Editorial Review

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 Read more

Reviews (17)

A very useful, balanced book about why homeschooling makes sense
An articulate, thoughtful, accessible, and refreshingly balanced examination of "why homeschooling makes sense." I've read many books about homeschooling (a number of which were cited in Mr. Guterson's book), but none have been as helpful as this one in terms of exploring the advantages and disadvantages of teaching your own, and what it means in a larger sense, not just to our children but to ourselves and the society and culture in which we live. Even-handed, the author doesn't shy away from pointing out unhelpful attitudes on some members of both sides, -- school administrations and homeschoolers -- but he also does his best to place these observations in context that the reader might have a better understanding of its underpinnings. Those seeking a better way to express their reasons for homeschooling will find many arguments in its defense.
Good, Not Great
I found the historical information interesting. Guterson doesn't say anything totally revolutionary (historically speaking)--he doesn't unearth all sorts of historical factoids that no one's ever heard before--but what he does say is interesting, and leastwise confirms with details what you probably already guessed. I appreciated that the book was more philosophical, but by the end I just got tired of reading it for some reason. I guess since it didn't opt for being practical or apologetical, I could only swallow so many times the same paragraph over and over; "Homeschooling is great. Public Schools shouldn't be shut down. Administrators say they will change but don't. Schools need to rethink how they educate kids. Yada yada." Don't get me wrong, the book was very good at what it was attempting to do, I just felt like Guterson (or his publisher) shot himself in the foot by making it about 20-25% longer than it should have been. I guess it particularly got on my nerves since it was coming from an English teacher, considering that I would have gotten some bad marks for not cutting out all the redundancy if I had handed in a college paper like it.

A thought-provoking, empowering read!
It's been a while since I ready Guterson's "Family Matters," but it remains the single most important book I've read about homeschooling, even though we were already committed to and in the midst of homeschooling when I read it.
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Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Home Schooling    4. Home instruction    5. United States    6. Education / Home Schooling    7. Philosophy of education   

Reviews (3)

Well worth reading
This is a great book. It is based on facts- studies, observations, etc. It is not an academic book that you might read if you were going to school. It is written for the parent, the person who takes care of children, the average every day person who is curious about how children learn and what can be done to encourage the learning. It is easily read and easily understood. Stimulating and eye openning towards natural ways to educate
It is a wonderful guide for parents who are worried about the children's education in a career oriented, competitive world; looking for their child to grow naturaly, healthy in spirit, mind and body; but to also willinghelp the child in her development participating actively in theireducation. A child is a natural genius, it is up to the parents to discoverall the wonderful potential she has unveiled.I do not want my daughter tobe what I want her to be, I want her to disscover it by herself, and Iwould like to provide her with as much opportunities as possibleto widenher choices.

Reassuringly readable without in-your-face academic verbosit
This book reminded me of the poster in my high school principal's office, of Albert Einstein and how he didn't talk until age three, didn't read until age 11, kicked out of school at age etc. etc. If empowerment is the word of the decade, then this book belongs in the shopping basket of parents of "LD" kids, educators, therapists, child psychologists et al. Thought-provoking is an understatement- highly readable and "user-friendly." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    2. General    3. Home Schooling   

Reviews (11)

I love your language/literature section as well as the visual arts
I am a grandparent and have used this series of books starting from "What your second grader needs to know". We are now using "What my fifth grader needs to know" It is surprising to see how my grandchildren are enjoying the "extra knowledge" over and above what they are exposed to in the classroom. If I could have a wish, I would like to see more color photographs or images rather than the black and white pictures as shown . This would be a great improvement especially in the "Visual arts section" of this book. The description of Michelangelo's David is outstanding.

Mediocre
Up until my daughter was in fourth grade, I was pleased with the education she was receiving from our local elementary school.For many reasons, however, I decided to homeschool for fifth grade, so this book seemed like a godsend.While it does serve as a decent detailed list to use in conjunction with state and national benchmarks, it refers way too often to earlier books in the series. For example, on the very first page of actual text (not the General Introduction or How to Use This Book), you'll find these two sentences:
Core Knowledge??
I would agree that this book (and the others like it by Hirsch) offer a basis for valuable information. However, I would warn you to supplement a literacy curriculum with other stories and authors that include cultures other than European American. Look closely at the contents and you will notice that his view of "American literate culture" is overwhelmingly European-American based. I agree that students need to learn "American literate culture," however, curriculum needs to represent the many people that make up our diverse nation.
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Subjects:  1. Curricula    2. Curriculum planning    3. Education    4. Elementary    5. Elementary education    6. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    7. Fifth grade (Education)    8. Home Schooling    9. Parenting - General    10. United States    11. Education / Home Schooling   

Reviews (7)

Teaching reading's not that tough
I've only used this book for a week--gotten through just the vowels--and so far I love it. Each lesson is short, but includes plenty of repetition to help you child hear and remember the letters sounds. And the use of poems and other techniques are working--after just 5 days, my son is confident about the short vowel sounds. The lessons are completely scripted, giving the instructor the exact words to say, along with instructions about things to show or write down for your child and suggested responses from the child. We tried the 100 Lessons book for teaching reading and found it confusing and a little awkward. This one is super straight-forward and easy to follow.

Amazing Results
I (homeschooling mom) was very skeptical when I first received the book: No pictures! Then we (my 6-year old twins and I) started. And we loved it! We are half way through the book, and both kids read fluently. In their free time they pick up other books or anything else readable that they can find.
Caution to Learning Disabled
Any parent who has a children that has learning disabiilities needs to stay away from this method.Please examine the Orton-Gillingham or Spalding Method.There are homeschooling versions of these programs called Spell to Write and Read by Wanda Sanseri and Sound Beginnings by Julia Fogassy.
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Subjects:  1. Books and reading    2. Children    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. Home Schooling    5. Parent Participation    6. Reading    7. Reading Skills    8. Religion - Christian Education - Home Schooling    9. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    10. English    11. English language: reading skills    12. Teaching of a specific subject   

Editorial Review

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 Read more

Reviews (22)

Favorite resource of this veteran homeschooler!
Rebecca Rupp is inspiring. The pages and pages of resources include books, films, science kits, board games,coloring books and more. We homeschool very eclectically and I love the way she thinks outside the box! This book gets more use at my house than any other homeschool guide or materials catalog. The one drawback is that it is getting a wee bit dated- and some internet links no longer work. I'd also love to see her include in an updated version some of the programs we've been very happy with, such as Story of the World and Singapore math.

Wonderful!!!
I can't say enough about this book! If you are planning on homeschooling this is a must have!

The one to buy
There are many great books for homeschoolers, but if you are to buy just one - this is the one to buy.The amount of information will prepare you for virtually all units of study and Rupp's homeschool journal entries will energize and excite you! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Experimental Methods    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Home Schooling    6. Reference    7. United States    8. Education / Home Schooling   

Editorial Review

The teen years are when many homeschooling parents start to question or abandon their efforts. It's a precarious time, with challenging academics, pressing social issues, and the prospect of college looming. Parents can now breathe easy: this guide calms the teen-time jitters and even offers hope to those just turning to homeschooling now that their child is about to enter high school. With brief "how we did it" testimonies from other parents sprinkled throughout the book, author Cafi Cohen offers sage advice with the turn of every page. A columnist for Read more

Reviews (7)

Easy Reader
This book was easy to read and divided into segments that allowed for user-friendly access.I have referred to it numerous times since I received it and would recommend it to those homeschool parents facing the teen years.The best part of the book was the resources at the end of each section.It helped me see what parts in our curriculum needed improvement and which parts were right on target.

