We are in our 8th year of homeschooling, so I wasn’t expecting much from The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling. I picked it up & started reading it just to give you homeschooling newbies an honest review. To my surprise, I was taking notes by page 18!
Debra Bell is a homeschool veteran and actually published this book several years ago. (I wish I would have read it 8 years ago!) This is the revised & updated edition. The book is divided into ten parts:
- 1 – Homeschooling: Is it for you?
- 2 – Choosing a Curriculum
- 3 – Organization & Planning
- 4 – Preventing Burnout
- 5 – What to Teach – When and How
- 6 – HomeschoolingTeens
- 7 – Computers in the Homeschool
- 8 – Creative Solutions
- 9 – Measuring Your Success
- 10 – Resource Guide
You can view the Table of Contents and a Sample Chapter.
Here are a few things you might want to know when considering this book:
~ This book is most definitely from a Christian perspective. There are many wonderful resources & tips included for any type of homeschooler, but it is specifically written for people who rely on God to guide their education decisions.
~ The Bells are what I like to call one of “those” families. You know, the ones who make the rest of us look bad. LOL Her children are very self-motivated, high achievers, world travelers and always looking for a challenge. My kids, on the other hand, would spend all day playing the Wii and eating cheetos if given the choice. Thankfully, Debra does not imply that my kids need to be like hers. She is simply sharing their experience.
~ Co-op played a big role in the Bell’s education. Co-ops can be a wonderful part of homeschool – we’ve been part of one before. Just keep in mind that the co-ops highlighted in the book appear to be comprised of “those” families that I referred to above. A co-op can be much simpler, and cheaper, than depicted in the book. (And I think you can be happy homeschoolers without ever stepping foot into a co-op or group, so don’t feel discouraged if these are not an option for you.)
~ The Choosing a Curriculum section covers many different styles of teaching, but discourages using a boxed curriculum. She encourages you to work with your child’s strengths and interests, and think outside of the box.This was one of my favorite sections, and I agree with her wholeheartedly.
The Nitty Gritty:
- $20 paperback, 500+ pages
Value: I highly recommend this for every Christian homeschooler, newbies & veterans alike!
See what my TOS Crew Mates have to say about The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling!
I received a free copy of this book for the purpose of providing an honest review. No other compensation was given.
