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Haystack Full of Needles
Most of us at one time or another have had to wrestle with the issue of socialization, either when dealing with friends and family members who question our decision to home educate, or when in our own hearts we worry about our children's hopes for friendship. In this book Alice shows that "Socialization is not the weakness of home education it is its strength and joy." Alice chronicles her own path from skepticism about home educating's ability to provide sufficient social experiences for her children, to the flowering of a local home school group that provides its members with meaningful social experiences within the context of home educating. Full of examples and practical suggestions, this will be an extremely uplifting addition to your cache of home education resources.
- GenresEducation
156 pages, Paperback
First published July 14, 2008
2 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 2, 2008
Have you ever had a friend so wise, so creative, so full of good ideas, such a gift to your circle of friends, that you've found yourself repeatedly telling her, "You know, you should really write a book"? Alice Gunther is that friend, and at long last, she has written that book. Even as she was writing it, her ideas were bearing fruit in my own home and homeschooling circle: inspired by her Shakespeare chapter, I organized a Shakespeare Club for my children and their friends. I've never been a natural hostess, but Alice makes it seem easy.
What makes Haystack Full of Needles so compelling is that it is much more than an explosion of the myth that homeschoolers lack "proper socialization"—it is a vivid, lively, and detailed account of how homeschooling families can build community and friendship. The perfect blend of personal narrative and practical advice, Haystack Full of Needles is an inspiring heartwarming chronicle of the growth of a lively homeschooling community. At first, readers will wish they could live in Alice's neck of the woods and be a part of all the marvelous events she describes, but by the book's end, they'll be overflowing with excitement to put Alice's ideas to practice in their own homes, parishes, and homeschooling communities.
(Here's a longer post I wrote about Haystack: Gorgeousness)
What makes Haystack Full of Needles so compelling is that it is much more than an explosion of the myth that homeschoolers lack "proper socialization"—it is a vivid, lively, and detailed account of how homeschooling families can build community and friendship. The perfect blend of personal narrative and practical advice, Haystack Full of Needles is an inspiring heartwarming chronicle of the growth of a lively homeschooling community. At first, readers will wish they could live in Alice's neck of the woods and be a part of all the marvelous events she describes, but by the book's end, they'll be overflowing with excitement to put Alice's ideas to practice in their own homes, parishes, and homeschooling communities.
(Here's a longer post I wrote about Haystack: Gorgeousness)
September 3, 2023
One of those books where I didn’t get at all what I expected from it,, but in a great way. The spiritual insight was actually so rich and I had to start taking notes because the way Gunther and her friends live is just so prayerful and Christ-centered. Really great for anyone of any age or state of life
The homeschool content gave me quite a bit of nostalgia from my K-2nd grade days in Delaware. But beyond that, the advice was so so so outdated; for example, the ideas for high schoolers (which she simply grouped together as “teens”) were almost laughably out of touch, and would probably work if your children grew up on a farm with no access to the internet, YouTube, current fashion, and if the latest BookTok trend was Shakespeare. Like if you plopped these kids in a summer camp or even youth group setting with typical high schoolers, I don’t know how they would start or join a conversation based on similar interests because quite frankly, they have none.
Why 4 stars? I think the book does what it promises to do, and since I was homeschooled for 10 years I feel like I have the benefit of understanding where families are coming from but am also allowed to be critical.
The homeschool content gave me quite a bit of nostalgia from my K-2nd grade days in Delaware. But beyond that, the advice was so so so outdated; for example, the ideas for high schoolers (which she simply grouped together as “teens”) were almost laughably out of touch, and would probably work if your children grew up on a farm with no access to the internet, YouTube, current fashion, and if the latest BookTok trend was Shakespeare. Like if you plopped these kids in a summer camp or even youth group setting with typical high schoolers, I don’t know how they would start or join a conversation based on similar interests because quite frankly, they have none.
Why 4 stars? I think the book does what it promises to do, and since I was homeschooled for 10 years I feel like I have the benefit of understanding where families are coming from but am also allowed to be critical.
November 3, 2016
This is a lovely book about socialization in Catholic homeschooling. I got quite a bit of inspiration from it, but it had two major failings for me:
1) The exaggerated gender roles bothered me. When talking about starting clubs within a group of Catholic homeschoolers, it is building club for boys and dads, dolly/sewing/hospitality clubs for girls. As a not particularly girly mom of two not particularly girly daughters, this bugged me. My youngest would LOVE a carpentry club (she has her own tools and workbench). There were quite a few club ideas that weren't gender specific, but there were enough that it made me want to throw the book across the room at that point.
2) This book is written wonderfully for white collar, urban or suburban homeschoolers. So much of it just cannot be applied in my life (not a problem with the book itself, just its application in my life) - our homeschool group is more spread out than most, coming in from multiple farming communities, and since most of the families involved are farm families or own small businesses, the ideas for involving fathers just don't work they way they would for white collar workers with weekends.
