Homeschooling Methods

Ever heard of Unit Studies? Charlotte Mason? Unschooling? These are homeschooling methods or philosophies. They describe how to homeschool and influence what you will use to teach your child.

Before settling on a philosophy, examine your child's learning style and your primary goals for your child.

When you read about a philosophy and think, "That's a great way to learn!" - you have likely touched upon the method that is right for you. Just make sure it is also right for your child!

• Complete home school curriculum or accredited home school curriculum programs give many parents the structure they desire. These programs typically use workbooks, textbooks and traditional teaching techniques.

• Homeschooling unit studies, notebooking and lapbooking combine multiple disciplines into the study of a single subject. They and often include projects and hands on activities. Here are some tips for designing your own homeschool unit study, along with a free homeschool unit study planner.

• Christian homeschool methods go beyond academics to teach Christian values and impart a Biblical worldview.

• Charlotte Mason homeschooling is a literature-rich method with a heavy focus on living books and nature study.

• Classical homeschooling teaches children in three stages referred to as grammar, logic and rhetoric. This style of homeschooling often includes studying Greek and Latin, and reading the great books of western civilization.

• Unschooling and relaxed homeschooling abandon traditional teaching techniques and focus on learning through every day experiences.

• Montessori homeschooling is centered around preparing an environment where children can learn through hands on exploration.

• Computer based homeschooling allows students to work independently through the use of computer software or online homeschool curriculum.

• Virtual schools are publicly funded, school at home programs that typically rely on traditional teaching methods.

• University Model Schools are private programs that faciliate part-time homeschooling by permiting students to take courses away from home several days per week.

• Eclectic homeschooling is for parents like me who are indesicive. It offers the best of all homeschool methods.

Don't feel locked into using a specific style of homeschooling. The philosophies described in the above links are just guidelines that will point you toward resources and programs that might help your family.

There is no right or wrong way to home school. Homeschoolers will often debate about which homeschooling method is best without stopping to realize they are all correct. The style they chose is the one that's best for their family!

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