A Review of 

The Homeschool Primer

Dear Judy,

Greetings in the Name of Jesus!

I realize you have no idea who I am, so first let me introduce myself. My name is Susan McGlohn, and I have been homeschooling my children for almost 8 years now. The last 3 years have been almost exclusively using the methods and formula laid out by Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore in their books and in The Moore Formula Manual.

I am on an e-mail list support group for parents homeschooling using the Moore Formula, and I also moderate a similar list for those wishing to do systematic studies of the books written by the Moores.

I just posted a review of The Homeschool Primer on the main list. I would like to share it with you, in hopes that it will bless and encourage you in your ministry.

This is the review:

The Homeschool Primer by Kathie Kordenbrock and Judy Shewmake

What first struck me about this little booklet is the sweet spirit that begins on the first page and is present in every page thereafter. I felt peace and if I were a new homeschooler reading this booklet, I think I would feel something along the lines of, "Hey, I could really do this!"

The booklet itself is plain, unassuming, with a cardstock cover and classic design...understated and not "fancy". Just right for a booklet reaching out to parents who might be feeling overwhelmed at the journey they are considering embarking upon. Lots of flash and color would further increase the heart rate and feelings of anxiety of the reader.

Opening the booklet, I really wondered what it could tell me, a "seasoned" homeschooler. Is this just for "newbies"? I soon had my answer.

Yes, the first portion, about the reasons for homeschooling, I had heard before, and understood. I moved on to the second section: "How To Do It".

Surprisingly, to me, it did not start with anchors, as I had expected it to. It started with MY relationship to God. Wow! What a concept!

The second step was my relationship with my children! (I think, perhaps, a Christ-centered marriage is assumed and therefor not mentioned.) [Yes it is, please see page 5, Judy]

Kathie and Judy talk about the different types of learners (no surprises there), but then they talk about different personality types in a new way that I had never heard of before. I had heard the sanguine and melancholic and all those before but never really understood the definitions, and I had heard the theory of relating personality types to animals such as Lion, Lamb, etc., and found both of these ways to be humanistic and in my mind unGodly.

Kathie and Judy, however, use actual personality types to describe personality types! Again, what light bulb are they using??? I am so impressed! They talk about the "popular" personality that needs/craves attention and center stage. The "powerful" personality that wants things done their way, the "perfect" personality that needs things done *right*, and the "peaceful" personality that is the mediator and needs calm environments and sometimes external motivation.

They move on to talk about the 5 love languages. Another thing I never considered and wish I had known at the beginning.

The next portion talks about Family Health. Right in line with the Moores and Adventist family living.

Next follows organizing your family life. FINALLY! The anchors! I caught my breath and took a minute to say hello to my familiar old friend now. But realizing how necessary it is that new homeschoolers hear about "anchors", I knew I would find it sooner or later.

But SURPRISE! This section was NOT just about anchors. It was also about lesson plans, scrapbooks and journals, and de-cluttering our homes.

Realizing that I was going to hear something new in each section (okay, I *am* a slow learner!), I entered the next portion with GREAT anticipation. Balancing work, service, and study. Again I was met with a familiar old friend, who had been given a new wardrobe. An additional thought added. Another portion of the equation for more balance....physical education being balanced with the mental exertion.

Ahhh...next is our good neighbor, Unit Studies. Called Learning Projects in this booklet, yet the same design and methods set forth in TSHFH and the Moore Manual. I feel on familiar ground once again. The explanations and examples of how to use the young child's interests as the basis for learning are wonderful here, and again, the gentle, sweet Spirit shines through as Kathie and Judy lead the new homeschooler into a confident understanding of this sometimes confusing (to the schooled person) method of teaching.

Choosing curriculum comes next, with using the Bible as the basis for learning stressed. Again, how wonderfully presented, and with such a soft hand. Using the Adventist Home Educator Handbook is suggested as a resource for choosing curriculum, which is geared mostly towards SDA homeschoolers. (I looked up Judy's web site, which is awesome in itself. The web addy is www.adventisthomeducator.org)

Budgeting for homeschooling is next, and as this is an area I constantly fall short in, I REALLY didn't want to read this section. But the advice is solid and sound, and for someone with limited funds and a LOT more self-discipline than I, will go a long way to help them avoid the pitfalls of canned curricula, expensive programs, and useless possibly damaging material.

As it begins with our relationship with God, so it ends. The final section again points us heavenward, using Christ's childhood as an example, and our standard and measuring rod.

I will recommend this booklet to every single new homeschooler or anyone even considering homeschooling. This one little book may save many the misspent dollars, the sorrow of burn out, and stress and anxiety of sorting through all the rubbish put forth in mass-market homeschooling catalogs.

Thank you, Kathie and Judy, for your love, example of Titus Two womanhood, and your dedication to Christ.

In Christ,
Susan McGlohn <:><
Momma to Sarah (10/89), Andrew (6/91) and Aaron (3/98)

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