The Homeschool Journey

Rating:
Summary: This book really addresses the heart of homeschooling.
Review: As a homeschooling rookie, I found this book to be very enouraging and truly inspirational! It was just the window I needed to see how simple and wonderful homeschooling can be for the whole family. Susan Card beautifully explains how homeschooling works in the Card family. I highly recommend it to anyone who currently homeschools or is considering it as a schooling option.

Rating:
Summary: Not the book for me!
Review: None of the previous reviewers mention the religious aspect of this book. I was surprised by the many, many, many (too many) Biblical quotes and then bored by the authors' interpretations of these. The subchapter headings include such titles as "Humility," "Servanthood," "Making Christ the Center," and "Obedience" (and I could go on).

The book seems intentionally vague--unlike other homeschooling books I've read, the Cards give no reasons for their curriculum choices, no mention of how they structure their school year, no mention of how they incorporate library or social time, no mention of any day to day activities, no mention of how they work within their state's homeschooling laws (or what that law is), no mention of how they assess progress.

The book promises much more than it delivers. For example, the back cover states that the books "answers your questions about" "teaching children at different grade levels" (which was answered in 3 vague paragraphs).

I was expecting a "journey" of the homeschool experience on a personal level with their family, and what I read seemed more like how to give your child a strong Christian background, with little insight on how this family incorporates homeschooling WITH their Christian values. I am guessing that the Cards' approach is to unschool, but then they never addressed that (or any other homeschool theory) either . . .

Rating:
Summary: Very encouraging and honest
Review: The Homeschool Journey is very encouraging to those of us considering teaching out of the home. The honesty in sharing the family stories shows us that the "teacher" need not be perfect, just willing to listen, learn and adapt to their children's learning needs. This book offers a variety of resources from mentoring and community involvement to individual books and curriculum, all the while stressing the need to tailor the teaching to each individual child. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about homeschooling their children...it's given me courage.