book, and found it very helpful. It contained lots of information for the novice homeschooler, and hints that would help even the most seasoned homeschooler. The chapters that cover the different subject areas, and School on the Run were clever, and gave me some really terrific ideas. I found especially useful the chapter on Avoiding burnout, as well as the chapter on Social Studies. What a great way to teach your child what the concept of "history" means! Check out this book, it is a very refreshing one amongst the homeschool selection.

Best Homeschooling Book I've Seen
Being a new homeschooler I've read just about every book out there. This book was a GREAT surprise. It gave me more information than any other books I've seen and it answered questions I hadn't even thought to ask -- but now I know I should've. Every resource you could think of is in there yet the authors don't try to sell you on one particular kind of approach. Instead, they explain all the approaches and help you decide which one is best for your family. Then they tell you how to do just that. It even explains how to teach each subject! If you buy only one homeschooling book, make it this one -- you'll save a lot of money in the long run. I can't say enough about this book!...

Everything I Wanted to Know, and More!
I've been homeschooling for a year and a half, and am still eager to read new information on homeschooling. I wish I'd found this book sooner. It was all I would've needed to know and then some. Great resources! It explains the legal requirements, recordkeeping, how to deal with family and friends who look at you like you're crazy, ideas on how to teach each subject (from unschooling to highly structured approaches), discusses curricula, provides listings of state laws, support groups in all the states, websites, what if your child wants to go to college -- too much to list! I was surprised to see the "reader from USA" say that it was too general. But that is what makes homeschoolers so interesting -- we have a common bond even if we see certain things differently. I couldn't recommend this book more highly. Don't just think about it -- buy it! Good luck with your homeschooling.

great book, but not that helpful
I bought this book because of the great reviews here. I am a new homeschooling mom, and needed some "specific" information to help get me started.
This book is a great "general" book,but lacked the specifics i was looking for.

Great Resources
This book was not what I was actually what I was looking for but it was FULL of great resources...especially if you like to work online! ... Read more

Book Description

So you want to homeschool but don’t think you can afford it.

This book is a compendium of ideas for the family that wants to start or continue homeschooling on a tight budget. You’ll find it all here:

• Ideas for making money while staying at home.
• Sources for an inexpensive curriculum.
• Thousands of ideas for affordable teaching tools.
• Hundreds of suggestions for low-cost field trips.
• Ways to save on everything from housing to utilities.
• Ways to get free or low-cost computers. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great for all parents!
This book is great for all parents...even if they choose not to homeschool. It gives great advice and ideas for cutting corners in "regular" life to allow room in the budget for homeschooling. I am new in my research of homeschooling but I have read at least 10 books in the last 6 months on the topic and this is tie for first place on my list! A MUST for anyone concerned about "finding" the money to homeschool!

A must read
I loved this book so informative. This book is for anyone feeling they dont feel they would be able to homeschool. It gives alot advice and how to live on one income, starting your own library, and information on college. It also gives alot of freebies or low cost alternatives. This book may be the one to convince my husband that homeschooling is the right choice.

The most practical book on home schooling that I have read!
This book is essential for all home schoolers that desire to or must watch the budget. Tons of practical tips on freebies and low cost activities and teaching aids, as well as other tips to make home schooling doable for anyone who wishes to educate their children at home. ... Read more

Book Description

Created for learners pre-K through 6th grade, the Power-Glide Junior Spanish Course leads the pack in independent study Spanish training. This course includes a wide variety of learning methods and activities, keeping every kind of learner motivated and having fun. Our unique methodology utilizes the same techniques as natural native language acquisition. Learners finish the course with a remarkable ability to not only read and understand the language, but actually communicate. This course includes three levels worth of course workbooks, a Parent/Teacher's guide with additional instruction and testing tools, and audio CD's. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Power-Glide Junior Adventure
My son is starting the Power-Glide Ultimate Adventure. He is in 5th grade. It has taken him 2 months to almost complete the hole program. He has enjoyed the Adventure with the two kids. This program is not for anyone who is older than 6th grade. This is one program that we can not turn off, so it has been worth it. He prefers this program over Rosetta Stone, but we will be using that program next year. We are using these programs for homeschool. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you believe Carmen and Geoffrey McGuinness, our children are in grave danger of becoming illiterates--and the McGuinnesses are the only ones who can save them. Reading Reflex is an exhaustive how-to guide for the reading instruction method they've developed called Phono-Graphix. Phonics and whole language take a beating here, with the authors accusing both methods of failing generations of would-be readers. Their approach, unabashedly touted as far superior, stresses the 43 sounds of the English language, treating letters as symbols of these sounds. Phono-Graphix teaches children to separate each phoneme in a word so that the phonemes can later be blended back in the right order. If this sounds familiar it's because the same method was heralded in 1997 in the well-publicized book Why Our Children Can't Read, by psychologist Diane McGuinness (Geoffrey's mother).

