Rating: 
Summary: Homeschooling Primer for Parents
Review: A few years ago, Homeschooling was a foreign concept to us. We were first time parents and schooling of any kind was probably the last on the list of important topics... that is until our newborn grew up and will now be 3 years old. Suddenly, our priorities have changed and we have been thrust into the world of educating our pre-schooler. So many choices: public school, private school, christian school, charter school, and home school. We have researched the first four but almost wrote off the homeschooling option with the typical concerns: What about socializing? I can't teach my kids without a teaching degree, can I? What would I do with them all day? Won't they get bored? Won't I go crazy? All the while using our questions to scare ourselves from even considering the option.As an avid listener of Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family radio program, I have heard Lisa Whelchel talk passionately about the subject of homeschooling. So, in order to rule out homeschooling for our family altogether, I bought Lisa's book. As I was reading the book, I was surprised to find myself becoming convinced that homeschooling might actually be a suitable option! So You're Thinking About Homeschooling helped us to get an honest overview of homeschooling - from curriculum to homeschooling flexibility to the benefits of homeschooling for children. It has also has a great General Homeschooling Resources section that gives book titles, websites, magazines, catalogs of curriculums, etc. I have already reviewed several of the websites and have become more excited about the possiblities of homeschooling my children. Now I will tackle the many books written about the suject. Whether or not the 15 families depicted are real or not, the examples given are diverse and thought-provoking. This is a really nice book to get you started on the road to seriously considering homeschooling as really good educational option for your children. Best wishes and happy reading!
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable!
Review: Easy to read, very comfortable style. Welchel does not push any particular style of homeschooling, in fact she emphasises diversity and finding your own style that works for your family. The stories offer a variety of scenarios and plenty of reasons to homeschool. My kids are less than a year old, but I'm already feeling very positive about homeschooling as perhaps the best option. I didn't realize until this book arrived that it was promoted by Focus on the Family, which I have some disagreements with, but Welchel does not push any agenda in this book other than homeschooling.
Rating: 
Summary: A short easy interesting read
Review: I agree with one of the other reviewers that wished more of Lisa's humor, style, and family experiences had come through. I did enjoy the book. There are many moments when I found myself chuckling over a comment or two *smile*. However, I loved Creative Correction (one of Lisa's other books) as her humor and wit really shine through. I laughed my way through that book as she was describing her children or a situation(often with my husband asking me what was so funny!). I took away from it many good ideas (and like everything else you keep what fits your family and leave the rest) This is a very good introduction to homeschooling. I've been homeschooling for a while and still find much to recommend this small volume. While the people are composites they do give you a pretty good "feel" for what its like to be a homeschooler and how unique each situation is. There are many homeschooling books out there and it does get boring to read over and over again the homeschooling rules in each state, how to deal with school officials, and so on. Lisa's book does blow some fresh air into the arena. I highly recommend this to someone who is considering homeschooling. I also recommend it (although not so highly) to more seasoned homeschoolers. I certainly don't regret buying it!
Rating:
Summary: LOVE THIS BOOK!
Review: I bought this book trying to decide if I wanted to homeschool, and 1/2 way through I was convinced it was for me! This book took the mystery away and gave me better understanding of how to fit it into my lifestyle. Written in a very comfortable- let's sit with a cup of coffee while I tell you my story- style! This book turned me onto many helpful websites including the author's site. LOVED IT!!
Rating:
Summary: Great for Seasoned Homeschoolers Too!
Review: I can't wait to give this book to a friend who is thinking about homeschooling - but I had to read it first. It was a quick read, which is important for a homeschool mom, and it was fun. We've been homeschooling for years and I still learned tons from the 15 families in this book. All of the information you would ever need to decide whether to homeschool, how to get started, and what all the different methods look like, is creatively interspersed within the interesting stories about all kinds of families. I loved "listening" to working mothers, grandparents, ADHD kids, junior high and high school students all tell how homeschooling works for them. I especially appreciated learning about all the different styles of teaching like, the Charlotte Mason method, a Classical education, unschooling, computer curriculum, the Principle Approach and all the other options I've heard about but didn't completely understand. I would recommend that seasoned homeschoolers, like myself, buy this book, read and enjoy it, and then pass it on to someone you know who is thinking about homeschooling.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: I have been homeschooling my daughter preschool, and my son will start next year. I heard Lisa on Dr. Dobsons radio show and asked the library to order it. I was so caught up in it, I couldn't put it down. If your questioning your teaching style; this book is for you. It takes you through the lives of 15 families, their struggles and their teaching styles. A wonderful read!
Rating: 
Summary: Where's Lisa?
Review: I liked Lisa Whelchel's book The Facts of Life and Other Lessons My Father Taught Me because she told her own story in a way that made me think I knew her personally. Only part of this book is about her experiences with homeschooling--the rest is about "friends" who don't really exist. Lisa says that's because she's trying to speak to your heart instead of your head. Well, okay, but I identify more with real people. Besides the made-up stories, her writing style isn't as engaging and her sense of humor doesn't come through. Perhaps they were both edited out of this book. Too bad. It would have helped make it something besides just another book about homeschooling.
Rating:
Summary: Makes you ask "Why wouldn't you think about homeschooling"
Review: I received this book in the mail today, and finished this book this evening, my daughter is only 1 years old; but I have my heart set on homeschooling, this just reinforces my desires. I love reading the different stories, styles and ways that I could make my homeschooling a success.
Rating:
Summary: A Delightful Coffee Hour with a Delightful Author
Review: Lisa Welchel (Blair on The Facts of Life) takes us to coffee with 15 different families who homeschool in 15 different ways and for many more different reasons. One gleans a few new ideas from each family, and leaves feeling more inspired to be a better homeschooling parent than before each visit.
There isn't a "right" way to homeschool, and Lisa gives us a realistic vision of what homeschooling life is like in different families. For many readers, they will also leave with a feeling that "what I am doing is OK."
For someone considering homeschooling, this book would be a tremendous encouragement to go ahead and try it. It helps the reader visualize many different workable scenarios. Almost any reader will identify strongly with two or three situations, and they will come away with the feeling that homeschooling can and will work for them.
This book will increase the number of people who homeschool. For that, Lisa, we can be grateful.
Rating:
Summary: A Delightful Coffee Hour with a Delightful Author
Review: Lisa Welchel (Blair on The Facts of Life) takes us to coffee with 15 different families who homeschool in 15 different ways and for many more different reasons. One gleans a few new ideas from each family, and leaves feeling more inspired to be a better homeschooling parent than before each visit.
There isn't a "right" way to homeschool, and Lisa gives us a realistic vision of what homeschooling life is like in different families. For many readers, they will also leave with a feeling that "what I am doing is OK."
For someone considering homeschooling, this book would be a tremendous encouragement to go ahead and try it. It helps the reader visualize many different workable scenarios. Almost any reader will identify strongly with two or three situations, and they will come away with the feeling that homeschooling can and will work for them.
This book will increase the number of people who homeschool. For that, Lisa, we can be grateful.
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