For the Love of Learning

Rating:
Summary: Article in Homeschooling Horizons
Review: Reviewed by Heather Reynolds 2004
Former reviewer for Indigo (Online)

Using many quotes to illustrate her ideas, Sockey provides the overview that so many families need as they begin their homeschooling journey. A wonderful introduction to Classical Education and the Charlotte Mason method, especially beneficial to those new to homeschooling, Sockey provides ideas on combining both methods for a well-rounded educational experience for your child.

With over 120 pages of resources and book lists, especially useful to those incorporating American history into your studies, this is sure to be a resource you will refer back to all year long. The author writes in an engaging and easy manner, even the busiest mom will benefit from the short chapters.

Veteran homeschoolers don¹t pass this one by! You will find yourself nodding n agreement and jotting down notes of the many quotes that are included in this gem.



Rating:
Summary: Don't Bother
Review: This book provides a very very brief overview of some of the main points of the Charlotte Mason (CM) and Classical (CE) approaches to education, using lots of quotes to link the author's own brief comments. In my opinion there is not sufficient information provided on either CM or CE to provide basic information to someone unfamiliar with either approach, and if you are at all familiar with either approach I don't see why you would bother with this book. If you want a brief, easy-to-digest and informative introduction to CM, you would be far better to spend your time and money on Catherine Levision's "A Charlotte Mason Education". One of the CE sites such as www.classicalhomeschooling.org/ will provide you with far more useful introductory information than will this book or look at one of the books such as "The Well-Trained Mind" or "Teaching the Trivium".

The author purports to discuss how to combine CM and CE, but doesn't offer any suggestions other than those that are very obvious (i.e. combine both methods) and doesn't offer any advice about addressing the differences between the two approaches.

Over half of the 120pp book consists of lists of books and resources, and over half of this list consists of recommendations related to American history and famous Americans. The book is so poorly written that personally I would not place any weight on the book/resource recommendations.

This is the only book about education that I have read that, in my opinion, has nothing of value to offer other than providing a number of great quotes from various people.