Review- The Imperfect Homeschooler’s Guide to Homeschooling
Have you ever read an article with glossy photos of the perfect homeschool family?
Older children work on math while little ones build the Eiffel Tower with popsicle sticks. Mother posts the schedule on the refrigerator and everyone follows it. Father stages a play to reinforce the lessons of the day. The whole family always smiles at the camera.
Barbara Frank wrote The Imperfect Homeschooler’s Guide to Homeschooling to combat discouragement that trails misconceptions of utopia.
![218120: The Imperfect Homeschooler"s Guide to Homeschooling](http://ag.christianbook.com/g/thumbnail/2/218120t.gif "218120: The Imperfect Homeschooler"s Guide to Homeschooling") |
The Imperfect Homeschooler’s Guide to Homeschooling
By Barbara Frank / Cardamom Publishers |
The conversational tone of this veteran homeschool mother of four overflows with wisdom. She shares practical tips such as the Top Ten Tools for Homeschooling Parents and 115 Organizing Tips for Homeschoolers. (I am almost convinced to get a filing cabinet.)
In the extremely helpful chapter about overcoming obstacles, Barbara Frank tackles the issue of time management and personal habits.
She also discusses how personality traits can help or a hinder home education. See if you are a teacher, a perfectionist, a follower, etc., and then learn to temper your natural bent with the grace of God.
Other circumstances strain efforts to teach, and Barbara touches on them all: children with special needs, stresses with finances, and difficulties with relationships.
Chapters include:
- Confessions of an Imperfect Homeschooler
- Homeschooling 101
- Teaching Specific Subjects
- Teaching Techniques and Ideas
- Covering All the Bases
- Overcoming Obstacles to Homeschooling
- Coping with Changes and Challenges
- One the Home Front
It is easy to view a snapshot, but the noise behind the photo is muted. Barbara gives the reality of homeschooling a voice. She teaches her children. She believes you can, too.
Her stories reverberate in my soul and give strength even now.
Whether you are new to homeschooling or years into the journey, you will find inspiration in The Imperfect Homeschooler’s Guide to Homeschooling.
Loved reading this post. It reminds me of how often we get discouraged by the first image you described when our picture dosen’t match that.
Everybody loves to be incouraged especially by someone who says, “It’s okay to be imperfect, you can still do this!”
Happy day!
This sounds like a really good book. I still struggle sometimes with feeling like I’m not doing enough, that I’m not “SuperMom”, as I’m sure a lot of us do.
Good review.
Good review. I agree, the book was very encouraging. I think it is the first homeschool book that I finished without feeling entirely inadequate.
Hey fellow twitterer, this looks like a great homeschool site. I’m so nervous about homeschooling. MY little monkey is almost four, and we’ve been doing home preschool since he turned three. I get nervous when I think about homeschooling Kindergarten. The two of us actually do pretty well together now, but at first it was a little rough. I’m a lot calmer now, and I guess it just took us awhile to figure each other out.
Beth,
Perfect means to be complete, finished. That is God’s work in us. He knows who we are supposed to be. I’m not so sure that I do, so it’s better to leave it up to him. ;)
Denese,
We put so much pressure on ourselves, don’t we? There is not such thing as Super Mom.
Michele,
I haven’t read a lot of homeschool books, but I really did enjoy this one. And, providentially, I read it during a difficult time this year.
Kate,
You are not alone in being nervous about homeschooling. I was so nervous when I started and still have waves of panic every once in awhile.
When we started homeschooling, I planned everything and caused way too much stress for my son and me. But your son is young. Enjoy reading to him and playing. Spending time with you is an excellent foundation of love.