What People Are Saying About Design-A-Study
Professional/Magazine Reviews
Natural Speller
Comprehensive Composition
Critical Conditioning
Movies As Literature
Maximum Math
Science Scope
Guides to History Plus
The Maya (Unit Study)
Teaching Tips & Techniques
Workshop/Workshop Tapes
Reviews focusing on Design-A-Study
Natural Speller
Comprehensive Composition
Critical Conditioning
Movies As Literature
Maximum Math
Science Scope
Guides to History Plus
Teaching Tips & Techniques
Workshop/Workshop Tapes
What People Are Saying About Design-A-Study
“When I tell others about your products, I think of the words “flexible structure with emphasis on true understanding.” I truly think your materials are the single most valuable materials I have purchased since beginning homeschooling.”
—S. Stapleton
“…I am so happy I want to shout it from the rooftops! …I am sure the Lord has directed me to this program to inspire me with quality material that I can afford on my limited budget. …I finally feel equipped to give my best now. You have blessed me immeasurably.”
—P. Angeloni, AR
“I still think your guides are the next best thing to bread and butter and tell everyone I see with that ‘textbook glaze’ in their eye about your books. Thanks.”
—D. Edson, SC
“Your Design-a-Study Books are wonderful! They have given me the courage to step out into the world of ‘designing your own curriculum.’ They are a wealth of information I could not do without.”
—Homeschooler in PA
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“I absolutely love your materials! I have been a homeschooling mom for 14 years but feel that I only really began to “get it” once I discovered your books two years ago.”
—L. Harris of Murphy, OR
“You also helped me get over the schooled (public) need to complete the workbook curriculum phobia. … Your advice is practical, short, to the point, and written from experience.”
—M. Capro
“I LOVE the Natural Speller. We also use Critical Conditioning which has helped us tremendously with reading comprehension. Being an ‘eclectic’ homeschooler, I enjoy these books as they help break the mold of strict curriculums and allow the use of real books. They provide just enough guidance to help me teach without putting me in a box. Thanks!!!!”
—Meliea, NC.
“I still say that there are plenty of experts out there who are telling us the why and what of homeschooling, but as far as I can tell, it is just Kathryn Stout telling us how—and for this I thank you!”
—T. Inzerillo
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“Thank you for your thorough work! Finally, a resource I can use as a tool to do the job I want to do, instead of feeling like I am the tool to be used by the resource!”
—K. Fettz, VA
“I just wanted to let you know what a wonderful blessing your materials have been to me! …I feel like your guides give me a framework and confidence. …We are all looking forward to school now!”
—J. McDonald
“I must tell you that thanks to your books and seminar [tapes], I am finally getting MY education. I am actually beginning to learn to think, too!!”
—N. Spacek, CT
“First let me say how grateful I am that you have made homeschooling better for me and my kids! Because of your work, I feel capable as a teacher.”
—D Chavalier
“I use my summers for planning materials needed throughout the year and your publications really help me to achieve my goals without a lot of headaches.”
—N Sadewater, IL
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“I have your book Movies as Literature which I use with my 8th grade daughter. We adore the lessons and have recommended it to several friends. I use all of your books and could have written pages on how they have improved the quality of our homeschooling experience. I was happy to have the opportunity to tell you of how just one of your books has helped us set up a truly individualized course where my sons actually apply what they have learned and have fun doing it. Since learning is a life long process, I want them to experience the joy that comes with discovery and your ideas certainly help us achieve that goal. Keep up the fantastic work!”
—L. Webb
“[Kathryn Stout’s] way is designed to develop your kids as independent, aggressive learners without missing important concepts and skills they should know. …her ideas will give you a better understanding of the process of good teaching.”
—Ted Wade, Home School Manual
“These materials are a gold mine for those of us who want to break away from a structured curriculum and use a more varied approach. …These materials can guide you to wonderful, thorough unit studies…”
—Christine Field, A Field Guide to Home Schooling
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“Your Design-a-Study Books are wonderful! They have given me the courage to step out into the world of ‘designing your own curriculum.’ They are a wealth of information I could not do without.”
—PA
“Thank you so much for offering excellent materials and a very informative website! I refer to it often in my curriculum studies!”
