8 Great Smarts for Homeschoolers (Tina Hollenbeck)

8 Great Smarts for Homeschoolers:

A Guide to Teaching Based on Your Child’s Unique Strengths

Kids don’t just learn one way . . . and that matters a lot for homeschool parents.

One of the benefits of a home education is a curriculum designed to fit each student. But that means knowing how your child learns. Not every child receives knowledge the same way. It’s up to the teacher to figure out the best way to reach each one.

Based on the 8 Smarts identified by Kathy Koch—word, logic, picture, music, body, nature, people, and self—8 Great Smarts for Homeschooling Families tailors these ideas to the unique setting of the home classroom. Tina Hollenbeck, a leader in the home education community, applies the 8 Smarts to each division of a complete curriculum:

• Math
• Language Arts
• Science
• Social Studies
• Religious Education
• Fine Arts
• Electives

Yet when it comes down to it, the real benefit of homeschooling is personal relationships. Hollenbeck concludes by showing that when parents know their kids’ multiple intelligences—and when kids understand their family members in turn—it leads to a healthy homeschool dynamic. So don’t try to teach in the dark. Know your kid’s smarts, then watch them start engaging with their world in fresh ways.

Endorsements: 

“Mrs. Hollenbeck helps parents identify their children’s multiple intelligence strengths and then gives practical suggestions for how each major subject can be adapted to those styles. As the author of many science courses for homeschooling, I really appreciated her discussion of the various ways science can be personalized to meet the needs of each child as well as her approach to lab reports. More importantly, she emphasizes over and over again that each child is a unique masterpiece made by God. Whether you are a new homeschooling parent or a veteran homeschooler, you will benefit from reading 8 Great Smarts for Homeschoolers.”
—JAY L. WILE, author of Science Through History and the Discovering Design series

“For too long, homeschool moms have tried to make their children fit a standard education. It works with some, but for others, it can have disastrous results accompanied by tears and guilt. Tina Hollenbeck’s book 8 Great Smarts for Homeschoolers shows you how to tailor education to fit the individual child . . . more specifically, YOUR child. Tina walks you step-by-step through the main areas of study and shows you how to use the eight great smarts to maximize your child’s learning . . . giving you a child who smiles again.”
—TODD WILSON, founder, The Smiling Homeschooler, The Familyman

“8 Great Smarts for Homeschoolers is a revolutionary guide for raising confident kids who love to learn. Capturing the very essence of home education, Tina Hollenbeck shows parents how to help children embrace and excel in their God-given interests and abilities. I wish I would have had this book during our homeschooling years.”
—GINGER HUBBARD, bestselling author of Don’t Make Me Count to Three and I Can’t Believe You Just Said That
Cohost of the podcast Parenting with Ginger Hubbard

“As a homeschooling mom of ten children, I thought I’d ‘learned’ all I could about teaching them. After all, I’ve been homeschooling for over twenty-five years. How wrong I was! 8 Great Smarts for Homeschoolers is insightful, helpful, and encouraging. It’s filled with wonderful insights on how to activate my kids’ smarts. I’m excited about helping my kids explore content in new ways to discover how truly brilliant they are! And I can’t wait to share this resource with friends.”
—TRICIA GOYER, homeschooling mom and author of 75 books, including The Grumble Free Year

“I have successfully used the eight smarts popularized by Dr. Kathy Koch when homeschooling my youngest children. Because Tina Hollenbeck lists many teaching ideas for each smart by academic area, it will now be even easier. If you want to become a better teacher and avoid the frustration that comes from the useless “slower and louder” method, this book is for you! You’ll learn exactly how to use a different smart when reteaching concepts—and find success for your child and yourself. I’m grateful for this resource!”
—HEIDI ST. JOHN, author of Becoming MomStrong, Host of the Heidi St. John podcast
Founder of MomStrongInternational.com, and candidate for Congress in Washington’s 3rd congressional district

“Filled with helpful suggestions and educational strategies, this book walks parents through teaching the various school subjects through the lens of their children’s unique giftedness—their smarts. It goes beyond being a curriculum guide, encouraging parents in their God-given position of pouring into their children: awakening and strengthening smarts, learning with them, and loving them.”
—SHERRI SELIGSON, international speaker, marine biologist, author, and veteran homeschool mom

“For most homeschool parents, relationships with their children are paramount. Many worry, though, that academics will get in the way of that, putting a strain on the parent/child relationship by wedging the role of teacher into the mix. In 8 Great Smarts for Homeschoolers, Tina Hollenbeck does a wonderful job of helping parents better understand their children. Tina opens a whole new world of thinking for homeschooling families, teaching them how their children’s natural strengths and bents can best be approached as they teach each subject. The insight she offers is sure to be an encouragement and help to homeschool parents just starting out or at any point in their journey.”
—LESLIE NUNNERY, cofounder of Teach Them Diligently and the author of Teach Them Diligently: Raising Children of Promise

“There is perhaps no greater hurdle for homeschool parents than letting go of the damaging idea of standardized education. Tina highlights not only the importance of knowing the different ways that our children excel, but she also shows the reader how we can apply that knowledge to key subject areas. By developing the unique gifts and smarts of our children, we enable them to soar as the individuals that God created them to be.”
—TARA BENTLEY, Executive Director, Indiana Association of Home Educators

“In 8 Great Smarts for Homeschoolers, Tina Hollenbeck gives practical ideas about how to best teach every subject using our children’s innate intelligences—I’ve never seen anything like it. Finally, a simple, comprehensive roadmap that ditches arbitrary school “norms” and shows us how to work with—instead of against—our children’s unique smarts. It’s a game-changer that will save time, frustration, tears, and lots of money when choosing methods, assignments, and curriculum to help our children reach their full potential.”
—ANNE MILLER, president and executive director of Home Educators Association of Virginia and the recipient of the Chris Klicka Award for courage and commitment to serving homeschool families for 35 years

“In her new book, 8 Great Smarts for Homeschoolers, Tina Hollenbeck shows how you can use the freedom and flexibility of homeschooling to customize your children’s education around their unique gifts. Ideas and examples for teaching all the school subjects at home in ways that fit well with each of the eight intelligences make this a helpful, practical resource. This short and interesting book could very well transform your homeschool experience.”
—REBECCA LIAO, Chief Customer Officer, Teaching Textbooks

“A great practical guide for new and seasoned homeschoolers alike, 8 Great Smarts for Homeschoolers will give you invaluable tools to discern the individual needs and the learning styles of your own children. Here is simple, direct, and easy-to-understand information you will refer to over and over again. Tina will become a kind friend as you walk through the pages of her book. This is a resource you don’t want to be without as you navigate the wonderful world of homeschooling!”
—KAREN CAMPBELL, author of The Joy of Relationship Homeschooling: When the One Anothers Come Home

“8 Great Smarts for Homeschoolers is the book that will help transform your desire to create a tailor-made education for your kids into actionable steps. Using Dr. Kathy Koch’s 8 Great Smarts as a guide, Tina Hollenbeck has assembled a valuable toolbox of homeschool resources and ideas that will show you how to tap into the natural learning strengths of each of your children, ensuring that they’ll have a more meaningful and engaging education.”
—JAMIE ERICKSON, author of Homeschool Bravely and cohost of the Mom to Mom Podcast

“To say this book is an invaluable tool for homeschooling parents would be an understatement. Each page is filled with practical, essential information that every homeschooling family needs. As a veteran homeschooling mom of eight kids, I encourage parents to be students of their children because it’s one of the most effective ways to gather the information we need to customize their education. I encourage every homeschooling parent to dive into this incredibly helpful book. You’re going to love it!”
—DURENDA WILSON, author of The Four Hour School Day and The Unhurried Homeschooler and host of The Durenda Wilson Podcast

“Rather than feeling ‘less than’ during academic studies, children who recognize that their smarts ARE smart will find powerful new ways of navigating, even enjoying, subjects that have been difficult in the past. Dr. Kathy Koch, in her excellent book, 8 Great Smarts, provided the homeschool community with tremendous insight, knowledge, and encouragement about these smarts. Now, Tina Hollenbeck’s new book adds another layer of usability for homeschooling families as she shares practical (and wonderful) ways of integrating these smarts into every subject area. I’m excited for new doors to open for parents and children through this book, and for more children to experience the JOY of learning in ways that honor their unique design.”
—DIANA WARING, pioneer homeschooler and author of the History Revealed curriculum, the Experience History Through Music series, and the new Yearning to Breathe Free American History curriculum

About the Author:

TINA HOLLENBECK is a Jesus-follower, wife, mother, and homeschool advocate. She and her husband educated each of their children at home from birth through high school graduation. Tina owns The Homeschool Resource Roadmap, a free database that describes thousands of homeschool-oriented learning options. She also mentors homeschooling parents, aiming to help them see that they are designed and equipped for the task.