Rating: 
Summary: Extremely informative!!
Review: After reading various reviews I was not sure about purchasing this book. Since I have bought and read this book, I found that it is packed with LOADS of information! I would have to disagree that this is not for "Christians only". Debra Bell gives her point of view from a Christian standpoint in the introduction NOT through the entire book. I would encourage anyone who is considering homeschool for their children to read this book. It is straight forward giving pros and cons of many situations faced by homeschoolers.
Rating: 
Summary: When it's good, it's very good...
Review: and when it's bad, it's worse!
As a Pagan, I was really turned off by all the Christian ideology and preaching found in the book, BUT because it had some good, solid information, I bought it anyway. I also was quite offended how the author states towards the end about using "Biblical Discipline" and spells out "S-P-A-N-K-I-N-G". Ummm... excuse me, lady, but corporal punishment is O-U-T!
As a mother, I liked how the author spoke in her own words and expressed herself, and admitted her own faults. We all have them. I really tried to like the book, but I found myself glossing over so much crap and fluff, especially the repeated references to order from Bob Jones University! ROFL! ROFL! ROFL!
The Ultimate? Hardly!
Rating:
Summary: Debra Bell's book is truly an "Ultimate Guide". .
Review: As far as homeschool reference guides go, this is the best I've seen. Its almost 400 pages cover scads of homeschooling issues: deciding to homeschool, choosing curriculum, organizing and planning, preventing burnout, what to teach-when and how, homeschooling teens, using computers in homeschooling, solutions to common problems, assessing progress, and a resource guide. What more could you ask for? Ms. Bell's humor is delightfully interspersed throughout her "Ultimate Guide". She is unabashedly Christian, which I respect, although I don't share her religious views. Our different perspectives cast no shadow on the terrific value offered for all homeschoolers within the pages of her guide.
Rating:
Summary: This book is geared toward the conservative Christian view.
Review: As soon as this author revealed that she thought creationism was science, I knew I would have trouble with this book. In spite of some quite helpful information for beginning homeschoolers, I found myself feeling leary of her curriculum references. Anybody who raves about curriculum materials put out by Bob Jones University is automatically a bit suspect. I kept encountering statements such as "I have not found any positions that conflict with our (Christian) beliefs." Was this the royal "our"? As a Christian of a different persuasion, I found such remarks out-of-place and presumptuous. If you dislike religious indoctrination you would likely find a different homeschooling book to be more helpful and certainly less annoying.
Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive and informative home schoool resource!
Review: Debra Bell's book gives a fresh perspective on the art of home schooling. Her style of writing is very amusing and witty. I borrowed this book from a friend but had to purchase one of my own as this is an excellent resource book for websites, national and state organizations, as well as suppliers and products. The author discusses learning styles, curriculum choices, computer hardware and software...to list of a few of my favorite chapters. This book is written from a Christian perspective.....Debra Bell has a passion for the Lord which is evident in her writing. If you are considering home schooling your children, this book is a "must read" before you decide! If you've been at it a while, this is a fresh perspectve full of helpful hints for renewing your energy and motivating your children.
Rating:
Summary: An invaluable tool for any homeschool family
Review: Debra Bell's book is the best I have read on homeschooling. She discusses the most important issues whether you are already homeschooling or are contemplating it. I wish I had found her book a year ago when I began the decision to homeschool. Mrs. Bell gives you the facts, and does not just tell you the "sweet" side of homeschooling. She gives you practical advice for practical families and children. Thank you so much Mrs. Bell for this wonderful book!
Rating:
Summary: This book is geared toward the conservative Christian view.
Review: Having read several of the reviews I was encouraged to buy this book as my first home schooling book. I found the book excellent and even though many of the resources are designed for the US market, it inspired me to look into what is available locally. I thought their CHESS idea was excellent, why not pool different parent talents in teaching! Even though it is published in 97 there were still quite a few resources on the net for kids, imagine what it is like now...it certainly will make home schooling a much more viable option to those in smaller countries where the home schooling market is just not big enough for the publishers to really focus on. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who would like a well balanced resource on what your in for ...time, money and knowledge wise
Rating:
Summary: excellent information
Review: Having read several of the reviews I was encouraged to buy this book as my first home schooling book. I found the book excellent and even though many of the resources are designed for the US market, it inspired me to look into what is available locally. I thought their CHESS idea was excellent, why not pool different parent talents in teaching! Even though it is published in 97 there were still quite a few resources on the net for kids, imagine what it is like now...it certainly will make home schooling a much more viable option to those in smaller countries where the home schooling market is just not big enough for the publishers to really focus on. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who would like a well balanced resource on what your in for ...time, money and knowledge wise
Rating:
Summary: Very good resource for those exploring homeschooling
Review: I am in the process of exploring homeschooling (among my reasons, religious, but that is not the only reason), and found this book to be full of excellent resources. For those of you who are non-Christian, this book is NOT dripping with Christian references in every paragraph, as another reader stated; in fact, there are ENTIRE CHAPTERS where there is no mention of her beliefs. Perhaps view Mrs. Bell as a homeschooler who is a Christian. I consider myself a devout Christian who holds moderate views, and at times was a little uncomfortable with her fundamentalist views; however, I commend her for standing by her beliefs. I found the chapters on learning styles and library resources very encouraging (in fact, I was pumped up after reading all the resources that are available through the library!). She does give recommendations for various books, videos/TV programs (including PBS, Discovery Channel, Learning Channel & A&E) and software -- both Christian and secular (although her reliance on Bob Jones University is a little disturbing). There are plenty of recommendations for resources that any family, regardless of religious beliefs, can use. She also gives good tips on weeding out the junk from the truly good stuff as well as resources for obtaining used curriculium. This is a book that any prospective homeschooler can use, as there are several bases that any family needs, regardless of beliefs:
- Setting goals for your children (what is the ultimate outcome that you want for your child?)
- Determining whether homeschooling is right for your family (and it just isn't based on religious beliefs -- for example, if only one spouse supports it, or if your marriage is shaky, you may want to not do it)
- Determining your annual homeschooling budget
- Determining your child's learning style
- Preventing burnout
- Developing a curriculum/schedule
- Assessing progress There are also paragraphs that reflect her beliefs that you could paraphrase to reflect yours. Here is an example from page 179: "Besides that, becoming a team player is an important skill in the workplace and the church. Without this training, it is easy to produce selfish children who don't understand that God has given them gifts and talents to use for the mutual benefit of the body of Christ, not for their own glory or self-gratification." Can be paraphrased to... "Besides that, becoming a team player is an important skill in the workplace and other areas of life. Without this training, it is easy to produce selfish children who don't understand that they have been given gifts and talents to use for the mutual benefit of society, not for their own glory or self-gratification." Not too many changes, are there? I got this book along with Linda Dobson's "First Year of Homeschooling," and combined, are an excellent resource.
Rating: 
Summary: Lots of good info,,,,but VERY Christian oriented
Review: I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand it gave alot of info on homeschooling--and that info was valueable. However, I wish I had known from the start that it is written from a Christian standpoint and that Christian ideology and curriculums would be recommended. As you may be able to tell I am not Christian. I have done a lot of homeschool research and have (up until now) been very happy with the books written----all have identified themselves as Christian if that is the "bent" of their information/book. She does not (at least not anywhere I see---the book title itself does not give me the impression that it will be written from a Christian Missionary approach--which it seems to be). I don't want to give the impression that the info in this book isn't good---it is. Very good. It is just that, if you are not Christian, a LARGE proportion of time is spent wading through the ideology. Also, many of the curriculums/books/etc. she recommends are Christian as well. I would have preferred a more well rounded approach to listing resources (while understanding that her focus is on Christian sources as she is Christian). I liked her information on learning styles. It was interesting and really gave me a direction to go in with my "difficult" child. The separate sections on content areas are very good as well. Overall a good book with lots of good info. However, if you are not Christian I recommend getting (in addition to this book) The Complete Home Learning Source Book. Ms. Rupp does an excellent job of listing numerous resources and points out which have religious overtones/context/etc. I think with both books you would really be "set".
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