Saturday, July 2, 2011

Review: Educating the WholeHearted Child, by Clay & Sally Clarkson


Like any other endeavor in life, this homeschooling thing has it's ups and downs. Every once in a while, when things don't seem to be going as planned, it's easy to lose sight of what's really important, namely God and family. Homeschooling is a means to an end, not the end itself.

I was pleased to recently receive a copy of Educating the WholeHearted Child, by Clay and Sally Clarkson to review for the HSV. (The book is available in a softcover format, and retails for $22. It's available from Apologia.)

It came at a good time for me, a time when I was feeling a little burned out. We've chosen a good curriculum, we're making good educational progress, and yet, something's missing.

Actually, several things seem to be missing lately. Joy, a sense of purpose, and peace, to name a few. These are the things that seem to get lost in the daily shuffle of "getting things done."

That's where this book comes in. Instead of looking at the small picture, (curriculum choices, academic achievements, and the like,) Educating the WholeHearted Child is a reminder to look at the big picture. What is the big picture? Discipleship, family relationships, and the blessing of learning together. Those are the reasons most of us started this journey, and they're what we need to focus on.

Whether you're a new homeschooler looking to build a solid foundation, or a more experienced one looking to refocus on God's plan for your family, this book is a great place to start. It's full of thought provoking questions, Bible verses that are applicable to home education, and practical ideas.

I'm devouring it as fast as I can, after which I'm going to be sharing it with my husband. I'll check back in with my final thoughts on it after I'm done.

Disclosure: I was provided with a free copy of this book to facilitate this review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are my own. 

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