Cafi Cohen Instills Confidence
This is the second book I have read from Cafi Cohen. I find her writing straightforward, exciting, and relaxing at the same time.
A Must Have for Homeschooling Teens
I have been homeschooling for 11 years now and I must say this has been one of the most useful publications I have come across.I have already struggled through two teens with little help and not knowing where to turn for resources.There is a great deal of information for the younger years, but very little for teens.This book not only give you insightful information to make your teens education well rounded and interesting, but it also provides a wealth resources to turn for further information.No homeschool should be without it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Experimental Methods    4. Home Schooling    5. Teenagers    6. United States    7. Education / Home Schooling   

Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Misc. Nonfiction    2. Christianity - Education - Program Resources    3. Foreign Language Study    4. Home Schooling    5. Spanish    6. Spanish: Adult Nonfiction    7. Teaching Methods & Materials - Foreign Language    8. Unabridged Audio - Misc.Nonfiction   

Reviews (21)

NO Doubt...A MUST READ!!!!!
I read this book a year ago and it was great! But it was a new approach for me and it was very helpful. I've been actually using the different approaches she mentions in her book and have adapted them to our family's needs. I decided to reread the book, and boy am I glad I did! I understood more about where she was coming. If you are new to the Charlot Mason, this is a great beginning! Plus, you will LOVE Robin's 4Mat System!!! I have no doubt, this Homeschooling book is a MUST READ! and a MUST READ AGAIN:)

A must have for ALL Christian homeschoolers!
I downloaded this ebook over the holidays and am in the process of implementing Robin's ideas. The review is lengthy, but I feel it is such a foundational and worthwhile book. The book is divided into five sections, so I'll explain my take on each section.
Refreshing Insight
I found this book to be refreshing, challenging, and full of insight.It encouraged me to teach our children the way that God intended for them to be taught.Robin kept taking us back to the Bible the only source of TRUTH and WISDOM.I have told many people about this book.It is one of my three favorite books from the past year (the number 2 book is by Robin also, What your child needs to know when). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - Education - Children & Youth    2. Education    3. Home Schooling    4. Religion - Christian Education - Home Schooling    5. Religion - Educational Resources    6. Teaching Methods & Materials - General    7. Christian education    8. Christianity    9. Education / Home Schooling    10. Education-Teaching Methods & Materials - General    11. Religion-Christianity - Education - Children & Youth   

Reviews (6)

best history I have used
If you are teaching more than one age group I couldn't recomend a better history curriculum. I have 5 kids from 6yrs to 16. We all use the same book for history. I read aloud to the kids who can't read yet or who would rather listen. If you want to use this you will also need to buy the Activity Book. It includes lots of things to do for each subject including a list of books to read for older kids. I realy like the receipes for each time period.

The simple stories and explanations help make a picture of history.
I love traveling through time using different cultures and the simple explanations of the events.For me, to create a time line of facts that can than be broadened as more information is acquired as you read this book.I read this book over the summer for fun and now use it in an American History course.

and now for something completely different...
To be honest we are only ten chapters in to this volume (having read the previous three volumes), but this volume seems very choppy and disconnected.She does put a disclaimer at the beginning of the book stating the older age (fourth grade to eighth grade) of her intended audience, however the "storytelling" style of the previous volumes seems to be missing;that, in addition to the seemingly unrelated topics in each chapter make this book a much more difficult read, and certainly a more difficult "follow."We are hoping that the Activity Guide will make it more cohesive, however, it has not yet been released, which is very frustrating.Not giving up yet, however, as this has been a very good series overall. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - Education - General    2. History    3. History: World    4. Home Schooling    5. Religion - Christian Education - Home Schooling    6. Religious Education (General)    7. World - General    8. World History   

Reviews (16)

