Cindy West

The idea of home-schooling is so tantalizing with smart kids - no need to hold them back, or bore them, plus the opportunity to offer them depth in their particular interests. I can't stop half-wishing for it. On the other hand, I have decided that my realistic position is to leave my kids out in the world with their friends, but supplement like mad from home. After rummaging around in the literature, it was nice to run across this book - from a home-schooling mom, and really actually show more honestly directed at parents. And West makes the whole thing look so easy and so do-able. Although there is a long list of resources, the book seems most valuable for the generalist ideas, things that will apply well outside the actual regimen of home-schooling. show less

I think the real strength of this book lies in its lists of enrichment activities. A myriad of subjects, from the obvious (spelling, history, math), to the rarely covered (philosophy, drama) are presented, along with a list of characteristics of kids who excel in that area, then enrichment activities for kids who excel, and advice to help kids who struggle in those areas. Games, websites and books to help round out a curriculum or provide an extra learning opportunity abound in this book. It show more would be a good addition to any homeschooling library, but is also coming in very handy this year as a supplemental resource to round out my daughter's private school education. There are also many more homeschool specific suggestions in the books, for record keeping and groups that your child can join for some extra socialization. Homeschooling approaches are also covered in some detail, listing the advantages and disadvantages of each. While this book is useful for parents of gifted and advanced learners, I think it really would be very useful for all learners, as every child has their strengths and weaknesses, and the plethora of information is bound to have something for everyone. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in education, homeschooling or not. show less

NCLA Review -Artists in the church are a peculiar lot. They are creative and invigorating in their vision and ideas, but they can be kind of scary, too. Cindy West, an artist herself, finds that there is a need to nurture artists in the world of "church". Her book encourages those who aren't artistic to embrace those who are. She also shares how her congregation welcomes artists and encourages their abilities. But importantly, it is an affirming book, for those who have questions about their show more artistic natures: offering up small insets in some of the pages to linger and ponder about their gifts. West encourages artists to grow and explore their talents, so the next time they are asked by God or the church to share their creativity, they can say, resoundingly, "Yes!" If you are an artist in any way, this book may help you find your place, either in church or simply in God's creation. I recommend it highly for individuals, and perhaps to a church exploring new ideas for outreach and ministry. Rating: 5 —CP 211 p, paper, Cook 2008, 978-1-4347-9998-2, $13.99 [269.2] show less

West's book is well-organized and straightforward. She covers everything from socialization, choosing curriculum, and learning styles. She is generous with her real-life examples making it easy to understand the application of her advice and includes many "toolbox" sections listing very helpful resources. The strongest portion of the book is her discussion of the reasons to homeschool gifted learners and the disadvantages of homeschooling in general. I appreciated her honesty as many show more homeschooling guides aren't willing to address the disadvantages. Where I found the book coming up short was in addressing the issues surrounding teaching gifted learners. I expected more advice directly geared toward that aspect. Instead, West includes a lot of general homeschooling information that's included in just about every homeschool guide out there. Overall, this is a well-written homeschool guide, but in terms of teaching gifted or advanced learners, I wish it had been more specific. show less