Parents may find the first long chapter on the history and process of learning how to read a bit tedious and technical. But since each chapter--and the method--builds on these thoughts, it's a must to read the book from cover to cover. Harder still is accepting the McGuinnesses' claim that Phono-Graphix has a 100 percent success rate. Much of the research cited in their book seems to have been conducted by the authors themselves, with no indication of comparison groups or follow-up studies. Still, numerous schools throughout the country and in England have adopted the method. And the McGuinnesses' tone of alarm may ring true for some parents frustrated with their children's struggles to read. Phono-Graphix represents a new alternative where none existed before. Future analysis by outside evaluators will show whether it deserves the confidence its creators possess. --Jodi Mailander Farrell ... Read more

Reviews (29)

A Method that Works!
This book make a lot of sense to me. My 5 1/2 year old daughter knows the "names" of all the letters (a, bee, see) but has not been introduced to the concept that our written language is a code for sounds that we wish to represent. Within 10 to 15 sessions based on phono-graphix, she is now reading any consonant-vowel-consonant word and is ready to move on to more complex combinations.

Forget about "double you" and "ef" and "gee"! No wonder our kids are so confused!

I think this is a great program for parents who wish to work at home with their kids, and I feel that it makes an excellent supplement to the whole language program that is taught in my child's school.

An excellent book for teacher reading AND SPELLING
I discovered Phono-Graphix through Reading Reflex and have sense then become certified in the method. I use it with my students at school and work with private clients as well. I love the program and feel it is the best possible way to teach a child to read and spell. I disagree with the reviewer who says that Diane McGuinness's Allographs is a good supplement to Reading Reflex. My students found it very confusing and I feel it goes against the principles set out in Reading Reflex. The best supplement to Reading Reflex is the 'parenTeacher Magazine', a free publication written by the authors of Reading Reflex - Carmen & Geoffrey McGuinness. I also recommend frequent doses of the website readamerica.com where you can get advise on how to help your child or students in your class from the authors and from other parents and teachers. Tiffany, Alabama teacher

A Preschool Teacher has a different view....
Despite some five-star reviews, I do not think this book is good for reading.

While this book does have a method which could help children to read, the philosophy for it is flawed. There is much misinformation. The book talks about the "failure" of Phonics and Whole Language in teaching schoolchildren how to read. That is just plain wrong.

Phonics ONLY instruction produced children who could read but not understand what they read. But phonics must be a part of effective instruction in reading. Part, not all.

Whole Language instruction did produce excellent when it was used properly; with all of the components used according to the model. But many times a "whole language" program did not fully follow the model and so children could not read well.

Whole Language died a political death but an effective systems, a "Comprehensive Literacy Program," does work. If your school system uses it you'd be better asking your child's teacher for things to do at home to help your child rather than buying this book.

Looking for phonics help?
This workbook is the most logical and efficient way to teach a child to read one step at a time. I've used it and it works. The process simplifies the English language into sounds not just letters so a child can work on sounds that correlate with letter groupings. Did you know that th can be soft as in brea"th"e or hard as in "th"e?

It's a little like taking a linguistics class but whatever works.

This book changed our lives
As an early reader myself, I just assumed my daugher would be just as quick to catch on to reading. When she was 3 we began our phonics instructions with the alphabet. When she was 4, we continued, but we couldn't seem to get past letter recognition. At 5, we tried reading simple books, but it was hit and miss at best. 6, some progress, but we couldn't get past basic consonant-vowel-consonant words. By 7 I was extemely concerned, to say the least.

Someone told me about Reading Reflex and I bought a copy. It seemed that anything this simple and inexpensive couldn't work. And yet, within days of beginning work on seemingly simple games, we saw improvement. Within a month, she was reading away and on grade level. I can't explain what is different about it than other reading approaches, but I know it works. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Unschooling, a homeschooling method based on the belief that kids learn best when allowed to pursue their natural curiosities and interests, is practiced by 10 to 15 percent of the estimated 1.5 million homeschoolers in the United States. There is no curriculum or master plan for allowing children to decide when, what, and how they will learn, but veteran homeschooler Mary Griffith comes as close as you can get in this slim manual. Written in a conversational, salon-style manner, The Unschooling Handbook is liberally peppered with anecdotes and practical advice from unschoolers, identified by their first names and home states. The book also includes resources such as one teenager's sample "transcript," a typical weekly log of a third-grader's activities, and helpful lists of magazines, online mailing lists, Web sites, and catalogs. Griffith, a board member of the Homeschool Association of California (and the author of The Homeschooling Handbook), names Margaret Mead and Thomas Edison as two examples of those who have profited from unschooled childhoods, and further claims that research validates support for this controversial form of education. The "evidence" she cites, however, is predominantly theoretical writings from noted educators about the benefits of child-centered learning. The handbook suffers from a mild case of the Lake Wobegone syndrome--every unschooled children is seen as an above-average self-starter on the verge of genius--yet despite this overly rosy approach, the book is a well-organized guide for homeschoolers and other families contemplating the "un" life. --Jodi Mailander Farrell ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Easy to read, understand and implement in your kids lives.
As a homeschooling mom of two boys, we had heard about the unschooling method but were a little unsure of its effectiveness until we read this book. Mary Griffith does a wonderful job of explaing the concept of unschooling, and the numerous families quoted throughout the book make the concept seem so natural.

There are chapters on math, science, reading and writing, and how to use the world around your children to foster these skills without "doing school". Using the unschooling concept has made the boys' curiosity and wonder of the world around them just explode and has made learning exciting for them. The unschooling philosophy has made learning a 24/7 event at our house, thanks to this wonderful book.

Any family considering homeschooling, or "doing school" at home, or using a curriculum needs to read this unique and fabulous book.

From a family of long-time unschoolers...
we highly recommend this book. Aside from the information you can get about unschooling at the www.unschooling.com website and message boards, this is the best information in print.

Our family has always unschooled, and it was John Holt that brought us there, along with listening to our hearts and respecting our children's point of view.

If you are interested in homeschooling, read John Holt's books ("Learning All the Time") and visit the message boards at www.unschooling.com. And add this wonderful book to your library, as you will use it over and over again...and you will lend it to friends over and over again!

Great Unschooling Book!
I have homescooled for 2 years and had never heard of unschooling until recently. After reading this book, I was hooked. My son is definately the type to learn on his own. This book is full of ideas and encouraging examples of other unschoolers. Wish I had read this years ago! If you are thinking of unschooling, read this first. It really makes sense!

Must read. A super place to start!
If you are thinking of homeschooling, this is a fabulous primer on one of the approaches to teaching kids, or letting kids learn, at home. It does an excellent job of covering a broad scope of issues without being overwhelming. The style of writing and layout of the book makes it easy and enjoyable to read. Well worth your time!

Be VERY Careful Before You Tread
If the direction of training you are to give your children should be up to their own interests and desires, perhaps you should not teach them to brush their teeth either. They will pick it up on their own if they have an interest. If they don't still you save a lot of your time when you don't have to create the toothbrushing cirriculum for them.

The inmates can very easily begin running the asylum if these concepts promoted here are taken in just about EVERY way that most people will take them.

If you don't want to mess with your kids' education but you still want the feel-good experience of telling your church friends that you homeschool, then let your kids learn what they want. But it is your job to mold them and train them. For example, they don't like certain foods until you train them to like them. But the unschooling concept has a problem with that concept.

You should approach this with grave caution. ... Read more

Book Description

For Families Who Want to Splurge on Education but Scrimp on Spending
Are you considering homeschooling your child, but don't know where to go for the best educational resources? The Internet is an open door to the biggest library/laboratory the world has ever seen—and it's all at your fingertips for free! This never-ending source of information, adventure, and educational experiences for the entire family is now compiled in a complete curriculum for any age in Homeschool Your Child for Free.
This invaluable guide to all the best in free educational material—from reading-readiness activities for preschoolers to science projects for teens—categorizes, reviews, and rates more than 1,200 of the most useful educational resources on the Internet and beyond. You'll discover:
·Legal guidelines and compliance requirements for home educators
·Complete curriculum plans for a comprehensive education, for preschool through high school
·Online lesson plans arranged by subject, from American history to zoology
·Teaching tips and motivators from successful homeschoolers
·And much, much more!
"Wow! Everything I have been trying to organize—all in one book! This is going to be part of my resource library for the support group I lead. Thanks, ladies."—Kimberly Eckles, HIS Support Group Leader, Home Instructors
I'm impressed! There are more sites and links than I knew existed. A great resource for homeschoolers."—Maureen McCaffrey, publisher Homeschooling Today ... Read more

Reviews (15)

A great, great resource for homeschooling families...
Although many of the website links listed in this book were no longer in use, I still give this book 5 stars because the information provided inside led me to finding websites and ideas I might never have found otherwise. If you want to find "free" ways/methods of homeschooling, this book just may lead you down the right path. I first learned about the Charlotte Mason method of teaching in this book and am now following the principles of this method. If you are like my family and don't want to spend countless dollars on fancy curricula but want to give your family a solid education at home or supplement your child's formal education, this book just may lead you to some wonderful places.

