Homeschooling at the Speed of Life- A Review

Posted on June 3, 2007 
Filed Under Homeschool, Reviews

Homeschooling at the Speed of Life by Marilyn Rockett
Reviewed by Janice Campbell

As you wrap up the school year and start planning the next, there’s one thing you can do to make your next school year run more smoothly– read Homeschooling at the Speed of Life by Marilyn Rockett. An organizer extraordinaire, Rockett is also the graduated homeschool mom of four sons. I can tell you from personal experience that four sons will hyper-test every organizational theory that mom can dream up!

Homeschooling at the Speed of Life is the book I wish I had been able to read when I started homeschooling nearly two decades ago. In ten carefully crafted chapters, Rockett establishes the foundational principles for organization, and gently leads the reader step-by-step through the process of creating a serene, well-managed home.

She addresses crucial areas such as real-life home management, dealing with clutter and paper piles, teaching children life skills, coping with record-keeping, family life and hospitality. Each chapter closes with a “Stop, Look, Think” section, which includes a question section– “Direction– Where Are You Going?” and a devotional section- “Devotion– What Are You Thinking?,” plus a page for personal notes.

This isn’t a book to skim through and put on the bookshelf. It is designed to be actively used, written in, and applied. Rockett’s hands-on approach is enlivened by anecdotes (the exploding spaghetti sauce story is memorable, to say the least!), and she is completely practical in her approach. She talks about “functional neatness” as opposed to perfection, and reminds her readers that people and relationships are the most important things we work with each day. Virtually every chapter includes ways to train children in important life skills, even as you are learning alongside them. Inspirational quotes throughout provide extra food for thought.

At the end of the book is a CD full of useful organizational tools. Rockett has provided a system of forms covering home, school, and personal needs, organizing everything from chores and field trips to library checkouts, menus, and student evaluations. My favorite page on the CD is the Weekly Works form, which provides a one-sheet week-at-a-glance overview of meals, goals, appointments, and pretty much everything I need to track. It’s ideal for posting by the chair where I have my morning coffee, as it quickly reminds me of what my day will hold.

Homeschooling at the Speed of Life is a book I’ll share with many homeschool friends. It is a book that offers help, along with a spirit of hope and a sense of calm that comes from the author’s experience in the trenches. No matter where you are in the homeschool journey, Homeschooling at the Speed of Life contains ideas and tools that can smooth your way. I recommend it! (It’s available from Amazon.)

I’ll be at the Home Educator’s Association of Virginia (HEAV) convention this coming week– June 7-9. If you haven’t decided whether or not to attend a convention this year, I’ll tell you that this is the biggest and best convention in Virginia, and people travel from many nearby states to be there. The encouragement you’ll receive, the fun you’ll have in the vendor hall, and the wisdom you’ll absorb will make this convention well worth your time. I hope you can make it!

I’ll be speaking again this year, and my workshop topics will be:

My booth will be #148 in the exhibit hall, so drop by and say ‘hi!’

Comments

2 Responses to “Homeschooling at the Speed of Life- A Review”

  1. Holly on June 4th, 2007 4:12 am

    I just bought this book from my state’s convention this past weekend. It was great to see your review-can’t wait to start reading this as soon as I get reports and evaluations done this week. Holly

  2. Phyllis Sather on July 21st, 2007 3:55 pm

    You convinced me! I went right online and purchased it to read on vacation! Thanks. I was already thinking about it but your review pushed me over the edge.

    Blessings,
    Phyllis

    Proclaiming God’s Faithfulness at:
    http://www.Phyllis-Sather.com

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