—M. Tweet
“One of the reasons that I enjoy your books so much is that I lean towards piecing together our curriculum rather than buying it put together for me.”
—A. Edmonds
“I enjoy your books and use them for reference on a regular basis.”
—A. Edmonds
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“So far I’ve loved homeschooling my “gifted”—I hate labels but it’s probably appropriate—almost eight year old who was an early reader and is a naturally independent learner, as we’ve used an eclectic, relaxed, literature based approach and it’s worked wonderfully. But we recently moved to a state that requires I keep all kinds of documentation and evaluation, so I’m eager to learn how to build upon what is already working well in a way that demonstrates we are complying with the law—without trying to fix something that’s not broken OR wearing myself out second guessing whether I’m doing “enough”! Your guides are a wealth of information that I believe will work very well in helping me pull together some learning objectives for the upcoming year, easily keep records of what he learns, and teach me how to better support him as an independent learner while insuring that he gets a well-rounded education. I’m so very thankful to have been lead to your resources.
Also, thanks for taking the time and energy to share your own expertise through publishing both your guides and your wonderful newsletter. I’m a mom with a chronic health issue so it’s a special encouragement to me to read practical tips from someone who understands how this sort of thing impacts our learning environment.”
—Noltie, MO
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Professional/Magazine Reviews
Homeschool Enrichment Magazine: Natural Speller reviewed by Lori Deese
Eclectic Homeschool Online: Natural Speller reviewed by Anita Barth
“It is important to continue working on spelling; that is a lifelong task…If you use a book at all, use an all-in-one book…the Natural Speller by Kathryn Stout.”
—Ruth Beechick, Dr. Beechick’s Homeschool Answer Book
“Everything necessary for spelling instruction for grades 1-8 is included in this book. Basic word lists are given for each grade with words containing similar patterns grouped together. Special word lists (e.g., calendar words, contractions, measurements, homophones, latin roots)) are also provided. Kathryn Stout strongly advocates keeping separate those words with similar sounds which are formed by different letter combinations (e.g., though, bow, sole). Lessons can be developed from the word lists or with words of your own choosing. Instructions are provided for teaching spelling and for studying words. (This is not a student text but a parent/teacher resource book.) Spelling rules are provided with charts that include suffixes and prefixes along with phonic and writing rules.”
—Cathy Duffy, Christian Home Educators’ Curriculum Manual
Eclectic Homeschool Online: Comprehensive Composition reviewed by Anita Barth
“This has to be one of the most concise, yet comprehensive books for
teaching the writing process available to home educators.”
—Cathy Duffy, Christian Home Educators’ Curriculum Manual, review of Comprehensive Composition
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Homeschool Enrichment Magazine: Critical Conditioning reviewed by Paula Anderson
Eclectic Homeschool Online: Critical Conditioning reviewed by Anita Barth
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine reviewed by L. Hiatt
Homeschool Enrichment Magazine: Maximum Math reviewed by Lori Deese
Eclectic Homeschool Online: Maximum Math reviewed by Anita Barth
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Homeschool
Enrichment Magazine: Science Scope reviewed by Karen Matlock
Eclectic Homeschool Online: Science Scope reviewed by Anita Barth
“Even if we are willing to abandon the textbook approach, many of us feel insecure determining at what level our child should be working on a science topic… Kathryn Stout’s Science Scope helps us identify appropriate activities for different age groups within each science area. This is an extremely useful resource… Science Scope makes it easier to select appropriate resources for whatever topic is chosen for study.”
—Cathy Duffy, Christian Home Educators’ Curriculum Manual, review of Science Scope
Homeschool Enrichment Magazine: Guides to History Plus reviewed by Leslie J. Wyatt
Eclectic Homeschool Online: Guides to History Plus reviewed by Anita Barth
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Eclectic Homeschool Online: The Maya reviewed by Anita Barth
Eclectic Homeschool Online: Teaching Tips & Techniques reviewed by Anita Barth
Eclectic Homeschool Online: Homeschooling the Challenging Child reviewed by Anita Barth
“The Kathryn Stout [all-day seminar] is one of the very few workshops that I’ve ever attended that I could take home the ideas and immediately put them to use. Kathryn will teach you how to teach—anything. I highly recommend this workshop and the Kathryn Stout Design-A-Study curriculum, for both new and experienced homeschool parents!”
