Homeschool Methods
When you’re new to homeschooling, it can seem overwhelming to hear about all the different ways that homeschoolers teach their children. But that is the beauty of homeschooling! You can discover your child’s learning style and then match the type of homeschooling you do to their way of learning. This flexibility is one of the best perks of homeschooling. You can tailor your curriculum and learning/teaching style to a particular philosophy, to your child’s specific needs, or you can mix it up to find the best fit for you and your family. Take a look at some of these types of homeschool methods:Â
Which Homeschool Style is Best
The answer to that question is … they all are! Well, it depends. Every family is different, every mom, every child–all unique! You may want
Classical education is teaching based on a third-part process. The three stages of learning include the Grammar stage, the Logic or Dialectic stage, and the Rhetoric stage. These three parts together are known as the Trivium. This training of the mind was developed during the Middle Ages and has seen a revival of sorts recently. It has stood the test of time through centuries. Many homeschoolers have embraced this style of teaching, with its emphasis on approaching learning towards good, truth, and beauty, and the goal of critical thinking and wonder of God’s creation.Â
Charlotte Mason lived in the late 19th century England and embarked on a reformation of education at the time. She believed that the education of children should be directed toward the whole person and our interaction with God’s world. Her focus on ideas and knowledge was supported with her emphasis on the use of truly good literature, art, music, and nature as the basis for the acquisition of knowledge and wisdom.Â
Maria Montessori was an Italian education innovator, writing and teaching in the early 20th century. She started a school call Casa dei Bambini (Children’s House in Italian). In this school, she created an environment that fostered creative learning, with lots of hands-on learning experiences and engagement through creative play.Â
What do you call yourself when you don’t use a particular boxed curriculum or educational style? You’re an eclectic homeschooler! These homeschoolers seek to find the best of the best educational materials and learning experiences.Â
Unschooling is child-directed learning. It is not necessarily a homeschool method. Rather, it is a natural style of learning based on the idea of hands-on learning, experience with real world learning opportunities, and pursuit of individual passions and interests.Â
There are so many options now for homeschooling, including online schooling. Rather than buying curriculum to manage yourself, online homeschooling lets your child connect with a teacher in a virtual classroom setting. This option is great for families with children with diverse needs, less time available for hands-on teaching, and for students who thrive in this type of educational environment.Â
