METHODS
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There are many ways to homeschool. No one way is the 'right' way. If you ask 100 people how they homeschool, you will get 100 different answers even if you take two families who use the same curriculum. You will find big variations between the two in how they approach the subjects or carry out daily schedules. Most people who start homeschooling think that everyone homeschooling just 'do school' at home like the public schools do. Some people 'do school' at home but this is very far from the truth for most families, particularly after the first year of homeschooling. I will cover most methods and give you links to supporting websites on each method as well as links to email lists specializing in each method. Relax and remember if you are going to enjoy the next 12 years learning with your child, you need to do what feels right and works for your family. Is everyone happy most of the time? Are the kids crying? if so, something is wrong. You need to do something different. Luckily there are so many different ways to homeschool that you can find a great fit for your family, even if you have to mix and match methods or invent your own style and method. A big thing to remember is that your child wont stop learning at 18...you didn't. Don't worry if you never get to a subject. They can learn it later. Sit back and enjoy the ride! It goes by fast so be careful and don't miss the fun stuff along the way. Each of your children may learn using a different learning style. What works great for the first one may be horrible for the next two, and then the next child is completely different from the first three. Methods and styles will have to be flexible for each individual person in your life.
Charlotte Mason Method Charlotte Mason Method is a 19th century British method using living books instead of text books, short lessons, minimal testing, narration and lots of nature study and journaling. The CM method is as much a lifestyle as an educational type. An Introduction to Charlotte Mason Ambleside Online (Free curriculum) The Original Homeschool Series (CM Books online)
Classical The core of Classical Education is the trivium, which simply put is a teaching model that seeks to tailor the curriculum subject matter to a child’s cognitive development. The trivium emphasizes concrete thinking and memorization of the facts of the subjects in grade school; analytical thinking and understanding of the subjects in middle school; and abstract thinking and articulation of the subjects in high school. Subjects unique to Classical Education which help accomplish the goals of the trivium are Grammar, the science of language usage; Logic, the science of right thinking; and Rhetoric, the science of verbal and written expression. Classical Christian Education is further characterized by a rich exposure to the history, art, and culture of Western Civilization, including its languages (Latin and Greek), its philosophy and literature (the Great Books of Western Civilization and the Christian tradition), and the development of a Biblical worldview. Studies show that students of a classical curriculum do better on the SAT, in college, and in life. If you look at the greatest minds of the past 1,000 years, you will quickly discover that they all are products of a classical curriculum. Graduates of a classical curriculum excel in the disciplines of the humanities, arts, sciences, law and medicine.
Delayed Academics Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore believe that you should delay formal education for young children. With many studies to back their findings, they have found that delaying formal studies until the child is 8-12 years old is so much better for the child, particularly for boys. They also state that pushing at earlier ages can actually be damaging to children and the cause of many reading problems. The belief system here is "better late than early" and that when a child is old enough to study formally, they will learn quicker and with more interest than their early taught counterparts. With a goal of teaching children until they are 18, it doesn't really matter if they wait until later to start learning, if they all come to the same end as their peers at the same age anyway. Why rush childhood?
Deschooling The process where many of the bad socialization experiences are "cleansed" from a child who is making the transition from public/private schools into a homeschooling program. Generally, deschooling is supported by people who support unschooling. "Deschooling is like a vacation where you let the kid find himself again by not putting any demands for learning on him. After a time, when he realizes that he's no longer controlled by the bell at school or the teacher who defines for him what he will study and when, he begins to take charge of his own learning.
Distance Distance learning is when you sign up for studies with a company like Abeka, Bob Jones, or etc... or with a school like Laural Springs, ---- or with many colleges. With the internet Distance learning has exploded. Many Major book sellers offer online classes and studies (for free, other than the cost of the books) Generally Distance learning may include the 'company' sending out DVDs or VHS tapes with a taped classroom or teacher to teach the day to day lessons, along with books and tests. Some only send the books. Periodically you return these for grading. They keep up with your grades, transcripts, report cards and etc... A lot of people use this method because the curriculum can be, but is not always, accredited. You would have to ask each individual Company or school as to whether they are or are not using an accredited program.
Eclectic
Eclectic is a mix and match, hodge podge of a method of any and
every other method or non method using curriculum loosely and
how ever it seems useful. Simply put an eclectic homeschooler is
one who looks at the different approaches and methods of
homeschooling and takes from each forming his/her own unique
philosophy. A pick and choose method.
