Weekend Edition~Home Sweet Home-School the Book!

Home Sweet Home-School

Home Sweet Home-School is a book published by Stoops Manufacturing.

Stoops Manufacturing website Product Description-by R.H. Smith A “How To” book written by a certified teacher turned successful Home School Instructor.If you have ever home schooled or thought about home schooling your children, then this book is for you! Finally a book on home schooling especially written for Jehovah’s Witnesses. It answers questions such as: “How do I start?”, “Is it legal?”, “Can I teach my learning disabled child?”, “What do I do if it isn’t working?”, etc. It addresses the pros and cons very well-a product of experience. Even if public schooling is chosen for your children, this information will help you see to it that they acquire the best education possible. Approx.158 pages. 8¼ x 5¼ in. Soft cover

Let me just tell you, this is one awesome book. This sister has pretty much nailed it! Her and I would get along great. This book is full of fantastic advice! I wish I had read it long ago. Yes there's a few small details I would disagree with, such as buying a curricula your first year and sticking to it. But, by and large, I completely agree with her advice. Such good grounded advice, mixed in with citing scriptures which is a very nice touch.

A little product description of my own, chapter by chapter:

Chapter 1- List the reasons why one would choose to homeschool, including spiritual reasons. IE the Israelite would not of sent their children to nations of foreign God's to be educated. And there is no way for curriculum to not be religious. (even secular is going to teach pagan, humanistic, etc religious view). And many more. All good and solid reasons.

Over all chapter one is so encouraging and bolstering of your choice to homeschool.

Chapter 2- Goes into obeying the laws where you live. Including record keeping, homeschooling other peoples children, and many more.

Chapter 3- Discusses the kinds of homeschooling methods to choose from. Of course it does not name them all but has a good start of what new to homeschooling moms would want to know. Also discusses in a good light Unschooling.

I particularly liked her expounding on Unit Studies/Unschooling in detail. Focusing on the hobby of Stamp Collecting. And how this one hobby can stretch into learning many many different subjects. And can be virtually free hobby as well. It was such a interesting read on stamp collecting I have decided we MUST start!!!!

Chapter 4- Explains what you may need or want to homeschool and encourages not spending too much money or buying things you most likely do not need. And how to determine that.

Also very interesting and eye opening, chapter 4 discusses the main kinds of learning personalities that exist. And why it is important to know which ones you and your child are, so you can best educate your individual child. And tailor their education to that learning style. In contrast with public school. And how some of these learning styles actually are considered problems in public schools.

In my opinion this is HUGE, in reasons to homeschool. And also sometimes many mom's get frustrated and upset when homeschooling and want to throw in the towel and send their children back to public school because they become so frustrated. When the real underlying problem may be that the curricula or homeschooling method that the parent has chosen is just not the right fit for the child. And when you can switch to the one that works for your child, how much easier things can be!

Chapter 5- List and explains homeschooling programs, curricula, and otherwise. Programs such as Pear blossom, Calvert, American School, etc

Chapter 6- Is about how to teach, choosing to grade or not, scheduling, and such things.

Chapter 7- Goes into choosing what to teach your children. She had so many good points. Mainly focusing on Biblical Education above all things. We want to set the tone of what we value as important to our children. Along with this, she gives many many ideas on different fun ways to teach different subjects, and often citing our literature in the how to.

Chapter 8-the pros and cons of testing your children.

Chapter 9-Lists different reasons some may think they can not homeschool. And offers hope and help to over come those challenges. Going into great details about homeschooling children who have disabilities, as well as parents who have disabilities.

Chapter 10-The reasons organization helps in homeschooling, and setting your priorities to make sure your most important goals are met.

Chapter 11-Field Trips and vacations and such are discussed. While I will admit, I don't really agree with her on how to organize field trips, nor about leaving smaller children at home. (I believe any where we go, all my children should be able to come-just like they can all come to the Kingdom hall) but she also has some very good ideas and points as well.

Chapter 12-Talks about how support groups can help you. And how you can start your own if you don't already have some local ones. Again while I may not agree with all her advice, she had some very good advice-like for instance asking the other parents for money in advance for a group field trip or what not, because MANY will back out, and then leave a bad taste in the mouth of the people you made the field trip with (museum, zoo, etc) I have personally seen this happen a LOT!

Chapter 13-Discusses how fathers/husbands can help support the wife, as well as help with the criticism from others. And other ways that fathers can be involved and should be involved with the education of their children.

Chapter 14-Is a wrap up review of all the previous chapters, with a few tips to try before giving up, a few experiences of older graduated homeschoolers, and encouragement, with a large resource list.

One thing to keep in mind during this chapter, is the date of publishing of this book. These were very popular options during that time. And still are around and being used today. But, homeschooling has really exploded in the almost 20 years since this book was published and many people are now opting to be more independent of these types of program. However, again they are still around and are still being utilized. When you read my about me page on this blog, you will see I have even used Calvert myself. So it is still probably relevant to at least be educated on these programs. As I am still asked frequently from other sisters about them. And they are still valid options when considering homeschooling.