The Homeschool Experiment

Title: THE HOMESCHOOL EXPERIMENT

Author Charity Hawkins

Publisher: Family House

2012

ISBN: 978-1937639063

Genre: Contemporary fiction/homeschool

A delightful novel for moms set in the hilarious, hard, and beautiful world of homeschooling. It's the perfect first book for those just starting out on their homeschooling journey, or beginning to consider the idea, and it's a reminder to the verteran homeschooler that you're not alone. It's sort of like living in the house of a homeschool family for a year. You see the daily challenges, but also the rewards.

With refreshing humor and honesty, Hawkins offers moms encouragement in their noble work at home, a chance to laugh at the moments only a mom would understand, and a reminder to cherish those gifts right under their roofs- those wild, irrational, precious people-their own children. Though the book deals with homeschooling, it also addresses the larger question, "What happens when you feel called to do something that seems entirely too big for you?" Between laughs, don't be surprised when you pick up ideas that will simplify your own homeschooling plan. So, come join Julianne and her co-op friends as they navigate through a hard but humorous year of diapers, dinners, husbands, meltdowns, and math lessons. And that's just September.

THE HOMESCHOOL EXPERIMENT is a fiction account of a homeschool mom. Written in first person, it gives an up-close and personal look at the mindset of a homeschooler, including the doubts, the thoughts, the stubbornness, and the determination.

I’ve been homeschooling for many years—a veteran homeschooler, and I could totally relate to Julianne’s thoughts about using vacation trips as a homeschool experience, about how the in-laws think you aren’t good enough and are ruining the kids’ lives, and about trying to choose the correct curriculum for your family. It just goes to show that everyone’s approach for homeschooling is different. There’s no one right way.

If you are homeschooling, thinking about it, or know someone who does and you’re a bit curious, then pick up THE HOMESCHOOL EXPERIMENT. You’ll laugh out loud, be encouraged, and maybe even learn something. A study guide and a bunch of resources are included at the end of the book. $12.99. 260 pages.