Customer Reviews

Homeschooling for the Rest of Us: How Your One-of-a-Kind Family Can Make Homeschooling and Real Life Work

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I recently recommended Homeschooling For the Rest of Us by Sonya Haskins after skimming over the media release and reviews. I thought it was a great resource for homeschooling families. Since then, I have read the book and can offer my thoughts and a review. They begin with the word Excellent!

When we first started homeschooling 4 years ago, I didn't realize it then, but we had a long road ahead of us. Along the way, we have tried several curriculums, many schedules, and I have dealt with (in some cases unsuccessfully) concerns regarding our decision. In my quest to find answers, I've read alot. (That doesn't surprise you, though, right?) I've learned so many different ways to teach, curriculums that work and don't work, classroom sizes and types and how far to go in decorating-but to tell you the truth, I never read a book that addressed the heart of the matter.

The more answers I got regarding curriculum and other aspects, the further I felt from getting the most crucial answers. As in, am I doing enough? What about the pressure I put on myself and pressure from extended family members that just don't support our decision? What can I do if my child falls behind? What does my schedule look like compared to others? What is a reasonable time to spend on each subject a week? Those were the questions that kept me awake at night, staring at the ceiling.

Chapters titled Pressure, Perfection and Progress, and Nurturing Your Childs Heart jumped out at me right away. But then I see Developing Positive Relationships that points out young children need to learn to obey, how to interact in relationships and be read to more than they need a strong academic schedule. That totally made sense! The chapter regarding Dealing with Relatives gave me a game plan for the next visit when I was most apt to overhear someone ask my child "When are you going to real school?" Oh, and that clutter that drives you nuts? It's addressed in the chapter Living in a Very Messy House. It's not about excusing the mess, but rather in finding ways to get it to an organized mess you can live with.

Written from a Christian perspective aldo helped. At the end of the day, Haskins points out, if you lack wisdom, that's when you pray for direction. How can any homeschooling parent leave it to luck and destiny when it comes to their childs academic and social future? Speaking of socialization, be prepared to be WOWED as you read that chapter. You won't stress over whether your kids are getting proper interaction ever again.

As a homeschooling Mom, I recommend this book be read first if you are on the fence about homeschooling. If you are already educating from your living room or playroom, you still need this book. So many fears and concerns are addressed that you don't realize come with the package until you are nose deep in the adventure. Haskins answered my questions and calmed my fears. I realize now, it's really not that hard!

So many homeschool books picture the homeschool family with all the kids going to Harvard, kids that are polite and spiritual giants, and homes that are spotless. Sonya Haskins explodes the myth of the perfect homeschool family in her book, Homeschooling for the Rest of Us.

In the 30+ years I've been involved in homeschooling, the perfect homeschool family is MOST unusual. Instead, just like traditional schools, there are good days and bad days. Some of our kids turn out to be auto mechanics; others become college professors. Some of our kids live to please their parents and others keep us on our knees. And most of our houses are far from spotless!

Haskins' book gives a realistic picture of the typical homeschool from academics to housekeeping and from socialization to budgets. She shows you how you can succeed in homeschooling and not be picture perfect. She shows you how to focus on relationships with God, family and others in the community. She explains the variety of routines that homeschoolers have and how you can find one that works for you. She clarifies how to choose extracurricular activities and academics based on your child's individual gifts and goals. Most of all, she helps you relax so you can homeschool your family knowing this is what God called you to do. It's not your job to be perfect, just obedient.

5 STARS for a book we can read and be encouraged to do what God called us to do! Thanks, Sonya.

Homeschooling for the Rest of Us is a wonderful book! I have really enjoyed all of the information! We've been homeschooling for 3 years and I would have loved to have had this book when we were first starting out. I like how the author gives information for questions on topics that beginners would ask, but it is approached in a fresh way that doesn't make you feel as if you're reading the same old info.

However, even homeschooling for as long as we have, I still have found the book full of wonderful advice and suggestions that can help me to improve our schooling experience. Beyond that, it is very encouraging! It seems as if Haskins is speaking directly to the concerns and problems that we (and I am sure most other homeschooling families) are facing each day.

I also love the length of the book. It is packed full of information but it is not overwhelming. It was easy to find time to read the book, unlike some homeschool books that are so long that I have had to skim through their content.
A definite 5 stars!

Sonya Haskins is a calm and reasonable voice speaking to the homeschooler -- and potential homeschooler -- who is overwhelmed and intimidated by the image of the "perfect" homeschooling experience: "Matching outfits, polite toddlers, award-winning students, fifteen-passenger vans, and family Web sites." (Raymond and Dorothy Moore did the same thing in the 1980s with Home School Burnout, which was updated and revised in the 1990s as The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook.) There's a lot of hype, confusion, and contradictory information out there, and Haskins' practical, back-to-basics approach and helpful suggestions will reassure timid beginners that they can, indeed, safely navigate the homeschooling waters.

It's a pity, then, that she "narrowcasts" her message to a small branch of Christian homeschoolers. Most of her suggestions are excellent and appropriate for anyone, but the evangelistic message and the assumptions of a young-earth Creationism are bound to make the general audience uneasy about the rest of the book. If its focus were broadened, this could become a classic introduction to homeschooling. But perhaps the author (or publisher) is not looking for "classic": the annoying sidebars and references to websites give it the feel of a magazine or "disposable book." As I said, a pity, because there's much good here.

A book of under 200 pages cannot hope to be both broad and detailed; Haskins elects for broad -- one reason why it's good introductory material -- but still manages to provide helpful lists and examples.

Rather than propounding one method of homeschooling, "Homeschooling for the Rest of Us" generally presents suggestions appropriate for many approaches. If she has an overarching philosophy, it is that character building is of primary importance. She is quite right, and I always say that the most important factor in determining the potential success of a homeschool situation is how well the parent and child get along. Emphasizing academic excellence while allowing character to slide is setting a child up for ultimate failure. Unfortunately, Haskins swings the pendulum too far the other way. Her lackadaisical approach to academics is likely to be taken by those who are already too lax academically as an excuse to do even less. Young children can learn obedience and the alphabet as well.

A basic belief among Christian homeschoolers is that the education of children is at heart a parental responsibility, not a governmental responsibility. "Homeschooling for the Rest of Us" goes an important step further, making the critical point that, ultimately, education is the responsibility of the student. (Unschoolers and secular writers such as John Holt and John Taylor Gatto would agree.)

My favorite quote from the book is this: "If you're still feeling pressure because experts or others tell you to 'do it this way' or 'if you'd only follow my plan, your life will be perfect, your children will obey, and they will love learning' or any other 'just do it my way' kinds of statements, my advice is simple: Find different experts!"

I'm not convinced that "Homeschooling for the Rest of Us" is a book worth buying, though at $10 it's hard to complain much. In any case, if you're new to homeschooling, frustrated in your own homeschooling efforts, or merely curious, and if you can appreciate -- or at least ignore -- the narrowness of its theological focus, it's a book well worth reading. But please don't let her minimalist approach to academics deprive your children of the educational excellence they can and should achieve.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher.

Homeschooling for the Rest of Us gives an honest look into the everyday life of homeschoolers. Whether you are a newbie or veteran this book will be like a comforting friend. It will show that noone has perfect days everyday, and that you don't have to keep up with what others are doing. She shows you tips on finding materials, dealing with the hurtful things others say, yard saleing. THe chapter that hit home for me the most was nurturing your child's heart. It reminded me to be a mom first and academics second. It reminded me that We need to establish our love for God and family values in our children before academics.
I highly recommend this book.

Now, THIS is a homeschooling book I can get excited about. Sonya Haskins wrote Homeschooling for the Rest of Us, subtitled "How Your One-of-a-Kind Family Can Make Homeschooling and Real Life Work."

Incredible book. Absolutely wonderful. I'm keeping this one on my shelf and referring to it often.

What I am used to, unfortunately, is homeschooling books that make me feel inadequate. Beautifully matched children smiling while they sight-read a symphony, with captions about how they all were admitted to Harvard on full-ride scholarships when they were 12. I stare at that, wondering why I can't even manage to get my children into clean clothing. Or at least not all of them on the same day.

This book is different. It doesn't tell me that there is one way to homeschool. It doesn't paint a perfect picture. It does talk about dirty houses, miserable days, and just generally reassures me that I don't have to be perfect to homeschool. It is, in fact, for "the rest of us" -- those of us who sometimes have it together, but sometimes don't.

I've been a homeschooler since my first child was born just over 13 years ago. In terms of "real" homeschooling, I suppose I've been at it 8 (K-7) or 9 (if you count a year of PreK) years. This is the first book I've read that really left me feeling like I am doing okay. And maybe I'm more insecure than most, but I really need a book that affirms me and my not at all perfect homeschool.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who has any interest in homeschooling.


Disclosure: Bethany House provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. No other compensation was received, and all opinions are my own.

Irregular schedules, messy houses, strained budgets, and conflicts with family--these are the marks of a normal home school family. If you're going to teach your children at home, you'll save yourself lots of worry if you give up any dreams of perfection. Instead, concentrate on the important things: developing relationships with God, family, and others in the community. So says Sonya Haskins in Homeschooling for the Rest of Us.

Haskins says that there is no right or wrong way to home school (as long as education is taking place and the children are loved and cared for). And while a strict schedule with a set curriculum works well for some, the author prefers a more relaxed style of teaching:

"We refer to our approach as `relaxed schooling,' where parents are considered the guides, but the child's interests, desires, and abilities are always taken into consideration."

Some aspects of Haskin's approach are too relaxed for me, but the point she makes is an important one: each family should find what works best for them.

This short, easy to read book is full of practical and useful advice. Haskins gives real examples of home school schedules, advice on how to deal with a (very) messy house, how to help your children develop social skills, and how to home school on a tight budget. These are just a few of the helpful topics.

The book also has a lot of good, general parenting advice. Any parent, even those not considering home schooling, will find something useful. Though I disagree with the author on a few minor points, I both enjoyed and learned from Homeschooling for the Rest of Us, and I don't hesitate to recommend it.

I received a review copy of this book from Bethany House.

This book was AWESOME for me!

I wish I could have found something like this for advice to help me along the way 2 years ago when I first started out. It gives so much detailed information about anything you can think of or that you may have questions about and it doesn't take much time to read this book.

I've already starting using some of the technique's and suggestions the author talks about, they are helping a lot! After reading this book I realized my son does much better learning his math verbally then sitting at the table doing a worksheet.(that would take him a lot longer and he can be done in 15 min if I ask him questions myself) There is so many other ways to approach learning for our children and different ways to look at it then what I imagined until I read this book.

This book offers so much advice and so many suggestions. I think everyone should take the time to read it even if you have been homeschooling a long time or if you are new to homeschooling. It gave me a lot of encouragement!!

In the United States, the quality of our educational system has be compromised. We have government run schools that educates our children with an agenda and beliefs that are often the opposite of many families.

If at all possible, the homeschool option is always the best way for families to raise their children in an atmosphere of morals and principals that will serve as a child's guide in life. Homeschooling will also keep children from the corrupt influences and peer pressure that interfere with a child's education.

However, if your starting out as a new homeschool family you need information, resources and a local network. This book will provide you with all the vital elements to get you up and running in a successful homeschool program.

I can say with confidence that this book is a "must have guide" for any homeschool family. I always love a book that gives clear instructions, adds a little humor and provides online resources for further study or contacts. This book has all those elements and more.

I think the book will also be a perfect addition to any homeschool academy, or church group library. The book should be shared with new parents and recommended to parents that may be struggling with school issues with their children.

If your looking for something comprehensive on the subject of homeschooling, then this is your book.


James Garton
Author of The U.S. Constitution For Christians

I was homeschooled for the vast majority of my 12 years of school. But it wasn't until my wife and I started homeschooling our own children that I realized just how stressful it can be. To put it simply enough, homeschooling can be intimidating. This is a fitting point for me to stop and give a huge "thank you" to my parents for sticking it out. Thanks Mom and Dad!

It's fairly intimidating to know that you are responsible for your children's education, and not just in the sense of making sure they do their homework before school the next day. It's knowing that you have to actually find the material they'll need to study and then teach it to them. With all the decisions that need to be made - what curriculum, if any, should we use? should we do school four days or five days of the week? what if we just can't handle it? - making the decision to homeschool your children is an incredibly daunting prospect.

Sonya Haskins has written a very helpful and insightful little book, Homeschooling for the Rest of Us. The subtitle is a good indicator of what to expect: How Your One-of-a-Kind Family Can Make Homeschooling and Real Life Work. The key emphasis here is the "real life" part and is perhaps the best part about the book. Haskins points out the stress that many families experience of living up to other's - and sometimes even our own - unreasonable expectations of perfection. Expectations like: our children must be the smartest kids in town, must be able to read by age 2, finished all literary classics by age 10, & understanding and calculating quantum physics by age 14 - all the while with a perfect, spotlessly clean house. Instead of focusing on such unrealistic expectations, Haskins encourages the homeschooling family (or prospective homeschooling family) to first and most importantly develop positive parent-child relationships. She also addresses the topic of routines, academics, extracurricular activities, and the seemingly all-pervasive concern of socialization.

Perhaps the one minor negative point worth mentioning are the sidebar quotes with letters other homeschooling families have written to Haskins. While some readers might benefit from these, overall I found them distracting and not adding much at all to what Haskins had already said. But on the other hand, my wife said this is one of the things she liked the most about book, reading about other families' experiences.

I was very encouraged by Haskins down-to-earth approach. As I read, I found myself reading bits and pieces to my wife until I finally said, "You should just read the book for yourself. It's quite good!" She is over halfway through and completely agrees with my recommendation. I am glad that we read this book close to the beginning of our homeschooling journey, receiving the benefit of Haskins wisdom.

(Thanks to Bethany House for providing a copy of this book for review purposes.)