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A Note from the Creators of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, Paul & Gena Suarez

Why an e-book on homeschooling? Shouldn’t we take the contents of this incredible resource
and publish it so it can land on bookshelves like our print magazine? We didn’t think so! Parents
considering the education of their children often require their answers quickly. They are studious
themselves; they are good researchers. Many rely on the Net to get their questions answered. With
an electronically delivered book, you can have what you are looking for in mere seconds, with no
shipping charge!

Inside these pages you will find honest writings from homeschool parents who have found
success in their own homeschools. One question we often get is, “But how would I teach a child
to read? I’m not qualified.” You’d be amazed at how simple it actually is—and it is better for the
child. The one-on-one attention and warmth between parent and child cannot be duplicated by a
teacher trying to meet the various needs of 30 children in a classroom. There is just no comparison.
If you love your child, you are already ahead of the game. While school teachers may make meaningful
connections with their students and truly care about the child’s classroom experience under their
supervision, they will never love your child the way you do. Children should learn in a relaxed,
loving environment, one unsullied by ridicule from peers, bullies on the playground or a weary
teacher trying to do her best job under the circumstances of the sheer numbers of children she
needs to reach. When you ask your child to read aloud, rather than him sharing the floor time
with 29 others, he will have your ear for as long it’s needed. When she just doesn’t “get” her math
assignment, she’ll have you to explain it over and over until mastery is achieved—rather than feeling
embarrassed about asking for help, and allowing the teacher to sweep her off to the next lesson
without full understanding of the material. A homeschooled education is a customized education.
It’s a plan your family constructs, and it is unique. This individualized education has other benefits
as well. Research has shown that homeschooled students do well on standardized tests and on
academic evaluations. Colleges and universities across the United States are now actively recruiting
homeschool graduates, whom they know to be confident, independent students with a true love of
learning.

You can do this—you are able to homeschool! Inside this e-book you will hear from authors
who will support and encourage you as you educate your own children, and then you’ll meet
authors who tell you specifically how to get started, how to teach reading, math, and how to be organized.
We’re sure that when you finish this e-book you’ll want to pre-order your copy of our next
title, Homeschooling the High Schooler: From Transcripts to Graduation. Contact us today
to reserve your copy of this vital new homeschool resource and we’ll give you a coupon for $5.00
off the new e-book!

Whether you are a new parent thinking ahead to your family’s educational years, a young
homeschooler in the trenches, or a veteran parent who has “been there, done that”, there is something
here for everyone. You will come away with a renewed hope, a vision for your journey ahead.
It’s time to create a successful, customized homeschool education for YOUR children! Let’s get
started!

From Our Family to Yours,
Paul and Gena Suarez
Publishers
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, LLC
www.TheHomeschoolMagazine.com
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CONTENTS
Introduction: What Do YOU Need to Homeschool? . . . 3
Part One: Suppo rt & Encouragement
Chapter 1. Homeschooling: Questions You Should Ask . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Chapter 2. Let Freedom Reign: Creative Education in the Homeschool . . . . 9
Chapter 3. Don’t Just Rise, Rise and SHINE! . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Chapter 4. TEAM Schooling: Single, Working and Homeschooling . . . . 15
Chapter 5. The Organized Homeschool . . . 17
Chapter 6. Home by Choice: Am I Depriving my Children? . . 21
Chapter 7. Confessions of an “Unsocialized” Homeschool Grad . . . . . . . . . . 25
Chapter 8. Pouring Myself into My Children’s Lives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Part Two: The Nuts & Bolts
Chapter 9. There’s a Method to My Madness . . . 30
Chapter 10. The Frugal Homeschool . . . . 34
Chapter 11 . Special Needs: Yes, You CAN Homeschool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Chapter 12. Homeschooling in the United Kingdom . . . . . . 42
Chapter 13. Simple Steps to Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Chapter 14. Teaching Math in the Homeschool . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Chapter 15. Let’s Try Lapbooking! . . . . 51
Chapter 16. At Home for School, Work and Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Biographies: Meet the Contributors . . . . . 57
A Special Offer from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine . . . . 60
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Introduction :
What Do YOU Need to Homeschool?
Homeschooling is not a new method of education. Up until just a century or so
ago, children were frequently taught at home, by their parents or by paid tutors.
Living, working, and learning as a family were not uncommon.
As homeschooling once again becomes a mainstream educational option, more
and more families are asking questions. “Why should we homeschool? How do we
homeschool? What about our jobs? What about socialization, extracurricular activities,
elective subjects?” The list goes on!
Whether you are a veteran homeschooler looking for some extra support or
some ideas for adapting your family’s learning methods, or a parent who is just
considering home education as an option for your family, this e-book will be of
use to you. More than a dozen homeschooling parents have come together to offer
answers, suggestions, humor and support to those new to the homeschooling community
and those who have been here for years.
In the first portion of this e-book you’ll find support and encouragement from
homeschooling moms who have “been there, done that”. Deborah Wuehler shares
her questions and will help you onto the pathway of homeschooling. Dena Wood
reminds us that creativity is integral in the homeschool. Marsha Drew has some tips
for helping the homeschool run smoothly. Single and married homeschoolers alike
will gain encouragement from Terri Camp and organizational tips from Melonie
Murray. Lorrie Flem and Coie Igarashi share humorous insights about being homeschoolers,
and Nancy Baetz will remind you of what it’s “all about.”
The second portion of this e-book is about the “nuts and bolts” of homeschooling.
This is where you’ll learn about homeschooling methods, teaching individual
subjects, and even a brief history of homeschooling in another country! Kris Price
will help you get started with an introduction to some of the most popular philosophies
in the homeschool community today. Julie Nott has tips for homeschooling
on a budget. Christine Field shares her insights for parents of students with special
needs along with a healthy dose of encouragement. Jane Bullivant has joined in
from “across the pond” to introduce us to homeschooling in the United Kingdom.
Gather tips for teaching reading and math from Eleanor Joyce and Dena Wood, and
join Cindy Rushton for a lesson in making Lapbooks. Then let Crystal Paine help
you bring school and work home by offering anecdotes from homeschoolers running
businesses from home.
The overwhelming message we here at The Old Schoolhouse Magazine would like
you to have is that homeschooling is a viable method of education for many families.
There are Secrets of Successful Homeschooling…and now you know them too!
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To order this e-book (which AVKO highly recommends) go to

or just visit http://www.theoldschoolhouse.com
or call 1-888-718-HOME to sign up
to receive The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine is a 200-
page, glossy publication distributed to homeschool
families internationally. Each quarterly issue is
packed with articles, news stories and thoughtful
editorial columns covering various teaching styles,
areas of study, and relevant homeschooling issues
and updates.
• Read a sample of Articles from past issues.
• Check out our Product Review room for
some great recommendations!
• We always have lots of Contests each issue…so don’t miss out!
• Join our NEW Blogging Community! Many homeschool
speakers and authors are “setting up shop” with their blogs at
HomeschoolBlogger. Come join us…it’s FREE!

©November, 2005 The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, LLC
PO Box 1701, Dandridge, TN 37725
Printed in the United States of America
All rights reserved
General Editor: Melonie K. Murray
Project Manager: Jessica Harvey
Cover Design: Patricia Tirado, Dzign Associates
Cover Art: Monika Wisniewska | Agency: Dreamstime.com