A book worth buying
Actually I'd give it 4 1/2 stars but Amazon won't let you do that!
I found this book very very helpful and I've had good feedback from other parents who have borrowed it. The book is set up so that subject by subject parents can get advice and ideas about what and how to teach. There are links to many VERY good and well researched websites provided for each subject. After a year I'm still finding links listed in the book that I'd like to visit. I was a little disappointed that more resource books weren't mentioned. This book is most useful for those with a computer. Our family (we've homeschooled for 13 years now) uses online information much less than we use the library though we are very computer literate. Having more library resources would be helpful.

Excellent resource for all Parents !!
I initially found this book in the local library and liked it so much, I had to purchase it. It has valuable information for all families regardless of whether or not you homeschool. Tons of websites and tips.

Excellent resource! Leaves out just one thing
I'm impressed with the scope of the research. This is worth 100 times the purchase price. Excellent division by learning level.

What's not mentioend enough is OpenOffice.org. OpenOffice.org is the best office suite for home schoolers. It's free but is comparable to MS Office and creates all the MS Office files you need. The drawing program it includes is magnificent.

Very Useful
I keep this book on hand during those curriculum lapse times or when I find I can't get enough information to supplement my children's education, although it can be used for a full curriculum. This book is layed out so the information is easy to find and easy to flip through. Chapters (with many links) are broken up by subject and from elementary to high school levels. I wouldn't do without it. Thinking I would only use it for a short time, I got it at the library. After viewing it, I realized it was going to be a great reference source to have around all the time. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Great Resource...and Filled With Wisdom
The great thing about these little (28-30 pages) guides is that they truly give you all you need to start successfully homeschooling your K-3rd Grader in 3 core areas: reading, Language (Grammar) and Math. They are jammed packed with details and wonderful "how-tos", not rhetoric. I imagine that you can design a whole year's curriculum with just this packet, and a collection of very good books. Do yourself a favor, ditch the urge to buy those expensive curriculums with bells and whistles. Buy this first. I just wish I found this series BEFORE I spent hundreds of dollars on buying and selling things I didn't want or need. When you have finished this, I suggest you read Beechick's You Can Teach Your Child Successfully for more wisdom on schooling 4th-8th Grade.

Enjoy.

Simple and very effective
These little books are jam-packed with great, usable, easy advice *that really works* to teach your children the Three R's in the first years. I have taught both my eldst two sons how to read using Ruth Beechicks recommendations from The Three R's, not only did they enjoy the process (rare for boys anyway) but they now have a voracious appetite for reading. (They are 9 and 7). Im now starting again with my 5 year old, and have sold all those other reading programs I thought I needed. I could say the same thing in re. to maths and writing. Thank you Dr Beechick!

Superb Starters
These are the best little books for starting to homeschool. They cover the basics and they do it well. With just these three books, a few math manipulatives, and a selection of books for reading you too can homeschool. These books cover everything you need for the basics. They provide me the confidence I need and a reminder to keep it simple. I wish I had found these books first before reading any of the other 'how to homeschool' type books or wasting my time trying to find a prepackaged curriculum.

Enjoy.

A great resource tool for keeping things simple!
I am duly impressed with the short, concise way Ms. Beechick has explained the "mystery" of teaching the 3 R's to young children. While educators would have us to believe that it is a secret, Ms. Beechick explains in short pamphlets no less how to do it and do it painlessly. I especially like how in the arithmetic book, she describes what and how to teach a child in the first through third grades. I am sure that now that I have begun teaching my son at home, I will use these little books quite often.

To Start Your Child Off Right...
...get these books! It is a very small investment, but a wealth of information. The approach is totally different from most curriculums and "workbooks."

I had a hard time in school. While I am bright, I am also dyslexic. Therefore, I had to find ways where I could learn, not in the (what has become) traditional way. This "traditional way" of mass education has only been around for a couple hundred years. Before that, people were taught from life and life examples; the "hands on" approach.

This small set of books is brining us back to the concept that all people do not learn the same way! This is not new, but it is totally politically incorrect.

We have been using the traditional workbooks with my son and he just has not gotten it. Inn addition, there has been a real lack of interest. Why? Most of them are boring! After reading these books and putting into practice the principles outlined in them, he started to be able to sound out simple words in a week! A coincidence? I think not.

Do not be stuck in the political agenda of the day or in what is familiar to you. Be willing to branch out for your kids. They will excel when they are taught in the way in which they can learn. You too will be excited when you see them learning more quickly and with enthusiasm.

Give this book a try. If you are truly willing, I do not think you will be disappointed!

