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David Colfax

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Homeschooling for Excellence Paperback – October 1, 1988

by David Colfax (Author), Micki Colfax (Author)

4.2 62 ratings

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THE COLFAXES DIDN'T START TEACHING THEIR BOYS AT HOME TO GET THEM INTO HARVARD - BUT THAT'S WHAT HOMESCHOOLING ACCOMPLISHED!

For over fifteen years, David and Micki Colfax educated their children at home. They don't think of themselves as pioneers, though that's what they became. Unhappy with the public schools, the Colfaxes wanted the best education possible for their four sons: a program for learning that met the evolving needs of each child and gave them complete control of how and what their children learned. The results? A prescription for excellence-Harvard educations for their sons Grant, Drew, and Reed. (Their fourth son is still too young for college.)

Now the Colfaxes tell how all parents can become involved in homeschooling. In a straight-talking book that reads like a frank conversation among friends, they tell what they did and how they did it: their educational approaches, the lessons they learned, and what materials-books, equipment, educational aids-proved most useful over the years. Best of all, they show you how you can take charge of your children's education-in an invaluable sourcebook that will help you find a rewarding and successful alternative to our failing schools.

Print length

176 pages
Language

English
Publication date

October 1, 1988
Dimensions

5 x 0.43 x 8 inches
ISBN-10

0446389862
ISBN-13

978-0446389860
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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

Review

"THE CALIFORNIA COLFAXES TEACH THEIR CHILDREN WELL."―Newsweek

"THEIR EFFORTS TO TEACH THEIR CHILDREN THEMSELVES HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL BEYOND MOST PARENTS' DREAMS....Lively and clearly written, Homeschooling for Excellence provides a step-by-step guide...and will make most parents think harder about encouraging their children's interest in learning."―Chicago Tribune

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grand Central Publishing; First Edition (October 1, 1988)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0446389862
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0446389860
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.1 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.43 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,018,138 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,762 in Homeschooling (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.2 62 ratings

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4.2 out of 5

62 global ratings

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Amy M. Earls

A wonderful choice for anyone considering homeschooling

Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2009

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Micki and David Colfax are wonderful writers as well as educators. The book is written in easy to understand language. While they do not go into a day-to-day senario about homeschooling, they do talk about their decision to homeschool, how it worked for them, and what a typical day might be like. It really underscores the fact that children WILL learn without being forced into a one-size-fits-all box. Children are creative and will use their own skills to get to where they need to be. The sources at the end of the book are not really that helpful considering the book was written a while back, but it is still a good read.

2 people found this helpful

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book lover

Very interesting!

Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2015

Verified Purchase

Loved reading it, a little outdated though in terms of current available curriculum and books. But j loved reading about this family's experience with homeschooling.

One person found this helpful

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MarcelaBest

exellent, very inspirational!

Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2012

Verified Purchase

exellent book for the ones that are reaserching information regarding homeschooling. I was trully inspired by their story. even though the book was writen many years ago, some of their advice regarding curricula are still available to those who look outside "the Box" (eg. the Sullivan Readers Programmed reading). apart from any bad raiting, it is not uncommon for a homeschooling family to have the success of sending 1 child to Harvard, but to send 3 children?? oh come' on.... that is what i called MAYOR succes as a parent, as an educator, as a family, and its SO worth it to read about how they did it.

4 people found this helpful

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Leanne

Very Cool

Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2013

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As a pre-parent looking into the concept of homeschooling (and a certified state teacher) it's a delight to get a perspective outside from people who have 1) done extensive college-level research and 2) tried what they purport may be successful. The best part is finding out how joyed their children were in the process, and how it taught them to be so self-motivated in their attitude toward learning, and how greatly it helped them enjoy learning.

2 people found this helpful

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Sand hermit

outdated beyond repair

Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2023

Verified Purchase

first the book mentions that chances to get accepted to Ivy league university is 1 out of 15 which is 6 %. Nowadays, acceptance rate for such places is far less than 1%.

secondly, book recommendations work books and non-existent.

Thirdly, you can clearly glean from the authors that both parents were researchers in education and educators themselves. Even highly educated parents might not be able to pull this off specially when they are not educators.

Fourthly, book is more of "we did great by being open minded and trying things". very vague for a book to have any relevance in 1990's let alone 2020's.

I rarely write reviews, but I do not want any more people to seek this book. It was only relevant for the time it was published.

3 people found this helpful

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In Memory of W. G. Simms

***** GIVE A COPY TO PEOPLE YOU CARE ABOUT *****

Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2010

Verified Purchase

When we were considering how best to give our own children a thorough and safe education we read this book and learnt much from it.

Now we give it to young families when their children are becoming school aged.

Great book; my advice: GIVE A COPY TO PEOPLE YOU CARE ABOUT!

NOTE: Both of the Colfax parents were professional educators before they embarked on their ranching adventure.

5 people found this helpful

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Leigh

Good to read

Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2016

Verified Purchase

Very informative with a lot of good advice. The books recommended are outdated (especially the science books) since they were published in the 80s.
The only thing I didn't like was the first few chapters about public schools and their flaws.

Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2005

I very much enjoyed reading this book. I didn't look at it so much as a how-to book but more of an inspirational book for anyone homeschooling or thinking of homeschooling. The authors don't tell you want to do - they just relate what they did, why they did it, and how it worked.

I loved many of the ideas they presented and we have already put one into practice - the idea of having the children write daily in a journal - or even just draw if they can't write yet. This is a big hit with our six year old who every night writes in her book something special that happened that day. What a fun way to learn writing, spelling and grammar skills and we'll be able to look back in later months and years and see how she has progressed.

Even though this book is dated - most of the information and processes are very relevant to today.

11 people found this helpful

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