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John Caldwell Holt

Patrick Farenga

Teach Your Own: The John Holt Book Of Homeschooling Paperback – April 1, 2003

by John Holt (Author), Pat Farenga (Author)

163 ratings

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The classic and indispensable work on teaching children at home, fully updated for today's new laws, new lifestyles, and the growing new generation of homeschooling parents

Today more than one and a half million children are being taught at home by their own parents. In this expanded edition of the book that helped launch the whole movement, Pat Farenga has distilled John Holt's timeless understanding of the ways children come to understand the world and added up-to-the-moment legal, financial, and logistical advice. No parent even considering homeschooling should be without this wise and unique reference.

Rather than proposing that parents turn their homes into miniature schools, Holt and Farenga demonstrate how ordinary parents can help children grow as social, active learners. Chapters on living with children, "serious play," children and work, and learning difficulties will fascinate and encourage parents and help them enjoy each "homeschool" day. John Holt's warm understanding of children and his passionate belief in every child's ability to learn have made this book the bible of homeschooling families everywhere.

Print length

352 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Da Capo Lifelong Books
Publication date

April 1, 2003
Dimensions

6 x 1.25 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

0738206946
ISBN-13

978-0738206943
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"An expansion and revision of the homeschoolers' bible, written by the late, outspoken Massachusetts education reformer John Holt." -- Boston Globe Magazine 03/21/04

"For many parents this book is an indispensable handbook for educating their children at home." -- Austin Family July, 2003

"[An] enduring homeschooling classic...A landmark work...This book is indispensable." -- Home Schooling Today December 2003

About the Author

John Holt (1927-1985), one of this country's leading educational and social critics, was the author of ten influential books which have been translated into fourteen languages. Known both as a passionate reformer and as "the gentle voice of reason" (Life magazine), John Holt offers insights into the nature of learning that are more relevant today than ever before.

Pat Farenga, writer and president of Holt Associates, lectures all over the country and is the father of three home-schooled daughters.

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Da Capo Lifelong Books; First Paperback Edition (April 1, 2003)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0738206946
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0738206943
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.04 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.25 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #243,085 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #447 in Parenting & Family Reference
- #809 in Medical Child Psychology
- #827 in Homeschooling (Books)

Customer Reviews:
163 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		81%
4 star		10%
3 star		7%
2 star		1%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Rachel Rainbolt

it kind of felt like I was just sifting through notes

Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2018

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I am a huge John Holt fan. I just needed to begin this review with that statement. I am also a fan of what I have read from Pat Farenga from other sources. So I thought the book Teach Your Own: The John Holt Book of Home Schooling would be a slam dunk. It wasn’t for me.

It wasn’t that I necessarily disagreed with any of the content but I just didn’t find it inspirational or informative.

Much of the content in the book consists of notes sent into the homeschooling magazine Growing Without School, which was run by both men, from parent readers. While I can appreciate what they were trying to do in providing a variety of voices to illustrate their points, it kind of felt like I was just sifting through notes.

If you are looking to be inspired and informed on your homeschooling journey, I would skip this book, but I remain a fan of both men and their work and I encourage you to perk up when their other writings cross your virtual desk.

22 people found this helpful

Helpful

Garry

Love the update!

Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2021

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I pre-ordered this book back in June 2021 and it showed up on my doorstep last week, SURPRISE! The updated version is very relevant to today. As someone who doesn't need to be convinced to homeschool my 3 children, I was still blown away by some current information. Pat Farenga put into words what I could not when it comes to the recent uptick of Covid homeschoolers. Remote learning is not homeschooling and when all the parents are complaining about how horrible remote learning is....they need to listen to their gut, it's because it is horrible for all involved. Anyways, I plan to reread this book every so often just for a confidence boost when homeschooling goes back to being "the weird thing" to do.

P.s. I really appreciate the connection to parenting styles and homeschooling. I also went against the grain of society when I held my newborns basically until they could walk themselves, and I still carry and cuddle them!

One person found this helpful

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Rachel D.

Considering homeschooling? Read this.

Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2020

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Excellent read by one of the top education experts & supporter of homeschooling! We pulled our 2nd grader out of public school to homeschool & this is helpful to build my confidence to keep going.

