Review of Deschooling Gently
I was thrilled when I received an email asking if I wanted to read Deschooling Gently before it officially came out. I practically jumped out of my seat with excitement at the idea. Tammy Takahashi is one of my favorite homeschooling bloggers and Just Enough, Nothing More is a blog I try to read every day. I received an ebook copy in my email and waited with bated breath for a free night when I could sit down and devour it. This weekend I got that chance and the wait was worth it.
Deschooling Gently is one book that I have to recommend for every new homeschooler. Tammy explains beautifully the problems that many parents face when they look upon homeschooling for the first time. She also shares plenty of her own experiences, both good and bad, so that you get a definitely personal feel. You will not feel like you are being talked down to by some homeschooling guru like some books. She takes you through her own journey into homeschooling her three children and shares some tidbits of other families that she has known who have struggled coming into homeschooling. Let’s face it, for many people choosing to go against the grain and take the homeschooling route is a difficult decision to make.
In Deschooling Gently you explore the many important topics that frequently come up in homeschooling. From choosing the “right” curriculum, to goal planning, to just keeping track of it all. Plus how to find support and how to deal with the ever present doubters and haters. She shares a lot of great information plus lists useful websites and books for you to check out to learn more.
But the book isn’t really about homeschooling, it is about deschooling. It is a topic that few people know, and even fewer fully understand. The watered down definition is simply to detox yourself of everything that you learned in school. For children who have spent time in the school system that means clearing out the thinking that learning is boring, uncool, and to be avoided. That can be a difficult wait for kids who have spent a few years inside the brick and mortar classrooms, but imagine how much more so that is for the parents who spent their entire lives in that cycle. And that is who this book is really for, the parents who feel they have to recreate the classroom standard inside their own living rooms. For those stuck in the cycle of doing things the “right” way.
Tammy breaks down the ideas beautifully and shines light on the dark corners where fears creep up. reading Deschooling Gently was like being taken by the hang and reassured that I didn’t have to do the same old thing. If you know the quote by Einstein on insanity you will understand exactly why this book is helping bring a little sanity to new homeschooling parents.
My recommendations: 5 out of 5 stars, perfect for new homeschooling parents yet still a great read for the more experienced ones who are feeling stuck in a hamster wheel.
Deschooling Gently is not yet out but will be soon. You can pre-order the book for only $16.99 at the bottom of the book’s page.
book review, Deschooling Gently, Tammy Takahashi, deschooling, homeschooling, homeschoolers
March 10th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
This sounds like a wonderful book, Summer. I’m a big believer in deschooling, but we learned the hard way. When we first unenrolled the Big-Eyed Boy from public kindergarten, I wanted to jump feet-first into teaching him. I had lesson plans, a nice little classroom area, charts with stickers for good behavior and an ambitious agenda that would have him learning Latin by 3rd grade.
Two days into it I found myself asking “What was I thinking??”
I tossed aside our lesson plans for the rest of the week and we just coasted for a while as I figured out his preferred sleep/wake and meal times, what subjects were of current interest to him, and where we were both most comfortable sitting while learning. (Surprise: it wasn’t the nice little area I’d set up!)
Deschooling’s a critical process for reconnecting with our kids and letting them become the owners of their education. I’m so glad to know there’s a well-written, non-preachy book out there to help future homeschoolers realize this without feeling guilty for “goofing off”.
March 18th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
[...] of fame on CNN. Not that she isn’t already about to become (even more) famous with her book Deschooling Gently due to come out soon. But it was still cool to see a face I “knew” on the news. She [...]
June 6th, 2008 at 1:43 am
[...] 2008 — Tammy Takahashi Summerm had an advance review copy of Descholing Gently. She wrote a review of it on her blog. Here’s a snippet: In Deschooling Gently you explore the many important topics that [...]