My rating: A ... Read more

Book Description

The classic work on teaching children at home, updated for today's new laws, new lifestyles, and a new generation of homeschooling parents.Today more than one and a half million children are being taught at home by their own parents. In this expanded edition of the book that helped launch the whole movement, Pat Farenga has distilled John Holt's timeless understanding of the ways children come to understand the world and added up-to-the-moment practical advice.Rather than proposing that parents turn their homes into miniature schools, Holt and Farenga demonstrate how ordinary parents can help children grow as social, active learners. Chapters on living with children, "serious play," children and work, and learning difficulties will be of interest to all parents, whether homeschooling or not, as well as to teachers. This new edition is supplemented with legal advice as well as a guide to cooperating with schools and facing the common objections to homeschooling.Teach Your Own not only has all the vital information necessary to be the definitive reference for parents teaching their own children, it also conveys John Holt's wise and passionate belief in every child's ability to learn from the world that has made his wonderful books into enduring classics. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

How People Learn
Do you remember what they taught you at school? Me neither. I learned to read very early on, mostly at home, and I still remember some math, but only because I balance my checkbook and know when I'm getting correct change at the market. All those years, isolated from the real world in the artificial environment of school, sitting at a desk all day with 30 of my same age peers, how was I to learn about what an actual life in the world is like, or about what I wanted to do with mine? I remember learning to take tests. Now I never take them. A lot of it was pleasant enough, some of it was not, most of it was boring, and somehow I never noticed that I was mostly wasting my time.

Now I know better having read John Holt, a sweet, caring man and a wonderful writer. He's radical, but he never rants. He persuades, gently, eloquently. He learns through years of careful, loving observation and by trial and error and he shares that with you in a way that makes it seem as though he's one of your oldest, most comfortable friends. He reminds you of what you went through in school. He makes sense. He's fun to read. And you know he's right as you read him, because we have all gone to school.

A treatise from the "granddaddy" of homeschooling
In this unofficial treatise for the homeschooling movement, John Holt, longtime private school teacher, maintains that the traditional classroom model no longer works and may, in fact, ruin kids for learning. He exhorts parents to challenge the conventional wisdom and be their children's teachers. You don't need to be a homeschooler to benefit from Holt's books; you simply need to care about children and education and to have uttered, if only once, "There's got to be a better way." ... Read more

Book Description

Homeschool the right way from day one.
Are you considering homeschooling for your family? Today, many parents recognize that their child's school options are limited, inadequate, or even dangerous, and an increasing number are turning to homeschooling. But where do you start and how do you ensure the highest-quality educational experience, especially in that pivotal first year?
This comprehensive guide will help you determine the appropriate first steps, build your own educational philosophy, and discover the best ways to cater to your child's specific learning style, including:
·When, why, and how to get started
·The best ways to develop an effective curriculum, assess your child's progress, and navigate local regulations
·Kid-tested and parent-approved learning activities for all age levels
·Simple strategies for developing an independent child and strengthening family and social relationships
·And much, much more!
"To the thousands of requests we receive for help from families new to homeschooling, we will now recommend this warm and knowledgeable book. It will ensure that all families make it to the second year—including yours!" —Elizabeth Kanna, editor in chief, Homeschool.com
"Linda Dobson addresses all the issues facing parents as they consider the task of homeschooling over other educational options. Those who wonder whether they really can or want to do the job will find unique perspectives in this well-researched work."—Beverly K. Eakman, author and cofounder, National Education Consortium ... Read more

Reviews (8)

I was looking for answers!!!
This book was so amazing I am lending it out to people who aren't even thinking of homeschooling... it was just so wonderful to read! I was about to start homeschooling my oldest and didn't have any idea where to start. Lisa Dobson addressed each of my fears and questions... and I don't even know her! This book is so down to earth that it will put anyone at ease, and the advice she and the many many other homeschoolers give is so practical. I started using the information immediately. There are two wonderful features I would like to detail for you: first of all, she takes nine different styles of homeschooling, explains them thoroughly, and then takes you through "A week in the life" with a family using each. As a new homeschooler, this helped me immensely by helping me eliminate those philosophies which I know would not work for our family, but find some philosophies that I will research further. The second feature are the abundance of "What I Wish I had Known the First Year" highlights throughout the book. You will not regret this purchase!

