Homeschooling: A Family's Journey [Hardcover]

Martine Millman (Author), Gregory Millman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 14, 2008

This intimate, eminently practical memoir of a successful homeschooled family of six children illuminates today’s most exciting choice in education, and shows how it works from cradle to college.

What is it that homeschoolers do that the public schools can’t or won’t? There are at least as many answers as there are studies. But nothing can capture the homeschooling experience in all its richness like the story of a real family that homeschools its children in middleclass America.

Homeschooling: A Family’s Journey is the perfect book for those millions of Americans who may know someone who homeschools, who may have read about it, thought about it, and wondered whether homeschooling is right for them. Sharing the concerns of committed parents everywhere, authors Gregory and Martine Millman are consistently practical, informed, caring, and no-nonsense in their approach. They pay special attention to homeschooling and college, the economics of home-learning, and how a parent can really handle a child’s full education.

Homeschooling opens a window on an exciting, important way of education—and, even more, a way of life—that can make all the difference in your family’s world.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The parents of six children home-schooled in Plainfield, N.J., the Millmans offer a positive, encouraging overview of their own efforts and of the nationwide movement, though with scant hands-on specifics. Living on one moderate income in a blighted town with terrible public schools in the early 1990s, the Millmans started their eldest children in the local Catholic school, but were put off by the rigidity of the teaching methods. The only luxury they could afford was a full-time mom. Fueled by a distaste for public school education and a healthy mistrust for institutions in general, they gradually began to inform themselves about what home-schooling entailed: gathering curriculum and materials, then tailoring a program for each child. The authors put great store by serendipity and randomness, that is, letting life provide the teachable moment instead of adhering to strict schedules and plans, and they emphasized free reading, learning languages such as Chinese, music and travel rather than writing and textbook use. However, their insistence on freedom and spontaneity poses the question: how was the day structured, accommodating the needs of six children of different ages, and by one overtaxed mother? Still, the Millmans produce impressive rates of home-schooling success, and have three kids so far in college. Their cheerleading approach, while sometimes defensive, is accessible and resource-rich. (Aug.)
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Review

“Every so often a book comes along that raises the bar on a certain subgenre of homeschooling literature. . . . This one is the best and most thoughtful of the lot.”
—Helen Hegener, publisher of Home Education Magazine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Tarcher (August 14, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158542661X
• ISBN-13: 978-1585426614
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #838,106 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Our educational goal is to equip our children for the free pursuit of truth through virtue.", September 18, 2008

By 

K. M. "literary devotee" (California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Homeschooling: A Family's Journey (Hardcover)

"This," HOMESCHOOLING: A FAMILY'S JOURNEY continues, "is a goal that schools do not and cannot share." So, Gregory and Martine Millman made the decision to teach their six children themselves. These two admitted contrarians believe in the parents making "a perpetual self-gift" of love to their children; they gave (and continue to give) their offspring the commitment of time and attention required to make daily family life itself education. Improvisational teaching moments can come from watching tree surgeons cut branches in the front yard, or from cooking a Burmese meal and reciting Kipling's "Mandalay" at the table, or from traveling to Pompeii to see archeologists continue to excavate the site. A one-income family by choice, the Millmans aren't fixated on conventional "success" -- they say "We have chosen to be free and to educate our children in freedom." Their convictions are grounded in living economically and in the moment. They believe example leaves the most enduring impression on young minds, and they strive to be worthy role models. The Millman parents demonstrate ingenuity and wisdom in the way they teach. They also make prudent use of outside facilities and organizations to extend and enrich their children's social skills and sense of responsibility.

HOMESCHOOLING is the Millman's warm and conversational passing on of their hard-won experience. They provide a loose, common sense guidebook, offering others who may have begun, or wish to begin, this adventure solid advice and ideas, including a chapter on applying to colleges.

Like good teachers, the Millmans tend to review and repeat material throughout the text, and although the book's structure easily absorbs and even practically necessitates the repetition, it can lead to a bit of reader impatience. But that is a very minor drawback. Overall, HOMESCHOOLING is highly recommended, not only to those who might be considering this educational path for their own children, but to the general reader. It was a joy to learn about this down-to-earth, industrious, principled family. 4.5 stars.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ~~**~~about much more than homeschooling~~**~~, September 1, 2008

By 

A. Weber "homeschooling mama" (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Homeschooling: A Family's Journey (Hardcover)

This book is about homeschooling, but more than this, it is about life. It is about reflecting on life and critically thinking about how we are moving, as individuals and as families, through it. It is profound, it is funny, and it is difficult to put down- I was up until 3 AM finishing it.
Beautifully written, insightful and inspiring. If you are a homeschooler, or contemplating homeschooling, read this book. If you are not thinking about homeschooling, read this book. It is phenomenal.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, great perspective!, November 7, 2008

By 

T. Dieterlen (Indianapolis, Indiana) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Homeschooling: A Family's Journey (Hardcover)

I just finished this book and it was very informational, easy to read and very encouraging. It tells the story of how someone who intended on using the public/private school setting was guided into the world of home schooling. Gregory and Martine Millman do a great job looking back over the journey and conveying it with humbleness and honesty. I highly recommend the book to anyone who wants to learn about home schooling, or who needs some encouragement. I borrowed this from the library, but will be adding it to my home library very soon!