Montessori
The "Montessori method" developed from the work of Dr. Maria
Montessori in the early 1900's, from her efforts to
scientifically study the child's true nature. She observed
children free to engage in activities of their own choice in a
well-ordered physical environment. In 1907, she discovered that
young children under these circumstances return to a normal
state of being in harmony with their entire environment. She
observed that these "normalized" children show such qualities as
spontaneous self-discipline, love of order and concentrated
attention and interest to intellectual activity. Montessori
method has three principals:
Observation, Individual Liberty and, Preparation of the
Environment.
One Hour a Day Homeschooling
ONLINE Education There is so much available on the internet that many families never buy books or curriculum at all. You can find scope and sequences online to follow and then you just search with your favorite search engine for what you need to cover by subject or grade level. Many of the classic literature books and studies are available to read or download as well as just about any topic you can think of. There are tons of teacher sites with lesson plans, ideas, and worksheets. Search for teacher lesson plans, or by topic like "Biology text online" or "interactive grammar ", educational games, downloads, and printables. Just about anything you can think of can be found somewhere online. Preschool color pages- Adult education and everything in-between. See my "Free Online" page for some starter ideas.
School at Home Method Most families start out by doing school at home and copying the only thing they know to copy, the public schools. Even I started out trying to do school at home and for the most part I still don't understand why anyone would want to copy something you are 1.) trying to get away from and 2.) Is broken. More children are damaged each year in Public schools than can be counted. Most people just find it normal. They were picked on and so it passes on. School at home is one of the most expensive methods to use. You would buy books, tests and teacher guides for all subjects including but not limited to: Math, History, Science, Literature, Grammar, Phonics, Spelling, Handwriting, Essay and Report writing, Vocabulary, Foreign Languages, Bible or Religious studies, Geography, Science labs, Physical education, Music, Composers, Art, Character training, Social Studies, Home Economics, and more. You would try to do it all each day, break for lunch and PE and go back to studies. This would be multiplied by how many children you have to teach at school age. If you are only planning to homeschool one child for a year or two and then plan to put your child back into the public school system then 'school at home' may be what you need in order for the public school to accept your child back. Keep good records, a transcript, book lists and samples of work and tests. If you are homeschooling for the long haul then you and more importantly your child will most likely burn out fast using this method. If your child is crying and hates learning because of the work load you are asking them to do, Please try something else. There are just too many other ways available to learn something. To make anyone miserable in the process of education will only result in one thing, they will learn is to hate learning.
Unit Studies Unit Studies are when you take a topic such as "Cars" and you teach for a week or month on that one topic. You would cover all subjects on that one topic. You might cover the history of the automobile industry, biographies of car designers, chart gas and oil prices, Research scientific formulas of different fuels, draw a concept car, test how many miles per gallon your car gets, visit a car dealership, manufacturing plant or even a car wash. Learn about upholstering a car, or how power windows work. Watch drag racing, Indy racing, mud racing or NASCAR. See what happens to old tires, new stereo systems or learn about the electrical needs of a car. When you finish up with this topic then you move on to another one which might be "Rocks" or "Skateboarding". Many suppliers offer weekly or Monthly units or topics or you can invent your own with the library or internet.
Unschooling Unschooling is living the belief that all people, no matter the age, will learn what THEY need for their life. That they each have a built in desire to learn and that if left alone they will pursue their own interests throughout life and will gain the knowledge that they need in order to live the life that they want to live. This might include a lot of computer games, skateboarding, or art. There is no structure or timetables. You will take a lot of fieldtrips, find mentoring and volunteering opportunities. It also means not doing anything if that's what you need at that time. It also doesn't mean you don't ever use books or curriculum, it does means that you may not use them like other people think you should and only if your child requests them. Unschooling allows a person to study what he or she likes, for as long as they want to, without feeling guilty for never covering certain subjects. Unschooling is the ultimate Educational Freedom, the freedom to learn what you want and when you want to learn it.
Waldorf Method Waldorf or Rudolf Steiner education is a unique form of education from preschool through high school, which is based on the view that the human being is a being of body, soul and spirit. The specific methods used in Waldorf schools come from the view that the child develops through a number of basic stages from childhood to adulthood. The Waldorf curriculum is specifically designed to work with the child through these stages of development.
What is Waldorf?
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