Homeschooling Almanac, 2000-2001: How to Start, What to Do, Who to Call, Resources, Products, Teaching Supplies, Support Groups, Conferences, and More! (Prima Home Learning Library) (Paperback)

~ Mary Leppert (Author), Michael Leppert (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Make room on the bookshelf for Homeschooling Almanac 2000-2001, a truly indispensable resource. Whether you're just getting started with homeschooling or are an old hand, this almanac will become the first that you reach for when looking for new information. It's divided into three large sections, each with several clearly labeled chapters. "Nuts and Bolts" helps to identify the types of learners your children are, gives overviews of teaching styles, and, in an easy-to-follow question-and-answer format, supplies information on the most commonly asked topics in homeschooling. The "Products" section sorts by subject, rather than age or skill level, making it the easiest product hunting we've encountered. The suggestions here range from books and software to art supplies and chemistry sets, and cover ages 5 to 18. The state-by-state "Resource Guide" gives contact information for all kinds of conferences and organizations, as well as state-specific guidelines for homeschool certification. A general area details prepackaged curricula (great for those just getting started) and many types of homeschooling support groups that can help answer questions or provide group-learning situations for your children. At the tail end of the book are 12 pages packed with coupons for many of the manufacturers listed in the product guide. Use just a couple of them and the book pays for itself! No matter what age your children or your level of teaching experience, the almanac is an essential addition to your homeschooling library. --Jill Lightner

Review

Every Homeschooler's Complete Resource -- Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 688 pages
• Publisher: Prima Lifestyles (September 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761520147
• ISBN-13: 978-0761520146
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,156,584 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great jump-off place for beginners., March 28, 2000

By	Susan McBride "[e-mail]" (Carnation, WA USA) - See all my reviews

After careful consideration of the question "why homeschool?" this book gently led me through the basics of how to get started, with generous examples from others who have successfully done it. After reading it cover-to-cover, I now find myself asking "why not?"

This book doesn't give you the blow-by-blow of homeschooling, but it does give you great overviews of general styles, solid reasons to start the journey and lots of resources to consider for developing your own style. It's even got a great section on materials that have been reviewed for homeschoolers which, for me, helped clear some of the glassy-eye I got after one trip to a curriculum fair, and replaced it with solid recommondations on products I can really see myself using.

The book is also full of coupons, the most interesting to me were the free trials of several homeschooling magazines. If you're even considering homeschooling, I would recommend this book as a great place to start.

39 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful resource for homeschoolers, December 19, 1999

By	Joe Spataro (USA) - See all my reviews

I had the opportunity to review the book and also interviewed the co-author Mary Leppert for our website, homeschoolzone.com She took the time to share her views with us on the homeschooling movement and a bit about her personal life with her children. I really enjoyed the book and it has an easy to read style and is very useful. The coupon section will be very useful to homeschoolers on a shoestring which basically pays for the price of the book.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Legal & Support Sections All Updated & Accurate, October 17, 2002

By	Kris Yoder (Harrisburg, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Homeschooling Almanac, 2002-2003: How to Start, What to Do, Where to Go, Who to Call, Web Sites, Products, Catalogs, Teaching Supplies, Support Groups, Conferences, and More! (Paperback)

I rely on the reviews of others when I buy books. After reading one review listed here, I was concerned that the information would not be reliable. However, upon reviewing the NEW edition, I discovered that the authors have not only updated the legal and support sections, but have updated resource info and even the discount coupons included in the book. As an old-time homeschooler, I can say that this stuff changes in the homeschooling world almost daily, and the authors deserve credit for staying abreast of the latest legal news as well as the constantly changing homeschool support group information. A big round of applause is deserved for keeping the resources up-to-date too -- which also changes with the wind. My favorite parts of the book are the "typcial day" and "curriculum" sections. Everyone who has homeschooled for any length of time knows there is no such thing as a typical day or a typical curriculum. We also know everyone assumes that there is. The Lepperts have provided a glimpse into what a typical day and a typical curriculum might be like. They are careful to let the reader know that one-size-does-not-fit-all. That's exactly what makes homeschooling such a wonderful choice for so many square pegs who don't fit the round holes of traditional schooling. This is a MUST READ for anyone considering homeschooling -- and the coupons are a nice plus as the discounts they offer really do help pay for the cost of the book!