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Marty Layne
Canadian home based learning
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Reviews for Learning At Home
...one of the most interesting,
encouraging and thought provoking books on homeschooling we've seen
in many years.
Helen Hegener, editor, Home Education Magazine
..The real value of homeschooling
is lovingly explained in Marty Layne's book, Learning At Home: A
Mother's Guide To Homeschooling. Layne is a mother of four children
none of whom have ever attended school. ...
There's a great
compassion in these pages, from a mother who loves her children and understands
how to express this love. And huge chunks of that indefinable quality called
wisdom.
Learning At Home will help you to decide if home schooling is right
for you; it will guide you about how to do it successfully; and it will
give you ideas for activities to share with kids, after school, which are
far more educating and nourishing than tv and computer games. Michael
Pastore, The Midwest Book
Do yourself a favor and buy this book. The title
is a misnomer. This isn’t another book about “how to homeschool.” This
is a book filled with the wisdom of a mother who has children’s best interests
for education, growth and development at heart. I think it may well be
the best book on parenting I have ever read. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised
since homeschooling and parenting are inextricably entwined.
Marty Layne knows that to be successful at homeschooling you have to be
successful at parenting. In her book, she identifies eleven criteria for
what makes a successful homeschooler. ...
She expounds on each of these points in her book with insight and compassion.
She gives clear, demonstrative examples of what she means along with advice
for how to develop these traits. The segment on developing limit-setting
skills ought to be required reading for every parent -- homeschooling or
not. It is sensitively written, explaining why kids need limits,
and how to provide them in a secure and loving way. ...
A good portion of the book addresses how to teach various subjects. It
is filled with personal stories that give useful suggestions for helping
kids (with varying abilities, skills, needs, and interests) learn about
subjects like math, reading, science, the arts and more. Resources are
plentiful. ...
One of my favorite chapters in the book is titled “Burn-out.” The author
acknowledges its occurrence in homeschooling as a normal part of life.
A discussion of conflict resolution skills and the acceptance of change
provides insight for how to deal with burn-out. But Marty Layne goes way
beyond the standard advice. She touches on a very real need - the
need for moms to develop and enrich their own lives without separating
from their children, and explains how to do just that. ...
Every
homeschool family’s bookshelf should contain a copy for frequent reference
and inspiration. Diane Flyn-Keith, Homefires - The Journal
of Homeschooling, Dec.99 -Jan.00 www.Homefires.com
Marty Layne has written an excellent addition to my
favorite homeschooling genre—the parent-written guide based on successful
experience. Layne outlines a relaxed approach to facilitating the learning
of children in a home environment, basing her guide on a combination of
her own experiences, observations of her own children and others, and her
wide and eclectic reading on children, learning, psychology and other related
topics.
She concentrates on the reality of what it takes to help children fully
develop their abilities, their personalities and their spirits, cutting
through the educational jargon so often used by professional educators
to enshroud the learning experience in mystery. Her methodical outline
will help newcomers to this educational alternative gain confidence (particularly
in developing a relaxed, “unschooling” approach to learning), while her
sensible comments on such topics as children’s boredom, maintaining a balanced
family social life and parental burnout will inspire the oldest old-timers.
For myself, as I contemplate my sixth year of learning at home with my
children, Layne’s analysis of the different phases of family social needs
has been most helpful. The book came to me at a time when my family
had just made a huge geographical move, forcing us to begin our social
lives at ground zero. I had thought that my several years of experience
as a mother of home-learning children made me invincible to homeschooling
problems. This book helped me realize, again, that this learning alternative
remains a shifting, kaleidoscope process for every family who chooses it,
and, as in life itself, nothing is ever static.
I am almost sorry that the word “homeschooling” is in the title of the
book, as I think Layne’s sensible and sensitive approach to developing
relationships with children could be extremely helpful to all parents
interested in the total development of their children and their
family relationships, regardless of their educational choices. Kelly
Green, past Secretary, Ontario Federation of Teaching Parents
Learning At Home presents an unstructured,child-centered approach to
homeschooling. "Life as curriculum" is how the
author describes this approach, one in which learning flows from the child's
interests and spontaneous curiosity. Although children in effect
set the curriculum, the approach is not totally permissive. Parents
are seen as responsible for setting safety limits and for finding developmentally
appropriate activities and learning resources for the child.
... Her book is filled with creative ideas for stimulating children's interests
and developing their strengths. Learning At Home is recommended
for homeschoolers and others interested in a child- centered approach to
education. Jane Heath, Canadian Book Review Annual 2000
Readers' comments
1850 San Lorenzo Ave. Victoria,
BC V8N 2E9 Canada
Phone/Fax (250) 477-0173
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