4 people found this helpful

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nicole

Great Insights, good information

Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2020

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I enjoyed this book and it gave me some great insights into the state of public education and they way children learn. It also gave some good context for the friction between homeschoolers and the public school system. There was scant information about addressing schooling and kids with special needs. It would really be helpful if someone could be this comprehensive and also include more information about state perspectives and expectations of parents who choose to homeschool their children with special needs.

2 people found this helpful

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Artist

How People Learn

Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2004

Verified Purchase

Do you remember what they taught you at school? Me neither. I learned to read very early on, mostly at home, and I still remember some math, but only because I balance my checkbook and know when I'm getting correct change at the market. All those years, isolated from the real world in the artificial environment of school, sitting at a desk all day with 30 of my same age peers, how was I to learn about what an actual life in the world is like, or about what I wanted to do with mine? I remember learning to take tests. Now I never take them. A lot of it was pleasant enough, some of it was not, most of it was boring, and somehow I never noticed that I was mostly wasting my time.
Now I know better having read John Holt, a sweet, caring man and a wonderful writer. He's radical, but he never rants. He persuades, gently, eloquently. He learns through years of careful, loving observation and by trial and error and he shares that with you in a way that makes it seem as though he's one of your oldest, most comfortable friends. He reminds you of what you went through in school. He makes sense. He's fun to read. And you know he's right as you read him, because we have all gone to school.

203 people found this helpful

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Slingback Sally

Inspiring

Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2014

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John holt inspired me to pull my son out of school and unschool. The book itself is very inspirational and well written. If you're considering taking the same path but need some encouragement to start out...consider reading this book!

14 people found this helpful

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AmazonCustomer

BUY IT NOW

Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2019

Verified Purchase

Amazing. If you are considering buying this, DO IT. Totally changes your perspective on life.

2 people found this helpful

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TN

Terrific.

Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2017

Verified Purchase

One of the best books I've read on homeschooling yet.

5 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Alicja

It should be an obligatory reading to all parents, future parents and teachers.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 15, 2017

Verified Purchase

It should be an obligatory reading to all parents, future parents and teachers. It empowers parents and reminds them that they are responsible for happiness of their children in the first place. Many dramas might have been avoided if parents stopped approaching their children with ''you need to resist (that bully, this bad teacher, the crazy school administration)'' - for you to choose the problem you are facing yourself with your child.
I believe many parents are just too afraid and/or lazy to talk seriously at school, not crying and shouting when their child is already a bunch of nerves, but looking at what is actually happening at school every day; Parents, talk to your children about friendships they make, quarrels they have had with disliked peers, etc. I am a teacher and a mother myself and need to admit parents do not show enough initiative in educational models followed by schools in general and their impact on educating their children in particular. They just drop children at the school door and run to their own business. A bad school can always be changed but your child will never forgive you if you kept him/her some school they hated.

11 people found this helpful

Becky

Excellent research based

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 10, 2018

Verified Purchase

I read Holt during my teacher training it was core reading. His approach is balanced, makes sense and works yet in class I could not use it. I left teaching as I was unable to be a great teacher in the UK system. I always new after that when I had a child I would home school. I did not expect Holt to come to the same conclusion. Glad he did. Lots of research base. Sensible ideas on how to make education work for schools and home education.

9 people found this helpful

Mel

Interesting read but US focused and outdated

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 10, 2020

Verified Purchase

There is lots of interesting stuff in here but a lot of it is outdated to 2020 homeschooling and many chapters focus on legalities that aren't applicable to the UK. Perhaps his other books are more relevant for UK readers in current times?

There are some good home schooling case examples though.

2 people found this helpful

M. Vukusic

Great book, an opinion changer...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 24, 2018

Verified Purchase

It's a great book, resonating very well with thoughts I previously had on compulsory schooling. Reading it just made me more sure my thinking was positive one and gave me a lot of good ideas and concrete examples how others tackled different issues or opportunities that came along with homeschooling. Definitely a great read, as well as a great present to someone having problems with kids... even though they may not turn to homeschooling, they still might use some ideas in their day-to-day coexistence with their kids, hopefully understanding them and ways how they (can) learn better.

C.C. James

Thorough but Anecdeotal

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 21, 2021

Verified Purchase

Reads like someone giving you great second hand advice. The recasting of some of the ‘older’ wisdom seems to jar a little at times but at it’s core it oozes common sense.

Well worth a read.

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