Homeschooling for Excellence (Paperback)

~ (Author), Micki Colfax (Author) "Winter, 1985. It is a dark, rainy morning..." (more)
Key Phrases: homeschooling program, homeschooled child, homeschooling parents, Sullivan Readers, East Africa, Houghton Mifflin (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Role models for a generation of homeschoolers, David and Micki Colfax are teachers turned ranchers who taught their four sons at home in the 1970s and '80s and schooled three of them into Harvard. Isolation on their northern California homestead forced them into the experience, but this resourceful family eventually discovered all kinds of advantages to home education. Like a modern-day Little House on the Prairie, the Colfax children learned about geometry while constructing outbuildings on their ranch, explored aspects of chemistry and biology as they improved their livestock and garden, and generally discovered the value of self-reliance as they went about life without TV or neighbors. Their world is described in clear, warm words that illustrate the fondness these parents and children possess for each other. Family photos grouped throughout the book show the boys working and learning together.

The Colfaxes don't purport to be experts; they don't prescribe a formula for their success. Rather, their experience is described as a trial-and-error effort, with some of their mistakes offered up as lessons for others. The value of critically examining textbooks in advance, for instance, is learned after one son falls behind in algebra using a schoolbook that touts "new math" principles. The Colfaxes' philosophy is that every child is gifted. Parents don't need to be certified teachers to teach them (although it does ward off doubters). But, despite the contention of some homeschoolers, the Colfaxes do caution that teaching at home requires much time and money--and they don't advise it for single parents or most working women. Any parent interested in connecting with his or her child, however, will find the Colfax take on life an enjoyable and enlightening read. The couple closes the book with an appendix of suggested references for building a family library and a delightful list of their children's favorite books. --Jodi Mailander Farrell

Product Description

It show you how you can take charge of your child-ren's education--in an invaluable sourcebook that will help you find a rewarding and successful alter-native to our failing schools.

Product Details

• Paperback: 172 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 1st edition (October 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446389862
• ISBN-13: 978-0446389860
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #221,877 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Homeschooling is excellent, March 9, 2000

By	M. Burnes - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I bought "Hard Times in Paradise" and "Homeschooling For Excellence" in 1988, I was pregnant with my only child. I did not think that a federally controlled, compulsory education was healthy, nor did I think that small children should be removed from their parents' care at such an early age. I was hungry for information that would give me a perspective on what to expect. David and Micki Colfax have done a wonderful job of explaining the hits and misses that comprised the raising of their children outside of the standard educational systems. The long term successes of their sons are enough to inspire any parent. Also, the landscape of their homestead is a wonderful backdrop to their lives. I can't recommend their books enough.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST home schooling book, April 13, 2001

By	MotherLodeBeth "MotherLodeBeth" (Sierras of California) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

Ok I admit we are friends of the Colfax family even if we have STANFORD as our university of choice. The one thing about their book which other books fail to share is the whole lifestyle issue. Since home schooling is a lifestyle choice and not just an educational choice. David it should also be noted ran and was elected to their local school board so this is an added plus since they are not writing a book about how evil public education is, but more an issue of poor educational choices overall.

They write about how they used their California homestead as a teaching tool. And in this day and age of the need (or so it seems) for electrical gadgets galore, they write about teaching their sons valuable life issues, like working and saving for the future. They built their home from the ground up, and a few years later they boys strung the power lines from the road on up to the house, which not only taught the boys valuable construction skills but also issues dealing with money and saving expenses.

They raised their own food, and over time they also started raising goats and other livestock. It used to make me so mad when Grant was accepted to Harvard when I would read about the "Goat Boy" at Harvard as if he was some mountain hermit discovering the big city. He went on to graduate Harvard and them medical school, as well as becoming a Fullbright Scholar to New Zealand.

Another excellent point the books shares is that environment does play a MAJOR role in a childs life and ability to succeed. Two of the sons are adopted, and are minority race, and yet they soared as high as the other sons. I even hate mentioning the adoption and race issue, but do so only because the book PROVES that any child can succeed and that home schooling is not just a wonder bread middle class ideal.

The books also addresses what I feel at very important issues like the heavy subjects i.e. math and sciences. While also pointing out that home schoolers MUST be challenged to take hard subjects. That local science groups and junior colleges welcome home schoolers as they do anybody who is SERIOUS about learning new ideas. Junior colleges also encourage home schoolers to enroll to further test their grey matter, and help prepare for a four year college. The books speaks to the whole issue of testing and being as well prepared as possible.

This is a MUST own book for ANY home schooler who is serious about ACADEMIC excellence. Which should be #1.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Source for Homeschoolers!, July 4, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Winchester, Indiana, U. S. A.) - See all my reviews

We put to use the same reading program they had mentioned in their book. It has been such a blessing to see my children beg me every day to do their school work. We had previously use Hooked-on-Phonics, a disaster. The children hated it, as did I and my husband. It was so awful.

"Homeschooling For Excellence" has been such a help. I never realized that children could love to learn as much as they do!

Don't just read this book. Take their advise! The difference it has made in our lives is amazing and wonderful!

To the authors: Thank you so much.