Like conversations you would love to have in person!
This is an excellent resource! When I first began homeschooling, it was very hard to get this kind of support, because homeschoolers at park days and other get-togethers are so often distracted by thing going on in the moment. This book is full of heartfelt sharing and support that cuts through to the really important and vital parts of homeschooling. Finding resource materials for learning academic subjects is the easy part--but the deep insight provided in this book, from many people's actual experiences, is the kind of thing the beginning homeschooler is really most concerned about. I also love her newest book, The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas, in which ideas for specific educational activities are contributed by so many people. Linda Dobson's format of having so many contributors from all over the country come together with their ideas makes these books all the more valuable--they're not just one person's opinion, and I think new homeschoolers do want to hear from lots of other ordinary homeschoolers who are going through the same everyday challenges that they will be going through.

Peace of Mind -- a gift from Linda Dobson
I stepped into homeschooling in 2001 as scared mom of a burned-out child. This book was not in print at the time that we began our homeschooling adventure, but I came across it several months later. What great gift it was to read! I learned that I was doing okay, that my decision to "deschool" was on-target and most of all, this book gave me priceless peace of mind that homeschooling does not have to replicate school in order to be a viable means of educating my child. I found particular comfort in the chapter on Homeschool Myths, especially the myth that all homeschool children are National Spelling Bee champions, science fair winners, etc. While it may seem contraindicated to have lowered expectations of one's children, this advice nugget helped me understand that my children don't have to confrom to society's expectations of success in order to be successful. I don't need to push them to achieve based on some artificial, media-biased standard. I can let them be -- and share the joy of learning as a family. *That* is the greatest gift of homeschooling which this wonderful book taught me to see. Thank you, Linda Dobson!

Off to a good start..
An excellent source of information for those of us considering homeschooling. Wonderful insightful comments form other parents who have found themselves in our same positions. I was pleased to find the resource information so helpful and in one location! I recommend this book as reference source for anyone considering homeschooling.

Not as good as I was hoping
When I first thought about homeschooling, I only knew Linda Dobson's name. I was all excited to get her books. But I was later disappointed. Her books (including this one) lack "meat" and are way too vague. There's a lot of fluff and I didn't really find anything that was particularly helpful or informative. I suppose it's a good, VERY basic introduction. But that's about it. The main thing that I did not appreciate about the author is her heavy unschooling bias. Not everyone is into unschooling. To the new homeschooler, that can be a real turn-off. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The chilly, wet air of Bainbridge Island, Washington, practically gusts out of this book, written with such descriptive flair that it effortlessly whisks readers into the life of David Guterson, a homeschooler who despises the word and who fell into the practice by accident after he and his wife suffered anxiety attacks over sending their oldest son to school. Guterson is best known for Snow Falling on Cedars, the fictional bestseller he wrote three years after this honest examination of the ultimate in school alternatives. Before he became a prizewinning author, Guterson was a high school English teacher. It is this contradiction--schooling his own children at home, while teaching his neighbors' children in school--that Guterson tries to dissect and defend. He does so with the same fresh, poetic prose that distinguishes his fiction. Some of the characters may sound vaguely familiar. In one chapter, Guterson is forced to defend homeschooling when he moonlights with a gillnetter who believes the practice threatens democracy. Guterson's detailed account of that night--the fisherman's cadence of speech and body language, the misty isolation of the Pacific after dark--seems like a practice run for Snow Falling on Cedars. Still other chapters get downright erudite, with references to contemporary education books by such authors as Tracy Kidder, E.D. Hirsch Jr., and Jonathan Kozol, as well as citations of important research in the field. Guterson weaves these theories and facts into his own life to support his contention that all parents should have a wealth of choices when it comes to educating their children, and that school districts should foster and assist in these choices.

As for Guterson's three sons, their days are described as rich, active, and simply fun, with trips to theaters, a sheep farm, a medieval fair, art galleries, science centers, and other hands-on experiences that ignite their passion for learning. Guterson claims he's not stumping for homeschooling and, true to his word, he devotes a chapter to his lawyer father's stance on the issue (he opposes keeping his grandsons out of school, but defends the rights of parents to do so). Still, the author makes a well-reasoned case for accepting parents as their children's chief educators. Even if you don't agree, you will enjoy getting to know Guterson and his clear-headed, lyrical look at life. --Jodi Mailander Farrell ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Outstanding must-have compared to other homeschool books
Forget HOW to homeschool -- what really matters is this beautifully articulated argument for WHY to homeschool. Institutional school is inflicted on generations of Americans in large part because we assume it's necessary to our cultural identity. Guterson makes a cogent, complete, and compelling case that children learn best when their own families take charge, and that the cold war between public schools and everyone else must finally yield to a more integrated, cooperative focus on each child's learning (wherever it may take place). Like Guterson, I am both a homeschooling parent and a public school professional -- this is the book I would have written someday if he hadn't already said it all so well. END

Fantastic Book
After reading many, many homeschooling books, I can honestly say this is the one that is well marked, underlined and has it's own place on the shelf. David Guterson is a masterful writer who describes both sides of the education coin - public verse home education. His chapter on socialization is thoughtful and interesting. I appreciate his non-emotional writing style that is educated and well balanced. If I had read this book before my eldest entered kindergarten, we would have started homeschooling years ago. The Family DOES Matter - and that is why education at home makes sense. I wish more politicians would read this book and stop giving lip service to the family - and help Americans educate their children with more ease - be it in public schools, homeschools or a mixture of both. Well written!!

