Love in a Time of Homeschooling: A Mother and Daughters Uncommon Year

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If you are located outside the U. This is necessary reading for anyone with an interest not just in homeschooling but in education generally. Humorous and heartfelt, this charming memoir tells of a year-long experiment in homeschooling in which the author decides to give her ten-year-old daughter a sabbatical from homework hell and the vicissitudes of one-size fits all traditional public school days.

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This is necessary reading for anyone with an interest not just in homeschooling but in education generally. Hardcover , pages. Published April 6th by Harper first published March 19th To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Love in a Time of Homeschooling , please sign up. Be the first to ask a question about Love in a Time of Homeschooling. Lists with This Book. Apr 23, Shannon rated it it was amazing Shelves: Months ago, I wrote that my word for the year was change.

I chose this word knowing that big changes loomed ahead for our family, amongst them, a shift from three children in public school to homeschooling our daughter who starts 5th grade in August. Little did I know that would also bring a change to my reading habits. I love to read, but I love to read fiction. Too reminiscent of college days spent slogging through books I never would have chosen for myself.

But Love in a Time of Homeschooling is a non-fiction book that I can wholeheartedly recommend. My husband bought this book for me because it sounded so much like our circumstances. Like me, Laure Brodie has three daughters and chose to homeschool just her eldest daughter for just one year. My reasons for homeschooling my daughter Anna next year differs from Brodie's because our daughters are different people.

But I found this book enlightening, encouraging and eye-opening. Here's why I think you should read it, even if you think you'll never, ever want to homeschool your child ren. Perhaps better than any other book I've read, Brodie captures a concept I've always believed. Namely, that you don't have to homeschool your children to do fun, educational things with them. I love to learn which is one reason I am excited to tackle fifth grade with Anna and I want my daughters to know, understand and experience learning in all of the various facets of their lives.

When we go to a local park that has a huge map of Tennessee near the fountains we play in, we play a geography game where we walk west to Mississippi or north to Kentucky in a matter of minutes. The two are not mutually exclusive. The Realities of Parenting: Brodie does a great job of being transparent about some of the hard things about homeschooling her daughter.

Laura Brodie on Short-Term Homeschooling

But let's be honest here - parenting is hard. I lose my temper with my daughters now on bad days and it's not likely that homeschooling with make our home such an idyll that my frustrations evaporate. But I don't think we do ourselves and other parents a disservice to paint parenting or homeschooling as an easy job. It's always a hard job because it's so important. Reading Brodie's missteps was encouraging because I know I will fail Anna - and myself - during the coming year. I already fail her, so why would I morph into super-mom, super-teacher? Frankly, one of the things my perfectionist firstborn daughter needs to see and believe is that failure is an OK, everyday part of life.

I've already said that I'm not a fan of non-fiction, but I finished this book in two days. Brodie's writing style made me want to carry on - I loved hearing why she decided to go on this homeschooling journey, but that only made me want to keep reading to see how the whole year went. You won't feel like you're reading a textbook when you pick up Love in a Time of Homeschooling. Which is why I appreciate all of the resources I walked away with after reading this book. I've read the Well Trained Mind. I did read the part about fifth graders.

It was great, but overwhelming. This book pointed me to other resources and gave me new ideas for activities I want to incorporate into our schedule for next year. I liked hearing about how Brodie surveyed many teachers at her daughters' elementary school. One thing this book convinced me of is that my daughters are very blessed to attend the school they do. My third and fourth grader write all the time - fiction, non-fiction, poetry, essays.

Brodie laments the loss of writing in her own elementary school, and makes writing a focus of her daughter Julia's fifth grade year. Writing will be a focus for us as well, but I frankly hope to just continue a lot of what Anna is already doing in her day to day writing. Given this, why would I not query the great teachers my daughters have had and ask them what they think we should read and do next year?

I've already sent out a series of e-mails asking for brief conferences, thanks to this book. Even if you are completely satisfied with your school options and choices, this book reminds you of the joy we can all take in helping our children pursue their passions. This can be done during the school day, after school, on the weekends or on holidays. This book left me thinking: Do what works for my family, but make sure I do something to capitalize on what my children love! I think you'll feel the same way after reading this book.

