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Summary: A book to introduce the skeptical to homeschooling!
Review: This book has got to be the best introduction to homeschooling for reasons other than religious education that is on the market. It's short length makes it ideal. Glad to see it is not a "how to" book but a "why to" book. When family and friends ask me why I keep my daughter home, I hand them this book.
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Summary: The book convinced me give homeschooling a shot.
Review: This book was highly recommended to me. I read it, took my child out of a prestigious private school, left my successful career and started homeschooling.4 years later I can only say it was a wise decision. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in homeschooling AND anyone who cares about what happens to their children.
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Summary: The references to resources are completely outdated.
Review: This book would be perfect if only it's references were updated, because they are a very significant part of the book's value. The narrative at the beginning of the book (about the authors' experience in homeschooling) is thought-provoking for those who are considering homeschooling their children. The parts of the book that I would have found most useful were the references to materials for teaching reading, writing, arithmatic, and science at home. The book was written in the 80s and a lot of the materials it references are from the 70s or earlier and were mostly out of print.
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Summary: Thankfully, not all homeschoolers are pedantic!
Review: This was the first book about homeschooling I read and all the rest have been disconcerting in comparison. The Colfaxes present, in matter of fact fasion, how they taught their own. Their motivation for doing so was practical rather than ideological. They don't pretend to tell you how to teach your own children - just how they managed to teach theirs. The only drawback is that some of the references are out of date - the Colfaxes taught their children in the 70's and 80's. However good sense (I don't say common, because I don't believe it is) will lead interested readers to updated references: Enyclopedias on CD-Rom rather than in book form, for example. A great book for intelligent parents who suspect that they can teach their child(ren) more effectively than any overworked and underappreciated teacher can.
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Summary: Thankfully, not all homeschoolers are pedantic!
Review: This was the first book about homeschooling I read and all the rest have been disconcerting in comparison. The Colfaxes present, in matter of fact fasion, how they taught their own. Their motivation for doing so was practical rather than ideological. They don't pretend to tell you how to teach your own children - just how they managed to teach theirs. The only drawback is that some of the references are out of date - the Colfaxes taught their children in the 70's and 80's. However good sense (I don't say common, because I don't believe it is) will lead interested readers to updated references: Enyclopedias on CD-Rom rather than in book form, for example. A great book for intelligent parents who supspect that they can teach their child(ren) more effectively than any overworked and underappreciated teacher can.
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Summary: Excellent Source for Homeschoolers!
Review: We put to use the same reading program they had mentioned in their book. It has been such a blessing to see my children beg me every day to do their school work. We had previously use Hooked-on-Phonics, a disaster. The children hated it, as did I and my husband. It was so awful. "Homeschooling For Excellence" has been such a help. I never realized that children could love to learn as much as they do! Don't just read this book. Take their advise! The difference it has made in our lives is amazing and wonderful! To the authors: Thank you so much.
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Summary: Homeschooling is excellent
Review: When I bought "Hard Times in Paradise" and "Homeschooling For Excellence" in 1988, I was pregnant with my only child. I did not think that a federally controlled, compulsory education was healthy, nor did I think that small children should be removed from their parents' care at such an early age. I was hungry for information that would give me a perspective on what to expect. David and Micki Colfax have done a wonderful job of explaining the hits and misses that comprised the raising of their children outside of the standard educational systems. The long term successes of their sons are enough to inspire any parent. Also, the landscape of their homestead is a wonderful backdrop to their lives. I can't recommend their books enough.
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Summary: Homeschooling is excellent
Review: When I bought "Hard Times in Paradise" and "Homeschooling For Excellence" in 1988, I was pregnant with my only child. I did not think that a federally controlled, compulsory education was healthy, nor did I think that small children should be removed from their parents' care at such an early age. I was hungry for information that would give me a perspective on what to expect. David and Micki Colfax have done a wonderful job of explaining the hits and misses that comprised the raising of their children outside of the standard educational systems. The long term successes of their sons are enough to inspire any parent. Also, the landscape of their homestead is a wonderful backdrop to their lives. I can't recommend their books enough.
Rating:
Summary: Helpful, inspiring and practical
Review: When we were trying to decide whether to homeschool our children or not, this book pushed us over the edge into the exciting adventure of home education. The authors' comments and insights about the state of modern public education were eye-opening. The gentle hands-on approach to education they used with their boys enabled their children to attend Harvard University! This is a great book to lend to your skeptical friends and relatives when they start questioning whether homeschooled children will be adequately prepared to function fully in college, the work world, and society at large. Does homeschooling REALLY work? You bet it does! And the Colfax's show you how....
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Summary: See Below.....
Review: Will homeschool affect my child's chance to become a scientist? Many parents wonder about science more than anything else. I know a 16-year-old who were homeschooled and also had research paper published on Nature, the world No. 1 science journal. This kid's parents recommend this book to their friends. One important thing they disagree with the authors is their attitude toward "test". They said test should be a part of homeschool package. Under the stress of test, kids learn to think faster and make the learning more solid. It helps them to build confidence. If the kids do well in the test, their morale will be high and view testing to be fun thing which also offers a sense of "achievement". They use tests to strengthen their kids attitude toward challenge and reinforce their confidence. Colfax mentioned the "needs of the children", but fail to explain them. My friend said it is "what the kids want to learn" and "to learn at their own pace" so that they can enjoy the enrichment of learning. Well, this is what I like to share with you. Again, this little book is not a "bible" for homeschooling. It can be used as a case of one family's successful experience. We as the parents need to work with our kids to develop a suitable method and cirriculum to meet their unique "needs". If you are looking for "guidance" or someone's leadership, you may as well try the school system again. There are indeed real good experts who can help you to "update" the reading list and help you any way you want.
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