Homeschool Basics: How to Get Started, Keep Motivated, and Bring Out the Best in Your Kids

by Tricia Goyer

Do you long to homeschool with joy, simplicity, and success?Finally, all the best tried-and-true homeschool advice you’ve been looking for in one amazing book. With more than thirty years of combined experience, homeschooling moms Tricia Goyer and Kristi Clover provide thoughtful and practical advice on how to get started and stay the course in your home-school journey. But they don’t stop there. In this book, Tricia and Kristi unpack tons of great tools that will help you take unnecessary pressure off yourself so you can focus on what is truly important. ( It's not academics!) Homeschool Basics will remind you that the best type of homeschooling starts with the heart. You’ll find ideas to help you push your fears to the side and raise kids who will grow to be life-long learners and who have a positive impact on God’s kingdom.Tricia and Kristi believe that homeschooling can transform your life, your home, and your family. Most-ly, they believe homeschooling can truly prepare your children for the life God’s called them to live. Homeschool Basics covers the “basics” and so much more…•Top 10 tips for a successful first year•How to get beyond your fears•How to homeschool with multiple children — even little ones•Strategies for homeschooling when you feel overwhelmed or behind•How to plan out your homeschool year with confidence, as well as tips on selecting curriculum•Advice on how to keep your sanity with homeschooling and housekeeping•Best ways to take advantage of teachable moments •How to help your child develop a lifelong love for learning and a heart for servingIf you are new to homeschooling, don’t let your doubts hold you back any longer. If you are just plain overwhelmed in your homeschool journey, refreshment awaits. Within these pages is the help and inspi-ration you need to get you through this adventure called homeschooling.

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting, Education

238 pages, Paperback

Published July 10, 2017

About the author

Tricia Goyer is a busy mom of ten, grandmother of two, and wife to John. Somewhere around the hustle and bustle of family life, she manages to find the time to write fictional tales delighting and entertaining readers and non-fiction titles offering encouragement and hope. A bestselling author, Tricia has published thirty-three books to date and has written more than 500 articles. She is a two time Carol Award winner, as well as a Christy and ECPA Award Nominee. In 2010, she was selected as one of the Top 20 Moms to Follow on Twitter by SheKnows.com. Tricia is also on the blogging team at MomLifeToday.com, TheBetterMom.com and other homeschooling and Christian sites.In addition to her roles as mom, wife and author, Tricia volunteers around her community and mentors teen moms. She is the founder of Hope Pregnancy Ministries in Northwestern Montana, and she currently leads a Teen MOPS Group in Little Rock, AR. Learn more about Tricia at www.triciagoyer.com.

Reviews

[Kristi Clover · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a labor of love! My heart was to encourage homeschool moms who were looking for ways to get started and stay the course. :)

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you ever read a book and wish that you were just having a visit over tea and cookies with another homeschool mom instead of reading this book?
This book is the answer to that. Tricia and Kristi have laid out the basics and nitty gritty of homeschooling for you. It is simple, straight forward and written in a conversational manner. It is not done in a way that you will be lost or even feel overwhelmed.

Each chapter and topic is covered throughly, by veteran moms that are doing this still and one of them has grown children that are successful in life. Are you looking for a book where you feel the woman is telling you impossible tasks to achieve and that you have ruined your child if you are not reading to them aloud at least 3 hours daily along with lessons in Greek and latin? This is not that.

This is more, a friendly chat over tea, from moms who know. Pick it up today if you want to homeschool. It will be worth it!

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not a religious person AT ALL, honestly I’m an atheist. this book is very heavy on God and a relationship with God, but I skipped a lot of that. There was a lot of helpful advice regardless of that! Definitely helps calm the nerves of parents who are debating homeschooling. Made it much more realistic and less fairy tale and perfection.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has short practical chapters that are enjoyable and encouraging. It’s a perfect place to start with homeschool reading/prep!

[Ruthe Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Homeschool Basics is bursting with wisdom, advice, tips, curriculum suggestions, schedules and homeschooling multiple ages, prayers, and much, much more. Written by two homeschool moms – one has 10 children and one has 5 – who are also great communicators – Tricia Goyer has written more than 70 books and hundreds of articles and Kristi Clover is also a writer, speaker and blogger. Their goal is to help moms get through that first year, get beyond your fears, and to grow Godly children who know and walk in truth. A list of several great resources are in the back, including more ways to connect with these women. Or go to Homeschool Basics - Kristi Clover to meet both authors and learn from them.

[Moriah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is real, open and honest. The authors share from their own experiences, both easy and difficult along with providing real tips and ideas to apply to your homeschool. But what stands out to me the most is the theme of giving yourself grace as you figure out what works for you. Remembering why you chose to homeschool, that you will have hard days and not every child learns the same. It has helped me remember to keep the joy in learning and fostering relationships with my children is more important than completing every assignment.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is balm for the homeschool mom's soul. The authors take turns sharing stories and wisdom through the book. I love the prayers interspersed through the pages. The title "Homeschool Basics" is quite appropriate as it gives a brief overview of everything that a new homeschooler needs to know with the theme of focusing on God and asking Him to help and guide you on this journey. What could be more basic than remembering that God has entrusted his little ones to your care, and He will not forsake you or your children?

[Kayla Kirk · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounding up.

As Tricia says toward the beginning of the book, these are the things she would sit down to discuss with a parent walking into their first year of homeschool over a cup of coffee. It's mainly a reassurance book with some principles for homeschool. It would be helpful for anyone who has felt completely separate from this sphere and doesn't know where to begin.

The best points in this book for me were some practical forming questions and some tips on how to organize a school year.

[Alley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the emphasis on faith and reliance on God in this book. It is definitely written from a Christian perspective. There were numerous typos in the books that were glaringly obvious and should have been fixed in editing. Overall, some nice ideas for adding fun, balancing everything, and focusing on the right things in your homeschool.

[Cecily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really thought this book was helpful! It wasn’t the most well written or well edited book. It felt a little amateur but the principles and practical advice given to homeschooling moms was very on point. It was a very motivational read as school is beginning again.

[Jenny Enzlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was exactly what I needed right now as I start our homeschooling journey! It was so encouraging and gave me so many great ideas to help make learning fun. I'll definitely be reading this book again and again.

[Gabriela Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book

This book no only encourage but fill my heart with God love and Grace. Thank you so much for all the tips and kind words of encouragement.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's plenty of practical advice and also just some emotional cheerleading. You won't find that everything applies to you and your situation but it will probably answer most of your questions.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book for reference. It's a great resource to learn more about homeschooling and what you can do as a parent. Plus encouragement through God word and more.

[Mary T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good as I was reading it but not necessarily all that memorable.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very religious, but you can skip over those parts if you are not. There is a good information throughout for any level of "new to homeschool" families.