Laura Brodie decided to homeschool her oldest daughter just for 5th grade, to give her a "sabbatical" from a school system she's always struggled with emotionally, not academically , before sending her off to middle school. She recognizes that her daughter is different, probably on the autism spectrum, but has never had her evaluated because she doesn't want her labeled.

This was one aspect of Brodie's life and philosophy that I find difficult to understand. Having my own child who has always m Laura Brodie decided to homeschool her oldest daughter just for 5th grade, to give her a "sabbatical" from a school system she's always struggled with emotionally, not academically , before sending her off to middle school.

Having my own child who has always marched to his own drummer, I saw "labeling" him as hfASD as a way to understand and help him. Overall, her visualization of a year in which her daughter would not only continue to practice the violin and learn to play the flute and to speak French, along with the standard 5th grade curriculum, seemed much too ambitious to me. The flute and French, which she designated as her husband's responsibility, did not happen.

She admits herself that her primary mistake was trying to teach her daughter like she was a miniature college student, instead of a ten-year-old child. Overall, I enjoyed this very honest memoir of their experience. Along with a lot of what not to do, I did find some ideas that I want to use, such as Brodie's focus on literature and writing across the curriculum, especially as it changed through the year to focus more on what her daughter wanted to write. I've also already checked out one book, Peter Ackroyd's The Beginning , and placed another on hold, The History of Counting , that she recommends.

Nov 17, Rachelle rated it liked it. Kudos to Laura Brodie for covering the dark side of homeschooling so honestly. The battles between mother and daughter and the anger and self-questioning were helpful for any of us who have ever wondered if we should be doing this. I appreciated Brodie's creative attempts at education and a reminder to us all of the limitations of traditional school and the chance to break that mold with homeschooling. Jun 21, Carmen rated it liked it. As a homeschooling mom, I'm always interested in other people's homeschooling experiences.

Laura Brodie on Short-Term Homeschooling | Homeschooling Research Notes

So when I discovered this new homeschooling memoir, I picked it up and read it quickly. Laura Brodie knew she had to do something when she realized that her daughter would rather hide in the closet for over an hour rather than face ten to fifteen minutes of homework on one particular night. Increasingly, Brodie struggled with her daughter Julia's resistance to school work.

In 4th grade, Julia was already b As a homeschooling mom, I'm always interested in other people's homeschooling experiences. In 4th grade, Julia was already burdened by mountains of worksheets and busy work that Brodie even recognized as dull and time-consuming.

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Brodie knew her daughter was a dreamer. She was at her best when left alone long stretches of time to read and write on her own. She didn't easily adapt to new situations and didn't change gears quickly--two things that were expected of her in her Virginia public school. So, Brodie thought she'd give her daughter a break from public school for one year.

She would take on homeschooling Julia for 5th grade and after that one year, she would return to public school to begin middle school. Although Brodie determined her daughter needed a drastic change, she comes to homeschooling with a lot of stereotypes. She says on more than one occasion that homeschooling was essentially for Christian fundamentalists and those living bohemian lifestyles.

It's obvious that she doesn't want to be lumped into those categories at all. Over the year, she realizes that homeschoolers are as unique as each family, but there are times when she seems embarassed that she's even homeschooling at all. While she sees herself as only a short-term homeschooler, she has plenty of criticism for public school as well. Laura Brodie interviewed several public school teachers to ask them what they would like to teach if they didn't spend most of their time readying students for standardized testing in this case Standards of Learning or SOL in Virginia.

Brodie was dismayed by the stacks of uninteresting fill-in-the blank and multiple-choice worksheets brought home by her daughter. As a part-time English professor, she hoped that her daughter's school would spend more time on writing composition as well. She goes on to plan a year for Julia involving lots of writing across the curriculum.

She gave her more time to read uninterrupted and took her on many field trips all over Virginia.

