Homeschooling Odyssey: Second Edition (Paperback)

~ Matthew James (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Education/ParentingHomeschooling Odyssey

Homeschooling Odyssey should be required reading for any parent. It presents an exciting and rewarding alternative to public school education. Don't miss the opportunity to journey along with Matt and Barb on their homeschooling odyssey. It just may change your life.

Judy Andreas, essayist and author of Judyisms

"Hour-a-day homeschooling has sent our six children to Stanford and beyond. While academic achievements are gratifying, they represent a drop in the bucket of benefits in store for families who choose to homeschool."

It was the fall of 1980 when six-year-old Jenny entered first grade in a small town in Washington. Like most parents, Matt and Barbara had high hopes that their daughter would thrive in the classroom. At their first parent-teacher conference they learned that Jenny was a weak reader who cried over the stories in her books. On further investigation, they concluded that the school, not their daughter, had failed to measure up. Thus began their riotous homeschooling adventure.

Matt reviews the years with affection and humor, examining modern education and childrearing practices along the way.

HO tells the story of a family who found love and happiness by largely avoiding the defining institutions of our age, and it offers encouragement to others who would try this unconventional approach to education and family life.

Product Details

• Paperback: 172 pages
• Publisher: Outskirts Press; 2 edition (November 24, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598008439
• ISBN-13: 978-1598008432
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,202,400 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Reassuring read, November 28, 2007

By	J. Sensenbach (Renton, WA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The book was very entertaining and reassuring. It is nice to read about other homeschool experiences.

5.0 out of 5 stars real life homeschooling, May 4, 2009

By	T. S. Duff (Memphis, Tn) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I just read this book this evening on [...] (under education) and I enjoyed it very much. I plan to order it with my next Amazon order to loan to friends who won't be bothered to read a book online. Non-homeschoolers tend to think that homeschooling families either spend all day snacking and watching TV, or that they do exactly what is done in school, except at the kitchen table. Dr James does a great job of explaining what real home school is about, and how it's nothing like either of those scenarios. I especially related to his description of his adult friend, Adam, and his panic attacks when he realizes what his family has become. Very sad, but I see the same reaction in some of my friends and family members. This book is a quick read and I highly recommend it. It rises far above all the "but what about socialization?" type homeschool books on the market.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Work of staggering genius, March 20, 2007

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

A heartfelt, enduring tale of a parent's determination to prioritize his love for his children. From the cycloptic monster of Television to the sweet, numbing, siren songs of public education, Matthew takes the reader through his own Homeric Odyssey to show us that at the end, all that is really worth struggling for is the protection and love for one's family.

A great contrast to out current performance driven culture that requires us to ask what's really most important for our children.

"Tell me, O muse, of that ingenious hero who traveled far and wide after he had lost faith in public education..."