A Wonderful Book!!
This is the very first book I read after I first had thoughts of homeschooling our children.I fell in love with the Moore's!They seem like the sweetest older couple you would ever want to meet.They show you their method (which as many reviewers have already pointed out is no formal education until 10-12 years of age) and tell you how to do it.I came away from reading this book encouraged, and I ordered all the rest of their books, too!They have written several; another very good one is "Home Grown Kids".I'm not sure if it's in print anymore - I bought it used.Other people have said they don't agree with some of the methods (such as waiting)and I must admit that it is hard to do.Today's society makes it almost impossible to permit your child to not be able to read when he/she is 10-11!!The thing is, though, Dorothy Moore was a successful remedial reading teacher - she knows what she is talking about when it comes to teaching reading!Two things they mention must go hand in hand with homeschooling is service to others and manual labor.They believe it is healthy for a child to have work with his heart and hands as well as his mind.I love that idea - too many adults (let alone children) only think of themselves.This book (and others they've authored) mentions different ways to make these two things happen.
borrow it if you can
This book will help you to relax about homeschooling if you're stressing about it, but other than that, i was pretty dissapointed. Info based on stereotypical information - not research
For example, William Sidis is described as 'burned out', or unbalanced. At the time of his death - his friends did not think that he was either. He wasn't. He rejected capitalism, for that he is remembered, even in new books - as unbalanced. This author did not do research. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Burn out (Psychology)    2. Christianity - Christian Life - General    3. Education    4. Home Schooling    5. Religion - Relationships    6. Teaching Methods & Materials - Classroom Planning    7. United States    8. Education / Home Schooling   

Reviews (17)

One of the most important books that I have read in a while
In this wonderfully fascinating book, author Joel Turtel examines the modern American school system, and finds out just why it is the failure that it is - annually producing graduates that perform below world standards. Moving through the many flaws in the system, the author shows that the system isn't just flawed, it is broken. The system works against the children it is meant to serve, and against the parents who wish to be involved in their children's education. And, all the while it seeks to cover its own dismal failings.
Another brick in the wall
This book gets its philosophical basis from Roger Waters' The Wall.It's almost chapter and verse from Pink Floyd's dim view of the classroom.Although home schooling is a nice sounding alternative,for most working parents, it is an inane choice, as is this book.

There are problems with public education, but books like this are not the solution
I will open this review by first stating some of my experiences with the public schools.
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Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Home Schooling    3. Educational Policy & Reform    4. Family & Relationships / Parenting    5. Home Schooling    6. Alternative Education    7. Corrupt practices    8. Family & Relationships    9. Parent Participation    10. Parenting   

Reviews (2)

Wonderful book
This book has become a favorite of my 10 and 13-year olds. We use it for Creative Writing class in our homeschool. It's our "together" time--I read the start of the story to them, and of course, they finish it. The stories are very inspiring to their imaginations and they have become more descriptive in their writing. This book could easily be used for all ages - even younger children, though they might not be able to write, could finish the story verbally. I sure hope a second edition is in the works!

So far, so good!
We haven't had a chance to use this book a lot, but what opportunities we have, my daughter has enjoyed using it. It is a thick book, so it has a lot in it for the money. Can be used for several grade levels, especially good for those who like the classics or a more old fashioned approach to story writing. The illustrations are fun, straight out of vintage style books. I do recommend this for those who find their child likes getting a spark to get them going in their writing! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Composition & Creative Writing - General    2. Home Schooling    3. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    4. Religion - Christian Education - Home Schooling   

Reviews (7)

Absolutely wonderful!...just one note of caution
I've known that I want to homeschool my children since birth and have slowly but surely been devouring everything I can about the subject.I started by reading general guides on the subject of homeschooling, then progressed into some more specific books based on the methods and curriculum choices that appealed to me the most.I purchased Charlotte Mason's original series after reading Karen Andreaola's companion book (which is excellent).When I began reading Charlotte Mason's original work, I couldn't believe how much wisdom just oozed out of it.It seemed to be dripping from the pages.I interrupted my husband's reading and tv shows to share her pearls of wisdom about 20 times an hour while reading it.I have been totally impressed with her general philosophy but, now that I have read further, I'm even more impressed with the VERY specific instructions to the homeschooling mother.I mean, just her discussion of teaching children about geography and boundaries, including the use of a compass, was mind-numbingly useful.I absolutely recommend her books to anyone interested in incorporating Charlotte Mason techniques into their homeschool.So, where's the caution?All of the other reviewers are right.This is some heavy reading and the reviewer who said you need to read it little by little in order to digest the wisdom is completely correct.That does not mean that it is intimidating reading!It is simply packed to the gills with incredibly useful information.I would like to caution anyone considering buying this six volume set to first select a companion guide to read.I found that falling in love with the idea of Charlotte Mason instruction by reading a companion guide gave me the patience to read through the original works because I had a general idea of the wisdom contained therein.If I hadn't read a companion guide first, I might have grown impatient with the sheer weight of the originals.This may not be true for everyone, but I know it would have been for me.So, I recommend this without hesitation but with the recommendation to get your feet wet with a companion guide prior to reading the full set.