—Vicki Falco, Director, Champion Preparatory Academy
“Looking for a speaker who can both encourage and equip? Looking for guidance from someone with honest, practical experience? Kathryn Stout is a dynamic speaker with a solid educational background: before homeschooling her own children through high school she spent eight years working in the public education arena. Additionally, she has counseled hundreds of families during the last seven years as director of Academy Adonai in Delaware. This hard-earned knowledge quickly becomes evident while listening to her workshops. No pie-in-the-sky, wishful thinking stuff here: Kathryn offers practical, intelligent advice that really works. Listening to her gives one both the confidence to teach and the information needed to teach well. I highly recommend Kathryn!” —Maggie Hogan, speaker, homeschool support group leader, DHEA vice-president, and author of Gifted Children at Home and Hands On Geography
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“Everyone seems to have an answer to the question, How do I deal with my challenging child? I have listened to hundreds of lectures, sermons, and tapes on the subject. To my mind, few of them were worth the time it took to listen. This tape, Homeschooling the Challenging Child, is different.
“One reason it is different is that the lecturer, Kathryn Stout, has a lot of experience in this area. Not only did she have a challenging child of her own, she has also worked with challenging children in both public and home school settings. Her experience in this area comes through time and time again throughout the tape.
“While listening to this workshop, I was struck by three things. First, Mrs. Stout tries to keep the parent on track. She deals with physical problems that are often misunderstood to be behavioral problems. She also spends a great deal of time on proper parental expectations. In my experience, what many parents perceive to be a problem with their child is often a problem with their unrealistic expectations!
“The second thing that struck me was the practical nature of Kathryn’s words. She gives several concrete methods for dealing with different kinds of challenging children. I have never heard such a practical talk on this subject!
“Finally, Mrs. Stout stresses one of the most important things that can be stressed when dealing with a challenging child. She stresses that we should NOT try to CHANGE the child’s personality! In my opinion, this happens far too often. As parents, we tend to want to raise little versions of ourselves. This is not only destructive to the student, it challenges the very Providence of God. God has CREATED your child with his or her own unique personality. Do not CHANGE what He has done. Simply SHAPE it into a personality that will work within the bounds of society.
“This workshop gives you an enormous amount of practical advice on how to do just that!”
—Dr. Jay Wile of Apologia Educational Ministries is a noted speaker and the author of Reasonable Faith: The Scientific Case for Christianity, Exploring Creation with Physical Science, et. al.
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Reviews focusing on Design-A-Study
Family Times Newspaper Mar/Apr 2003
Design-A-Study Series reviewed by Jane R. Boswell
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
Design-A-Study Series reviewed by by Debra Cogburn
Lead Product Reviewer
TOS Magazine
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Customer Reviews
“My sons dreaded spelling and I could certainly understand why. Each week they had a voluminous list of unrelated words to learn. There were different activities each day, but all of them were pencil and paper work which is discouraging for 1st and 3rd graders who are still struggling with letter formation. By mid-year we had stopped using the spelling book and I started just working on words they had mispelled in other assignments. While this made spelling less of a chore, I was disappointed that they were not applying the correct spelling to other activities.
“This year I used the ideas in the Natural Speller. I made a spiral spelling notebook for each boy with certain words for the week. I began by writing what the list of words had in common, for example: “words that end in ‘y’ that make the ‘long e’ sound.” We also had some weeks with memory words and some where the boys were spelling detectives and figured out what the words had in common. Each day there was an activity based on the great tips in Natural Speller and some that I came up with after using the book as a springboard for ideas. One day of the week the spelling lesson was done without paper and pencil.
“My sons now adore spelling and ask to do it first each day! They are proud that they almost always get all the words correct on their spelling quizzes. They can’t wait for each Monday when they get the new word list and have to figure out what the words have in common. I am thrilled to see them looking for patterns in words away from spelling and applying what they have learned when writing personal letters, writing stories, writing lists, etc. Natural Speller is one of the most dog-eared books in my home school collection! Thank you Kathryn Stout!”
—L. Webb
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“My son did not do well with traditional spelling programs. I tried yours and he can spell now. Thank you. I have enjoyed using your materials…”
—L. Schiessl, NE
“We love the Natural Speller…Thank you for meeting the needs of homeschool families at an affordable cost with this great non-consumable book.”
—J. Lamb, CA
“I bought the Natural Speller a couple years ago, but I haven’t used it faithfully until this year. We homeschool our girls and have them tested every year. My daughter, Jamie, always tested high, except in spelling. This is the first year that she was at grade level. I have no doubt in my mind that it is due to me using nothing other than the Natural Speller. This is a note of Thanks!”
—D. Miller, CA
“Natural Speller is the first spelling program that has worked successfully for my daughter.”
—Quote taken from Rainbow Resources’ catalog
“We have started with the spelling (Natural Speller) and Critical Conditioning and (my son) is so excited and motivated he wants to continue working well into the evening.”
—A. Tappin, Zimbabwe
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“I should mention I have been using the Natural Speller for several years with very positive results. Thank you for putting together these helpful guides!”
—A. Abell, of Buffalo, NY
“…the math and speller have helped my son very much and he’s beginning to enjoy school.”
—K. Schlek
The ONLY spelling resource you will need – grades 1-8
“I have been homeschooling my oldest daughter for five years, and, due to her learning disabilities, we have spent alot, and have tried everything available. Natural Speller was a breakthrough for us. It is a parent/teacher resource book, with the parent/teacher pulling together weekly spelling assignments from the Word Lists in Natural Speller, based upon the child’s specific needs and areas of weakness – no need to teach what the child already knows!
I know of several other families in our homeschool circle who have very advanced children, and they are completely satisfied with Natural Speller. It presents the perfect approach, for any child, for any ability level. Natural Speller presents spelling in the context that our words have patterns and rules, and when a child knows these patterns and rules, he can figure out a new word that he has never seen, perhaps never even heard, before.
From the Introduction pages “…Gradually, spelling lessons should progress from patterns used in reading to paterns that will extend a child’s vocabulary. Just knowing that ‘un’ means ‘not’ adds a multitude of words to a child’s reading and spelling vocabulary. Use the list ‘Common Affixes and Their Meanings’ to help a child’s vocabulary grow.”
There are many helps and lists…How to Teach Spelling; How to Study a Word (Great ideas!); Basic Word Lists – Grades 1-8; Activities: General Practice, Dictionary Skills, Grammar Skills, Building Vocab., Writing; Special Words Lists: Abbreviations, Calendar Words, Homophones, Irregular Verbs, etc.; Foreign Words; Phonics, Spelling and Writing Rules; Teaching Helps: Practice With Rules, Spelling Charts, Common Affixes and Their Meanings, Letters, etc.
That may look a little complicated, but Natural Speller is really VERY easy to use – several very good books have gone by the wayside in our homeschool because they were too time consuming to implement. Natural Speller is well organized, concise, and simple to use.
We highly recommend this resource – as if you couldn’t guess!!”
—C. Allen of Canton, NC. Review originally posted on amazon.com
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“It is incredible how my son’s interest and motivation have increased since I started using Comprehensive Composition… It helped him overcome the ‘hate-to-write syndrome’ and allowed him to express his apparent gift for creative writing.”
—K Alexander, SC
“Critical Conditioning [is] not a ‘teach to read’ or ‘what to read’ program, this is a ‘think while you read’ guide. …If you are trying to ‘train up a child in the way he should go,’ this book covers skills that will be essential in life.”
—Rainbow Re-Source catalog
“We have started with the spelling (Natural Speller) and Critical Conditioning and (my son) is so excited and motivated he wants to continue working well into the evening.”
—Annette Tappin, Zimbabwe
“I am a 13 year old boy who used your Movies as Literature curriculum last semester. I really enjoyed it and look at movies in a whole new light. It inspired me to write my own discussion questions for The Lord of the Rings and The Count of Monte Cristo.”
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“A group of us homeschoolers did Movies as Literature this year as a group study. We loved it! Do you have any more for us in that line? … We’d like to continue next year”
—D. Bacon
I have your book Movies as Literature which I use with my 8th grade daughter. We adore the lessons and have recommended it to several friends. I use all of your books and could have written pages on how they have improved the quality of our homeschooling experience. I was happy to have the opportunity to tell you of how just one of your books has helped us set up a truly individualized course where my sons actually apply what they have learned and have fun doing it. Since learning is a life long process, I want them to experience the joy that comes with discovery and your ideas certainly help us achieve that goal. Keep up the fantastic work!
—L. Webb
Thought-provoking Movie Watching
“I used this book with a class of 13 year old boys. Finding their powers of perception sharpened after only two sessions, their excitement in viewing old movies was incredibly palpable. Interestingly, black and white movies took on a new dimension with Sam Spade and “The Maltese Falcon“. Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, who liven up “The Philadelpha Story“, made romantic comedies a new interest for the young men. While watching “The Music Man” they boys were introduced to “Trouble with a capital T” and the memorable “76 Trombones” which they still reference to this day. As a teacher, I learned a great deal of insight about these movies and my class has been trained to watch these old classics in a new thought-provoking way.”
—R. Moore, Hawaii. Originally posted on amazon.com
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“I should also tell you how much I haven enjoyed the materials you create. I think I have now purchased everything in your catalog! Each resource has been tremendously helpful to me in educating my children. For example, the Maximum math resource has allowed me to avoid gaps in teaching while incorporating lots of hands on, experiential learning. My children are really learning the “why” behind math…something I missed even though I majored in Biology and minored in Math in college. When I tell others about your products, I think of the words “flexible structure with emphasis on true understanding.” I truly think your materials are the single most valuable materials I have purchased since beginning homeschooling.”
—S. Stapleton
“…this may be the ultimate reference guide for teaching math!”
—Rainbow Re-Source catalog
“[Science Scope is] An incredible resource even if you don’t teach the unit study method!”
—HIS Publishing catalog
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“An invaluable reference for teaching science without a text! … Also helpful is the introductory section on teaching science and science skills that can help you to understand the process skills used in science and how to develop them in your children.”
—Rainbow Re-Source catalog.
“I was totally impressed with your Science [Scope. It] filled in the gaps and I am pleased.”
—Customer E-mail
“When my oldest daughter started showing signs of burn-out with our purchased curriculum (“Do we HAVE to do school? I HATE history!”), I knew we needed to take a different approach. Design-A-Study Guides to History Plus was my first purchase, and it revolutionized my entire approach to home-schooling. We now use a unit study approach, and Kathryn’s guides make it so easy! I never feel that we’re leaving
“holes” in our curriculum, because the comprehensive guides tell me exactly what concepts should be taught for each unit topic and also offer excellent suggestions for how to teach those concepts. My children have flourished with this approach. My oldest daughter now says “I LOVE history!” We also use Science Scope, Comprehensive Composition, and the Natural Speller. Thank you, Kathryn, for a fine series of books.”
—J. Kennedy of Bakersfield, CA
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“One of the reasons that I enjoy your books so much is that I lean towards piecing together our curriculum rather than buying it put together for me… I’ll be leaning heavily on Guides to History Plus this year!”
—A. Edmonds
“It is such a thrill to be able to combine writing with history—or whatever subject we please. I would never have the guts to do this if it were not for your books. Thank you so much for them.”
—A. Wyckoff, PA
“… the unit studies approach really appealed to us. It is hard, however, to know exactly how to pull it all together… . Thanks for creating such a simple, concise, easy to understand book [Guides to History Plus]. School will be much more fun for all of us now!”
—C. & T. Wegner, MI
“I just reread your Teaching Tips & Techniques and wanted to thank you for putting your real life teaching experience into a practical guide…
You also helped me get over the schooled (public) need to complete the workbook curriculum phobia. …Your advice is practical, short, to the point, and written from experience.”
—M. Capro
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“I wanted to thank you for all your wonderful materials. I just finished listening to all the tapes that I purchased from you at the H.S. convention in Winston-Salem. They were exactly what I needed to hear.”
—T. Inzerillo
“I can’t tell you how much I love your books and especially your cassettes. I learn something new each time I listen to them.”
—A. Wyckoff, PA
“Excellent and helpful. Would like to see more sessions like this; giving principles for teaching. I will use these principles K-12! Essential principles make us successful that we may not think about on our own. This can be applied to any curriculum. Thank you.”
“Wonderful workshop. Very practical. We need more workshops like this one…”
“You teach the nuts and bolts, thanks.”
“Best seminar/class I have been to ever. She’s brilliant, creative and practical in her applications. Well-informed.”
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