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Hope for Your Homeschool: Start Strong, Stay the Course, and Finish with Joy
You weren’t meant to do this on your own. Whether it’s day one or year ten of your homeschooling journey, you can draw from this well of wisdom and encouragement!
Homeschooling can be rich and rewarding. But it can also be exhausting and lonely. You may have questions or doubts swirling in your head or from outside family and
I am not a teacher · I don’t know where to begin · Will my kids have friends? · Will I ever have time for me? · Will this get any easier? · Should I keep doing this? · And more.
These are good thoughts and questions. It’s important to consider them and find answers. In Homeschooling Well, September McCarthy—seasoned homeschooling mom of ten children and twelve grandchildren—addresses the fears and concerns that accompany homeschooling. And she provides a successful, well-tested plan for Homeschooling Well! Through biblical insight and personal stories, September shows us how to create a culture at home that will fortify hearts and sharpen young minds. September gives us practical steps to follow and mistakes to avoid.
Your days will be infused with joy and strength. As you draw from the wisdom of this homeschooling friend, your mothering heart will find hope, guidance, and encouragement for the daily work of Homeschooling Well.
Homeschooling can be rich and rewarding. But it can also be exhausting and lonely. You may have questions or doubts swirling in your head or from outside family and
I am not a teacher · I don’t know where to begin · Will my kids have friends? · Will I ever have time for me? · Will this get any easier? · Should I keep doing this? · And more.
These are good thoughts and questions. It’s important to consider them and find answers. In Homeschooling Well, September McCarthy—seasoned homeschooling mom of ten children and twelve grandchildren—addresses the fears and concerns that accompany homeschooling. And she provides a successful, well-tested plan for Homeschooling Well! Through biblical insight and personal stories, September shows us how to create a culture at home that will fortify hearts and sharpen young minds. September gives us practical steps to follow and mistakes to avoid.
Your days will be infused with joy and strength. As you draw from the wisdom of this homeschooling friend, your mothering heart will find hope, guidance, and encouragement for the daily work of Homeschooling Well.
- GenresNonfictionEducation
288 pages, Paperback
Published July 2, 2024
29 people are currently reading
312 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 13, 2024
The only way I feel I can review this book is to detail my journey reading it. Because my feelings are very mixed.
First, I ordered this book because of the title: Hope for Your Homeschool: Start Strong, Stay the Course, and Finish with Joy. I was also encouraged that the graphic on the cover showed a variety of ages. I am now homeschooling a 16, 13, and 11 year old. Most homeschool content is geared towards younger grades, but I am now facing new, unique challenges. I was hoping this book could speak to me as a middle/high school homeschool mom.
When I got the book, I saw that it was divided up into 3 parts: Start Strong, Stay the Course, and Finish with Joy. I suppose I could have skipped straight to the part that applied to me, but I just don't roll that way. I'm a start to finish reader. So I started with the intro.
I need to pause here and explain that I used to teach high school English. Right off the bat, there were grammar errors, sentence structure problems, and more typos than I could count. Now, I don't expect any book to reach print error free. It is impossible. Even the classic novels on my shelf have typos that proof editors missed. But I'm not just talking about oopsies. I'm talking about sentences that I had to re-read either because of poor grammar or awkward sentence structure. Often the author changed topics mid-paragraph or even mid-sentence, thoroughly confusing me. I'd think she was going one way, then she'd veer off somewhere else. Sometimes she completely contradicted herself. She said at one point that you can't just put on your mom hat, then take it off and put on your teacher hat. Then later, she said something about putting on your mom hat instead of your teacher hat in some situations. Huh? But I thought . . .
Oddly, though, a few chapters in, the writing got better, and I actually started to enjoy her wisdom gained from homeschooling ten children. I started to wonder if the intro and first couple of chapters were added later and didn't get as well edited. I started to feel bad, like I misjudged her, because she seemed like a woman I would love to sit and talk to and receive advice and encouragement. Then, suddenly, the chapters went back to being poorly written. It was like I was on a rollercoaster with this book! One minute, I thought it was terrible, the next I gleaned something from it.
What about the reason I bought this book to begin with? I did get some encouragement from it for ending well. The chapter "Making the Grade" was probably the best one in the whole book. It listed different types of high schoolers: the motivator, the dawdler, the doubter, the entrepreneur, and the late bloomer. I could clearly see which of these my three kids were, and her tips for helping them finish the race well was very helpful. "The Joy of Capture and Release" was also a really good chapter to prepare me for graduation that is in the not-so-distant future. I do still wish there was a homeschooling book out there specifically for the middle to high school years that is honest and practical. I need it so badly right now!
Overall, I have come to the conclusion that if September McCarthy is ever at a homeschool conference, I will definitely be going to her session. She clearly has a lot of wisdom, experience, and practical advice. She probably got this book deal because of her speaking skills. I just don't know that this book does her wisdom justice.
First, I ordered this book because of the title: Hope for Your Homeschool: Start Strong, Stay the Course, and Finish with Joy. I was also encouraged that the graphic on the cover showed a variety of ages. I am now homeschooling a 16, 13, and 11 year old. Most homeschool content is geared towards younger grades, but I am now facing new, unique challenges. I was hoping this book could speak to me as a middle/high school homeschool mom.
When I got the book, I saw that it was divided up into 3 parts: Start Strong, Stay the Course, and Finish with Joy. I suppose I could have skipped straight to the part that applied to me, but I just don't roll that way. I'm a start to finish reader. So I started with the intro.
I need to pause here and explain that I used to teach high school English. Right off the bat, there were grammar errors, sentence structure problems, and more typos than I could count. Now, I don't expect any book to reach print error free. It is impossible. Even the classic novels on my shelf have typos that proof editors missed. But I'm not just talking about oopsies. I'm talking about sentences that I had to re-read either because of poor grammar or awkward sentence structure. Often the author changed topics mid-paragraph or even mid-sentence, thoroughly confusing me. I'd think she was going one way, then she'd veer off somewhere else. Sometimes she completely contradicted herself. She said at one point that you can't just put on your mom hat, then take it off and put on your teacher hat. Then later, she said something about putting on your mom hat instead of your teacher hat in some situations. Huh? But I thought . . .
Oddly, though, a few chapters in, the writing got better, and I actually started to enjoy her wisdom gained from homeschooling ten children. I started to wonder if the intro and first couple of chapters were added later and didn't get as well edited. I started to feel bad, like I misjudged her, because she seemed like a woman I would love to sit and talk to and receive advice and encouragement. Then, suddenly, the chapters went back to being poorly written. It was like I was on a rollercoaster with this book! One minute, I thought it was terrible, the next I gleaned something from it.
What about the reason I bought this book to begin with? I did get some encouragement from it for ending well. The chapter "Making the Grade" was probably the best one in the whole book. It listed different types of high schoolers: the motivator, the dawdler, the doubter, the entrepreneur, and the late bloomer. I could clearly see which of these my three kids were, and her tips for helping them finish the race well was very helpful. "The Joy of Capture and Release" was also a really good chapter to prepare me for graduation that is in the not-so-distant future. I do still wish there was a homeschooling book out there specifically for the middle to high school years that is honest and practical. I need it so badly right now!
Overall, I have come to the conclusion that if September McCarthy is ever at a homeschool conference, I will definitely be going to her session. She clearly has a lot of wisdom, experience, and practical advice. She probably got this book deal because of her speaking skills. I just don't know that this book does her wisdom justice.
October 11, 2024
Over the years, I’ve read many homeschooling books, but I can honestly say this has become one of my top favorites! What I really appreciated was the focus not just on starting but on finishing the homeschool journey. It’s rare to find books that dive deeply into seeing homeschooling through to the end and how to faithfully stay the course for the long haul. As a mom who has already graduated one child, I found this both really refreshing and helpful.
I’ll be going back over this book with a fine tooth comb because it’s packed with such practical lessons to apply to our own routines. The author, a mom of 10 and grandmother, shares years of her own successes and experiences and it felt very much like sitting down with an old friend or mentor.
Whether you’ve been homeschooling for years or are just starting out, this book is a must add to your library.
“Homeschooling requires a slow and steady pace to the finish line— a patient pursuit of strategy, perseverance, strength, and a sustainable pace that works for everyone.”
September 8, 2024
Such a great encouraging book for homeschoolers. It’s very heavy with religion which is fine for someone not necessarily religious because the overall message is one everyone should hear. Written by a mother of 10, she has great insight to this world and excellent real life examples with actionable steps to make sure this journey ends in joy for all involved. Loved this book.
December 2, 2025
I finally finished! It only took me six months. I am learning something about homeschool books. They say a lot of good things, but the tough part is knowing how to apply these great ideas and general statements to my kids and my situation to help my homeschool be what God wants it to be.
For example, I randomly found a quote on page 35 where she says “Encouraging wonder daily will be your goal-digging job as a homeschooling mom or parent. You will bring the ideas and watch them discover something exciting in even the most boring of subjects.” That sounds great! I have no idea how to make that happen. I understand the concept of wanting my kid to have an unusual interest in something that we are studying, but I can’t manufacture that. I can look for neat books and interesting videos, but at the end of the day, whether or not my child experiences wonder is largely outside of my control.
Anyhow, I think this is why every homeschool book leaves me a little bit unsatisfied. It takes great wisdom to find what works for my kids, my personality, my budget, and my time constraints. No book can perfectly impart that kind of wisdom. So there’s a lot of good statements in this book, but I wish there was more personal application of what she meant. I appreciated her experience of taking her children to a nursing home every week. What a powerful way for her kids to learn to minister to others!
I think I learn most from the person who says do this, this is the way I did it, and how it worked for us, and now I give you freedom to find the way it works for you.
For example, I randomly found a quote on page 35 where she says “Encouraging wonder daily will be your goal-digging job as a homeschooling mom or parent. You will bring the ideas and watch them discover something exciting in even the most boring of subjects.” That sounds great! I have no idea how to make that happen. I understand the concept of wanting my kid to have an unusual interest in something that we are studying, but I can’t manufacture that. I can look for neat books and interesting videos, but at the end of the day, whether or not my child experiences wonder is largely outside of my control.
Anyhow, I think this is why every homeschool book leaves me a little bit unsatisfied. It takes great wisdom to find what works for my kids, my personality, my budget, and my time constraints. No book can perfectly impart that kind of wisdom. So there’s a lot of good statements in this book, but I wish there was more personal application of what she meant. I appreciated her experience of taking her children to a nursing home every week. What a powerful way for her kids to learn to minister to others!
I think I learn most from the person who says do this, this is the way I did it, and how it worked for us, and now I give you freedom to find the way it works for you.
May 12, 2025
No matter where you are in your homeschooling journey, Hope for Your Homeschool is a source of comfort and encouragement.
I read this during my morning quiet time, and it was such a timely read. It truly felt like having coffee each morning with a seasoned homeschooler—soaking up the wisdom and encouragement my heart needed.
A few chapters that especially ministered and mentored me were: 📖 Chapter 4: Frustrations, Fears, and Feeling Fed Up 📖 Chapter 6: Multiple Children, Grades, and Ages 📖 Chapter 11: The Wisdom to Surrender
I especially love that each chapter ends with a section that includes: personal reflection, personal challenge, drawing from the well, and a prayer for my homeschool.
But truly, every chapter was brimming with godly wisdom paired with personal experience and thoughtful reflection. (Talk about running out of tabs—almost every page was annotated!) This is one of those books you can either jump around in to find what you need, or read straight through, and you’ll close it feeling both blessed and seen.
This is a book I know I’ll return to again and again. It’s earned a permanent place on my shelf—and in my heart.
If you’re a homeschooling mama, grab this one today! You’ll be so glad you did!
Thank you to @moodypublishers for my copy in exchange for an honest review!
I read this during my morning quiet time, and it was such a timely read. It truly felt like having coffee each morning with a seasoned homeschooler—soaking up the wisdom and encouragement my heart needed.
A few chapters that especially ministered and mentored me were: 📖 Chapter 4: Frustrations, Fears, and Feeling Fed Up 📖 Chapter 6: Multiple Children, Grades, and Ages 📖 Chapter 11: The Wisdom to Surrender
I especially love that each chapter ends with a section that includes: personal reflection, personal challenge, drawing from the well, and a prayer for my homeschool.
But truly, every chapter was brimming with godly wisdom paired with personal experience and thoughtful reflection. (Talk about running out of tabs—almost every page was annotated!) This is one of those books you can either jump around in to find what you need, or read straight through, and you’ll close it feeling both blessed and seen.
This is a book I know I’ll return to again and again. It’s earned a permanent place on my shelf—and in my heart.
If you’re a homeschooling mama, grab this one today! You’ll be so glad you did!
Thank you to @moodypublishers for my copy in exchange for an honest review!
November 20, 2024
From starting out with strength, to continuing to pursue your homeschooling vision with excellence, to completing well and with JOY, this book has a little of something of everything. It’s unique in that it does address those last years of homeschooling and what it looks like to release kids well. Beyond just sharing helpful concepts about homeschooling, September helps you apply it by including personal reflections & challenges, along with scripture and a prayer script at the end of each chapter.
In my personal opinion, this wasn't the strongest book on homeschooling that I have read. The tone read as a bit "Here is the one way to do this right". The style of writing was hard for me to read due to incomplete thoughts & casual sentence structure. It seemed disorganized and repetitive which, consequently, made it too long.
Thank you to Moody Publishers for the complimentary ebook in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
In my personal opinion, this wasn't the strongest book on homeschooling that I have read. The tone read as a bit "Here is the one way to do this right". The style of writing was hard for me to read due to incomplete thoughts & casual sentence structure. It seemed disorganized and repetitive which, consequently, made it too long.
Thank you to Moody Publishers for the complimentary ebook in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
October 30, 2024
What an encouraging book to a homeschooler of any age or stage. I am just starting to homeschool my Kindergartener with 3 littles underfoot, and this book has brilliant tips for homeschooling multiple ages. It gives great practical advice and wisdom for parenting and giving your kids great life skills. I have come away from reading this strengthened in my homeschool journey, trusting God in my experience, and not doubting myself and my decisions. This is a must read!
August 25, 2024
This book is wonderful for the new homeschool mom or the seasoned homeschool mom. There is great wisdom and ideas on how to get started, how to improve, and how to finish strong. Honestly, this book has been one of the most encouraging and insightful books on homeschooling from a Christian perspective that I've read.
August 2, 2024
I really enjoyed this one! I wish there were more books about finishing the journey of homeschooling. Very encouraging.
November 27, 2024
Really encouraging book for new and experienced homeschoolers alike. Loved it!!
January 7, 2025
Books like these are essential reads for all homeschooling families who want to learn or be reminded of what truly matters in the homeschooling journey...
February 10, 2025
Perfect encouragement for existing homeschoolers
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews