Real-Life Homeschooling: The Stories of 21 Families Who Teach Their Children at Home

From Library Journal
Some 1.5 million children are being homeschooled today, a figure that is expected to double by 2010. This book offers a personal and close-to-home perspective on how homeschooling works and how to get started, with tips from families to make the journey easier. Barfield (Feed Your Family for $12 a Day), who has homeschooled her four children for nine years, uses the stories of 21 families who teach their children at home to create this solid resource. She includes families from 18 different states and a variety of ethnic backgrounds and lifestyles in such chapters as "Motorcyclists, Clowns, and Zookeepers," "Working Their Dream Careers," and "Home-Schooling with ADHD Children." These accounts do not gloss over the hard work that homeschooling entails but do convey the idea that it is not overwhelming. Readers who need practical ideas in outline form may find this narrative account less helpful and should consult Mary Griffith and Lisa Cooper's Homeschooling Handbook. Barfield's volume is highly recommended for education collections in both public and academic libraries and for all libraries serving homeschoolers. Leroy Hommerding, Fort Myers Beach Lib. Dist., FLCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Barfield, who has homeschooled her four children, interviewed 21 families for this fascinating look at a growing trend among families disaffected with the education available in the nation's public and private schools. Their motivations for homeschooling their children range from religious convictions to safety issues to concern about discipline. Barfield begins by profiling the families--size, location, the best and worst advice they were given about homeschooling, and their favorite quotes and resources. Barfield then tells why and how the families--representing a cross section of race, economics, and politics--started homeschooling. The families provide details on how they structure curricula, obtain educational materials, provide for social and cultural activities, deal with issues of socialization, conduct sports activities, and handle accountability to state and other agencies via standardized testing. This book goes beyond the political debates, offering nitty-gritty advice and insight for parents trying to decide whether or not they want to embark on homeschooling. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description
The book that shows homeschooling in action! What does it really mean when parents say they homeschool their child or children? For Rhonda Barfield -- a homeschooler for the past 10 years -- the definition is as diverse as the 21 families she studies in this eye-opening book. Real-Life Homeschooling From the city to the country, apartments to split-levels, you'll enter each household and see education in action. Discover the challenges and rewards of tailoring instruction to each child's needs while catering to his or her inquisitiveness and curiosity. See why the number of children being taught by their parents is growing nationwide -- at home, there are no overcrowded classrooms, no unknown dangers lurking in the halls, and no doubts as to the quality of the education. Whether you are just contemplating homeschooling or are a veteran seeking fresh ideas and help in overcoming obstacles -- look no further: Real-life Homeschooling shows just how practical and rewarding it is to educate children and provide them with what they need most -- you!


Download Description
"The book that shows homeschooling in action! What does it really mean when parents say they homeschool their child or children? For Rhonda Barfield -- a homeschooler for the past 10 years -- the definition is as diverse as the 21 families she studies in this eye-opening book. Real-Life Homeschooling From the city to the country, apartments to split-levels, you'll enter each household and see education in action. Discover the challenges and rewards of tailoring instruction to each child's needs while catering to his or her inquisitiveness and curiosity. See why the number of children being taught by their parents is growing nationwide -- at home, there are no overcrowded classrooms, no unknown dangers lurking in the halls, and no doubts as to the quality of the education. Whether you are just contemplating homeschooling or are a veteran seeking fresh ideas and help in overcoming obstacles -- look no further: Real-life Homeschooling shows just how practical and rewarding it is to educate children and provide them with what they need most -- you! "


About the Author
Rhonda Barfield is the author of Feed Your Family for $12 a Day and15-Minute Cooking. She homeschools her four children.


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Some 1.5 million children are being homeschooled today, a figure that is expected to double by 2010. This book offers a personal and close-to-home perspective on how homeschooling works and how to get started, with tips from families to make the journey easier. Barfield (Feed Your Family for $12 a Day), who has homeschooled her four children for nine years, uses the stories of 21 families who teach their children at home to create this solid resource. She includes families from 18 different states and a variety of ethnic backgrounds and lifestyles in such chapters as "Motorcyclists, Clowns, and Zookeepers," "Working Their Dream Careers," and "Home-Schooling with ADHD Children." These accounts do not gloss over the hard work that homeschooling entails but do convey the idea that it is not overwhelming. Readers who need practical ideas in outline form may find this narrative account less helpful and should consult Mary Griffith and Lisa Cooper's Homeschooling Handbook. Barfield's volume is highly recommended for education collections in both public and academic libraries and for all libraries serving homeschoolers. Leroy Hommerding, Fort Myers Beach Lib. Dist., FL Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.


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