Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Teaching in Your Tiara- review and giveaway

The nice thing about self-imposed lazing about the house is that, in addition to having all our curricula for next year purchased and maybe a few (zillion) items of maternity apparel ordered despite the fact that I already have a full wardrobe of such (what? doesn't that happen to you?  You pull out your old maternity clothes and you're like "What was I thinking??? Burn it!  Burn it all!") is that I can reeeeeeeeeeeeeeead.

Luckily for me, and by extension all of you, Rebecca Frech's new book Teaching in your Tiara just came out  and she made sure I got my very own bright new copy post haste.

p.s. that is really her on the cover and don't you just love that?

I read this book from cover to cover in just two sittings.  Can a non-fiction book in question/answer format be a page-turner?  I'm going to say yes.  Rebecca is funny, honest, experienced, and...I don't know....regular?  Like, she doesn't claim to be GOOD AT ALL THE THINGS or the perfect anything.  Except for being the perfect person to be her kids' mom, which we all are, and that's kind of the point, right? Despite our shortcomings, we have our kids' best interest at heart so whether or not we choose to homeschool (yes, you heard right.  She freely acknowledges that homeschooling isn't for everyone at every stage of life.  Good stuff, yes?), we can trust ourselves to make the best decisions for our children.

She's just so encouraging and funny and has her finger on the pulse of parenting life rightthissecond.  Her eldest is on her way to college and her youngest is on her way to potty training, so we're talking the full gamut of parenting and homeschooling experience here.

If you take a look at that amazon link (here it is again: http://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Your-Tiara-Homeschooling-Book/dp/0615791506/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top ), there's the "click to look inside" option and you can see how it's laid out, but I just love the question/answer format.  Because isn't that why so many of us want to read homeschooling books?  Because we're overflowing with specific questions?

And if you are a veteran homeschooler, this book is perfect to give to friends who might be considering it or have already started but want more advice (I loved the chapters on high school and college prep.  Super helpful).  And even if you've just gotten started, you should give copies to friends and family members who are really curious about this whacky homeschooling idea you've suddenly become obsessed with!  It would be perfect for that.

Also, due to her extremely high awesomeness level, you simply must check out her blog Shoved to Them .  And ogle her snazzy homeschooling/author site Rebecca Frech. Trust me.  She's great.

Hey, wanna win your own copy?  Of course you do.  Who doesn't love free stuff?

The only two required things in order to enter are to like her fb page and to leave a comment.  Click on the rafflecopter widget for all the links and details.  Good luck!  Hope you win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


(and if you have any other questions about the book or the author, leave them.  I think I could get her over here to answer because she is just. that. good.)

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98 comments :

  1. My little one is too young for all this yet, but I really, really want to homeschool. I think my biggest question is how to you do it with multiple kids all at once. God willing, we want a large family and I'm worried about juggling school for several kids while taking care of a baby, etc.

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    1. We started looking at homeschooling when our oldest was two and went to our first conference when he was three--your child is never too young for you to be considering all the possibilities for his future! I think for your question about how to do it with multiple kids (I have 5 ages 11 years to 3 months) you just really have to take each day and each year as it comes. You'll figure it out. Seriously. Sounds a little laissez faire when it comes to your kids education but you truly do figure it out as you go along...and you'll do great!!!

      Delete
    2. My experience with homeschooling several kids is that it is really only super, super parent intensive from K-2...by 3 grade my kids are working more independently, so by the time a new sibling was ready for K, the next one was almost independent. At least that is how it has worked for us.

      My biggest question, is "Is homeschooling driving me crazy, or would I be going crazy anyway." LOL

      Delete
    3. Do your little ones still nap? If so you're golden. You can easily fit K-2nd grade in during a 2 hour nap time.

      If not (I'm so sorry to hear that, then break it up into spurts during the day. There is no rule saying that you have to teach everything at once or that it has to begin at 8 a.m.

