Educating the Wholehearted Child Revised & Expanded [Paperback]

Clay Clarkson (Author), Sally Clarkson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2001

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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Whole Heart Ministries; Revised edition (January 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888692006
• ISBN-13: 978-1888692006
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #200,924 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

My "who I am" profile summary usually reads: husband of one, father of four, friend of some, foe of none, and follower of Jesus. My various "what I do" hats include ministry director, writer, author, editor, publisher, teacher, speaker, songwriter, blogger, and creative ideator/conceptualizer (for MBTI-types, I'm a non-conflicted INTJ). I love writing books and resources that make sense of old things in new ways, open windows of fresh understanding, give objective shape to subjective ideas, and tell meaningful stories. I resonate with Chaucer's self-description in A Knight's Tale: "I'm a writer. I give the truth, scope!" My next phase in life will include some children's illustrated storybooks with literary depth and illustrative insight. I'm also a songwriter and performer, an analog game designer, and a collector of interesting domains for blog, website, book, and app ideas. Among the many "what I like" things, I enjoy family discussions, breakfast (homemade wholewheat cinnamon rolls, oatmeal with brown sugar and blueberries), DDP, Poirot and Monk, an orderly office, acoustic music and artists (folk, country, Americana, Celtic), electronic gadgets, Paneras, and good acoustic guitars. I really don't like heat, anything unexpected, yardwork, spicy foods, and wind chimes.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite homeschooling reference!!, November 8, 2004

By 

T. Avallone (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Educating the Wholehearted Child Revised & Expanded (Paperback)

As a veteran homeschooler (8 years) I am often asked by those considering homeschooling how one goes about making the decision to homeschool. It is this book that I recommend EVERY time. There is plenty of good information about making the decision, handling objections from famiy and friends, and ideas to get you started. I am also often asked by those new to homeschooling how I combat "burnout"? It is this book that I turn to EVERY January when I just don't think I can manage another day. I find renewal, refreshment, and ideas to make the same old thing fresh all over again. Then there are the day-to-day conversations with other homeschoolers, how have you tackled this or that? Or do you have any ideas for....? It is this book that I turn to repeatedly for ideas. Like many homeschoolers, I have an extensive library (3000+ books) but this book is my favorite homeschooling reference. This book would even be good for the parents who don't particularly want to homeschool but just want to make their children's time at home more educational.

The only parents who would probably not find this book particularly useful are those who find Christianity offensive. But if you can look past the religious aspects of the book to the ideas, even non-Christian parents could probably find enough good ideas that the book would be a worthwhile purchase.

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite books!!, April 13, 2006

By 

Learning All The Time "It's Never Too Late to... (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Educating the Wholehearted Child Revised & Expanded (Paperback)

This book has been very useful to me. It has so many interesting ideas, and is quite inspirational. When I get stuck in a homeschooling rut, this book gives me ideas to emphasize a different aspect (or area of study per Ch4) of my homeschool. Usually ruts result from emphasizing structured (or disciplined) studies and letting everything else slide.

Chapter 1 is one of the best treatments I've read of why people homeschool, and how to handle those who criticize your choice.

Chapter 2 focuses on creating a Christian home and raising children with Christian values and character.

Chapter 3 contains a good discussion of various "mental muscles" that homeschooling should strengthen - habits, appetites, language, creativity, curiosity, reason, and wisdom.

Chapter 4 provides a good "home-centered learning model", where 5 study areas should be addressed:

1. discipleship studies (religious education),
2. disciplined studies (study of basics),
3. discussion studies (humanities),
4. discovery studies (science, nature, creative arts) and
5. discretionary studies (field trips, likfe skills, home and community life).

Of these, the disciplined studies are the ones that would require a more structured, traditional type of teaching.

Chapter 4 also contains an excellent section on how to set up your home for home-centered learning.

Chapter 5 contains teaching methods for the studies described in Chapter 4.

Chapter 6 contains brief information on learning styles, and Chapters 7, 8, and 9 are about keeping it together, managing your home and your school.

The appendix contains book lists and curriculum resources, as well as planner pages that you can photocopy.

This book calls itself "A Handbook for christian Home Education", but I think the book has so much to offer everyone, regardless of their religious beliefs. I heartily recommend this book to any homeschooler who is not made uncomfortable by Christianity.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best homeschooling book I've read to date!, March 8, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Educating the Wholehearted Child Revised & Expanded (Paperback)

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.