Love in a Time of Homeschooling

Most of the time, Brodie worries that her daughter may not learn enough to do well in 6th grade as a homeschooling mom, I know this anxiety well. Homeschooling for one year was non-negotiable. Julia would return to public school. In the end, Homeschooling was a good choice for Julia. It suited her well even is she still didn't want to do everything her mom planned.

Every child is going to complain and whine a little!

When she returned to public school the following year, it wasn't long before she was bringing home the dull worksheets again. In the end, I believe Brodie was conflicted about sending Julia back to public school. She learned that a rich environment for unique and joyful learning could be found at home.

View all 3 comments. Nov 19, Sarah rated it really liked it Shelves: An excellent read about one woman's year of homeschooling her fifth-grade daughter. Well-written, brutally honest and thoroughly absorbing.

Movie 43 - Homeschooling

As a fifth-grade teacher myself I read this with particular care and interest. I was impressed with the tenacity and creativity Brodie employed and I wholeheartedly endorse the homeschooling concept. I believe there is no "one size fits all" approach to education. For certain students, Bodie's daughter Julia included, such an approach is highly warranted.

I An excellent read about one woman's year of homeschooling her fifth-grade daughter. I would recommended this to any parent or teacher whether or not homeschooling is in their radar.

Love in a Time of Homeschooling: A Mother and Daughter's Uncommon Year

View all 7 comments. This is a year in the life of one fifth grader's hiatus from public schools. A reality based narrative with some helpful tips. Heartfelt successes are scattered throughout as well as some failures. A good read for those entering homeschooling.

Apr 02, Maicie rated it really liked it. This is not a book about secular vs. Nor is it a book about a hippy family living off the grid. It's not even a book about homeschooling vs. These are topics commonly found in books about 'domestic learning. Public school never agreed with Julia. She was prone to wandering during the day - physically and mentally. And she wa This is not a book about secular vs. And she was frequently in tears at the end of the day. At home, fights over unfinished homework were commonplace. Calling Julia away from play to do homework, mom discovers her daughter is missing.

For one horrible, fear-filled hour Laura experiences every parent's worst nightmare. She's finally found hiding in the back of a closet in an attempt to avoid homework. Brodie hopes one year of hsing will give her daughter a chance to recoup, regroup and prepare her to return to the ranks of public school.

The year is not without troubles. Brodie candidly exposes the question hs advocates fail to address openly - "What if I can't stand to be with my kid s all day? A hsing mother like myself will also appreciate the doubts and uncertainties that the author interjects throughout the book. There are vast books written on child education. One such book revealed uncovered areas that Brodie had failed to teach her daughter.

She writes, "But now I was stricken with petty fears - exactly the reaction these books try to elicit, since parents' anxieties and competive impulses are a powerful trigger for consumer spending. Her other daughters remained in gov't run schools during the year their sister was homeschooled. Brodie never portrays an anti-public attitude. Even so, I found this book to be an encouraging testament to long term hsing. I will recommend this book to my own homeschooled daughter and my son-in-law, who have already decided to school at home when they become parents.

Love in a Time of Homeschooling is a frank, fair and sincere look at the working of hsing and parenting. Jun 20, Clare rated it it was ok. After watching the documentary "Jesus Camp," I swore I would never consider homeschooling for my kids because it made homeschoolers look like religious nuts who don't believe in global warming. Plus I only have 3 kids and not a litterful. We also shop at stores. But this book seems more like a mother-daughter story of love and struggle so I was intrigued. It's pretty much what you expect. Author Laura Brodie has a daughter Julia who is autistic. High functioning of course, but definitely autisti After watching the documentary "Jesus Camp," I swore I would never consider homeschooling for my kids because it made homeschoolers look like religious nuts who don't believe in global warming.

High functioning of course, but definitely autistic. And the author seems to declare that smart professorial types are just naturally autistic. So the author never gets any special ed help for her daughter, but figures that homeschooling is a way to give Julia a break and let her enjoy learning again. They clash mother-and-daughter-wise and always will. The break seemed frustrating and not terrible beneficial for either. The writing was heartfelt and sincere but naive. It would have made a better short story or blog piece. Apr 10, Cherae Slater rated it really liked it.