      With my 1st grader, we start the day doing reading when he gets up at 7:00. He brings his book in and we snuggle under the covers while he reads me a story. We do math while I'm cooking lunch. (He sits at the counter and I fix food.) The other kids are either done with school or onto other things at that point. We cover religion, history, and spelling during the baby's nap.

      You fit it into your day and work around the natural schedule of your family.

      Delete
  2. Actually, that's a lie, my biggest question is definitely, "How do you get your kids to actually do the work?" I was a teacher and a ton of kids wouldn't actually do their homework, so are my kids going to listen to mama?

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    1. I know Rebecca will be back later (7 children!), but I'll just chime in right now and say that she addresses all of that in the book. Things that seem so crazy seem...so simple once you read it. It's pretty amazing :)

      Delete
    2. Mandi - I know it sounds simplistic, but homeschooling is just another kind of bossiness. You already boss them around to pick up their toys, why is math any different?

      When you are homeschooling small children, they don't see it as you being mean the way traditionally schooled children do. When they're little, they see it as more of a collaboration. You're on the same team. The kind of team where you can say "No ice cream for you until you finish your handwriting," but still a team.

      When they're older, you have trained them to do it. It's just part of their definition of normal.

      Delete
  3. I just bought it this morning! BUT if I win, I can have my copy and then give one away and it can be a giant homeschool encouraging cycle of love or something. And I didn't realize that was HER! So cool!

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    1. Ooh, my question/concern is keeping kids focused and not nosing into whatever everyone ELSE is supposed to be doing at the moment while mom is jumping from one to the other...

      Delete
    2. I'll be honest here, I don't do a lot of jumping. I have the schedule staggered in a way that my nosiest kids get my attention while the independent ones are working or already finished.

      They also don't get that interested in what each other is up to unless it's super interesting and then I encourage them to watch. Things like mummifying a chicken or burning our paper model of London (we were discussing the Great Fire of London) are too fun to not share.

      Delete
  4. Let me be honest and say it's me with perfect lighting, retouching, and a bit of airbrushing. In real life I have a big old forehead frown line....because seven children, that's why.

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  5. That is a great tiara. Can I win that, too?

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    1. I can send you then outline to make your own. Ours didn't outlive the 3 year old.

      Delete
  6. My biggest concern is making sure my kids are ready for and able to get into college if they so choose.

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    1. In my experience, homeschooled students are better prepared for college than their traditionally school peers. My 16 year old's college adviser agrees. (She takes dual credit classes at the local community college. Did you know they could do that?)

      The homeschool model of learning is much closer to the collegiate model than what public schools are doing. Here's an example:

      My daughter and her friend were both high school juniors last year and wrote term papers at the same time.

      Her friend was told "Be ready to have a topic picked by Tuesday." Then "By Friday, I need a list of reference materials." Then a week later "By next Thursday, have your outline done." This went on, step-by-step, for 6 weeks.

      I told my daughter "Your term paper is due in 6 weeks. Here is a list of the requirements. Come find me if you need help or a proofreader. Be sure to include a bibliography."

      And she did.

      Delete
    2. I really love this particular response! This is one of my main reasons for homsechooling, I want to enable my kids to be able to teach themselves. I have a extremely advanced 4 year old, and an almost 2 year old. Just when I thought it would get a bit more difficult because my 2 year old was becoming more and more active and napping less, she started sitting down at the kids table coloring and doing puzzles, or her own 'work' while big sister was doing her work... they do distract each other a bit, but since big sister is still 4, I think we are fine.

      Delete
  7. I know several lovely families who homeschool and we have discussed it several times but have never felt 'called' to do it. So, I'd like to learn more. I work part-time from home so not sure how I would juggle schooling and working at home, with the 5 kiddos!

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    1. I do it. I wrote a book last year and speak at homeschool conferences. If you need someone to talk to, shoot me an email.

      Delete
  8. organization. funds. behavior issues. inspiring my children. burning out. is that enough??? :)

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  9. What if I buy a bunch of stuff and the kids don't like that method? I want a simple, easy to use, all-in-one curricula... because I am pretty much lazy and don't like a schedule for myself (and don't wanna get up early to take a shower, I like sleep!).
    p.s. I love the cover!

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    1. We all want that curriculum. You try a few and tweak them until you get it right. Sell what you don't like on eBay.

      I'm severely ADD and lazy as snail snot. I'm the definition of disorganized and I abhor schedules. I've also homeschooled successfully for 12 years.

      p.s. Thanks! I like it too. :)

      Delete
  10. I love a good homeschool book!! Some of them are so dry, they make you want to fall asleep or poke out your eyes! :D

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    1. I promise this one is not dry and your eyeballs will be intact.

      Delete
  11. My oldest is just coming up on homeschooling age and my concern is that I won't be disciplined enough to follow through with it all. I second the first person who commented with a question about what to do with the little one(s) while homeschooling the older one.

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  12. Good for you! Rebecca's was the first blog I ever found and I've loved her writing ever since. Glad her book's getting recognised and promoted :)

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  13. Ba ha ha! "Burn it all!!!"
    Oh Dwija, I can so relate to the maternity clothes thing. I just had my second little one, and when I opened that box it was a cornucopia of cast offs. See, I let 3 or 4 people use the stuff and even keep what they liked. Not to mention they often make the clothes so poorly that anything you like, and therefore wear, wears out.

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  14. I am concerned about burn out and not having a break from the kids.

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    1. Take a break! No one can work 24/7.

      Put the kids to bed at a regular bedtime and clock out for the day. This is your job, and you get to clock out. The laundry will wait and so will the rest of the housework.

      I put mine to bed at 8:30 and then my time is mine. Where do you think I found the time to write a book? I go to bed at 11:00. That's 2 1/2 hours of free time to do what I want or hang out(make out) with my husband. You need time to just be you.

      I'm on call all the time for emergencies, which we define as the 3 B's (bleeding, burning, or barfing). Everything else can wait until morning unless your brother actually has been eaten by a monster.

      I devoted a whole chapter to the topic of taking care of yourself. It's that important.

      Delete
  15. I was homeschooled for a while and loved it. But my Mom keeps talking about the difference in being the Mom, and being the Teacher - the different roles. I am wondering how that plays out. How will I be able to separate into those roles? Is it even necessary? What if we go more the unschoolish route? How would you begin to draw those lines?

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    1. I do not take on a different role as Teacher and as Mom. We start teaching our kids from the day they're born, you know? We teach them all sorts of things. Eventually they're too old to still be learning please and thank-you, so we do math and reading instead. I would go nuts trying to be two people at the same time!

      Delete
  16. My biggest concern is the expense - what do I buy? Is it worth the money? Stuff like that.

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    1. Find the local homeschool group (check yahoo groups) and ask the veterans if you can come look at their stuff. It's rare to find one who won't let you. Look at all different kinds and ask lots of questions.

      Then know that you will make mistakes in some of the things you choose. Some you can live with and others you can't. If it's a bad mismatch, then sell it and try something else. You're not married to the curriculum, change it if you need to.

      But start by asking the veterans.

      Delete
  17. I guess my biggest question is whether or not homeschooling (and we are just talking preschool at the moment) is right for my kid(s). And when I'll know when or if it's not the right fit for us.

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    1. You won't know until you give it a try. Once you're there, it will become obvious whether or not this is for your family pretty quickly. Set up a test period after which you can re-assess. I suggest using the summer, a semester, or a year. No one is asking you to commit to anything more than that.

      If they are, then you should smack them.

      Delete
  18. Wow, sounds like this book may just convince me! Our daughter is only 19 months but I'm sure it's never too early to start considering and planning! I do hope I win, but I will likely go buy it if I don't! Thanks for the giveaway!

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    1. You're right. It's never to early to start thinking about it.

      Delete
  19. My biggest concern (and still is) is balancing school with all the other "mom jobs" *I'm* supposed to be getting done...well, that, and the nagging feeling I'm not doing 'enough' school wise.

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    1. The nagging feeling never goes away. You learn to live with it. There are more things to teach them than you have time. The goal shouldn't be to cram their heads with knowledge, but to teach them how to teach themselves. If they know how to get the information they need then they're way ahead of the game.

      School should not take up the whole of your day. Even if you follow the traditional school schedule of 8-3 you still have a lot of time left. (I only know one family that follows that schedule. Most teach for a much shorter time.) Remember that you have help now that the kids are at home. If 4 of you work on a room for 15 minutes, that equals one hour of cleaning! See how housework teaches math? Cool, isn't it?

      Delete
  20. Even after 6 years of homeschooling, I like to "peek" into someone else's homeschool to see what ideas might work with my kids. This book sounds like the perfect little peek! Thanks for the opportunity!

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    1. I love to see what other people are doing too. Peek away!

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  21. Ah,so exciting. Once upon a million days ago I used to follow Rebecca's blog, but somehow my subscription got messed up and I haven't read it in awhile. Yay for reminders of great blogs to read!

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  22. This coming year I'll be homeschooling a 3rd grader, 1st grader, and Pre-schooler with a high-maintenance 2 year old and infant in the background. Just tell me it can be done. Sanely. :)

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  23. We're starting this year and my main concern is how to keep the crazy two year old from coming up and grabbing everything out of her sisters hand/ or scribbling on the page that she's working on. It's what we've been working on at the moment since Mae doesn't just want to be working alongside her sister, she wants to be working on the same paper as her sister!

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    1. Redirect! Find activities for her to do and start her on them before you start school. (Or teach during naptime!) Start making a folder of preschool activities on Pinterest today. We've spent a whole day with my three year old completely obsessed with a colander and pipecleaners. Kids are weird. Give her her own thing to do

      Delete
  24. Oh my goodness! What a great giveaway!! First of all, Rebecca, I READ your blog...how did I not realize that this was your book? I think I have been living in a foggy haze or something. Goodness.

    On the topic of homeschooling, we are most definitely considering it. The fear I have is keeping my patience with my oldest while my middle child is wanting to do.everything.he.does.all.the.time. I think I just need to be more creative (we are only in "preschool" right now). I was a teacher way back when, but am so intimidated with starting on my own at home. Esp. with the pressures and confusions of extended family members. Ugh. So many thoughts about this. Can you tell why I need to read your book? :)

    Great giveaway Dwija!

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    1. That's a lot of questions. You need to buy the book because I answer them all. :)

      Patience is a muscle, the more you use it the stronger it gets.

      What's wrong with including the middle child?

      I'm not creative at all. That's why God gave me crafty friends and Pinterest.

      The best way to describe the book is - if you were my real life friend and asked my advice about homeschooling, this is what I would tell you. All of it. It's brutal honesty wrapped in humor and a friendly tone of voice.

      If you ever wanted to pick the brain of someone who's been homeschooling forever, then you should read this book.

      Delete
    2. "I'm not creative at all. That's why God gave me crafty friends and Pintrest."

      LMAO - I can tell just by your commentary that your book is gonna be a riot. So glad to have stumbled across your page!

      Thanks for this!

      Delete
  25. My biggest concern when I started last year was whether I'd have enough time to do all the stuff I did at home before I was schooling the kids too and whether I'd ever get to the gym.

    I manage to do the house stuff about as well as I ever did. I don't go to the gym as often and that's a bummer, but I'm okay with that trade-off. My family members worried about me - not whether the kids would get a decent education, but whether I'd burn out trying to do too much.

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    1. Find time for the gym. Figure out a way to make it work. You'll be so much happier and have the energy to get through the day.

      As I said a few comments ago, clock out at the end of the day. It's how you will prevent burn out. You need free time.

      Delete
    2. Yeah, the options I've come up with are:

      1) Leave as soon as my husband gets home and be gone over supper (pro: I can go to the classes I like; con: 5pm is hard enough already)

      2) Pay for a full family membership and make the kids who don't want to go to childcare - which is free - swim. (pro: could go at 3pm when we're done schooling; con: they whine about going no matter what. Also: $)

      3) Go over bedtime (we're late people and if I wait until after they go to bed, it'll be closed). (pro: there are some classes I like after suppertime. con: 8pm is not a very predictable time)

      4) Sign the big kids up for YMCA homeschool gym and swim, guaranteeing that once a week we get there, although my classes aren't offered then. (pro: they exercise and get swim instruction; it puts the Y as priority #1 for 2 hrs/wk; con: $, not ideal hours)

      What I have been doing is going once on the weekend and once after work most weeks, with hopes of one bedtime visit that usually doesn't happen. I'm going to take advantage of my husband's shorter hours over the summer and just get in the habit of going 4 times a week again. I probably should suck it up and sign up the kids for gym and swim. Then I could do one weekend and one evening, at least. Plus we should bike a lot as a family until it gets cold. I was going to the gym in the late mornings 5 times a week the year before I started homeschooling and it was great.

      Anyway, thanks for the opportunity to think through my options.

      Delete
  26. My biggest concern with homeschooling (seriously considering for next year, when my son will be 5) is that I won't have the patience and the discipline to teach and challenge him. We sometimes get a little stir crazy and tired of struggling with each other on tough days. We're both stubborn and emotional, so I worry that perhaps he'd be better off with a teacher whose face he doesn't see all day, every day (although I'm pretty certain a busy classroom would be difficult for him).

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  27. This looks like a great book to read so that I can add it to my retinue of items I recommend for moms who are considering. I come in contact with a lot of them now that I'm a "veteran" :)

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  28. Very interested! We're starting kindergarten for my oldest next year, so we are new to this. I actually spent my afternoon looking into curricula.

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    1. Oops, I always forget we're supposed to answer a specific question. I guess I'm a little concerned about my ability to juggle school with all the other household responsibilities, but I'm going to trust that God will help me figure it out! Ditto with how to keep the smaller ones entertained :)

      Delete
  29. My biggest curiosity is how homeschooling works for families who have some in school and some at home. At this stage, my oldest, 4, will be in preK for the upcoming year...she has a unique set of gifts/challenges, and I cannot imagine school at home with her, and the combination of personalities next in line :)

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    1. We did that for a year, one in school and the rest at home because of learning disabilities. It was hard on us, but it was do-able. You just have to be as honest as you can with the one in school about why they're there and not at home. The danger is that they see it as a punishment instead of as mom needing expert help.

      Delete
  30. I am so excited to read this book! It sounds very encouraging and fun. Thanks for sharing this! I'm praying for you, Dwija.

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  31. I hit some kind of commenting limit. If I didn't get to your question, I'll be answering them at my blog in the morning and all day if you have more

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  32. Looks interesting. I am so burned out on homeschooling, maybe this will refresh me!

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  33. I'm thinking about homeschooling and my daughter is only two. This book is definitely on my reading list!

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  34. OOOO I want this book! The first question off the top of my head is "how on earth do you find time to prepare lessons?" I know a lot of stuff is prepared for you if you buy certain curriculum, but it still takes planning. And the evenings are already so busy and full with normal, everyday stuff!

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  35. I want to win! We are just finishing our 3rd year of school at home. I'm not completely terrified anymore, but I'd love to get some new ideas from what sounds like a fantastic book.

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  37. Totally want this book! Main question for me is "how does one avoid laziness?"

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  38. How do I explain to my husband why I don't have time to clean the house even though we're "home" most of the day?

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  39. I have just ordered Rebecca's book, i want to know if "I-myself-me" could homeschool from Spain, one of my biggest concern is that there are no support groups, there are some families homeschooling scattered around the country here, but there is no homeschooling culture, it's actually banned by government, its not regulated and some parents had been charged for not "taking care of childrens education, because they are not schooling them, in a school, (actually,the only place in Spain where you can teach a child)!! if support or community groups are a bonus and are really helpfull when starting, specially in this enviroment, dont you think so? because i have, also all the questions and concerns everybody else had posted above...
    i am very lost, i have to admit, and i only have a few months until september to make up my mind...

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  40. My oldest is only 4, but we are planning to homeschool unless something changes. My biggest concern is how to set realistic expectations for both myself and the kids. I don't want to overreach (especially in pre-school/kindergarten!), but I don't want to become lazy either.

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  41. My biggest concern is how to avoid laziness when your family is constantly growing. My kids are still young (3, 17 months...more to come). I'm worried that the tiredness that comes with pregnancy will have me dropping the ball constantly.

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  42. Leaving a comment because BOOK RAFFLE. Lol. Thanks for the recommendation. If I don't win, I'll see if I can pick up a copy at the homeschooling conference later this month.

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  43. Although my son is too young yet, I am so excited to homeschool. Now if I could just get my husband on board...

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    1. Ack! I forgot to say what I worry most about are my qualifications: I smart enough, patient enough, motivated enough, organized enough, etc., etc.

      Delete
  44. for those who feel called to homeschool- it really isn't about the $ that a private school would cost...but it is a factor. Catholic school would cost $30,000 for my 3 school age kids (2 highschoolers)- a secular private school would cost more.

    What if I took 10% of that money and use it for a once a week housekeeper and a math tutor? (I don't- but I should)

    One thing to really think about- we homeschool moms ARE taking on a LOT- yes, we can delegate chores (every family should be doing this), we can be flexible on house cleanliness and decor, we can school through the summer so we can do less schoolish stuff when mama is post partum...but it is a lot. and we need to accept this- but maybe get some HELP

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  45. Dwija-I say burn my maternity clothes every time I get pregnant again and want to slap my past self for wearing the ugly maternity clothes from one pregnancy before! I swear I loose fashion sense while preggo!

    BUT BUT BUT! I look forward to reading this great book! I was homeschooled myself and turned out relatively normal, and went to college and everything! So I'm not so much worried about how my kids will turn out as I'm worried about me going completely crazy being around my kids all. the. time. I mean I want to, but at the same time life looks so comfy being able to send them away for a few hours ya know? Am I horrible? Also-I'd love recommendations for a reading program!

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  46. Well, I hope this works, because this is going to post as anonymous...so...

    My husband and I are both teachers (well, he is, I was - now I'm a SAHM with a 14mo and a 4wo...) and are really concerned with the way standardized testing is taking over everysinglelittlething, and we don't like it. Don't get me wrong - we have a generally fabulous school system and the thought of them not being able to participate in something like a full band or chorus is heartbreaking (we could teach them the instruments easily being music teachers and all), but the thought of being stuck in a history class learning only what the test will ask is awful. One of my favorite teachers in high school was my AP US History teacher and he said, "I'm going to teach history. It's the SOLs fault if they don't know it."

    Which leads me to my question...

    With all the different homeschool materials groups, how does one figure out which one actually has the best content AND teaching methods, and do you have to still participate in state standards testing in order to get a diploma or graduate or even get passed to the next level (are these actual things to worry about?)?

    -Dorothy

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  47. My kids are "all growed up" (I had to put that in quotation marks so you wouldn't think I am a complete numbskull) and were public schooled (Oh! The Humanity!), so I can't comment on the homeschool thang, except to say, the book sounds wonderful and I greatly admire homeschooling parents.

    But I can comment on the maternity clothes subject. Having incubated my children in the 80s and 90s, I am guilty of wearing the following:

    Ruffledy blouses with little white collars
    Maternity t-shirts with an arrow pointing to my belly, and the word "Baby" written on them
    My 6'2" husband's sweater (I am 4'9").

    That is all.

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  48. We are considering homeschooling, so we'd love to read this. My biggest hesitation is that I"ve never actually seen what it looks like in practice. I read several homeschool blogs, know families who do it, but I've never actually seen it done, if that makes sense.

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  49. Pretty sure that's the best homeschooling book cover evah.

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  50. I need to read more (esp REAL LIFE stuff) about homeschooling with little ones. I know what to do with the older ones but its the 2yr old and Pre-K that confound me and throw me off. I know incorporating them isn't always easy, but there has to be a way to do it! I do it successfully for a week and then burn out on how much effort it takes to keep the littles occupied.

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  51. I just finished homeschooling my 3rd for kindergarten. I home schooled the oldest two for 9 years late elementary thru high school. We are also blessed with a toddler. I know why we want to home school, the hard part is thinking that I will be past 60 when I'm done. And that my house won't be really clean ever. Oh and I never taught with a toddler whose goal seems to be to eat tear or otherwise ruin his sister's stuff. I'm looking for a good storage cabinet with locks this summer. He knows how to push chairs over so I can't keep moving stuff higher anymore and he's only 18 months so it will be awhile before he will be able to join in.

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  52. This will be our 4th year homeschooling and I know this book will come in handy. It seems like every year is different than the last. This year will be my first homeschooling 3!! YIKES!!

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  53. I was concerned that my kids wouldn't listen to me, and we wouldn't get anything done.

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  54. I can so relate to the maternity clothes thing. I just had my second little one, and when I opened that box it was a cornucopia of cast offs. See, I let 3 or 4 people use the stuff and even keep what they liked.

    Corona Dentist

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  55. It would be how do I help my wife to homeschool as we have 3 young kids and a new baby on the way, when am working full time? I am afraid she will be very overwhelmed on top of cooking and cleaning and running errands etc. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  56. How do I convince my family that I am not a crazy lunatic for wanting to homeschool? Do you ever stop hearing other people insist that homeschoooled kids aren't socialized?

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  57. Will my kids have friends? I know every homeschooler everywhere promises that 'socialization' is not a problem but I guess I just don't really believe it. Not when I consider where we live (old neighbors), our parish (tiny) and the fact that as things stand right now, my kids are only ever 'social' with each other and with grown-ups. I feel as though if we were to homeschool, something else would need to change, either that we move or that we find a new parish. And for now my husband will not consider either.

    Oh and we do go on playdates. Which means that once every 2 weeks or so I pack all the kids in the car so that I can drive somewhere across town to try to force my children to be friends with my friends children. It's something I guess. I just don't see it working well as our only access to other children.

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  58. I haven't started yet, but kindergarten is creeping up on us. :) I'm worried about being able to handle the extra work and organization of it, plus not handing my lack of knowledge in some areas on to my kiddos.

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  59. My son is almost 3 and I'm thinking about starting homeschooling next year... my biggest reservation is... my lack of organization and general motivation to get things done. This is also a big reservation for my husband! But I always say... It's our child's education, of course I'm going to be motivated!

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  60. Even if I don't win this I'm going to order one because I am so excited about homeschooling! I'd say though that my biggest concern or a question I ask a lot is how do you go about starting homeschooling when you have other kiddos that aren't ready for school yet? Like a kiddo in Kindergarten and also a baby or toddler. I'd love to know how you manage that so that both are getting the attention they need :o)

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  61. This sounds like a great resource! We are not homeschooling currently, but did kindergarten at home with our oldest and I'm sure I could have benefited from a book like this.

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  62. My biggest question was could I manage it all. I had 5 children at the time, now I have 7. So I think I always wonder that, but I try to regroup and keep going. I love reading about how others homeschool. Hence, why I am hoping to win. :-)

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  63. I'm considering it. My oldest is 3. What I want to know is how easy is it to homeschool 1 kid but not the other?

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