Enrich your family's life with this book
This book is not only for homeschooling families but for those who feel that traditional schools just don't meet their children's needs. This is not a confrontational book; rather, it is an informative book written in an engaging and warm manner. Guterson has delivered on his subtitle's promise -- to show his readers "Why Homeschooling Makes Sense." He accomplishes this without lecturing, and without resorting to dry, accusatory rhetoric. Buy this book. Of the dozens of books I own on this subject, this book will fall apart from usage and be replaced again and again.

Well though out opinions, makes great arguments
I've read a good number of books about homeschooling and was surprised and delighted to find this book discusses some topics I've not seen covered in other books. The jacket and chapter titles are not very clear about the content of the book so I will give an overview of what the book contains.

The introduction is one of the best pieces in the book! Guterson's theories on why American's hold public education so near and dear to their hearts, despite knowing the fallbacks and shortcomings. To ponder the notion of not sending our children to school is seen by many as un-American. Guterson feels we are unable to objectively examine schools for what they are because we are blinded by our memories.

Chapter one discusses standardized tests and in the end he states they are "unsound measurements of learning". School tests, quizzes, essays and assignments don't measure learning so much as they measure the child's "approximate degree of adjustment to life at school". Despite the many differences in homeschooling reason and method, the one central theme is the parent delivering an education that is custom designed to the child. Guterson states, "Teaching method and content in abstract are not relevant to academic success". This is refreshing because even amongst homeschoolers we usually encounter opinions of one teaching method or curriculum being superior to another.

Chapter two is a debate the author has with a father who does not support homeschooling and is a devout public school supporter. Debates about public schools as democracies, and the notion that homeschoolers should stay in schools and work to reform them and other topics are covered.

Chapter three discusses socialization and what it is that non-homeschoolers worry about regarding homeschooled children and socialization. Counter arguments are made for common misconceptions and the value that homeschooled children get from forming relationships with people of all ages throughout the community. An interesting idea that schooled students are so far disconnected from their own parents and their parents work lives that some students seek a close relationship with a teacher, to form a relationship with an adult mentor since their own parents are away from them the majority of their lives. Guterson feels that the social lives of schooled children is both dangerous and unhealthy, and that homeschooled children do have peer pressure but are less peer obsessed.

Chapter four is a dialogue between the teacher and his students about homeschooling and why he homeschools. To answer the question about "is homeschooling legal and should it be" the author brings his father, an attorney, in to the class for a lecture on the topic. Of note is that his father is opposed to homeschooling but supports the freedom Americans have and should continue to have to homeschool their children if that is their desire.

Chapter five is a history of childhood and formal education, a good broad overview, albeit dry.

Chapter six delves into the educational philosophies of Plato, Rousseau, Dewey, and the child-centered learning enthusiasts: Steiner, Montessori, Neill, Pestaluzzi and Froebel (although all still advocate mass institutionalized schooling as the delivery method). Then Illich and Holt are reviewed as the philosophers who advocate that learning can take place outside of a school building. This chapter gives a good overview and if the reader wants to learn more, he can research these educational philosophers.

Chapter seven is a dialogue with an acquaintance that opposes homeschooling. This chapter focuses on the notion that in our modern day America, to maintain our lifestyle requires dual income families and therefore schools must be used as babysitters. There is no discussion here about successful homeschoolers of single income families or single parent families. Interesting dialogue about the role the Federal Government and private businesses affect parents' abilities to be available to care for and homeschool their children. The author feels the real educational problems are rooted in the breakdown of families but doesn't spend too much time on this subject (despite the title of the book).

Chapter eight discusses childhood and education and learning before formal schooling. Traditional peoples are discussed and looked to for information about how children learn what they need to know to live, learning various skills and values from different people in the community (rather than inside of a schoolhouse). Guterson states that in creating schools we've removed learning from life and believe that learning can only take place inside of a school building.

Chapter nine covers learning theory and the notation that educational psychology and learning theory were developed after schooling was created 150 years ago. Despite knowing this information, schools have not changed their ways, which is a scary thought. Discusses Skinner, Piaget, and Bruner as having important ideas about how education should be changed.

Chapter ten discusses educational reform. Guterson feels that educational reform should be through strengthening families. Ideas for ways to public schools and homeschoolers to work together as a team are explored.

Chapter eleven is a discourse about what it is like for a homeschooling parent to be grilled by non-homeschoolers about the why's and wherefores of homeschooling. A rant about people assuming the father doesn't play a part in the education of the children is in this chapter along with a discussion of the men's movement. Guterson reminds us that parents have always been teachers and that it is only recently that teaching has become a salaried profession. Discussions about parents that can't wait for summer vacation to end so they can be rid of spending time with their children and about sports as the only link between disconnected fathers and schooled children is reviewed.

These are the meaty topics that are discussed in detail in this book. As I stated earlier, it is not a dry volume, it is quick to get to the point and studies and examples are given when appropriate. This is a great read if you are interested in the philosophy of homeschooling and schooling rather than "how to homeschool".

Excellent book!
I found David Guterson's book several years ago, before he wrote Snow Falling on Cedars and it was so well-written and interesting, I was anxious for him to write more. I wasn't expecting it to be fiction, but it was and only proved my point that he is an excellent writer. Family Matters: Why Homeschooling Makes Sense shows clearly both sides of the educational choice issue. It gives readers the option of thinking through the choices they make regarding the education of their children, without sounding preachy. Guterson is not homeschooling for religious reasons, he is a *public school teacher* who has decided that what is offered is not optimal for his children. And he is clear that this is not the best choice for everyone. Many homeschooling books pay lip service to this idea, but Guterson spells it out and even plays "Devil's advocate". This is not a book that preaches to the choir. It is fresh, clear and beautifully written. Even if you don't plan to homeschool your own children, read it so you can understand why others choose to do so. ... Read more

Book Description

A compelling story about one family's journey into the unknown territory of homeschooling, told with skill by Alison McKee, a gifted teacher with a wide experience in traditional education and a special sensitivity to the individual needs of children. Trusting her own children to "show me the way" was a difficult challenge - but one that gave unexpected and rich rewards. Anyone familiar with the writings of John Holt will be interested to learn how things worked out for a family that decided to test his belief that children are the best directors of their own education. McKee offers the reader insights on how children learn, plenty of illustrations and practical advice about how "unschooling" works, and thoughtful commentary on the state of education today. This book will reassure parents considering homeschooling that nurturing children's natural desire to learn can empower their children to become enthusiastic life-long learners. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not quite what I had hoped for
As someone spanning the bridge between unschooling their own children and working in the school system, Allison brings great insite into why the school system can't, by its very nature, provide the flexibility and nurturing qualities of home education. However, I wish the book had been a little more well-ordered, not subject-wise, but chronologically, so that we could more easily join the family on their journey through the unschooling process. Still, a worthwhile and enjoyable read, and a good book to share with others to help explain why we homeschool out children.

Very Instructive
The most convincing evangelist is a reformed sinner, and Alison McKee, herself a practicing teacher, comes across as a most credible proponent of homeschooling in this consistently insightful book. No vapid cheerleading here. Like many another anxious parent, McKee and her husband suffer from uncertainties while seeking that elusive balance between structure and free exploration as their two children progress through the elementary and high school years. Readers of this book will come to understand how great a gulf lies between the initial decision to school ones children at home - which for many parents simply replaces one set of rigidities with another - and the real leap off the precipice to unschooling. Whether or not one is prepared to go all the way, as McKee ultimately does (with successful results), the book will undoubtedly bring the reader face to face with one of the most fundamental, and generally unasked, questions of education: what (if anything) does what children learn have to do with what they become? This is a great pick-me-up for home-schooling parents, and a thought-provoking explanation for those who seek to understand homeschooling. But anybody who is interested in learning will find grist for her or his own mental mill here.

Superb book!
This is a wonderful inspirational story of one family's journey through unschooling beginning at their decision to homeschool. This book is not really about the hows of homeschooling, but more about the whys. Reading this book completely reaffirmed our decision to homeschool. It helped us see that a traditional mode of education isn't necessary to help our children become happy well-rounded educated people. This would be a great book to give to others who wonder why we homeschool.

Perfect Timing
Being a former public school teacher who wanted to unschool my own child, I found great difficulty letting things happen at their own time, in their own way. Alison McKee's book helped me breathe again and appreciate my child's pace and interests in a way no other homeschooling book was able to do. While I was reading it, I felt that it was perfect timing for me to find this book. I felt ready to hear what it had to say. I attributed that feeling to my own set of curcumstances at the time -- former teacher, resistant child/student. As it turned out, everyone who I have talked to about it, felt the same way. It was perfect timing in their lives to read this book. Thanks go to Alison McKee for sharing her family's story in such a clear and honest way. ... Read more