BOOK REVIEWS
Family Association for Instruction and Teaching at Home
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What a user-friendly book! Easy-to-read print, lots of cartoon-style illustrations, short chapters, easy-to-follow activities in each chapter - all that and excellent information, too! Just the thing for my 16-year-old. When I saw this book I knew it would be a hit, but I didn't know just how big a hit. My kids choose their favorite subjects to work on first each day, and this book has become number one. I haven't seen this one, but it's bound to be great. Topics are more appropriate for younger teens who aren't ready to drive or have a part-time job.
This overview of homeschooling, starting with
Money Matters for Teens Workbook -
Age 15-18 Edition
by Larry Burkett with Todd Temple
But, does it work? I'll say it does. Chapter 5, "Money Management Made Easy,"
introduces Larry Burkett's envelope system for managing money. As soon as my son read this, he gathered his envelopes and he's been using the system faithfully ever since. If that was all he got out of this book it would be worth the price. But he is also learning how banks and checking accounts work, how loans and credit cards work, the dangers of borrowing, how to buy a car, and even how to get and keep a job.
Larry Burkett's money management principles are very scripturally sound. Although we have tried to raise our children by demonstrating and teaching sound principles, sometimes hearing from an "expert"
can be just what it takes to convince them to do what they should do because it's the right thing to do, not just because Mom and Dad say so. I think that is what the bottom line will be with this great book. I am very happy with it and recommend it highly. ~sbd
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Money Matters for Teens Workbook -
Age 11-14 Edition
by Larry Burkett with Todd Temple
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The Homeschooling Handbook
by Mary Griffith
"Does Homeschooling Really Work, or What Do We Tell the Grandparents?"
uses testimonials from homeschool families who have "been there"
in each of the situations addressed. For example, several families answer the question of why they homeschool, actual academic research showing that homeschooling works is quoted, people who use the unit study approach talk about how and why they do that, and single parents address how they are able to homeschool.
The book contains chapters on homeschooling methods that work for different age groups and even a chapter called "Coping with the Rough Spots."
I appreciated the "Finding Learning Resources"
chapter in which the author points out resources available from unconventional sources such as the community (sports activities, museums, bookstores, field trips), travel ideas, and the Internet. I like that she stressed the importance of using libraries and how willing librarians are to assist homeschooling families.
The book's friendly style is not overwhelming which should make it an especially useful tool for newer homeschoolers who have lots of questions or those still considering the prospect of undertaking the homeschooling adventure.
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You Can Teach Your Child Successfully (Grades 4 - 8)
by Ruth Beechick
I love Ruth Beechick! Actually I should say that I love the way she writes, the way she thinks. Mrs. Beechick is so wise! She can take a discouraged, veteran homeschool mom and with a paragraph or a page turn her into a confident, encouraged "Super Mom" ready to take on the world - not to mention take on her own children/students.
In You Can Teach Your Child Successfully Mrs. Beechick speaks to homeschooling parents of fourth through eighth graders. She addresses all of the usual subject areas in a way that makes every subject sound oh, so interesting! The title of the first chapter in her Arithmetic section is "Arithmetic is Not Dull."
And by the end of the first page, the reader cannot wait to hear about all of the exciting principles and patterns that will help make it easy to convince the children that this is indeed true. She also teaches the reader how to design an individualized plan to help each child overcome spelling problems. She says, "The main idea in individualizing is to hold at the center of your thinking the children, and not a preplanned curriculum."
Then she proceeds to explain that this is not as difficult as it sounds and here's how to do it. This is the type of encouragement that I need! Another area Mrs. Beechick discusses is the meaning of those confusing terms in reporting of standardized test scores. Just what does "grade level"
and "percentile rank"
mean when it comes to how and what you should teach your child? Read in chapter 1 and find out.
Perhaps my favorite part of the book is Mrs. Beechick's discussion of timelines. Or maybe it's the part in the Science and Health chapter when she says, "So, if you have been worrying about getting the right content in the right grade, relax."
Sometimes I need to hear those words.
I've been teaching my own children at home for twelve years. But I still have my up days and my down days. On those really down days, when I wonder "Am I teaching the right things? Are we doing enough?"
this book has been a true gift of encouragement to me. I highly recommend it. ~ sbd
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The Language Wars and Other Writings for Homeschoolers
by Ruth Beechick
Here is another wonderful book by my favorite homeschool author, Ruth Beechick. It consists of a series of essays previously published in a variety of magazines over the years. From the first essay, "Curriculum 101"
to the last, "When the Homeschool Boomers Come of Age," Mrs. Beechick continues to amaze me with her knowledge, insight, and wisdom.
More of a philosophy book than a how-to manual, this collection is still so encouraging and addresses issues such as phonics, dyslexia, "The Neglected Period of History,"
and math content just to name a few. Christian homeschoolers will appreciate Mrs. Beechick's worldview as she addresses these diverse areas. For example, consider this quote from the chapter titled, "The High Road to Learning"
: "King David asked
And it just gets better from there.'What is man?'
In education we ask 'What is mind?'
and it is almost the same question. Mind in its classic sense, as people have used it for centuries, is the same as soul, or man himself. Whoever holds this high view of mind travels the high road to learning. Behaviorists and others with a lower view hold theories of learning that do not work as well as ours."
This is a very readable book with short chapters that stand alone. Perfect reading for all homeschool parents and older homeschooled students. Highly recommended. ~sbd
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Other Books by Ruth Beechick:
Dr. Beechick's Homeschool Answer Book
Adam and His Kin
Easy Start in Arithmetic
Home Start in Reading
Strong Start in Language
The Three R's
The Right Choice
by Christopher J. Klicka
Not sure yet that homeschooling is for you? Do you have doubting relatives who insist that public school worked just fine for their children, why can't it work for yours? Just what are the advantages of homeschooling anyway?
HSLDA attorney Christopher Klicka explores the academic, moral, and philosophical crises within the public school system. He then takes a detailed look at the rise of the homeschooling movement and exactly what it is that makes homeschooling the right choice.
Includes "how-to" information.
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