Easy Homeschooling Techniques
Easy Homeschooling Companion
by Lorraine Curry
Reviewed by Martha Robinson
Purchase details: Easy Homeschooling Techniques, 3d edition, and Easy Homeschooling Companion by Lorraine Curry. Paperback, $18.95 each. Please support HomeschoolChristian.com by buying this program from our Christian Book Distributors link or Amazon affiliate link.
Lorraine Curry provides encouragement and ideas in a girlfriend-to-girlfriend format in her two books. Promoting a relaxed technique, she outlines her way to homeschool, which she has dubbed "Easy Homeschooling." As a veteran homeschooling mother, Mrs. Curry has much advice to share.
In Easy Homeschooling Techniques Mrs. Curry overviews an incredible amount of information on a variety of homeschooling topics. She starts with the basics of setting goals for life, including child-raising. Touching on matters such as the superiority of the King James Version, the negative influence of TV, the importance of phonics and penmanship, and the selection of quality literature for read-alouds, she moves on to how to organize the household and manage time. The author discusses the keys to raising Godly adults and reminds parents not to get discouraged if they do not see instant results. Mrs. Curry next offers a few tips for studying science, art, and math. Then she discusses her viewpoint of the history of education and educational methods, and while clearly stating her preference for relaxed, child-led, in-depth studies, she recommends that "you do what is right for your family." Her next chapter shares how to build a business towards the end or after homeschooling. After a brief discussion of homeschooling high school, Mrs. Curry finishes with "this most important chapter" about following Christ and depending upon Him for all things. The appendices include suggested reading, a skeleton course of study, references, resources, and scads of paid advertisements from homeschooling vendors.
Mrs. Curry's second book, Easy Homeschooling Companion, begins with essays on topics such as life, death, TV, homeschooling, child training, and living in the last days. Citing many scriptural references, Mrs. Curry provides many concrete ideas for improving parenting. She states that "Only God can fill the void in the humanist's life and only a Christian Curriculum will result in wholeness for our children" to support her chapter on "Cultivating Christian Curriculum." The focus of studies should first be the Bible, followed by reading to enable Bible study, math to be good stewards, and writing to share the Good News with others. Mrs. Curry touches on "ornamental" studies beyond the ones previously mentioned, literature including Shakespeare, giftedness, and miscellaneous tips. The influence of Roosas J. Rushdooney on the author is evident in this section of the book.
In chapter four Mrs. Curry shares happy and bittersweet moments in her parenting journey with selections from her diary from 1996 to 2002. She then changes gears with a chapter on educational philosophies and brief biographies of the men who influenced educational theory over the past 300 years. Next Mrs. Curry explains how recitation, speech, and oral examinations will raise the standard of education by enabling the "lifelong habits of thought and expression." In chapter seven Mrs. Curry and her children briefly review a plethora of books ranging from Great Speeches by Abraham Lincoln to The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook by the Moores. The author continues discussing the importance of literature-based learning in the following chapter when she overviews some favorite classic authors and expresses the importance of literary discussions within the family. As in her last book, Mrs. Curry devotes the final chapter to encouragement in walking with Christ. The appendices include the author's "Top 10 Book List," resources, end notes, and paid advertisements.
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