A rich resource
Charlotte Mason (1824-1923) was a British educational reformer, whose philosophy was considered revolutionary at the time. She Believed that children deserved respect and needed a rich and varied diet for their minds as well as their bodies. Towards that end, she developed her curriculum of "living books," narration, outdoor activities and short lessons on a variety of subjects. This series contains the original six volumes of Charlotte Mason's book, a rich resource for educators - both teachers in schools and teachers in home-schools.
Treasure-trove of Educational Ideology
For those who are interested in Miss Mason's philosophy of education or are still forming their own, this set is "must" reading.Deep, intense, and serious in some places, the 6-book set is not a quick read.The series needs to be intellectually digested and the time of the writing held in context.Many of her turn-of-the-century examples can be wisely applied by a contemporary reader. Read more

Subjects:  1. Home Schooling    2. Religion - Christian Education - Home Schooling   

Reviews (4)

Making the Grade is a Good Resource and Practice Tool
Making the grade is an excellent resource.There are practice pages to help my child better understand the subject(s) she is learning in school.The book has been a great resource for me to turn to when helping her with her homework.

Good supplement
This was a good supplement to an already swamped homeschooling mom. The lessons are broken down into finer components and very well meshed together to teach the whole of the subject at hand.
Finally, a workbook that won't bore a kid!
I bought this book for my little brother who was having some difficulty in school. The summer break would put him even more behind so in search of an activity book, a fell upon this one, and I have to say it's one of the more intresting work books out there. It's not about ripping out a sheet and hoping they get the answers right. With this book, I've learned how to help my brother learn the new and old concepts a little better. Writing, reading, math...science, it's all in there! He was actually having fun. And let's face it.If they're not having fun, they're not going to learn.I recommend this book to anyone whose looking for a new approach to teaching their own kids. (God, I sound like an infomercial.) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Child Development    2. Curricula    3. Education    4. Elementary    5. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    6. Fifth grade (Education)    7. Home Schooling    8. Parent Participation    9. Parenting - General    10. Parents And Education    11. Education / Elementary   

Reviews (2)

Good, Helpful Overview
This book presented a very nice and not too overwhelming overview of homeschooling.Chapters featured a little something for everyone-from those homeschooling little ones to those removing their older children from school to homeschool them.Full of helpful resources, this book is a good start for anyone considering homeschooling.

Homeschooling in a Nutshell
Written by the founders of Homeschool.com, "Homeschooling for Success" is the most up to date and complete informational book on homeschooling available. It was printed in 2002, and is filled with un-dated viewpoints and findings that I could really sink my teeth into. Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Experimental Methods    3. Home Schooling    4. Parent Participation    5. Religion - Christian Education - Home Schooling    6. United States    7. Education / Home Schooling    8. Education-Experimental Methods    9. Education-Parent Participation   

Reviews (7)

Clear Direction for Home Schooling Parents
Authors Cafi Cohen and Patrick Farenga have addressed the "getting into college" questions raised by parents schooling their older children at home, like, "How do we work up a set of transcripts?" "How do we get them into college without a recognized degree?" and "What choices in education do we have?" What a great book!
With a college-bound son who just turned 15, I find myself returning to this book again and again for advice, solace, detailed information, guidance.Cafi Cohen has been through it all.Her son attended the Air Force Academy and is now a test pilot.Her daughter attended an excellent college.AND she did a non-traditional, loose hs program with her kids.I wrote up a transcript for my son this week, using her book, and was truly heartened to see how beautifully it all came together.This is one of the best homeschool advice books I have ever read.A real gem.

Cafi Cohen's "And What About College?"
I want to thank Cafi for the wealth of information contained in 'And What About College?' We used it for all aspects of the process- from early planning when Shauna was 13 to the final stamping of the five college applications... We are happy to report that Shauna is accepted at Brown University under early action, and awaits word from the other four. Cafi's guidance, humor, clarity and ideas were invaluable... and the sample cover letters were a helpful prompt for this homeschool principal! I look forward to her new book and wish her the best! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Admission    2. College choice    3. Education    4. Education / Teaching    5. Experimental Methods    6. Home Schooling    7. United States    8. Universities and colleges   

Features

• Box set

Subjects:  1. Christianity - Education - Teaching Methods    2. Curricula    3. Education    4. General    5. Home Schooling    6. Religion - Christian Education - Home Schooling    7. Teaching Methods & Materials - Science & Technology   

Reviews (2)

Practical and Uplifting
This book would be very helpful to any homeschooling parent with a "high needs" child, whether or not the child has a disability label.Sharon Hensley does an amazing job of including both very practical information along with inspiring and uplifting viewpoints.The book is compact, and easy to read, yet not simplistic.Before I started to home school my children, I was a special education teacher for many years, and have a Master's Degree in special education.Even though I've done a lot of reading and research, I still found this book to be very useful.

wonderfully informative and practical
I was captivated by this book from the beginning.First she explains the differences between learning disabilities and normal variations in learning styles.Then she deals with parental academic expections and realisticones.She also dispells the myth that homeschooling is the magical cure forlearning disabilities,rather the opportunity to tailor a program to bestsuit the individual.This book is packed full of resources to help with aspecific need or area .She combines her child develpment and specialeducation knowledge with the honesty and humility of a mother whohomeschools three children, one who is autistic. I would reccomend thisbook to anyone. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Home Schooling    2. Children with special needs    3. Autism    4. Autistic children   

Reviews (38)

Hardly a How-To!!
If this is the "best book out there on Charlotte Mason" and has "the most practical application" of her ideas, as other reviewers have stated, then I'd have to say that Charlotte Mason is confusing, because this is a badly written book.I picked this up wanting to learn about Charlotte Mason's philosophy of education and what it looks like in the home school.I returned the book with a bad taste in my mouth.The author is VERY flighty, throwing out random ideas that are not well-explained or thorough.Many of the chapters, including those entitled "Composition" "grammar," and "spelling," are only two pages long!She randomly describes Mason's ideas for a scant paragraph, and then throws together some "How-To"'s that are bewildering.After reading this book I can say that not only do I not understand Charlotte Mason, but I have little desire to because of this author's bad work.This is NOT a book for those who aren't already Mason fans, nor for those who need detailed help in applying her philosophy.

The BEST Charlotte Mason book out there
I've read every book on Charlotte Mason that I could find and this is the best (A More Charlotte Mason Education is excellent also).This book is extremely well organized, concisely written and very easy to understand.I appreciate that it gets right to the point since I don't have a lot of time to meander around looking for the answers.After reading this book I felt completely prepared to begin our homeschool experience.The other books I'd read only made me think that I needed to read more because I didn't 'have the answers yet.'The organization of this book makes it easy to quickly look up any subject you have a question on and find the answer immediately.What a blessing!
Learning Together
As I read this book in one sitting, I realized that it was the perfect tool for me. It is a great overview of what Charlotte Mason believed and applied in her schools. It immediately helped me utilize the CM approach and was well put, informative and applicable. I highly recommend this as a must read for anyone wanting to quickly learn and implement this approach. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Curricula    2. Education    3. Education / Teaching    4. Home Schooling    5. Philosophy    6. Teaching Methods & Materials - General    7. Christian education    8. Church & Ministry/Ministry Resources/Christian Education    9. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / General    10. Education/Curricula    11. Mason, Charlotte M    12. Theometrics/Evangelical