Everything You Need to Know about Homeschooling - by Lea Ann Garfias (Paperback)

As someone who grew up being homeschooled, I thought I'd have a pretty good handle on "it" when I started teaching my kids at home. Boy, was it a rude awakening! Lea Ann Garfias' book is a very comprehensive guide covering many types of homeschooling, developmental stages, and even covers homeschooling kids with special learning needs. Like my headline says it is incredibly helpful for those just starting out but also for those who have been homeschooling for years. I highly recommend this to anyone exploring homeschooling, just starting out, or the seasoned homeschool parent. Disclaimer: I received a preview copy of this book and this is my unbiased opinion

Everything You Need to Know About Homeschooling is an invaluable resource. I've been homeschooling since my oldest was in K4 and she's in 11th grade now, so I've been doing this for a while. I didn't think I'd get much out of this book, but I actually have! Reading this book is like talking to a friend you've known for years. And she breaks down homeschooling into bite-sized, manageable pieces, exploring our children's physical, social, academic, spiritual, and emotional needs. And this isn't the kind of book you'll read once and say, oh, man, that was a great book! No, this is the kind of book that you'll come back to again and again. It'll be highlighted, dog-eared, and much used. I received a preview copy of this book. This is my unbiased review.

Everything You Need to Know about Homeschooling is a comprehensive homeschool book that I highly recommend for any beginner homeschooler or even veteran homeschooler to have in their homeschool library. It covers topics like how to get started, the growing and learning process, how to overcome obstacles and so much more! It also covers from the early learners all the way to high schoolers which I love! This is definitely a book I can refer back too as I continue on my homeschooling journey. This book will give you the encouragement, knowledge and help you need to get started and even the inspiration to continue on your homeschooling journey. Disclaimer: I received a preview copy of this book. This is my unbiased review.

Lea Ann Garfias has done an excellent job with the book Everything You Need To Know About Homeschooling. This comprehensive and easy to use guide is a treasure for all homeschooling families. This is great for the first time homeschooling mom who is nervous and has self doubts but it’s also great for the experienced homeschool family who has kids moving from middle school to high school or who has a child ready to graduate. This book truly answers all of the how to’s, what’s, and why’s of homeschooling. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in homeschooling or to anyone who is already homeschooling.

I am a new homeschooler. We just started this year (not due to CoVid, incidentally), and I've been optimistic, yet unsure at times. We have been doing ok, but I wanted to get better. Enter, this book. I got a copy to review ahead of time for free in exchange for an honest review. Honestly, I am loving this. I told the author what areas I was needing right away, and she gave me the chapters to look into. I have since read most of those and forayed into other chapters. It's engaging, easy to read, and full of such good information. For example, if you ask veteran homeschoolers about starting to homeschool, you might hear/read somebody talk about "deschooling." It sounded hokey to me. I didn't understand it. Lea Ann gave an example of how she did this with her own children. It wasn't hokey at all, and it wasn't giving up for a few weeks to chill before starting homeschooling, which is what deschooling sounded like to me originally. That honestly was the hook for me. Reading this has been like talking with a friend over some tea, judgment-free, and hearing both practical advice on how to make this work for MY family (not just one generic family with perfectly neurotypical children) and also hearing encouragement on how to stay sane. I am reading about how to build a better relationship with my children, which will let me teach them better. I am reading about how to ask for and receive support from my husband on the homeschooling front. I'm reading that it's ok to get help in whatever form works best - co-ops, online classes, trading teaching with another family, etc. None of it is fear-mongering on why I should homeschool (public school is bad, blah, blah, blah). It's all from a place of support and encouragement. That's something I appreciate because I don't think public school is always a bad option. It just wasn't working for us. There is one caveat I would give to secular homeschoolers. This is a faith-based book. That works for me as I am a Christian. It may not for you. However, I do think that most of the information is actionable for a secular homeschool. I have not read anything that is down on secular schooling or families, but the author is strong in her faith and it seems to be in every part of her life, including her writing life. Take that as you will. This book is honestly just chock full of useful and practical information as well as support for any homeschooling family. I highly recommend it, and I actually think I may buy a few copies to give out to friends considering homeschooling. It's that good and relevant.

I am a mom of three who has been homeschooling for a few years now. I have a kid in high school, one in middle school, and one in elementary. It is a lot to handle sometimes. In addition, I’m lead administrator for our local homeschool group that serves over 900 families. Basically, if it is homeschool related, I’m all about learning more, using it myself, and passing it along to my group. When a friend and fellow homeschooler asked me if I had heard about this new book “Everything You Need to Know about Homeschooling” by Lea Ann Garfias, I had to pull up my reading list and answer no. It didn’t take very long for me to receive a preview copy of this book to read over. I’ve got to be honest, when it comes to homeschool books, I have read a lot. A whole lot. Lea Ann’s book has been different than all of the ones I have read so far. Instead of coming at homeschooling from a perspective of “instruction manual” or “motivational inspiration”, Lea Ann is real. She acknowledges straight off the bat that none of us are perfect, and none of our children are perfect, and none of our homeschool journeys are going to be perfect. Instead, she has us take ownership of that and use it to our advantage. She encourages grace as a parent and a teacher in one, to not beat ourselves up. She has a refreshing blend of Christian inspiration and desperate mother realism. I also really love how the book is broken down. She tells you right off the bat where in the book to go to if you are struggling in a specific area. She breaks things down in to stages of homeschooling and grade levels. There are also some great resources at the back of the book to help along the way. Whether you are a public schooler who is at home doing virtual studies, or a traditional homeschooler, new or veteran, I think this book would be helpful to any parent struggling to find their way in the craziness that is raising AND educating a child.

Wow! Lea Ann packed this book with much more than $20 worth of information! The question/answer format helps you find exactly what you need. The resources section at the back blows me away. Both beginners and veterans will benefit from the resources, encouragement, ideas, and abundant information. Lea Ann has talked to many experts and done countless hours of research so you don’t have to. Then she compiles it with compassion, grace, and humor. May this book find a happy home on your bookshelf, waiting to give you just what you need when you need it.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone considering homeschooling, new to homeschooling, or even veteran homeschoolers. I would even recommend this book for those doing virtual public school from home. This is a homeschool reference book you'll reach for again and again over the years. I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. I honestly thought I wouldn't get much of anything out of it as I've been homeschooling for so long. But I thought I'd just read it to see if it was worth recommending to new homeschoolers. I will definitely be recommending this book not only to those considering homeschooling or those new to homeschooling but to all parents! Lea Ann makes you feel like you're sitting in a coffee shop with an old friend. Chatting away, laughing over your collective past failures, wrestling through the problems at hand, and looking toward the future with hope and encouragement. It's a refreshing read jam-packed full of facts and helps and lots of giggles. It's not a book you'll sit and read cover to cover. It's a book you'll keep on your shelf for years and reach for over and over.

Everything You Need to Know about Homeschooling is the handbook for all things homeschooling; not only for the practical questions for the new homeschooler but for reaffirming the commitment for the middle of the trench family. All of your questions and concerns will be addressed in this book. You will laugh, nod your head, cry and be encouraged as you use this book to guide and reassure your decision to homeschool. This is the book I craved for when we began homeschooling five years ago. EVERY topic is covered in this book. Don’t plan to read this book in one setting and put it on your book shelf. Instead I encourage you to use the table of contents, the appendix section along with the index as guide to read about the issues you need assistance in. Then when you bump up to a situation in your homeschooling adventure pull the book back out to read about that topic. This comprehensive book will be used often in our homeschool. Consider it a long term investment into your homeschool. Everything You Need to Know about Homeschooling will not disappoint. Disclaimer: I received a preview copy of this book and this is my unbiased opinion

If you are doing research before starting your homeschool journey, or if you are in the trenches now, put this on your reading list. Lea Ann has crafted a realistic view of home education that will prepare you for the homeschooling lifestyle and encourage your heart. The chapters are well laid out for easy reference. If you are a 19 year homeschool veteran like me, or just beginning, you will want this on your shelf.

I began homeschooling in January of this year and really just jumped in head first. To say I was scared is an understatement! I don’t know many homeschooling parents and haven’t really had many places to turn to for help and questions. Lea Ann Garfias has written the ultimate homeschooling resource book! Having just started homeschooling, I’m still learning daily what to do and what not to do. Everything you need to know about homeschooling has been a blessing to my family! I love how she keeps it lighthearted and fun throughout the book, she definitely keeps you interested in reading! I’m so thankful to have this book at the beginning of my homeschooling journey, I feel so much more prepared for what’s to come!

Every homeschooler wishes they had a "handbook" to tell them exactly what to do, or someone who has "been there, done that" we could ask all our questions to. We have a secret fear we will "ruin our kids" and we spend tons of time and money trying so hard to find the PERFECT homeschool path. Lea Ann Garfias has put together a great resource to address everything from "How to get started" to "How to finish well". Her candid, and often humorous, style is like having a friend to have coffee with and ask all those questions... I LOVE this quote - "Your homeschool must be as different as the family you lead. Because each child is unique, each family culture is unique, and each day has its own unique challenges."

Whether you are a first time homeschooler, homeschooler because of the pandemic, or a veteran teacher this book is for you! With mostly any topic you can think of, just check the contents and turn to the page! It’s that easy! It really is...everything you need to know about homeschooling! I received a preview copy of this book. This is my unbiased opinion.