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The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child: Your Complete Guide to Getting Off to the Right Start
Homeschool the right way from day one.
Are you considering homeschooling for your family? Today, many parents recognize that their child's school options are limited, inadequate, or even dangerous, and an increasing number are turning to homeschooling. But where do you start and how do you ensure the highest-quality educational experience, especially in that pivotal first year?
This comprehensive guide will help you determine the appropriate first steps, build your own educational philosophy, and discover the best ways to cater to your child's specific learning style,
·When, why, and how to get started
·The best ways to develop an effective curriculum, assess your child's progress, and navigate local regulations
·Kid-tested and parent-approved learning activities for all age levels
·Simple strategies for developing an independent child and strengthening family and social relationships
·And much, much more!
"To the thousands of requests we receive for help from families new to homeschooling, we will now recommend this warm and knowledgeable book. It will ensure that all families make it to the second year—including yours!" —Elizabeth Kanna, editor in chief, Homeschool.com
"Linda Dobson addresses all the issues facing parents as they consider the task of homeschooling over other educational options. Those who wonder whether they really can or want to do the job will find unique perspectives in this well-researched work." —Beverly K. Eakman, author and cofounder, National Education Consortium
Are you considering homeschooling for your family? Today, many parents recognize that their child's school options are limited, inadequate, or even dangerous, and an increasing number are turning to homeschooling. But where do you start and how do you ensure the highest-quality educational experience, especially in that pivotal first year?
This comprehensive guide will help you determine the appropriate first steps, build your own educational philosophy, and discover the best ways to cater to your child's specific learning style,
·When, why, and how to get started
·The best ways to develop an effective curriculum, assess your child's progress, and navigate local regulations
·Kid-tested and parent-approved learning activities for all age levels
·Simple strategies for developing an independent child and strengthening family and social relationships
·And much, much more!
"To the thousands of requests we receive for help from families new to homeschooling, we will now recommend this warm and knowledgeable book. It will ensure that all families make it to the second year—including yours!" —Elizabeth Kanna, editor in chief, Homeschool.com
"Linda Dobson addresses all the issues facing parents as they consider the task of homeschooling over other educational options. Those who wonder whether they really can or want to do the job will find unique perspectives in this well-researched work." —Beverly K. Eakman, author and cofounder, National Education Consortium
360 pages, Paperback
First published May 24, 2001
25 people are currently reading
214 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
June 4, 2008
If I could give this 3 1/2 stars, I would. It was a very reassuring read for someone brand-new to homeschooling. It laid out the basics of the various homeschool approaches, giving concrete examples and week-in-the-life routines of real families who've adopted (their own versions of) each approach. It discussed hurdles and how to get over them. But my favorite part were the insets throughout the book by homeschoolers answering the question "What I wish someone had told me during my first year of homeschooling." Very helpful.
December 8, 2017
I devoured this book.
But maybe this book isn’t for you. Most likely, it isn’t, unless you are embarking on your first year of home schooling, or even if you are in your first year and need to reach out for help, which would not be uncommon. This book is obviously written for homeschoolers or for those considering it (or even who have someone they love considering it).
As it is, it has its moments of mediocrity, but it also covers a lot of ground and acts as a cheerleader and a friend when you don’t have either handy. I bought it because I was in the world’s best used book store (in Pittsboro, NC) and this was in the home school section and, indeed, I was weeks away from starting my son home-schooling. I don’t regret it.
It kind of reminds me of one of those Whatever for Dummies books, but for home schoolers. Even the look of it is similar. And it moves quickly, like those books, giving you a thinner coverage over a wide range of related topics. If you have been wondering about it, there is probably something here about it. But if you want deeper and more detailed answers, you might need to go to a Dobson article or website. And I think that this book would best serve someone before they settle into their curriculum, since it introduces the reader to various home school curriculum, styles, and types.
LINDA DOBSONLinda Dobson is, just for the record, not related to James Dobson or his ministry. She started homeschooling in the 80s and has since then had a varied and long career orbiting around her involvement in homeschooling. She has something like eight home school titles of her own, as well as many credits as a writer, advocate, contributor, speaker, and administrator of sorts. She has helmed a couple different home-school-supportive organizations and is a “big name” in the field, to be sure. I can not say whether her other books are different from this one.
While I found this book to be encouraging, it is more anecdotal and much lighter on research than some of my other reads. That is the setup of the book: compiled advice from hundreds of home school moms (and, perhaps, dads) woven between the wisdom of one famous home school mom. That’s what the book is, and I suggest that you not require it to be more.
As an aside, I am not a fan of her snarky, sarcastic remarks, though I enjoy that sort of thing elsewhere.
I have learned, already, that I can not possibly use all of the bits I “arrowed” in the margin of the home school books that I read, and there are many, many more I could read. So, on the advice of this home school giant, I will move on from reading and into teaching now; “lighten up, stay flexible, and enjoy the ride.”
_______________
I read an old, beat-up copy of The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child, by Linda Dobson, which was published by Three Rivers Press in 2001.
______________
QUOTES
“’Our oldest boy was six kinds of difficult, and I knew if we put him in school, he would be labeled and possibly go on to become real trouble’” (p9).
“’Rather than trying to outschool the schools in my daughter’s first grade year, I would have spent more time laughing and playing with her’” (p41).
“If I remember to live fully and happily in the present, the whole family is happier, and learning flows easily and naturally” (p46).
“This means reviewing enough sources so that you’re not taking one person’s point of view as the last word on homeschooling but not so many that your kindergartner becomes a high school freshman before you feel you’re ready to start” (p47).
“’You can try to teach a three-month-old baby to walk,’ Le Ann explains, ‘but you will face only frustration until the baby is neurologically ready to walk. It works the same way for reading, writing, bike riding—‘” (p67).
“Chris’s mom, for example, figured out through trial and error that he best comprehended auditory material while jumping up and down on the trampoline” (p69).
“But pay equal attention to your frame of heart so that you help create and maintain a healthy balance as you educate your child” (p79).
“Accepting, then, means giving up your own perceptions of what should be and allowing what is to blossom” (p80).
“When we see something in our children that we don’t like, it’s often something in ourselves we’re seeing” (p85).
“There will be days of utter panic at what a terrible thing you’ve done to your child’s life. There will be others when you are astounded at the enormous brilliance of your child” (p87).
“…all parents have been homeschooling their children since birth” (p90).
“’The biggest lesson I’ve learned through trying all of these approaches has been that if it doesn’t work, change!’” (p117).
“I have learned that how we approach or begin things makes a huge difference in their outcome” (p133).
“Since we are all fallible human beings, happiness is more attainable than perfection, equally worthy of your efforts, and, in the long run, much less likely to produce the need for therapy” (p157).
“You are accomplishing more in an hour of attention to your child’s education than a school accomplishes in a day” (p157).
“Homeschooling provides you with time to do just that—regularly exercise patience and devotion—and they grow brighter and stronger in the process” (p168).
“’I wish someone had told me that when the day’s work is done, you are done’” (p189).
“It’s the nature of family life that what affects one of us affects all of us…’” (p205).
“’It’s hard to change a strong tendency toward orderliness, but there is a greater plan where your housework is not as important’” (p217).
“No one comes out of any mode of schooling knowing ‘everything’” (p226).
“Rather, you’ll realize that your deficiencies—real or perceived—don’t matter as much as you thought, simply because you’ve been putting far too much emphasis on teaching, instead of on your children learning” (p229).
“Experience will teach you that you can always think of more wonderful things than you will ever have the time (and possibly the money and energy) to accomplish anyway” (p255).
“Don’t forget to lighten up, stay flexible, and enjoy the ride!” (p258).
***REVIEW WRITTEN FOR THE STARVING ARTIST BLOG***
But maybe this book isn’t for you. Most likely, it isn’t, unless you are embarking on your first year of home schooling, or even if you are in your first year and need to reach out for help, which would not be uncommon. This book is obviously written for homeschoolers or for those considering it (or even who have someone they love considering it).
As it is, it has its moments of mediocrity, but it also covers a lot of ground and acts as a cheerleader and a friend when you don’t have either handy. I bought it because I was in the world’s best used book store (in Pittsboro, NC) and this was in the home school section and, indeed, I was weeks away from starting my son home-schooling. I don’t regret it.
It kind of reminds me of one of those Whatever for Dummies books, but for home schoolers. Even the look of it is similar. And it moves quickly, like those books, giving you a thinner coverage over a wide range of related topics. If you have been wondering about it, there is probably something here about it. But if you want deeper and more detailed answers, you might need to go to a Dobson article or website. And I think that this book would best serve someone before they settle into their curriculum, since it introduces the reader to various home school curriculum, styles, and types.
LINDA DOBSONLinda Dobson is, just for the record, not related to James Dobson or his ministry. She started homeschooling in the 80s and has since then had a varied and long career orbiting around her involvement in homeschooling. She has something like eight home school titles of her own, as well as many credits as a writer, advocate, contributor, speaker, and administrator of sorts. She has helmed a couple different home-school-supportive organizations and is a “big name” in the field, to be sure. I can not say whether her other books are different from this one.
While I found this book to be encouraging, it is more anecdotal and much lighter on research than some of my other reads. That is the setup of the book: compiled advice from hundreds of home school moms (and, perhaps, dads) woven between the wisdom of one famous home school mom. That’s what the book is, and I suggest that you not require it to be more.
As an aside, I am not a fan of her snarky, sarcastic remarks, though I enjoy that sort of thing elsewhere.
I have learned, already, that I can not possibly use all of the bits I “arrowed” in the margin of the home school books that I read, and there are many, many more I could read. So, on the advice of this home school giant, I will move on from reading and into teaching now; “lighten up, stay flexible, and enjoy the ride.”
_______________
I read an old, beat-up copy of The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child, by Linda Dobson, which was published by Three Rivers Press in 2001.
______________
QUOTES
“’Our oldest boy was six kinds of difficult, and I knew if we put him in school, he would be labeled and possibly go on to become real trouble’” (p9).
“’Rather than trying to outschool the schools in my daughter’s first grade year, I would have spent more time laughing and playing with her’” (p41).
“If I remember to live fully and happily in the present, the whole family is happier, and learning flows easily and naturally” (p46).
“This means reviewing enough sources so that you’re not taking one person’s point of view as the last word on homeschooling but not so many that your kindergartner becomes a high school freshman before you feel you’re ready to start” (p47).
“’You can try to teach a three-month-old baby to walk,’ Le Ann explains, ‘but you will face only frustration until the baby is neurologically ready to walk. It works the same way for reading, writing, bike riding—‘” (p67).
“Chris’s mom, for example, figured out through trial and error that he best comprehended auditory material while jumping up and down on the trampoline” (p69).
“But pay equal attention to your frame of heart so that you help create and maintain a healthy balance as you educate your child” (p79).
“Accepting, then, means giving up your own perceptions of what should be and allowing what is to blossom” (p80).
“When we see something in our children that we don’t like, it’s often something in ourselves we’re seeing” (p85).
“There will be days of utter panic at what a terrible thing you’ve done to your child’s life. There will be others when you are astounded at the enormous brilliance of your child” (p87).
“…all parents have been homeschooling their children since birth” (p90).
“’The biggest lesson I’ve learned through trying all of these approaches has been that if it doesn’t work, change!’” (p117).
“I have learned that how we approach or begin things makes a huge difference in their outcome” (p133).
“Since we are all fallible human beings, happiness is more attainable than perfection, equally worthy of your efforts, and, in the long run, much less likely to produce the need for therapy” (p157).
“You are accomplishing more in an hour of attention to your child’s education than a school accomplishes in a day” (p157).
“Homeschooling provides you with time to do just that—regularly exercise patience and devotion—and they grow brighter and stronger in the process” (p168).
“’I wish someone had told me that when the day’s work is done, you are done’” (p189).
“It’s the nature of family life that what affects one of us affects all of us…’” (p205).
“’It’s hard to change a strong tendency toward orderliness, but there is a greater plan where your housework is not as important’” (p217).
“No one comes out of any mode of schooling knowing ‘everything’” (p226).
“Rather, you’ll realize that your deficiencies—real or perceived—don’t matter as much as you thought, simply because you’ve been putting far too much emphasis on teaching, instead of on your children learning” (p229).
“Experience will teach you that you can always think of more wonderful things than you will ever have the time (and possibly the money and energy) to accomplish anyway” (p255).
“Don’t forget to lighten up, stay flexible, and enjoy the ride!” (p258).
***REVIEW WRITTEN FOR THE STARVING ARTIST BLOG***
March 9, 2011
My friend Jenny loaned me this book because I'm thinking of homeschooling my two boys.
It is a great overview of homeschooling with a special focus on the main things that tend to trip people up when they first start out.
I really liked the style of the book.
There was a great appendix of resources.
I liked that there were a lot of "real world" stories from all different types of homeschooling families.
I also enjoyed the chapter that the author highlighted all the many different forms of homeschooling.
It was a good book and has definitely encouraged my desire to homeschool my children.
It is a great overview of homeschooling with a special focus on the main things that tend to trip people up when they first start out.
I really liked the style of the book.
There was a great appendix of resources.
I liked that there were a lot of "real world" stories from all different types of homeschooling families.
I also enjoyed the chapter that the author highlighted all the many different forms of homeschooling.
It was a good book and has definitely encouraged my desire to homeschool my children.
July 3, 2019
If you’re considering homeschooling but you have doubts, read this book. Here were my favorite quotes:
“While thinking about homeschooling, the thought occurred to me that the ‘easy’ way out would be to not do it—push the kids out the door and have the day to myself. Wow! That is what i found myself even subconsciously doing. It was as if the kids weren’t as much a part of my life anymore because they were separate from me so much of the day. It was almost an interruption when they came home. I don’t know that I would have recognized it within myself if I hadn’t overheard two mothers having a conversation at the store: ‘The kids are on break . . . I can’t wait until they go back to school.’ I thought, How sad. Their children have become unpleasant to live around because of who they’re around all day long in school. Coupled with lack of time with caring parents, and now they just want them out of their lives?” - Delaine Keith (p.84)
“I am coming to trust that if he ever needs to determine the unknown variable in an equation, he will be motivated by that need to find out how it’s done. And that’s the kind of learning that sticks.” - Michelle Yauger of Tucson, AZ (p.199)
“The constancy of a strong family relationship cannot be replicated, and sadly is undermined by school attendance.” - Catherine Donnelly (p.264)
“The first thing you learn in school is that the teacher is always right. Next you learn that parents are not as smart as teachers. You may not be taught this directly, but few children end first grade without being sure of it. Next, you learn that the only opinion that counts is the teacher’s and that nothing is right until teacher says it is. At 5 or 6 years old, you have no defense against this attack on yourself and your family. You learn right off the bat not to trust yourself, not to trust your senses, your observations, or your intuition. This attitude is reinforced for 12 years. Now you are an adult with a persistent worry that you might be doing it all wrong. You spend a good portion of your life seeking ‘expert’ opinion on everything from raising your kids to health care to decorating your house, because you have been trained not to trust yourself.” - Tammy Drennan (p.267)
“While thinking about homeschooling, the thought occurred to me that the ‘easy’ way out would be to not do it—push the kids out the door and have the day to myself. Wow! That is what i found myself even subconsciously doing. It was as if the kids weren’t as much a part of my life anymore because they were separate from me so much of the day. It was almost an interruption when they came home. I don’t know that I would have recognized it within myself if I hadn’t overheard two mothers having a conversation at the store: ‘The kids are on break . . . I can’t wait until they go back to school.’ I thought, How sad. Their children have become unpleasant to live around because of who they’re around all day long in school. Coupled with lack of time with caring parents, and now they just want them out of their lives?” - Delaine Keith (p.84)
“I am coming to trust that if he ever needs to determine the unknown variable in an equation, he will be motivated by that need to find out how it’s done. And that’s the kind of learning that sticks.” - Michelle Yauger of Tucson, AZ (p.199)
“The constancy of a strong family relationship cannot be replicated, and sadly is undermined by school attendance.” - Catherine Donnelly (p.264)
“The first thing you learn in school is that the teacher is always right. Next you learn that parents are not as smart as teachers. You may not be taught this directly, but few children end first grade without being sure of it. Next, you learn that the only opinion that counts is the teacher’s and that nothing is right until teacher says it is. At 5 or 6 years old, you have no defense against this attack on yourself and your family. You learn right off the bat not to trust yourself, not to trust your senses, your observations, or your intuition. This attitude is reinforced for 12 years. Now you are an adult with a persistent worry that you might be doing it all wrong. You spend a good portion of your life seeking ‘expert’ opinion on everything from raising your kids to health care to decorating your house, because you have been trained not to trust yourself.” - Tammy Drennan (p.267)
April 27, 2020
I enjoyed this book. I am a couple of years off homeschooling (God willing), but I found this book had answers to fears and doubts I have (and no doubt other people will question us about!). It was engaging and I enjoyed the short stories and encouragements throughout from homeschooling parents. I dropped one star as the resources mentioned are very out of date. The book was published in 2001, so almost 20 years old. The basis is still super relevant.
August 16, 2020
As someone completely new to homeschooling, this was just what I needed for an overview. I have a background in education and had know several homeschooling mamas, but this was a great overarching framework of where I'm headed. It gave me permission and freedom to do what I think is best for my boys and not to set out to "prove" anything. I wish I had read this before purchasing curriculum. I agree that the anecdotal stories and "What I Wish I had Known" were incredibly helpful and insightful.
July 5, 2018
Would be good for someone completely new to homeschooling. I thought it might have some tips I could use as this will be my first year homeschooling two kids, but it was more basic than what I need at this time.
February 18, 2018
This was helpful and useful without being too annoyingly full of advice. A good read.
June 24, 2020
Good and useful advice. A definite confidence booster for anyone considering homeschooling
August 10, 2020
3.5 stars
March 21, 2022
Some of the resources were a little dated reading it in 2022, but overall thought-provoking and gave me some confidence.
September 3, 2023
Really good laying it out to understand the practical what is homeschooling and styles.
March 28, 2011
Good introduction to how to begin homeschooling without getting too overwhelmed. Ms. Dobson covers the major stumbling blocks to first-year homeschoolers and offers suggestions on how to minimize, avoid, or overcome them using examples and quotes from those "in the trenches." I appreciated the acknowledgement that not every day goes as planned and while some days are wonderful and productive, some days are downright miserable and nothing gets accomplished. It sure makes me feel better about my experience so far!
The quick overview of nine "forms" of homeschooling is helpful, though it may well be review for those who have read anything else about homeschooling. I liked the "Week in the life of..." section; that's unique to the books I've read so far. And the special chapters on challenges adjusting to homeschooling when coming from public school and when the child has been homeschooled from the start were interesting.
Extensive resource list in the appendices, but it's ten years old, so likely very out-of-date.
For more book reviews, come visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.
The quick overview of nine "forms" of homeschooling is helpful, though it may well be review for those who have read anything else about homeschooling. I liked the "Week in the life of..." section; that's unique to the books I've read so far. And the special chapters on challenges adjusting to homeschooling when coming from public school and when the child has been homeschooled from the start were interesting.
Extensive resource list in the appendices, but it's ten years old, so likely very out-of-date.
For more book reviews, come visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.
June 7, 2016
This was a good, solid intro-to-homeschooling book. Good overview of different methods and approaches. I enjoyed all of the first-hand perspectives, though the layout of the book was a little obnoxious (way too many sidebars). Much less dry than I expected, so that was nice. The main content of the book is mostly secular, though many of the first-hand accounts reference religious reasons for homeschooling. As a religious person considering homeschooling for non-religious reasons, I'm not really sure where I fit in, but I liked the tone of this book much better than some of the hyper-conservative ones I browsed through at the library.
June 4, 2008
This is a good book with lots and lots of good information and ideas. I'm glad I read it, as I learned a lot. I have to say that I generally have a hard time with non-fiction books, and find them dry. But, this book was an easy read and not dry at all. The only thing I really didn't like is that the author seemed very much partial to unschooling, which is not for me. It was almost as though she was pushing it on the reader. But, she had tons of great stuff on lots of different types of homeschooling. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who is beginning to homeschool.
October 13, 2009
This book is a good idea to read before you start homeschooling because it does have some helpful advice. Geared exclusively to those who have made the decision to homeschool, it doesn't waste time arguing why homeschooling is good choice. Instead, it delves into a litany of the most common problems that arise the first year and offers different solutions to those problems. Unlike some of Linda Dobson's books, this one does not seem to focus exclusively on the method of "unschooling." Definitely worth reading.
July 21, 2017
I picked up this book out of curiosity, never thinking that homeschooling was something for me. A week later I had made the decision to homeschool and began planning curriculum. This book is so helpful in helping new homeschool parents avoid common mistakes - it has sections throughout written by different parents discussing what they wish they had known during their first year. This saved me a great deal of time, money and heartache.
February 8, 2010
This is a great one for just starting out. She went through various styles and did a week in the life from each style of homeschooling (classical, charlotte mason, eclectic, unschooling, etc.) I also really liked the "what I wish I had known my first year" tips she had throughout the book. There were lots of good resources, but as is the case with most of these books, it's very out dated, in terms of internet resources.
April 26, 2010
I really liked this book. It's the first homeschooling book I've read from cover to cover (I did skip the chapter on homeschooling after a child has already gone to public school). It's also the first homeschooling book that has made me feel like I could be good at this. It does tend to lean toward less-structured learning time. But it helped me realize that we don't necessarily need to do follow a rigid schedule. That makes me feel much better!
July 5, 2011
I don't really have any "homeschooling" books to compare this to, so 5 stars it is. I loved it, and since we are in research mode about doing kindergarten at home this year, I thought it was a great book to read. It helped put into words my thoughts and philosophies, and keep things in perspective. The little boxes titled, "What I wish someone would have told me during my first year of homeschooling", were very insightful and inspiring.
March 24, 2012
I wish I'd gotten my hands on this before I started homeschooling a couple months ago. It has the obligatory chapters on why to homeschool, learning styles, and approaches; however, there are some good tidbits. I especially enjoyed the section on pulling them from school. There are also a lot of "personal" stories and encouragement - it's nice to know I;m not alone in some of my experiences and reactions.
July 4, 2008
This is a very good introductory book about homeschooling. Having looked at several, I have found this to be the most informative and broad. It gives an overview of the different styles of homeschooling, tips from experienced homeschoolers, advice on the best ways to handle road blocks as they come, resources, etc.
July 10, 2012
This book was great!
The format was a nice blend of imperical information mixed with real-life stories and little tips about learning activities (some of which I plan on doing!) and "What I Wish Someone Had Told Me About the First Year."
This book helped me make all the decisions I needed to get cirriculum ordered and decided on a style for this first year!
The format was a nice blend of imperical information mixed with real-life stories and little tips about learning activities (some of which I plan on doing!) and "What I Wish Someone Had Told Me About the First Year."
This book helped me make all the decisions I needed to get cirriculum ordered and decided on a style for this first year!
June 11, 2013
A kind of rah-rah sort of book, filled with encouraging words to parents who have decided to homeschool (or who are making the decision). There was a nice summary of different methods of homeschooling (e.g. classical, unit studies, child-led). Maybe a book to pick up again in six months, if I'm questioning our decision, but not one I need to own.
October 20, 2008
I like the chapter on homeschooling your Kindergartener, plus the sidebars that have suggested activities and reflections of real homeschoolers. Overall message: there's no right or wrong way to do this--follow your child's lead and your own instinct, relax and enjoy. Not a bad message!
July 19, 2009
The only real downside to this book, for those who are using it as a starting point, is that it's 9 years old now.....otherwise it is fantastic for resource ideas, and showing "A week in the life of...", loved it, it definitely helped with ideas and to ease some fears!
July 12, 2011
Really helpful jumping point for anyone considering doing one semester or an entire lifetime of educating at home. Not preachy. Great resource. I am pumped for kindergarten at home with my oldest daughter this fall!
January 17, 2012
We have just deschooling my sons to start our homeschooling immediately. I found that this book is very useful for me as a new comer. It gives us some preview of what might happen in our next step beginning homeschooling.
August 8, 2012
This is a basic overview of homeschooling and some of the more prominent methods homeschoolers utilize. This book would be best for someone who is interested in homeschooling but is not sure what it looks like in real life.
June 1, 2015
This book was excellent. I found it very thought-provoking with some of the logistics of homeschooling. While I don't think it introduced a lot of completely new ideas to me, it definitely encouraged me to think about some things in different ways.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews