Table of Contents
Foreword xi
Preface xiii
Introduction 1
Part 1 Making and defending the decision 7
Chapter 1 Finding Your Homeschool Why 11
Chapter 2 Get Ready for the Questions 23
Part 2 Getting started 37
Chapter 3 Ready, Set, Go! 39
Chapter 4 We Aren't in School Anymore 51
Chapter 5 How to Be a Great Teacher 57
Chapter 6 The Way You Teach Best 77
Chapter 7 How Children Learn 119
Chapter 8 Books and Stuff 147
Part 3 Growing and learning 159
Chapter 9 What Grade Are We In? 161
Chapter 10 Early Learning: The Preschool and Kindergarten Years 179
Chapter 11 Elementary School: The First-through Fifth-Grade Years 233
Chapter 12 Middle School: The Sixth-through Eighth-Grade Years 291
Chapter 13 High School: The Ninth- through Twelfth-Grade Years 341
Part 4 Overcoming obstacles 395
Chapter 14 The Dangers of Homeschooling 397
Chapter 15 Making Homeschool Life Easier 449
Chapter 16 Special Children, Special Needs 479
Conclusion 501
Appendix A Finding Your Teaching Style 503
Appendix B Sample Routines 509
Appendix C Student Essay Editing Checklists 513
Appendix D Sample Essay Grading Rubric 519
Appendix E High School Transcripts and Course Descriptions 523
Appendix F Homeschool Resources 529
Bibliography 547
Notes for Callout Quotes 553
Notes 555
Index 561
Acknowledgments 571
About the Author 573