Homeschooling for Absolute Beginners: Make Learning at Home Simple, Affordable, Fun, and Effective

by Lorilee Lippincott

You c an  homeschool. And it can be simpler, cheaper, and better than you ever imagined!

The mere thought of homeschooling can be overwhelming. What curriculum do I choose? What if we can’t afford all the books? How do I schedule our time? Will my children become socially awkward recluses? What if I screw up my kids’ education?!

Take a deep breath. You've got this! Lorilee Lippincott, a seasoned homeschooling mom, shows just how simple homeschooling can be. She and her husband taught their two kids in a one-bedroom apartment before picking up and moving the whole family to China. They’ve discovered that they don’t need rooms full of books, educational toys, and other teaching tools, nor do they need schedules packed full of extracurricular activities, field trips, and social events. Perhaps even more importantly, they don’t need to panic about making sure their kids turn out okay. It’s actually all pretty simple, she tells readers.

But homeschooling well does require some planning and dedication. Here you’ll find all your questions answered in Lippincott’s straightforward, warm, and witty style. Topics covered

Full of anecdotes, interviews with other homeschooling families, and wisdom, this is a must-have for any family new to or considering the homeschooling life.

Genres: Parenting

192 pages, Paperback

Published October 27, 2020

Reviews

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an absolute beginner homeschooler who is currently reading everything I can find, this was a useful book. I initially picked it up to read the chapter on curriculum options, then ended up checking it out from the library and reading the rest. I found her chapters on homeschool schedules and time management to be the most helpful, but she had good insights in almost ever chapter. I really appreciated that the chapters were short, so I could squeeze one in whenever I found time during the day.

Since I'm in the thick of reading all about homeschool, there wasn't much in here that I haven't read before, but if you're just beginning your homeschool research (or want a brief refresher on some things), this would be a good place to start. Lippincott quotes other homeschool parents throughout the book, and at the end is a chapter listing all of them and the blogs they write for. They represent a large diversity in family sizes and living situations, so if you are looking for more homeschool info from a family like yours, you should be able to find it there.

The book has a heavy emphasis on Christian homeschooling, but the advice in it should be useful regardless of one's religious leanings.

[Alyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an ok book. I guess it lives up to it's standards of "for absolute beginners" but it is clearly very biased and doesn't actually provide much information about how to get started. Our main reason for homeschooling is that the school system sucks the life out of kids and makes learning boring, but it seems that the author's idea of homeschooling is to mimic public school, but at home. It makes homeschooling honestly sound terrible, for kids and for parents. We are more in the camp of "don't let schooling get in the way of your education." Learning should be fun and exciting for all involved! If it's not, change something, don't try to schedule more time.

[Kin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read, good resource if you would like to home school. Could use some tips for school kids as well.

Learning:

Memorization in early years is really important for brain development.
Try to go research deep in one subject.

Take 10-15 mins break when kids are struggling with difficult topics,
If possible take few days off with no pressure to learn when kids are struggling with difficult subjects.

True learning happens in unstructured play I.e. let them imagine to try something with a toy don’t try to find education out of everything

Also Try to reduce screens that will encourage unstructured play


No need to be strict on curriculum, they should definitely learn reading, sports, socialize , music
They are some resources on what kind of teaching you can do.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has some good suggestions, but it is truly for the homeschool beginner. There was no "meat" to this book. Use this book as a jumping off point if you don't know anyone who homeschools. Otherwise, skip it. You'll get more valuable information talking to people you know.

Side note, this book is the same as Lippincott's "The Homeschooling Handbook: How to Make Homeschooling Simple, Affordable, Fun, and Effective".

[Sandie Bushey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good info on options.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, sweet, and includes great resources and encouragement!