It's not easy being a homeschooling
parent today. Educating one's children is an immense responsibility. There are so very many more "answers" than there are questions! It seems to me that everyone has a
textbook, or a method, or a home-schooling philosophy. But how are we supposed to figure out just what path to take?
We
want our children to have the very best and to grow up with the God of
the Bible as their frame of reference; but the most effective way to accomplish
this seems to be just out of our reach!
For
more than 24 years I have been asking these same questions about
education. During my own journey, I have read books and research by the
most insightful and influential homeschooling leaders such as--Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore, Ruth Beechick, Charlotte Mason, John Taylor Gatto, and many more.
They were true pioneers of the current homeschool movement and all were
dedicated to the welfare of children and their families.
Although their messages were often diverse, I began to identify a common theme. In the last few years I have discovered the Eclectic Education Series,
and all those threads began to reveal an incalculably rich tapestry of
education resources, that for many were lost to the past.
My heart was burdened with the realization that there are many others just like me that
are seeking a way to simplify their homeschooling into a coherent
system which makes room for a child's personality and gifts, but at the
same time gives him structure as well as discipline.
I
have come to realize that the modern educational systems and methods
are strangely unique in our human history, and they have failed us
abysmally. Never before have we had so much knowledge at our fingertips,
and yet, the literacy rates of our nation's school systems are at an
all-time low. Despite the fact that we live in the information age--the divorce, homicide and suicide rates are at all-time highs.
Our children face much greater challenges today than we could have possibly
dreamed, nevertheless, many don't have the tools to handle these new
demands and pressures.
It's time we threw out the progressive educational philosophies and
ideologies which have lead us here. We need to turn back the clock and
promote the fear of God which is the beginning of wisdom. We must revive
the unswerving Christian devotion that used to be lived out by our
predecessors before the present narcissistic influence of humanism took
over!
We
can rediscover the tools of learning that helped our forefathers
overcome the great obstacles of their time, that have only recently been
replaced by "dumbed-down" work texts and worthless statistics which
require no higher thinking on the part of young learners.
Homeschool Sanity: A Practical Guide to Redemptive Home Educating
is my attempt to communicate a way back to common sense learning. It's a
pathway back to the simplicity and joy of gaining the knowledge born
out of the reverence for the God of the Bible. It's a journey filled
with the grace and truth of Jesus Christ.
This
book is easy to read. Even if one only has time for perusing, something
useful and encouraging will be achieved (I've included a few pages in
this article from my book for your consideration).
It's
full of engaging graphics, helps, charts, templates and resources. Even
the busiest mother will be able to breathe a sigh of relief as she
reads just how easy it is to give her children an education that will be
a blessing to them for the rest of their lives!
Here is a small portion of what I have included in Homeschool Sanity's 178 pages:
- An overview of the different methodologies of homeschooling
- A brief history of education in America
- Preschool
- Reading and literature
- Grammar
- Arithmetic
- History
- Science
No fancy psycho-anything here. I've rediscovered precisely why things used to work, and why they are so very broken today. I hope to lead the way into a fresh attempt to bring back the best of the past in order to prepare our children for the best future possible.
In essence, I've tried to make learning the "old" ways as convenient as possible for our modern lifestyles.
This
is why you will find many nifty charts and templates ready for your
use. You will discover a catalog of successful methodologies for your
own re-education. If you are like me, you will not feel tired and
anxious after you read my book; you will be refreshed and filled with
real hope!
NEW! Get it in print on Amazon!
Many thanks to Dollar Homeschool for the wonderful resources offered in the form of the Eclectic Education Series. This book would not have been possible were it not for the opportunity I had to write the guides for each of the wonderful Eclectic collections.
NEW! Get it in print on Amazon!
Many thanks to Dollar Homeschool for the wonderful resources offered in the form of the Eclectic Education Series. This book would not have been possible were it not for the opportunity I had to write the guides for each of the wonderful Eclectic collections.
Is this book still available in PDF format? Thanks!
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