Home-schooling has long been regarded as a last resort, particularly by African-American families. But in this inspirational and practical memoir, Paula Penn-Nabrit shares her intimate experiences of home-schooling her three sons.
In Morning by Morning, Paula Penn-Nabrit discusses her family's emotional transition to home-schooling and shares the nuts and bolts of the boys' educational experience. She explains how she and her husband developed a curriculum, provided adequate exposure to the arts as well as quiet time for reflection and meditation, initiated quality opportunities for volunteerism, and sought out athletic activities for their sons. At the end of each chapter, she offers advice on how readers can incorporate some of the steps her family took -- even if they aren't able to home-school; plus, there's a website resource guide at the end of the book.
Charles and Damon were eventually admitted to Princeton, and Evan attended Amherst College. But Morning by Morning is frank about the challenges the boys faced in their transition from home-schooling to the college experience, and Penn-Nabrit reflects on some things she might have done differently.
With great warmth and perception, Paula Penn-Nabrit discusses her personal experience and the amazing outcome of her home-schooling experience -- three spiritually and intellectually well-balanced sons who attended some of the top educational institutions in this country. She tells what she learned from home schooling:
- Use your time wisely.
- Education is more than academics.
- The idea of parent as teacher doesn't have to end at kindergarten.
- The family is our introduction to community.
- Extended family is a safety net.
- Yes, kids really do better in environments designed for them.
- Travel is an education.
- Athletics is more than competitive sports.
- Get used to diversity.
- It's okay if your kids get angry at you -- they'll get over it!
