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Rating: 
Summary: Like talking to your wise, experienced HSing best friend
Review: A down to earth homeschooling mother shares her insights and experiences about her four never-schooled children. This book is written in a colloquial manner and reads as if the author were your best friend and you were having a conversation while sipping tea. The difference between this book and all the other homeshooling books I've read is that the author shares her personal experiences including flaws and stumbling blocks. I left the book feeling that one does not have to be a perfect person to homeschool her children effectively and that it is OK to make mistakes so long as you learn from them. Layne gives 20/20 hindsight and states what she would have done if she had known better at the time. Very interesting to see how she taught her children to read, and teach math, and how each personality was different and how she had to be flexible to the childrens different learning styles. Her list of personality traits and beliefs that one must have to be able to homeschool are wonderful. She discusses discipline and addresses effective communication methods to use with children. Of course, socialization is covered. Layne also discusses various books and materials that she has used and which she liked and which she didn't like. Layne even recommends certain toys that she feels offer educational or developmental benefits. A summary of board games and her critique is also helpful. Another not-so-commonly discussed chapter addresses preventing parental burn-out. A short chapter addressing college education ends the book. The publisher is a small company and there are a few typos here and there, and the margins are tiny (no room for note writing by the reader), but it is such a refreshing book because it is like hearing a friend speak instead of having the tone of a cold-unhuman voice.
Rating:
Summary: Joy in learning, growth and discovery is success!
Review: I enjoyed this book so much that, after reading a borrowed copy, I HAD to buy it for myself. I NEEDED my own copy so I could return again and again to the author's wise council. I foresee using this book often in my family's homeschooling journey. Why? Because of the confidence the author imparts based on her own experiences - both successful and maybe not so successful. I gain a confidence that I can succeed in assisting my children in their intellectual growth and, even more importantly, help them retain their curiousity and joy in learning.Many of the home education books I read make me feel somehow not up to par if my children are not excelling in all areas. Ms Layne reminds me that excelling is not just academic sucess. Real success is a joy in learning, growing and discovering. She encourages me to enjoy my children for who they are and what they bring to the world. With all this encouragement come particulars - great bibliographies, wonderful ideas, doable experiences. In other words this book is not just theory but practical as well. I encourage all potential and current homeschoolers to add "Learning at Home" to their library and to utilize it often.
Rating:
Summary: Joy in learning, growth and discovery is success!
Review: I enjoyed this book so much that, after reading a borrowed copy, I HAD to buy it for myself. I NEEDED my own copy so I could return again and again to the author's wise council. I foresee using this book often in my family's homeschooling journey. Why? Because of the confidence the author imparts based on her own experiences - both successful and maybe not so successful. I gain a confidence that I can succeed in assisting my children in their intellectual growth and, even more importantly, help them retain their curiousity and joy in learning. Many of the home education books I read make me feel somehow not up to par if my children are not excelling in all areas. Ms Layne reminds me that excelling is not just academic sucess. Real success is a joy in learning, growing and discovering. She encourages me to enjoy my children for who they are and what they bring to the world. With all this encouragement come particulars - great bibliographies, wonderful ideas, doable experiences. In other words this book is not just theory but practical as well. I encourage all potential and current homeschoolers to add "Learning at Home" to their library and to utilize it often.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully inspiring, compassionate guide for any mother.
Review: I wish Marty Layne was my neighbor! How nice to have someone there to hold your hand, make a cup of tea and share tried and true advise. Marty seems to be a real person, someone you can relate to without being intimidated by her perfection! Her book is easy to read, hard to put down and indespensible. I have referred back to the chapters time after time for encouragement and reassurance and have never come away disppointed. This book is a must have for any mother, homeschooling or not!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully inspiring, compassionate guide for any mother.
Review: I wish Marty Layne was my neighbor! How nice to have someone there to hold your hand, make a cup of tea and share tried and true advise. Marty seems to be a real person, someone you can relate to without being intimidated by her perfection! Her book is easy to read, hard to put down and indespensible. I have referred back to the chapters time after time for encouragement and reassurance and have never come away disppointed. This book is a must have for any mother, homeschooling or not!
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