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Homeschooling: A Patchwork of Days: Share a Day With 30 Homeschooling Families
From a bedroom community in Nebraska to a farm in Vermont, from families who rely on workbooks to those who have sworn them off, this in-depth examination of the lives of homeschoolers covers a wide range of people and methods. When author Nancy Lande started homeschooling more than 10 years ago, this is the book she wanted that didn't exist. What better way to create your homeschool than reading about others and picking and choosing the styles that appeal to you? Lande has corralled a variety of homeschoolers and, with some deft editing, allowed them to speak for themselves. Every chapter features a different household on any given day. Many of the writers are mothers, but a stay-at-home dad and several children tell their tales as well. Their detailed descriptions start in the waking hours of morning and get down to the nitty-gritty information of everyday life in a how moms fit in showers, how chores are divvied up, how reading and research are gently initiated, how parents set aside time for themselves. These writers invite the reader into their homes and advise, "Don't mind the mess." Their passages are often funny and unflinchingly honest. They aren't embarrassed to tell you they whipped out SpaghettiOs for a hurried lunch or stole a peek at CNN while ignoring the chaos in the playroom. Some of the families have created highly structured school environments within their homes, with desks and sharpened pencils. Others promote freestyle learning, with their children sprawled across the house working on projects or reading in between walking the dog, playing games, and riding bikes. The majority of families here live in Pennsylvania, the author's home state, but one writes from as far away as Scotland, another lives on a mountain in Alaska, and yet another checks in from a college town in Texas. Their learning logs, reading lists, and journal entries, along with family photos, help illustrate the book. The quilt they piece together is a great service to those wondering how to approach homeschooling. --Jodi Mailander Farrell
295 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 8, 2019
I abandoned this at about the 60% mark. It was interesting at times but over all too dated.
August 31, 2009
This book is an old favorite I've been rereading. Back in the day, before blogs, it was the only way to "see" what went on in other homeschoolers' homes. As such, it was very valuable to me. It's probably less valuable now that the world has moved on a bit... and I could wish that there were a few more large families included... but then again, I'm not sure that's a fault in the book, especially considering that a few large families *were* included, in addition to families with only children, 2 or 3 children, and 4 children. I'm just writing from my own position right now.
Rereading this book did remind me that before the Internet and the explosion of message boards and blogs, homeschooling seemed... quirkier... and maybe less, I don't know, generic somehow. On the other hand, rereading this book also reminds me how much more information we have available today than back in 1996 (which was the year G. was born and 4 years before we started homeschooling.) More than anything I think that rereading this book now, in 2009, has made me think about how the Internet has affected homeschooling, for good and ill.
Rereading this book did remind me that before the Internet and the explosion of message boards and blogs, homeschooling seemed... quirkier... and maybe less, I don't know, generic somehow. On the other hand, rereading this book also reminds me how much more information we have available today than back in 1996 (which was the year G. was born and 4 years before we started homeschooling.) More than anything I think that rereading this book now, in 2009, has made me think about how the Internet has affected homeschooling, for good and ill.
February 17, 2009
Lame so far. All the homeschoolers are pretty traditional. I was hoping for inspiring stories of unschoolers at play, and I am getting descriptions of pretty boring academic monotony.
Still checking it out, but not too hopeful about it.
Having finished it now, I can say there were a total of two families that were inspiring in any way. One were unschoolers, and the other were just great writers, with great attitudes about learning.
For the record, when someone asks you how you spend your homeschooling day, they probably don't want to read a list of how you spent every minute, of who didn't finish their muffin at breakfast, of how many times you got away with pushing the snooze button. Please. This could have been so much more interesting with some editorial direction.
There are better books out there on homeschooling, folks.
Still checking it out, but not too hopeful about it.
Having finished it now, I can say there were a total of two families that were inspiring in any way. One were unschoolers, and the other were just great writers, with great attitudes about learning.
For the record, when someone asks you how you spend your homeschooling day, they probably don't want to read a list of how you spent every minute, of who didn't finish their muffin at breakfast, of how many times you got away with pushing the snooze button. Please. This could have been so much more interesting with some editorial direction.
There are better books out there on homeschooling, folks.
March 25, 2019
One of the first homeschool books I read when first learning about homeschooling...made a huge impression as it simply logs different homeschool families regular days. Seeing how it can work for so many different families in so many styles and ways made me realize how custom-made it can be. Going on our 10th year of homeschooling/unschooling/alternative education and never look back.
July 17, 2016
In her compilation, "Homeschooling: A Patchwork of Days," Nancy Lande's families reveal what frustrates outsiders about homeschooling in general. Each chapter is a different homeschool family writing about their "typical" homeschool day. Many of the featured families live in rural places where homeschooling isn't a have-to, but certainly fits the family fabric nicely; and a pleasing variety of family sizes and school ages are represented. Each chapter, being written by a different family, is it's own voice and style. Mostly written by mothers, some chapters are co-written by husband and wife or by the students when old enough. Sounds like a helpful snapshot of different homeschool styles, daily routines, and glimpses at various curriculum. Not so.
Almost every homeschool family selects a "typical" day in which very little school is described. Details of breakfast, chores and sleeping arrangements abound, but there is little to be said of actual learning. Phrases like, "My child doesn't respond well to..." or "My child does best when..." seem insightful until they arrive at "It took me a long time to realize my child concentrates better when doing two things at once, so I let him shoot hoops while we read physics." Excuse me, what?! I understand attention challenges, but there's a reason you're not allowed to play basketball during physics class at school. Many reasons, in fact.
This overall attitude of "my child determines what we do and how we do it," was too self-catering for me. I understand one of the benefits of homeschooling is assisting your child in discovering ways they love to learn and encouraging those. However, it's also preparing them for and academic future, or at least the possibility of it, the working world, and learning that our preferences aren't always the most important.
Another thing that really irritated me as I skimmed was the lack of science and math subjects addressed by many of the families. General reading, going to the library a lot, doing farm chores and a few workbooks in my opinion does not a great education make.
Almost every homeschool family selects a "typical" day in which very little school is described. Details of breakfast, chores and sleeping arrangements abound, but there is little to be said of actual learning. Phrases like, "My child doesn't respond well to..." or "My child does best when..." seem insightful until they arrive at "It took me a long time to realize my child concentrates better when doing two things at once, so I let him shoot hoops while we read physics." Excuse me, what?! I understand attention challenges, but there's a reason you're not allowed to play basketball during physics class at school. Many reasons, in fact.
This overall attitude of "my child determines what we do and how we do it," was too self-catering for me. I understand one of the benefits of homeschooling is assisting your child in discovering ways they love to learn and encouraging those. However, it's also preparing them for and academic future, or at least the possibility of it, the working world, and learning that our preferences aren't always the most important.
Another thing that really irritated me as I skimmed was the lack of science and math subjects addressed by many of the families. General reading, going to the library a lot, doing farm chores and a few workbooks in my opinion does not a great education make.
March 7, 2014
Okay, so I read a little more than half of it and I'm calling it done.
I love the *idea* of this book, (several different families each giving us a peek into a day in their homeschool) and some accounts were better than others, but overall I found this tedious to read. So much of what they shared was simply irrelevant, and it was work to read the writing styles, rather than a joy.
I tried reading several stories at a time, and I tried reading one person's account a day, but I simply have no interest in reading anymore of this.
I love the *idea* of this book, (several different families each giving us a peek into a day in their homeschool) and some accounts were better than others, but overall I found this tedious to read. So much of what they shared was simply irrelevant, and it was work to read the writing styles, rather than a joy.
I tried reading several stories at a time, and I tried reading one person's account a day, but I simply have no interest in reading anymore of this.
May 14, 2013
I no longer homeschool but always wanted to read this book. Finally I have finished it. It was interesting - a day in the life of thirty homeschooling families, mostly Christian homeschoolers. I enjoyed it from a perspective that was more about how other people live, these people being homeschoolers, Christian, often more (way more) than two kids. Got a bit repetitive after about twenty and could have done with editing but interesting.
October 15, 2015
This book was written back before the Internet was really commonplace, I think, and it shows. Most of the families seem to be from Pennsylvania, and many of them seem to have similar approaches to homeschooling, so I'm guessing maybe they were submissions from readers of the same newsletter or something like that. While I did enjoy reading about the homeschoolers abroad (in Scotland, for example), overall I was expecting more diversity and was a bit disappointed not to find it.
January 25, 2008
Fascinating accounts of home educators, mostly American, and the different ways they go about their days. Most in this book are fairly structured (one or two rigidly so!) but still the anecdotes make interesting reading. Very reassuring and encouraging to anyone considering home education for their children.
January 2, 2010
This book is a must read for ALL home-schooling families. It teaches the many different ways a child can be taught and how what works for one family might not work for another. It presents living as learning, and the many different avenues that can lead to an exceptional education. The best part is that each of these families have embraced the home as the bed-rock of family life.
April 10, 2008
I felt this book was so-so. It seemed to me that most homeschoolers wrote about their most ideal day ever (as opposed to a more typical day), and some just had that ring of "unrealistic" to me. Interesting to see what others do, but take it with a grain of salt.
April 15, 2008
fascinating look into how families homeschool. Some were really inspiring what they were teaching their children. Others gave me ideas to avoid. Either way it's win-win
May 19, 2008
Loved this book b/c I love reading about how other people homeschool and adding their ideas to our school.
January 28, 2009
I really loved this book! I enjoyed the small glimpse into many different families.
February 17, 2008
Great book for anyone considering homeschooling or anyone curious about what homeschoolers do.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews