Plan to Be Flexible brought tears to my eyes within the first few pages:
"Behind these capable young homeschool kids were their intentional parents: the quiet heroes that had planned, prayed, sacrificed and given of themselves day in and day out in unseen and laudable ways. These parents too were not perfect, yet God had used their best efforts to guide these kids down the right path. It was obvious that these parents had made deliberate (perhaps difficult) choices in guiding their children. The fruit in these kids’ lives was not the result of chance but of specific plans and goals (and lots of prayer)." |
Sometimes just knowing someone else understands the difficulties we face as Homeschooling moms is comfort in itself. Alicia Kazsuk understands. She reminds us to keep the finish line in sight. Like Paul admonishes in Hebrews 12:
"…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…" |
This is not a sweet sympathetic “How to Succeed in 3 Easy Steps” kind of book. At the same time, this isn’t a book that’s going to make you feel guilty, unqualified or ‘judged’ for your failures so far. Let’s face it, we have all (if we’ve been Homeschooling more than 10 minutes) failed at some point. Homeschooling is NOT easy and NONE of us are born with the patience to do it. HE works patience in us through each painful step, rewarding us with the smiles and sparkling eyes of our beautiful children.
What Alicia does do in this book is give you questions to evaluate YOUR family and situation and steps to create a plan that fits God’s will for YOUR situation. You will be able to go through this again and again as your life changes with each season of parenting, Homeschooling, and personal spiritual growth. This will be a regular reference in our home. I will have it listed next to each of my “go to” books for each school year planning session. I’ve got about 10 years more to go, and I’m hear to tell you, I haven’t got it all ‘figured out’ yet!
What Alicia does do in this book is give you questions to evaluate YOUR family and situation and steps to create a plan that fits God’s will for YOUR situation. You will be able to go through this again and again as your life changes with each season of parenting, Homeschooling, and personal spiritual growth. This will be a regular reference in our home. I will have it listed next to each of my “go to” books for each school year planning session. I’ve got about 10 years more to go, and I’m hear to tell you, I haven’t got it all ‘figured out’ yet!
Contents:
Introduction: Happy Homeschool Days Are Ahead!
Part 1: Establish and Refine Goals
Assessment Questions: What’s Working… (and What’s Not)?
Resources for Supplemental Curriculum
Additional Helpful Resources
Introduction: Happy Homeschool Days Are Ahead!
Part 1: Establish and Refine Goals
- Chapter 1: The Finish Line as Daily Guide
- Chapter 2: What’s Working… (and What’s Not) (Part 1)
- Chapter 3: What’s Working… (and What’s Not) (Part 2)
- Chapter 4: Determine This Year’s Goals
- Chapter 5: Create a Master School Year Calendar
- Chapter 6: Build a Curriculum Core for Each Student
- Chapter 7: A Living Curriculum for Real, Live Kids
- Chapter 8: Rhythms, Not Schedules: The Critical Key to Success
- Chapter 9: Mysteries (and Practicalities) of Rhythm-Based Homeschooling
- Chapter 10: Consider Your Unique Learning Environment
- Chapter 11: When Life Interrupts Your “Perfect” Rhythm
- Chapter 12: Homeschooling with Joy and Freedom
Assessment Questions: What’s Working… (and What’s Not)?
Resources for Supplemental Curriculum
Additional Helpful Resources
Alicia Kazsuk is the founder of VibrantHomeschooling.com and a homeschool mom to four bright, curious students. Her passion is to encourage and equip moms to joyfully thrive in the often-challenging homeschooling season. She is the author of Plan to Be Flexible: Designing A Homeschool Rhythm and Curriculum Plan That Works for Your Family and The 5 Best-Kept Secrets of Successful Homeschoolers (a free resource for site subscribers). Alicia also writes and produces online video courses for homeschooling moms (“bloom” and “rhythm”) that give practical instruction and customized learning. Check out these and other valuable resources at VibrantHomeschooling.com.
Affiliate link: See our disclosure policy for details.
I definitely recommend Plan To Be Flexible: Designing A Homeschool Rhythm and Curriculum Plan That Works for Your Family. I received a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.