The Brave Learner. Finished 7-22-20, 4/5 stars, education, 294 pages, pub. 2019

Parents who are deeply invested in their children’s education can be hard on themselves and their kids. When exhausted parents are living the day-to-day grind, it can seem impossible to muster enough energy to make learning fun or interesting. How do parents nurture a love of learning amid childhood chaos, parental self-doubt, the flu, and state academic standards?

In this book, Julie Bogart distills decades of experience–homeschooling her five now grown children, developing curricula, and training homeschooling families around the world–to show parents how to make education an exciting, even enchanting, experience for their kids, whether they’re in elementary or high school.      from Goodreads

“When parents collaborate, kids learn”  page 65

I checked out a lot of homeschooling books when I made the decision to jump in an do it this year.  This was the first one I read and it was inspirational, to a point.  This mother chose to do a more child-centered homeschool than I would be comfortable with attempting.  The book is full of creative and positive ways that you might approach your day, your kids, and learning, but if you are looking for a nuts and bolts instructional book, this is probably not the one to use.

I loved the positive energy and the stories, but wondered about some of the things she recommends, like not having nice things, even going as far as denting your table early on so you don’t have to worry about it staying nice.  Her approach to cleaning the house is another somewhat controversial area (at least given the amount of flak she’s taken about it on GR reviews).  Kids will learn to clean toilets, dishes and floors as they need to as an adult so don’t feel bad about hiring help.  In general, I’m not against help.  When Gage was an infant we hired someone to come every other week for 2 1/2 hours to clean bathrooms and floors.  But, somehow, now that Gage is home I feel like this needs to be part of what he learns to do.  I say that now, I guess, in three months you might hear me admitting to having Henri come help out again 🙂

This is a very kid-centered way of learning and something that every parent could get inspiration from, not just ones choosing to teach at home.  She is a facilitator and mentor, not necessary mom, when school is taking place.  I enjoyed the perspective, creative energy, and vibe of the book.  I would have loved attending her homeschool!