TOS Crew Review: The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling

As a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew, I was given a copy of Apologia's Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling by Debra Bell to review.

The book is a compilation of sage advice from an experience homeschooler, recommendations on curriculum, and information for beginners. It has enough content to satisfy a more veteran homeschooler as well serving as encouragement along the way.

A look at the table of contents reveals the following:

• Homeschooling: Is it for You?
  
• Choosing a Curriculum
• Organization and Planning
• Preventing Burnout
• What to Teach- When and How
• Homeschooling Teens
• Computers in the Homeschool
• Creative Solutions
• Measuring Your Success
• Pre-Game Pep Talk
• Resource Guide

She addresses such things as how to get high schoolers into college, how to avoid burn out, how to determine your child's learning style, and what resources you will need. Mrs. Bell speaks to special challenges to homeschooling like being a single parent or having children with special needs. She comes from the perspective of a mom who has been homeschooling since before it was as mainstream as it is today and from a mom who has grown children graduated from her homeschool.

She uses personal anecdotes to share her advice and touches on so much of what concerns new homeschooling parents. The book is a fun read and I enjoyed taking it around with me on my recent travels to get a boost for our own school. I'm still reflecting on "burnout buster #1" which is raise an independent learner. I've been thinking about how that happens in a school where we study together.

The cost for the book is $20.00.

All in all, this is a terrific homeschooling resource. I encourage you to find a copy. I'm still enjoying mine!