Complete Idiot's Guide to Homeschooling [Mass Market Paperback]

Marsha Ransom (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Complete Idiot's Guide | Publication Date: March 1, 2001

"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Homeschooling" is a step-by-step manual written for the new and inexperienced homeschooler. The explanations, resources, and recommendations apply to families homeschooling for a wide variety of reasons and to families who "afterschool" their children. If you find yourself teaching subjects you know little about, undecided about what curriculum to choose, or concerned that your children may miss out on band, drama, or sports, this guide provides practical advice from an author who has homeschooled four children.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Homeschooling" is a step-by-step manual written for the new and inexperienced homeschooler. The explanations, resources, and recommendations apply to families homeschooling for a wide variety of reasons and to families who "afterschool" their children. If you find yourself teaching subjects you know little about, undecided about what curriculum to choose, or concerned that your children may miss out on band, drama, or sports, this guide provides practical advice from an author who has homeschooled four children.

About the Author

Marsha Ransom, mother of 4 children and freelance writer, has been homeschooling for 12 years. Over the years, she has homeschooled all grades, K through 12. Residing with her husband, Dwight, and children in southwest Michigan, she enjoys reading, cooking, walking on the beach, and downhill skiing. She has been published in a variety of publications, as well as online, and is a field editor for Taste of Home Magazine.

Marsha is actively involved with her local homeschool support group. She served on the planning committee for their homeschool cooperative, where she teaches creative writing and coordinates field trips. She also speaks at homeschool conferences and curriculum fairs, providing support, information, and encouragement. Marsha is always available as a resource person for new homeschoolers, and is a state liaison person for the National Home Education Network, helping homeschoolers find local support in her state. She has compiled an extensive file of helpful Web sites, and enjoys linking homeschoolers with information via e-mail lists, bulletin boards, and Web sites.

After her son Ryan, an automotive student at the county technology center, became the first to be placed in a dealership through the Automotive-Youth Education Services (AYES) program, both were invited to become members of the center's AYES Advisory Board and the center's National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation, Inc. (NATEF) recertification board. As homeschooling parent and student, they brought a unique perspective to discussions of new policies. Ryan is now an instructor in the automotive technology program at the center, and Marsha is a member of a subcommittee of the AYES Advisory Board which interviews and selects candidates for AYES placement.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: Alpha; 1 edition (March 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028639898
• ISBN-13: 978-0028639895
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #834,758 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as I was hoping, January 14, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Complete Idiot's Guide to Homeschooling (Mass Market Paperback)

By the time I received this book, I had already done all my research from the internet. This book is really very basic. It's helpful for the ULTIMATE beginner to homeschooling. But for anyone who knows anything beyond the mere basics, I wouldn't really recommend it.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pleasently informed, but desiring more., June 15, 2001

By 

Cheryl A Steinman (Lambertville, Mi United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Complete Idiot's Guide to Homeschooling (Mass Market Paperback)

I appreciated Marsha's vast knowledge of various types and styles of homeschool. This has helped me to understand how other types of homeschool styles might work, or not work for me. For example I have strictly been a curriculumn - paper oriented teacher/mom. But I was able to gain insight to the 'unschooling' approach and unit study approach which has enlightened me greatly. The author also provided phone #'s, addresses, websites, and books, in case the reader desired more in depth information. In conclusion, this book did introduce me to some new concepts to the homeschool approach, however, I wished it would have gone into further detail rather than just an introduction. Marsha Ranson briefly discusses many aspects of homeschool, but the book reads as more of a reference type book rather than a how to book.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book!!!, October 20, 2001

By 

"kmp1979" (Coal City, WV United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Complete Idiot's Guide to Homeschooling (Mass Market Paperback)

I am just starting my learning adventure with homeschooling and this book has really helped with my confidence and understanding. It is very detail on the different learning styles, and "teaching" styles. I would recommend this book to any one who mentioned homeschooling, whether just starting out or beginning to "burnout" this book can be of great help.