This award-winning encyclopedic resource helps make home education practical, successful and enjoyable. It covers everything from the home school decision to methods for different types of students, to character building.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
Library Journal labeled an earlier edition as an "encyclopedic resource." 2/1/95 -- Publisher Comments
About the Author
Author and Editor, Theodore E. Wade, Jr., Ph.D. has been writing for home education and similar topics since 1976. His own children received part of their education at home. He has been teacher or administrator in the US and abroad. He enjoys scripture study and music.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
how to make your homeschool like American public schools,
By
This review is from: The Home School Manual : Plans, Pointers, Reasons and Resources, 7th ed. (Home School Manual: Plans, Pointers, Reasons, & Resources) (Paperback)
This book recommends that homeschooling be done one way and one way: that it be modeled exactly like American public schools, right down to regular test taking, giving and tracking grades, and attendance record-keeping. The tone of the book is insulting and at times negative about homeschooling and about the thoughts and opinions of the homeschooling parent. I feel that some parts can actually instill fear in the parent and the author then recommends that unless things are done his recommended way, then the child should go to public school instead. I felt this book was dis-empowering rather than empowering. You should be aware this book is very religious in content; the books front and back cover don't divulge this tidbit. The book is over 500 pages long, and the pages are large-sized. There is a lot of text but the organization of the chapters is illogical and confusing. Anyone intersted in homeschooling would be better off with a shorter book that is more concise and "to the point". Many of the writings by Wade make statements but these are not flushed out in detail-but then bits and pieces of that subject are mentioned here and there throughout the book. For example it mentions the benefit and necessity of knowing your child's learning style but then doesn't immediately explain anything about them let alone leave the reader feeling empowered to learn about it and then apply it. You will like this book if it is your desire to model your homeschool exactly as the public schools, including using the same curriculum as they do. If you like being told there is one right way to do things, then this authors writing won't offend you. This book is not for you if you like to read about different homeschooling methods and then come to your own conclusions. Please know that if you do like this book and start out this way and it is not working, there are loads of other resources about other ways to homeschool, ways that are more flexible and define education in different ways than the public education system does. There are other books, magazines, and homeschooling support groups that enlighten you about different ways to homeschool so that you can custom design what works best for your child(ren) and you. More about what I don't like about this book: The author perpetuates myths that have clearly been debunked by others who have successfully homeschooled their children. It is sad to see these old myths included as fact in a book that is supposed to be supportive of homeschooling. Examples are that the majority of people homeschool for religious reasons and that homeschoolers have less socialization than schooled children. The beauty of homeschooling is that learning can happen in different ways, custom designed to different learners. This book talks about how Wade feels homeschooling must look: it is a narrowly defined system that mirrors the American public education system. Wade is open to the unit-study approach that is initiated by the parent. Wade is opposed to children learning about what they are interested in, also known as "self-directed learning", "interest driven learning" and "unschooling". Wade openly states his opposition to various homeschooling methods such as unschooling (85) and classical education (89), such as outlined in "The Well Trained Mind". Wade makes it clear he doesn't like any curriculum that differs from the public schools and states that if a parent does not follow the public school curriculum then "you should let a more traditional school do the job". It is interesting to me that Wade is not only biased toward school but toward public school. To be so closed minded about educational choices, even to rule out various private school methodologies (such as Waldorf or Montessori) is amazing to me, and it shows his closed-mindedness with regard to education. Some of this book actually is not at all applicable to the homeschool environment. The parent is called the teacher and the child is a student (which I find annoying). Textbooks are said to be the most important educational tool that will be used (68) and he recommends getting the same educational materials as your public school system uses. I thought it was widely known that textbooks contain many errors and are boring to boot. I could go on and on about what upset me about this book but will stop here. Please be aware there are more positive books on the market for beginning homeschoolers such as those by Linda Dobson and Mary Griffith, and great magazines such as "Home Education Magazine". There are loads of books about the problems with public education such as those by John Holt, John Taylor Gatto, Jonathan Kozol and James Herndon.
23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must-have!,
This review is from: The Home School Manual : Plans, Pointers, Reasons and Resources, 7th ed. (Home School Manual: Plans, Pointers, Reasons, & Resources) (Paperback)
When I decided that I wanted to homeschool, I was totally lost as to where I should begin. A friend bought me this book and I am forever grateful to her. This book offers so much information, not just about the basics of homeschooling, but offers planning tools, encouragement and practical advice on which curriculum to choose, and which to avoid. It is definitely a good base for anyone who is thinking of taking on the challenge of homeschooling. I highly recommend it!
14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent resource,
By edmomqby (New York) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Home School Manual : Plans, Pointers, Reasons and Resources, 7th ed. (Home School Manual: Plans, Pointers, Reasons, & Resources) (Paperback)
I read through many homeschooling guides while considering it as a posible alternative to public school. The Home School Manual was by far the best and I would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who is currently or is contemplating homeschooling.
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