Homeschooling at the Speed of Life: Balancing Home, School, and Family in the Real World--Book and CD-ROM

What should I do next; grade the math test or tackle the laundry? Homeschooling at the Speed of Light gives busy homeschooling mothers a thoughtfully thorough resource for bringing order back to their home-turned-classroom. In tine with today's pace, the book provides basic home-management principles, teaching parents how to de-clutter their homes, develop life skills in their children, tame the paper monster and keep organized records. Also emphasized are ways to build relationships and use the home as a center for hospitality and outreach. The book even includes Rockett's easily adaptable File-a-Plan organizing system on a bonus CD-ROM. Homeschooling moms will be keeping with with their good work in no time! 240 pages, softcover. From Broadman and Holman.

It isn’t teaching that overwhelms mothers as much as organizing home life to home teach. In this gleaming gem of a book, Marilyn Rockett shows us how to manage home life and be less frazzled. She remembers asking herself, “What do I do next: teach math, tie the toddler’s shoes, or tackle the laundry?”

First she urges us to plan. “If we remind ourselves that God is continually meeting our needs and urging us to make plans that will benefit us and bring Him glory,” she says, “we experience God’s deep peace—the antidote to chaos.” Next, she offers practical steps to setting priorities, establishing household rules, helping us create order out of disorder. One idea shows how to gain the cooperation of children by teaching them life skills and good habits. I took her clutter quiz and had my toes lightly stepped on because I didn’t do well. With her remedies in mind, I am motivated to do better.

Is there a homeschool mother out there who doesn’t have struggles? Homeschooling isn’t easy but it is very doable and can be far less stressful and, by far, a more pleasant experience by following Marilyn’s wise and friendly advice. Because home atmosphere represents a big chunk of education, I recommend this book. Its CD-ROM is a tool for keeping records. 176 pages, softcover from B&H.

—Karen

Homeschoolers, be on the lookout for this wonderful new book! Homeschooling at the Speed of Life is full of great advice and easy-to-follow guidance for the tricky business of balancing home, school, and family life in today’s fast-paced world. The oversized softcover book was written by Marilyn Rockett, once managing editor and writer for Homeschooling Today magazine.

Besides home educating three of her four sons, the author has worked with Home School Legal Defense and Jeff Myer’s Passing the Baton events. Rockett also leads her own Minding Your Time seminars. The book is well organized into ten chapters, full of useful advice on home management, setting priorities, record keeping, de-cluttering your home, organization skills, along with encouragement for the journey.

The text is spiced with great quotations and choice Scripture references, and illustrated with simple black and white line drawings. As a bonus, the book comes with a CD containing Rockett’s File-a-Plan system. This system includes forms for recording information on attendance, curriculum, grades, household organization, lesson plans, library books, health records, portfolios, projects, transcripts, portfolios, field trips, and career planning.

I would recommend this book as resource to any homeschool mom; it would make an especially helpful gift for a new homeschool family. Homeschooling at the Speed of Life is a great tool for either getting started or catching up! – Elece Hollis, Christian Book Previews.com

Average Rating:

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Reviewed by Kathy (Southeast Wisconsin), January 07, 2010

I came across this book because the administrator of our local home education support group selected it for the annual January Book Discussion. The main theme of the book is "how to organize your life." The book is not about homeschooling, it just happens to be written by a home educating parent. The author consistently/constantly repeats the same information throughout each chapter within the book. After being lulled to sleep by the rambling dialogue, I decided to place the book in the Goodwill donation box. Instead of reading through this poorly written piece of dribble I would highly recommend reading Emily Barne's book "More Hours in My Day." Emily's book has sustained the test of time for the past twenty five years, so it's a classic when it comes to reading about the "how to's of home management/organization.

Reviewed by Jordan White (Lakewood, OH), September 08, 2009

Contrary to what the title implies, this is NOT a book about homeschooling. It is, rather, a book about organizing your home written by a woman who, incidentally, has homeschooled her children. What a disappointment to one who trusted that the title described the subject of the book, especially since I would NOT have purchased a book about organizing/housework. This may be a nice book if one wants to know how to organize their closets, but is certainly not about the act or even theory of homeschooling.

Reviewed by Teresa Moody (Baytown, TX), August 10, 2009

This book was a surprise to me. It is more than a scheduling book, more than an inspiration book and more than a planner. It has all this and puts it together with a dash of humor. Instead of telling you step by step how to do something, it teaches you how to set your priorities so that you plan for and implement your most important items. It shares ways to plan for life with the least amount of disruption to school, and vice versa.

Reviewed by Jennifer Bushey (Bedford, IN), April 24, 2009

Still reading, but it seems to be just what I need to get priorities and home in a workable order.

Reviewed by Sharla (LeClaire Iowa), November 25, 2008

This book is so practical and encouraging. I would recommend Homeschooling at the Speed of Life to anyone thinking of homeschooling, discouraged with homeschooling, and even parents just wanting help getting organized and having a purpose for their family.

Reviewed by Janet Ristau (Cool, CA), August 25, 2008

Homeschooling at the Speed of life is a "MUST HAVE" for every family who homeschools. It is helpful in so many ways, even has downloadable forms from the CD and is humerous as well. I sent it to a friend in Southern California. Great information!

Reviewed by Meredith Curtis (Lake Mary, FL), May 16, 2008

"Functional neatness" was a concept that I could latch on to in this wonderful guide to organizing your home and life. Full of practical wisdom from a mom who's been there, this book helps you to stay on task while keeping priorities in balance. Very helpful!

Reviewed by Heidi Nieuwenhuis (Newnan, GA), January 17, 2008

One of the most helpful books I have read so far on home schooling! Loved it. Gave so much great advice and recourses I am wishing that I would have found this a year or two ago! But it's never too late to start!! Thanks for the info!

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Author: Marilyn Rockett
Located in: Cypress Texas
Submitted: August 28, 2007

    Tell us a little about yourself.  An official bio is on my web site at www.MarilynRockett.com. My favorite thing to do is encourage young moms in their important task of raising their children and home teaching them!

    What was your motivation behind this project?  I didn't have a mentor when I was a young mom and when we began homeschooling. How much easier things would have been if there had been someone to learn from! I hope to be that mentor to those who need that now.

    What do you hope folks will gain from this project?  Encouragement, practical help, and spiritual strength to be a mom at home in today's world.

    How were you personally impacted by working on this project?  I have been amazed at how just a few kind words of encouragement and some helpful ideas give a home school mom a boost she needs to keep going. Mentoring each other is the next most important thing we all do after caring for and raising our own children. I'm humbled that things I can say to a mom can help her do a better job.

    Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists?  Home school moms are my inspiration - they are among the most creative and amazing women I've ever met. Hats off to you, Gals!

    Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know:  Please join me in an online book discussion of Homeschooling at the Speed of Life right from the comfort of your home - Begins the week of Sept. 10. I will moderate the discussion and readers will learn from other homeschool moms with the same struggles as well. Check the web site for details and join us! It will be so much fun!!

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