So, overall, I am a little torn, and maybe it would be more fair to review chapter by chapter, because there is a lot that is beautiful and inspirational in this book.
1) The exaggerated gender roles bothered me. When talking about starting clubs within a group of Catholic homeschoolers, it is building club for boys and dads, dolly/sewing/hospitality clubs for girls. As a not particularly girly mom of two not particularly girly daughters, this bugged me. My youngest would LOVE a carpentry club (she has her own tools and workbench). There were quite a few club ideas that weren't gender specific, but there were enough that it made me want to throw the book across the room at that point.
2) This book is written wonderfully for white collar, urban or suburban homeschoolers. So much of it just cannot be applied in my life (not a problem with the book itself, just its application in my life) - our homeschool group is more spread out than most, coming in from multiple farming communities, and since most of the families involved are farm families or own small businesses, the ideas for involving fathers just don't work they way they would for white collar workers with weekends.
So, overall, I am a little torn, and maybe it would be more fair to review chapter by chapter, because there is a lot that is beautiful and inspirational in this book.
February 26, 2014
Read my review here on my blog: http://www.sweetness-n-light.com/2008...
August 11, 2008
Alice writes from her own experience in Long Island on how to foster community and that iconic "socialization" for your homeschooled child -- and for the parents!
I love how she weaves her personal stories, quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and then provides practical and useful advice for starting clubs and other activities. Her 3 element rule for all activities: coffee, prayer, and simplicity is a good one, and her 6 week cycle twice a year is such a great idea so as to not overwhelm families!
Her Nature Study chapter is my absolute favorite.
I will say that while Alice provides some solid ideas for activities for boys, she is a mom with 6 girls and one young son, so her experience is generally with girls. While it's not a negative aspect of this book, I did find myself wanting more perspective and advice in homeschooling/socializing boys, particularly as they get into their teen years.
It's absolutely wonderful, and I think all homeschooling families should read it!
I love how she weaves her personal stories, quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and then provides practical and useful advice for starting clubs and other activities. Her 3 element rule for all activities: coffee, prayer, and simplicity is a good one, and her 6 week cycle twice a year is such a great idea so as to not overwhelm families!
Her Nature Study chapter is my absolute favorite.
I will say that while Alice provides some solid ideas for activities for boys, she is a mom with 6 girls and one young son, so her experience is generally with girls. While it's not a negative aspect of this book, I did find myself wanting more perspective and advice in homeschooling/socializing boys, particularly as they get into their teen years.
It's absolutely wonderful, and I think all homeschooling families should read it!
September 9, 2008
A very encouraging book about how to develop a community of Catholic homeschooling families to support and share time with one another. Includes many concrete, practical ideas and encouragement for even the smallest of groups (i.e., 2 families), both with spiritual and secular foci. Ideas mostly focus on providing activities and social opportunities for the children, but there are also some gems for the moms too as well as ways to include the dads. The author's ideas and recommendations are not overwhelming, rather they are encouraging, edifying, and achievable.
I'd love to hear/read what more she learns and develops as her children get older that may flesh out more ideas and provide more opportunities for high schoolers.
I'd love to hear/read what more she learns and develops as her children get older that may flesh out more ideas and provide more opportunities for high schoolers.
October 4, 2008
A book to inspire a new home-educating mom or an old tired one like me! I would really like to start a St. Francis Nature Club and feel inspired to do so after reading this book. Alice's simple yet beautiful ideas for drawing families together to learn and share their faith is unique and much-needed. I can't say enough good things about this book. Each and every page offered much-need support, encouragement and practical advice/direction to enhance your homeschooling as a devout Catholic Christian!!
September 10, 2008
A beautiful book about the joys of homeschooling and the joys of friendship. Alice Gunther writes in a very in a very friendly style which makes the reader feel as though she were having a chat with a very good friend.
Not just for homschoolers - this book has many wonderful tips for expanding your own and your family's social circle.
Not just for homschoolers - this book has many wonderful tips for expanding your own and your family's social circle.
March 6, 2013
On my little shelf of valuable and well-loved homeschool books. I bought this soon after it was published as I'd followed the author's blog previously and liked her. It's a "warm and fuzzy, this-is-why-I'm-homeschooling" kind of a book and I love its emphasis on having coffee with the other homeschooling moms. Amen.
July 25, 2010
Alice is a delightful woman, with first rate ideas! This book has been like having Alice in my living room :)
It is filled with suggestions for sharing your homeschool life with other homeschoolers :)
It is filled with suggestions for sharing your homeschool life with other homeschoolers :)
August 3, 2008
This book makes me see what is possible to accomplish - even if I don't homeschool!
August 28, 2008
Loving this one. It is called "A Catholic Home Educator's Guide to Socialization" but it is appropriate for homeschoolers of all faiths.
May 24, 2009
LOVE this book! So many great ideas for building community in homeschool groups, neighborhoods, and parishes. Can't wait to try out some of her ideas!
November 22, 2025
Lots of great ideas in this book for getting homeschooled families together with friends!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews