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The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook
If you are thinking about homeschooling, or are struggling with a educational homeschooling curriculum that is difficult to use, let Dr. Ray and Dorothy Moore show you how to make homeschooling an easy-to-live-with family adventure in learning. This low-stress, low-cost program shows you how to build a curriculum around your child's needs and interests - and around a realistic family schedule. Instead of a cut-and-dried approach, you'll discover the freedom of a flexible program that encourages creativity and initiative.
300 pages, Paperback
First published March 9, 1994
40 people are currently reading
538 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 2, 2009
To me, this book is a dated advertisement for the Moore Formula curriculum and support business than a book of helpful information for the homeschooling family. I don't like the negative approach to other systems and the discussion of their philosophies and systems are merely teasers or testimonials and lack any helpful how-to discussion. The one exception are the chapters written by Dorothy in which she describes how she homeschooled her children. I found these passages to be truly helpful in shaping my thinking and planning. In my opinion, they are the only helpful parts of the book. If I had a personal copy I would cut out those 35 pages or so, bind them as a booklet, and throw the rest away. The principles of the Moore's philosophy are simple and can be more simply stated. If you wish to read about their approach to homeschooling I would suggest going to their website which contains a nice succinct description. Only pick up the book to read Dorothy's contributions between pages 75 and 115.
October 26, 2010
While I agree with the authors' idea that children need to have the freedom to learn at their own pace, I dislike how they automatically assume that everyone who teaches their children how to read and write etc., earlier than the age of 7 or 8, will be forcing them to sit still in desks all day, listening to lectures. This is simply not the case. There are MANY, many children who learn these basics very early in life, without being subjected to rigid rules and restrictions. Please give parents some credit!
July 23, 2010
Nintey percent of this book seemed to be trying to talk me into homeschooling. Well, I've already decided. Move on, already. In fact, why DID they title it a 'handbook'? Almost no hands-on, helpful ideas. Mostly it was guilt-inducing stories about parents who have their kids in public schools, and don't have clutter-free homes ("there is no excuse for a messy, cluttered home." Whaaat??! How about the excuse that I'm homeschooling??!)
February 9, 2017
A very pragmatic approach to homeschooling, this book helped me not to get on the "school at home" model when I began homeschooling my oldest. Been at it for 15 years, with seven children ages 23-8. I can tell you, the more I have conformed to what everyone else does, the more I realize how wonderful his advice is. If only my kids were not aiming for doing athletics in college, I would probably try to continue a more relaxed, child-led approach through high school. Pulling my hair out with three high schoolers and their grading to keep up with now!
December 2, 2014
This book has been so helpful to me in homeschooling my children! This is one of the best books on homeschooling I have read, and I have read more than I can count.
August 26, 2020
Somewhat more about education than Home Grown Kids, but still seems to be skirting the issue of what kids are being taught. Too much of their same story (better late than early).
April 17, 2025
Absolutely not what I want from a homeschool book. The authors are very anti any sort of "formal" schooling, ie. workbooks and sitting down to do school work. They go so far as to equate having a five-year old do work in a book as "child-abuse." Anyone who disagrees, they say, should simply read their books. Yes, very helpful...
September 21, 2009
A very handy handbook indeed! :)
It was a bit repetitive, but I think a mark of its success was that it took me from feeling unsure and lost (but determined), to self-assured and comfortable with designing my own way of educating my child. The Moores provide not just ideology, but studies and references to back up their teachings, as well as lots of answers to common questions, such as how to prepare for college applications, and the omnipresent but amazingly inane (my phrasing, not theirs) "but how will they learn to get along in the REAL WORLD?!?!"
Spoiler alert: they do just fine.
At any rate, I got tired of reading case studies (although I finished), but repetition helps us learn, and learn I did. It's a very empowering read, and I learned a lot besides what was printed, while the wheels kept turning in my mind. I'll definitely add it our home bookshelf for future reference!
It was a bit repetitive, but I think a mark of its success was that it took me from feeling unsure and lost (but determined), to self-assured and comfortable with designing my own way of educating my child. The Moores provide not just ideology, but studies and references to back up their teachings, as well as lots of answers to common questions, such as how to prepare for college applications, and the omnipresent but amazingly inane (my phrasing, not theirs) "but how will they learn to get along in the REAL WORLD?!?!"
Spoiler alert: they do just fine.
At any rate, I got tired of reading case studies (although I finished), but repetition helps us learn, and learn I did. It's a very empowering read, and I learned a lot besides what was printed, while the wheels kept turning in my mind. I'll definitely add it our home bookshelf for future reference!
February 3, 2013
I picked this up off the shelf when I was having an emotional reaction to having just taken my son out of school, and I read it to calm myslef down. It worked. Since we have been semi homeschooling forever, I wasn't looking for details, I was looking for handholding. I read it over the weekend and it helped me get inspired and excited about homeschooling again. My children only went away to school two days a week, but pulling them completely out was still a big step. At least the Moores and I think it was the right one. Next up on my list is to reread The Call to Brilliance.
November 7, 2008
I like this book because it has a lot of stories in it about homeschooling families. And also because the authors (husband and wife) have conducted countless studies on how children learn, when they learn best, why they learn best, etc. It's a good read for any homeschooling family.
August 19, 2009
Borrowed from library - some good points - most I've already decided upon for our homeschool experience. A bit too much religious conservatism.
November 1, 2022
This was a good book on homeschooling with a lot of good advice and encouragement. There were several times I thought to myself that the information given was outdated and a little old fashion, but then I reminded myself that this book was written in 1993 and published the next year. So homeschooling has come a long way since then!
I did feel Raymond Moore came across as a little conceited and pompous, but I believe it was him being 100% sure of his and his wife’s decision to homeschool and their methods. So I was easily able to overlook that. But honestly the main takeaway from this book was a sense of encouragement I got. As a homeschooling father I can get discouraged or frustrated with our lack of progress especially when I see where other families and children are at in their educational journey. But I realized we are doing quite well and we have already adopted the “better late than early” outlook that Raymond and his wife preach throughout this book.
So are their better and more up to date books on homeschooling? Probably, but this book was very encouraging and a lot of helpful ideas.
I did feel Raymond Moore came across as a little conceited and pompous, but I believe it was him being 100% sure of his and his wife’s decision to homeschool and their methods. So I was easily able to overlook that. But honestly the main takeaway from this book was a sense of encouragement I got. As a homeschooling father I can get discouraged or frustrated with our lack of progress especially when I see where other families and children are at in their educational journey. But I realized we are doing quite well and we have already adopted the “better late than early” outlook that Raymond and his wife preach throughout this book.
So are their better and more up to date books on homeschooling? Probably, but this book was very encouraging and a lot of helpful ideas.
June 23, 2023
So helpful for understanding how to educate kids at home and why. They lean heavily on research and come from a conservative perspective. I am fascinated by their emphasis on not starting formal learning until after age 8, or 10, even 12. They claim this is counterintuitive even to them, but it prevents burnout and the student will quickly accel through material when heavy learning is left for later. I appreciated their approach to a homeschooling method that includes life skills, service, as well as book learning in a holistic view of education.
September 7, 2015
649.68 MOO
My review -christian based education.
p6 What is the best education? ..Teachers should following more closely the parent model in (1)responding warmly to their students; (2) providing a consistent model of good values...(3)teaching only tasks for which the child is ready (4)encouraging children to explore their own interesting and to work out their own imaginations... The close public, private, ...schools get to this model...-the brighter and better behaved their school children will be.
Chronological age is a poor indicator of readiness.
p12 (3) how foolish it is to drop conventional baggage on your home as so many curriculum publishers and state departments of education propose today.
P13. Case study. Christine's story doesn't suggest that you throw caution to the winds and let your children have their own way in all things, but that you avoid teacher-centered programs in which children treated as slaves to traditional schedules and textbooks.Your curriculum should be tailored to your child and provide him much more time to pursue his interested than your workbooks. For many parents a good curriculum provides feeling of security. But parents need to learn how children develop and learn. Spend more of your mental effort on studying and exploiting your children's motivation instead of always confronting them books. (My comments: confronting with books is not wrong, only wrong at confront them books which they do not like to read, do not want to read).
p23 Children's abilities mature at widely different rates. Some read well at five, yet for most children, integration of maturity levels (IML) does not come before ages eight to twelve. For children who go early to school, adult-type reasoning ability usually comes much later, for many not until ages fifteen to twenty....As you give him time to grow naturally, to develop thousands of "learning hooks"-bit of information-under your sure and loving guidance, and to explore freely, encourage and informed by your warm parental responsiveness, he will hang many more more new learning than those who are formally rushed. He will be much happier and more creative. Children are not little buckets to fill up, but little tree to grow. Give them a chance with all the love and patience your heart can muster --my comment: couldn't agree more, children with inborn ability to self-learn, self-teach, they only need parent's love and care.
Chap5: p39 ...if math is delayed- even as late as 7th grade when children are more mature in their reasoning....they will learn much faster and easier and will outdistance others.
p43 All of the learning necessary for success in high school can be accomplished in only 2 or 3 years of formal skill study. Delaying mandatory instruction in the basic skill until junior high school years.....
p44 Piagetian experiments have shown repeatedly that cognitive maturity may not come until close to age 12.
Chap6: p41 not rush their children into formal learning before 8 or 10 or age 12
Chap9: p64. ....most effective age for starting violin at between 11 and 12
--my comment (Suzuki Violin method practitioners advocate starting formal violin training by age two or three)
Chap 14 Lesson plans -- why all that troubles?
p88 Learning is essential that child does for himself.. Through he needs a more experienced adult available for feedback, guidance, and stability, the teacher or parent is not to see himself as pouring facts into an empty head. Rather,he serves as an example, a counsellor, or facilitator - a leader in the educational program. The child is the active agent, working out his own thought connections which leading him to concepts and understanding he needs. Depending on the quality of the process, he also develop his attitudes toward learning, his own values, and his type of creativity -lessons which are more likely to stay with him life.
p90 Before you even think about lessons plans, know why you want to educate your won children(your philosophy), where you are headed (your goals), what you have to teach with (your resources), and how you want to teach your children (your methods).
Epilogue
p275 The "antennae" sprouting from the brain of most students are blocked by mass-education's cookie-cutter substitute for life that destroy creativity . Kids come out uniform-sized cookie, or sausages. Better to learn history realistically by reading biographies rather than textbooks. Let creative interests expand to other learning. as they mature, they teach themselves, learn at their own initiative -as few now do.
Moor Formula
Study;work; service.
http://www.moorefoundation.com/articl... (see detail)
Home Made Health: A Family Guide To Nutrition, Exercise, Stress Control, And Preventive Medicine by Raymond Moore and Dorothy Moore
Minding Your Own Business by Raymond Moore (500 home businesses and services)
The Education of American Teachers – September 1, 1963 by James Bryant Conant
Some books
basic math it
winston grammar
moore mcguffey readers
My review -christian based education.
p6 What is the best education? ..Teachers should following more closely the parent model in (1)responding warmly to their students; (2) providing a consistent model of good values...(3)teaching only tasks for which the child is ready (4)encouraging children to explore their own interesting and to work out their own imaginations... The close public, private, ...schools get to this model...-the brighter and better behaved their school children will be.
Chronological age is a poor indicator of readiness.
p12 (3) how foolish it is to drop conventional baggage on your home as so many curriculum publishers and state departments of education propose today.
P13. Case study. Christine's story doesn't suggest that you throw caution to the winds and let your children have their own way in all things, but that you avoid teacher-centered programs in which children treated as slaves to traditional schedules and textbooks.Your curriculum should be tailored to your child and provide him much more time to pursue his interested than your workbooks. For many parents a good curriculum provides feeling of security. But parents need to learn how children develop and learn. Spend more of your mental effort on studying and exploiting your children's motivation instead of always confronting them books. (My comments: confronting with books is not wrong, only wrong at confront them books which they do not like to read, do not want to read).
p23 Children's abilities mature at widely different rates. Some read well at five, yet for most children, integration of maturity levels (IML) does not come before ages eight to twelve. For children who go early to school, adult-type reasoning ability usually comes much later, for many not until ages fifteen to twenty....As you give him time to grow naturally, to develop thousands of "learning hooks"-bit of information-under your sure and loving guidance, and to explore freely, encourage and informed by your warm parental responsiveness, he will hang many more more new learning than those who are formally rushed. He will be much happier and more creative. Children are not little buckets to fill up, but little tree to grow. Give them a chance with all the love and patience your heart can muster --my comment: couldn't agree more, children with inborn ability to self-learn, self-teach, they only need parent's love and care.
Chap5: p39 ...if math is delayed- even as late as 7th grade when children are more mature in their reasoning....they will learn much faster and easier and will outdistance others.
p43 All of the learning necessary for success in high school can be accomplished in only 2 or 3 years of formal skill study. Delaying mandatory instruction in the basic skill until junior high school years.....
p44 Piagetian experiments have shown repeatedly that cognitive maturity may not come until close to age 12.
Chap6: p41 not rush their children into formal learning before 8 or 10 or age 12
Chap9: p64. ....most effective age for starting violin at between 11 and 12
--my comment (Suzuki Violin method practitioners advocate starting formal violin training by age two or three)
Chap 14 Lesson plans -- why all that troubles?
p88 Learning is essential that child does for himself.. Through he needs a more experienced adult available for feedback, guidance, and stability, the teacher or parent is not to see himself as pouring facts into an empty head. Rather,he serves as an example, a counsellor, or facilitator - a leader in the educational program. The child is the active agent, working out his own thought connections which leading him to concepts and understanding he needs. Depending on the quality of the process, he also develop his attitudes toward learning, his own values, and his type of creativity -lessons which are more likely to stay with him life.
p90 Before you even think about lessons plans, know why you want to educate your won children(your philosophy), where you are headed (your goals), what you have to teach with (your resources), and how you want to teach your children (your methods).
Epilogue
p275 The "antennae" sprouting from the brain of most students are blocked by mass-education's cookie-cutter substitute for life that destroy creativity . Kids come out uniform-sized cookie, or sausages. Better to learn history realistically by reading biographies rather than textbooks. Let creative interests expand to other learning. as they mature, they teach themselves, learn at their own initiative -as few now do.
Moor Formula
Study;work; service.
http://www.moorefoundation.com/articl... (see detail)
Home Made Health: A Family Guide To Nutrition, Exercise, Stress Control, And Preventive Medicine by Raymond Moore and Dorothy Moore
Minding Your Own Business by Raymond Moore (500 home businesses and services)
The Education of American Teachers – September 1, 1963 by James Bryant Conant
Some books
basic math it
winston grammar
moore mcguffey readers
August 22, 2021
This book started out strong and with me loving it. I was encouraged and bolstered to continue in my homeschooling journey…but it petered out and I slowed way down on reading it. I picked it back up recently and just am not as excited by it. It seems to be extremely dated, but also all about their method and not just about homeschooling. I gleaned helpful things, but I wouldn’t recommend it to others as a go to manual or an encouragement either.
November 26, 2021
I love the Moores and their infinite knowledge especially on homeschooling! This is the 2nd book I've read by them and have just ordered 2 more to read and own. I am thankful they've chosen to share their wisdom with the world and only hope more parents stumble upon theses resources. The Moore's book, Better Late than Early truly helped me as a first time homeschooling momma.
August 9, 2025
There is no one size fits all method of homeschooling so I like to take a "eat the meat and spit out the bones" approach to such books. Lots of good wisdom throughout. As a veteran homeschooler I found a lot of their research findings encouraging and relatable to my first hand experience.
Can't speak to the personal testimonies in the 2nd half, didn't read them.
Can't speak to the personal testimonies in the 2nd half, didn't read them.
December 3, 2020
Some good tips about homeschooling. I'm new to homeschool this year with my 4 kids. I didn't want to do distance learning. Some what repetitive book. They had a ton of scientific based stuff on children's behavior I had never heard before.
April 4, 2021
Excellent! I only wish I had read it sooner!
August 7, 2021
Old but worth the year it took me to read it and the $2.50 I paid for it at a consignment sale. I enjoy finding gems at those lots.
December 31, 2008
I finally finished this book. I was very impressed with the first part of the book which discusses the need for parents to find stress-free ways to educate at home. It is very complimentary to my homeschooling method, Leadership Education, or sometimes called Thomas Jefferson Education (TJED).
I was not as impressed with the success stories placed in the middle to the end of the book. I know there are lots of examples of super-successful home educated students who end up with full-ride scholarships to Standford, but that is not my focus for homeschooling at all. In fact, for me that part is a little stressful. I just want my kids to be happy, well-educated people.
In all I think this is a great book for the new and veteran homeschoolers. For me, it was nice to read some methods of getting rid of stress.
I was not as impressed with the success stories placed in the middle to the end of the book. I know there are lots of examples of super-successful home educated students who end up with full-ride scholarships to Standford, but that is not my focus for homeschooling at all. In fact, for me that part is a little stressful. I just want my kids to be happy, well-educated people.
In all I think this is a great book for the new and veteran homeschoolers. For me, it was nice to read some methods of getting rid of stress.
September 6, 2015
Though dated, this is one of the best books on homeschooling that I've read, and I'd recommend it to anybody who has the slightest curiosity about the practice. Dr. Raymond Moore was an accomplished researcher in the field of Education, so this book is well populated with summaries of research studies extending back several decades, in some cases. The chapters are concise and well reasoned, and many statements are footnoted so one can refer to the backing evidence. The homeschooling method that the Moores advocate is sensible, relaxed and simple. What was most interesting, though, was seeing how little education has changed in 20-30 years, and even over a century.
January 31, 2010
I found this book to be almost completely unhelpful. I was waiting throughout for the "Moore Formula" to be explained, but instead waded through pages of shameless self-promotion, followed by what essentially amount to customer reviews, without the Moore's programme ever clearly being outlined at all. I had heard great things about the Moore's prior to reading this book, but came away sorely disappointed at the complete lack of help in it.
Would not recommend this self-indulgent piece of advertising to anyone.
Would not recommend this self-indulgent piece of advertising to anyone.
September 8, 2010
A little outdated, and reads like a big advertisement for the Moore family home style education products, but VERY helpful for me starting out on this journey. Ultimately, I am grateful for the general teachings on teaching in this book.
October 3, 2010
"Randomly" picked this up off the library shelf and read it over the past week. Turned out to be exactly what I needed to give me guidance as I was seeking wisdom for how to handle a few school-related challenges. Love how God can use "random" things to answer prayer!
July 21, 2017
This is a hodge-podge of ideas, presented as scientifically based education research - there are so many excellent homeschooling books, skip this one.
October 20, 2009
A must read for anyone that is considering or is currently homeschooling. The Moores have a wonderful point of view on homeschooling.
June 24, 2010
Loved the concepts in the book, but already follow many of them, so it was a bit dull for me. A great "first homeschooler's" book.
July 1, 2011
Life-changing... this book challenged all my ideas of what school "should" be.
October 1, 2012
I found the book informative but some of the language was a bit old school for me. It is also based on American HS but still the stories from veteran homeschoolers were very encouraging.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews