The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners

by Colleen Kessler

Focus on your child's strengths and passions to support lifelong learning

This book provides parents with practical tools to teach and engage their children at home. By focusing on their children's strengths and passions, rather than on their limitations, parents can foster a love of learning that will last a lifetime. All children have passions, talents, and interests that can be promoted and developed, supporting their achievement and wellbeing. In this book, readers will gain a deeper understanding of how to shift their mindset from focusing on deficits to tapping into a child's strengths. Whether their child has a passion for reading, sports, theater, or anything else, this book will help parents focus on the passions of their homeschooled child.

This versatile book will encourage both new and experienced homeschooling parents, caregivers, and educators. It describes strengths-based and child-focused educational practices and offers clear instructions for using them inside any home, with any age learner. The book features anecdotes from homeschooling parents and children from around the world, and it will help parents spark a love of learning that will last a lifetime!

Discover how a strengths-based approach to homeschooling can help your kids thrive Learn how to foster your children's social, cognitive, and creative development at home Get practical tools for enriching childhood and creating a homeschool you'll love Build a deeper connection with your children by fostering a shared love of learning This conversational and informative book is essential reading for homeschool parents. It inspires parents to empower their children to approach life with curiosity, enthusiasm, and confidence.

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

Published July 30, 2024

Reviews

[Pebbles Kaydus · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking to homeschool or curious what homeschooling is all about, I highly recommend reading this book. It helps take the pressure and confusion of what it looks like. Not all families are the same, and you are not bringing public school home. You are bringing learning into your everyday life with family.

[Kathleen Garber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had heard good things about this book so I got myself a copy. The book itself is pretty good. The only problem I had with it was the photographs that are included throughout. They are black and white which is fine but they are all so dark. The ones lit but sunlight aren’t too bad but some are really dark. Overall though I read a book for the words, not the photographs or illustrations.

Moving on. This book is not a how to homeschool book but it is best for those newer to it. It’s all about how to make your learning child-focused so that your children will WANT to learn. Each chapter ends with a Try This! section which is helpful for putting the ideas into practice. I say good for those new to homeschooling because I feel like I do a lot of these already. But definitely some I know I should do, but forget to do. So the try this lists are helpful for a quick recap.

Throughout the whole book are quotes from real kids and teens stating what they like about homeschool. I loved these and it really shows the many benefits of homeschooling. This fits with the title of the book but ultimately the book isn’t about why you should homeschool but about how to raise lifelong learners.

Although the book is new to me, I’ve been on Colleen Kessler’s email list for a while and she has some great insight. Check out her website and/or podcast.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Affirming and uplifting but offers nothing new for experienced homeschool parents.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was inspiring but as a veteran homeschooler it didn’t give anything new.

[Kiri Scherer · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting perspective on homeschooling and what to expect if one should go that route for their children if traditional schooling is not working for their child.