Joe:
Are you working on a new book? What is the new premise for the book and how can homeschooling parents get involved with you?

Linda:
Yes, and I'm so excited about this one! After years of trying to point out to publishers that homeschooling success stories abound, and years of sharing just a handful of these stories in the "Out in this World" section of my Home Education Magazine "NewsWatch" column, the publisher of my previous two books has given me the go-ahead to write a book about now-adult homeschoolers' "success" stories.

Gathering research
I'm spending lots of time gathering research as I feel it's important to showcase a wide spectrum of success that includes a college success story or two, but also explores other alternatives that have led to lives worth living and work worth doing to, hopefully, expand the definition of "educational success."

Homeschoolers' Success Stories: 15 Adults and 12 Young People Share the Impact That Homeschooling Has Made on Their Lives by Linda Dobson One of the most common questions homeschoolers face is whether or not their children will be able to function in "the real world." Now that the first children of modern homeschooling have reached adulthood, the effectiveness of homeschooling in preparing children to become successful, capable adults can finally be assessed. This book is an in-depth exploration of life after homeschooling through real lives instead of test scores. You will meet a cross-section of confident, well-educated men and women who were homeschooled as children--men and women who have achieved success on a variety of levels. You will see how they have grown up using the skills they first grasped as homeschoolers, combining life and learning in the world of higher education, business, art, religion, and more.

Additionally, the book will showcase short briefs of currently homeschooled children and how they're using their educational freedom to accomplish wonderful things. I invite and encourage homeschooling families to continue contacting me with stories of their own children's or their acquaintances' success stories, particularly now-adult stories (and the older the adult the better!). I also need contact information for some of those "famous" homeschoolers we all know about. If you're in a support group with or live next door to Hanson, the Moffatts, LeAnn Rimes, Jason Taylor (Miami Dolphins), Jimmy Lai (or any of their parents!), please send this contact information along, too. I promise to be professional and polite in contacting anyone. I can be reached most easily via email (ldobson@aldus.northnet.org), or by snail mail (POB 85, Rainbow Lake, NY 12976), or by phone (518-327-5245; call collect). If you've tried to reach me by phone previously and couldn't get through, I've ordered another, temporary phone line to remedy this situation during the course of completing this book so please try again!

I've seen the homeschooling community come together before and accomplish remarkable things, and I look forward to this book becoming another joyful group effort and accomplishment. Thanks so much for asking, Joe. I look forward to meeting many more homeschooling families through this work!

Joe:
Thank you,  Linda, for your support of our work and also for graciously allowing us to reprint an excerpt from your book for our members to read for FREE.

Homeschooling the Early Years
By Linda Dobson
Excerpt pp. 217-221

The Early Years
Emergency Resource Starter Kit

• Zone Main Page
• Home-Ed Help
• Featured Authors
• "Homeschooling Book of Answers"
  • "Am I cut out for homeschooling?"
• "Homeschooling: The Early Years"
  • Getting to College
  • "Success Stories"
  • FREE Early Years Starter Kit Excerpt

Kick 'N' Crawl Playhouse

FREE Child
Development Ideas
FREE Craft Ideas
FREE Kids Recipes
FREE Coloring Pages

Faces of Home Education Profile
Igniting a Career
by Linda Dobson


My son, Chuck, was 14 years-old when our neighbor and friend started an Explorer Scout Post with the local volunteer fire department where he was a member. What I didn't realize right away was how seeds that would blossom into a career were being planted at the same time. I sometimes wonder what he would be doing today if homeschooling hadn't allowed him the time to pursue his interest so thoroughly.  Then I hear a fire call. I know he is serving his community, an important lesson from his homeschooling days, and making a living doing what he loves.
Find out more

Interview & FREE Excerpt

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Homeschooling: The Middle Years:
Your Complete Guide to Successfully Homeschooling the 8- To 12-Year Old Child
by Shari Henry
Interview & FREE Excerpt

Parents and educators often view a child's middle years as the 'magical' years--when innate talents and abilities really begin to flourish. They have reached the stage where they understand the fundamentals of most subjects and are still excited to learn more. Homeschooling: The Middle Years helps parents make the most of their children's crucial middle years by providing exciting ideas and activities that cultivate each child's individual interests.