A Home Education Handbook: Nine Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning

by Carrie De Francisco, Amy Hughes (Foreword)

"A Home Education Handbook is a Christian guide rooted in decades of homeschooling experience and research. Through nine daily reflection questions, Carrie gives parents practical tools to guide their children, build confidence, and cut through overwhelm—helping make learning joyful, simple, and intentional. I wish this book had existed when I started homeschooling." ~ Kelly Edwards, Creator of 90-Minute School Day

Keep your homeschool days simple and your expectations realistic! Shift your mindset from doing "school at home" to embracing true home education.

Are my kids doing enough?
What does a homeschooling day look like?
Will there be gaps in my child's education?
Will I mess them up?
How do we stay on track and not fall behind?
If you’ve asked these questions, this book is for you.

Carrie De Francisco's latest book is a transformative guide for new and seasoned home educators. Designed to streamline homeschooling, this book equips moms to create meaningful, stress-free days filled with rich educational experiences, ensuring every day is a great homeschool day. A Home Education Handbook offers three essential sections to help you shift your mindset from doing “school at home” to embracing a true home education experience.

This book supports you in transforming your overwhelming daily academic "To Do List" or weekly "Lesson Plans" into an easy, manageable, and meaningful checklist. Carrie offers nine powerful questions to reflect on daily or while planning weekly lessons. Carrie guides you to confidently answer "yes" to each question, empowering moms to feel assured that their children are learning, growing, and thriving. This is a guide to nurturing a well-rounded home education, blending rest, worship, reading, writing, care for home and others, problem-solving, movement, creativity, and nature exploration.

This accessible guide will empower parents to create the home education environment they’ve always envisioned.

“Carrie has written an educational and inspirational book that takes the burden to ‘do it all’ off the homeschool mom and shifts the focus to what really matters. This book is a roadmap full of practical ideas and resources to lay the foundation and set the course for a successful, peaceful, and joy-filled homeschool.” ~ Aby Rinella, Speaker, Writer, & Podcaster

“This book is a gentle reminder—written in a warm, big-sister voice—that helps you refocus on what truly matters. Carrie’s encouraging, down-to-earth style makes this homeschool guide feel like a conversation with a trusted friend. More than just a mentor to homeschool moms, Carrie is genuinely passionate about helping you cultivate a joyful, life-giving experience in both motherhood and homeschooling. This book is a steadying compass, guiding you toward peace, purpose, and confidence on your journey.” ~ Christina Carpenter, founder of Bloom + Blossom, Speaker, Writer, & Homeschool Coach

"Carrie De Francisco has done a great service to homeschool parents by offering her wisdom and experience in her newest book, A Home Education Handbook. Whether you are new to homeschooling or a veteran looking for fresh ideas and encouragement, you will gain insight, creative ideas and a relief from undue worry in this book." ~ Martin & Carolyn Forte, Co-Founders of Excellence in Education (EIE) Homeschool Resource Center

148 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 31, 2026

About the author

Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Carrie De Francisco is now living, loving, and learning in Southern California with her husband, Mike, her two children, Francesca and Joseph, and their introverted dog, Jesse. After twenty plus years of homeschooling her own children (and helping others do the same), she tries not to take herself too seriously. The ministry of motherhood and the call to homeschool have helped Carrie appreciate the gift of laughter (and quiet times with her Bible and favorite cup of coffee). She is definitely saved by Jesus but fueled by coffee! Carrie De Francisco is not only a wife and homeschooling mom with a BS in Elementary Education & MA in Math Education, but she is also a homeschool consultant, speaker, author, educator, former adjunct professor, writing instructor, math tutor, science teacher, homeschool co-op leader, bible study facilitator, and coffee-loving introvert. She is the founder of Coffee With Carrie Website and Blog and hosts the Coffee With Carrie Podcast. Her favorite things to do are to make homemade beignets, experiment in the kitchen, go on nature hikes, play games with her family, and equip and encourage other moms to homeschool one step at a time, one day at a time, and one cup of coffee at a time.

Reviews

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the book I didn’t know I needed right now. Carrie always gives such simple, practical and encouraging suggestions. Her books are easy to read and easy to apply! Thankful to have her voice on my homeschool journey.

[Lexi Zuo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and practical read filled with encouragement for homeschool moms of all experience levels!

[Davina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reminders and encouragement