A book review of The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed.
Stars: ****
Jossey-Bass (2024)
Education>Homeschool
210 pages
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Summary: This book provides parents with practical tools to teach and engage their children at home. By focusing on their children’s strengths and passions, rather than on their limitations, parents can foster a love of learning that will last a lifetime. All children have passions, talents, and interests that can be promoted and developed, supporting their achievement and wellbeing. In this book, readers will gain a deeper understanding of how to shift their mindset from focusing on deficits to tapping into a child’s strengths. Whether their child has a passion for reading, sports, theater, or anything else, this book will help parents focus on the passions of their homeschooled child.
This versatile book will encourage both new and experienced homeschooling parents, caregivers, and educators. It describes strengths-based and child-focused educational practices and offers clear instructions for using them inside any home, with any age learner. The book features anecdotes from homeschooling parents and children from around the world, and it will help parents spark a love of learning that will last a lifetime!
The Homeschool Advantage
I had heard good things about this book so I got myself a copy. The book itself is pretty good. The only problem I had with it was the photographs that are included throughout. They are black and white which is fine but they are all so dark. The ones lit but sunlight aren’t too bad but some are really dark. Overall though I read a book for the words, not the photographs or illustrations.
Moving on. This book is not a how to homeschool book but it is best for those newer to it. It’s all about how to make your learning child-focused so that your children will WANT to learn. Each chapter ends with a Try This! section which is helpful for putting the ideas into practice. I say good for those new to homeschooling because I feel like I do a lot of these already. But definitely some I know I should do, but forget to do. So the try this lists are helpful for a quick recap.
Throughout the whole book are quotes from real kids and teens stating what they like about homeschool. I loved these and it really shows the many benefits of homeschooling. This fits with the title of the book but ultimately the book isn’t about why you should homeschool but about how to raise lifelong learners.
Although the book is new to me, I’ve been on Colleen Kessler’s email list for a while and she has some great insight. Check out her website and/or podcast.
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