I signed up and won this book in the goodreads giveaway. This book flows like a novel the author is a professor of english and I really enjoyed and appreciated an honest and thoughtful real life homeschool experience. I am a homeschool mom who, for financial reasons, had to enroll my child in public school after first three years of homeschooling and am trying to arrange our lives to again homeschool for many of the same reasons Mrs. Homeschooling a child is quite a sacrifice I signed up and won this book in the goodreads giveaway. Homeschooling a child is quite a sacrifice for some families but certainly a worthwhile effort.

If you are thinking of homeschooling and want to read an honest experience you will most likely appreciate this book though it is not a "how-to" and does not necessarily reflect what your own homeschool experience will be like. I personally learned a few things from the author's insights and was also glad to find out that my own frustrations and joys in homeschooling a child were not so uncommon.

Nov 05, Jen rated it liked it Shelves: I could have used more psychological distance from this one -- her daughter is very similar to one of my kids who is the same age, and the only child I am partially homeschooling this year. I especially enjoyed her analysis of how to best help the kind of child for whom school is torture. Let them unschool and embrace their I could have used more psychological distance from this one -- her daughter is very similar to one of my kids who is the same age, and the only child I am partially homeschooling this year. Let them unschool and embrace their many talents?

Force them to go to school anyway? For what issues and under what circumstances is your relationship more important than education when homeschooling? Amen to that confusion and constant self-criticism. Jul 05, Rachelreads rated it really liked it. This book hit home for me. I gulped it up like I was thirsty because in it I found great validation. Like this author, I too had a short-term homeschooling experience filled with mother-daughter clashes and a lot of frustration, along with some joyful moments that are wistful memories.

I appreciated the honest portrayal. In between the description of their homeschooling experience were discussions of other parental issues that resonated with me, such as whether to push your child to play a music This book hit home for me. In between the description of their homeschooling experience were discussions of other parental issues that resonated with me, such as whether to push your child to play a musical instrument, whether or not to use bribery as a motivator, how dismal the month of February is, and in general, the uncertainty of how to handle a child who marches to a different drummer.

Nov 10, Melissa rated it it was amazing Shelves: I loved this book. I loved how honest she was about her homeschooling experience. Half the time I felt like I was reading an excerpt from my own life in this book. I truly believe that there are kids who do not learn well in the public school system and I think I have one of those kids. I have always had homeschooling in the back of my head, it's constantly in my thoughts. This book really makes me want to do homeschooling with both my kids.

Aug 02, Margaret rated it really liked it Shelves: I learned a lot about the experience of schools, from the perspectives of a caring, intelligent mother and a creative, sensitive daughter with her own way of learning and interacting. Great reading for any teacher who cares about the needs of children who are different and strives to make their school experience fun and meaningful.

Apr 13, Kendra rated it did not like it. I don't agree with taking your child out for just a year to homeschool and "experiment". Just my humble opinion. And then putting her back in to the wolves of 6th grade middle school after the fact is just plain scary. The author's opinion of mothers needing to have separation from their children is both sad and selfish.

Glad I didn't shell out the money for this. Jul 30, Lisa rated it really liked it. Nice narrative about homeschooling. I like that the author addresses many of the pitfalls that new homeschooling parents fall into - all the while, having their child's best interest at heart. Based solely on the authors socioeconomic status, some of the solutions she comes up with may not apply to others. Overall though, a good read about homeschooling. May 11, Amydeanne rated it liked it. She choose to homeschool her daughter when she entered fifth grade because she figured her daughter needed a sabbatical from school life.

She talks about her year of trail and error with her daughter, as well as what she learned from it all. To start off with, I was a little surprised that Laura only choose to homeschool one of her children seeing that she has three daughters. She admitted that her other daughters were jealous of the one on one time her eldest received during this time.

Laura gives a very flagrant look at her attempt of short-term homeschooling. She only planned to do it for one year and not continue on. I was very unsure how Laura could give a good analysis of homeschooling efforts with barely scratching the surface of it. However I was pleasantly surprised half way through the book when she started to come to some conclusions and realizations that I think most of us newbies have.