The Homeschool Resource

• There are many different types of homeschooling methods including traditional, classical, unit studies, Charlotte Mason, Montessori, unschooling, and eclectic.

• Things such as your child’s learning style, your state’s homeschool requirements, and your own preferences are the top things to consider when choosing a homeschooling method.

• Please consider subscribing and liking this post so that you are notified every time I post new content. I also have a TeachersPayTeachers store that you can connect to here and I regularly post on pinterest.

Would you prefer to watch in video form:

Learn About the Homeschooling Methods

If you are just starting out on your homeschooling journey, picking out a method, at least one to start out with, will probably be at the top of your to-do-list. Even if you are already well into homeschooling your kids, you will most likely look into other methods that may work better for your family at some point. There are many, many different homeschooling methods. Below, I have summarized the seven most popular styles to help give you an idea of what may work best for your family.

Traditional

This method is usually what is thought of when one thinks of homeschooling. It is basically doing school at home. Students use traditional textbooks and worksheets as part of their daily work. Generally assignments are given to be completed by a due date and assessments are taken to assess progress and mastery. With this method the parent acts as the teacher, teaching in a manner similar to that of a classroom. Many families set up a classroom-like environment in their home and work through lesson plans with set schedules.

            Traditional homeschooling usually includes record keeping such as a grade book or lesson planner. It may also include attendance keeping and the making of a schedule. This is great for families who like to follow a set schedule and have good organizational skills. Many families follow a curriculum, whether a bought one or one based on state standards or common core. Following a curriculum may soothe the mind of parents who are not sure what to teach or how to teach it. It also makes transitioning back into a brick-and-mortar school easier if homeschooling was short term.

Highlights:

• It has more structure, so it is great for families wanting to create a school-like atmosphere at home.
• It is especially good for those only homeschooling temporarily and who intend to return to a brick-and-mortar school.
• Students who like a routine or who like knowing what to expect day-to-day would work well with this method.
• It also provides confidence and comfort to parents who question if they are doing things ‘right’ or teaching their children ‘enough’.

Challenges:

• It can be expensive if you intend to buy curriculum sets or invest in curriculum subject books, especially for more than one child.
• It is not as flexible as most other methods.
• Record keeping is essential and can be time consuming.

Classical Method

The Classical Model is a centuries old approach to teaching and learning based on the Trivium, a three-stage process of learning which includes grammar, logic (or dialectic), and rhetoric, and the Quadrivium, considered the ‘mathematical arts’ which include arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. Used by such great minds as Aristotle and Plato, the teaching is broken down into stages.

Younger elementary aged students use copywriting, repetition, and other methods to learn the basics of language, math, science, social studies, and the fine arts, the grammar part of the trivium. As the students age and their curiosity grows, they begin learning the ‘how-s’ and ‘why-s’ to help establish critical thinking and reasoning skills which is the logic part. Those that are upper middle school to high-school aged then take it a step further as they learn to persuade and help educate others (rhetoric). Once this is mastered, the upper aged group then transitions into the quadrivium phase, delving into arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. This style most often uses textbooks, reading materials, online resources, and other tools similar to traditional homeschooling.

Highlights:

• It encourages critical thinking skills.
• It is structured and scheduled much like a brick-and-mortar school. This makes it easier to reintegrate into a public or private school later.

Challenges:

• It can be expensive to buy the curriculum sets or join an online classical education platform, especially for more than one child.
• It is not as flexible as most other methods. It relies heavily on structure and many families use schedules and set lesson plans.
• It generally includes the study of the Latin and/or Greek languages which may be difficult for some parents.

Unit Studies

Unit Studies is a topic, or unit, based learning method. Taking one unit at a time, it integrates multiple subjects into the unit and shows how all subjects are interconnected. It gives the students the opportunity to delve deeper into each topic, especially those that interest them. It also encourages students to learn at their own pace, with units lasting anywhere between a few days and several weeks.

 Some families use a more child-led approach, letting the students pick the topics that interest them. Others use the units to systematically cover the students’ grade-level standards. Either way, the goal is to make meaningful connections between the subjects. An early elementary example of a unit on ocean animals may include a child reading aloud, or with help, an age appropriate book about ocean animals, a poster board art project of the ocean and its animals, learning about the ocean food chain, taking a field trip to the ocean or an aquarium, researching and writing a short paragraph about a favorite ocean animal, age appropriate math questions incorporating ocean animals, learning about different conservation efforts involving the oceans and marine life, and learning the geographical location of all of the oceans.

Highlights:

• It generally involves less cost. While there are bought curriculums available, most unit studies homeschoolers use their own curriculums. They then come up with their own lesson plans or do a combination of bought and their own.
• It is easier to teach more than one grade level simultaneously as each child can be given assignments appropriate for their age and ability while still learning the same unit.
• There is a lot of flexibility and customization that can be added to this method.

Challenges:

• It is a lot more time intensive on the parent or ‘teacher’. Preparation for activities, resources, and any outside trips must be made ahead of time.
• A lot of creativity is needed to make the units rememberable and to keep the students engaged.

Charlotte Mason

Named after the 19^th century British educator who first started the method, Charlotte Mason, it encourages learning through creative play, observing nature, real-life situations, and the reading of ‘living books’ (books that are written by authors passionate about the subject and who make the subjects come alive). Students are often encouraged to walk and play in nature where the focus is curiosity and observation, visit museums where history and art come alive, and read stories that make subjects more engaging. Students show progress and mastery of a subject by narration and discussion instead of tests and assessments.

Highlights:

• A more nature inspired way of learning may excite both children and parents more than textbooks and tests.
• Time spent outside and the fine arts are encouraged.
• For families looking to get through the school day quicker, Charlotte Mason’s books recommend spending shorter amounts of time per subject.

Challenges:

• Most of the Charlotte Mason curriculum sets are not full curriculums, so others may need to be bought.
• There are generally no set schedules or requirements so transitioning back into a brick-and-mortar school may be difficult.
• It is a religion-based, so it may not be suited for everyone.

Montessori Style

This style is named after Maria Montessori, an early 20^th century doctor and educator who focused her studies primarily on early childhood education. She came to develop the philosophy that children should learn through exploration, creativity, and curiosity and should learn to self-regulate their own learning. This style is similar to the Unschooling method, giving children the freedom to choose their own learning activities and having the parents act more as guides than teachers. However, this style uses a more structured environment by using pre-selected (by the educator) hands-on activities and a basic routine to help encourage self-discipline. This learning method is aimed at younger children but can be modified to suit middle and high school students.

While this method was originally developed for classroom use, it is relatively easy to transfer the style into the home. It encourages the use of more simple toys like wooden puzzles and other skill-building toys over those that are electronic. Generally, the toys would be set up in stations, such as a kitchen station with a play kitchen, a puzzle station, a doll area, a hands-on water or sand activity. The stations would then be switched out every few days or on a weekly basis. Also, the Montessori method encourages independence. Having things such as the child’s self-care items in the bathroom and bedroom at a height which is easily accessible for them is a helpful addition.

 Highlights:

• Focuses more on hands-on activities where children learn by exploration and curiosity.
• Families can enjoy flexibility while adhering to a basic schedule or routine.
• Multiple aged children can all participate and learn together as a group.

Challenges:

• Mostly developed for young children and may be difficult to continue into middle and high school aged students.
• It has no defined curriculum so it may be harder or more unnerving for some parents.
• May be more time consuming for parents as it requires some pre-planning, set-up time, and engagement from adults.
• It may also become costly if planning on buying multiple manipulatives or indulging in specific student interests.

Unschooling or Child-led Learning

Unschooling, contrary to how its name may sound, is not the lack of learning. Instead, it is a method that lets the child choose what they learn based on their own curiosity and interests. The parent then acts as a helper and encourager instead of a teacher. John Holt, a leader of the unschooling method, felt that children innately want to learn and should be given the freedom to learn how and what they want to, not forced by adults to learn certain things at certain times. Unschooling leans away from curriculums, schedules, lesson plans, and testing and takes a more child-led learning approach.

Families who use the Unschooling method have regular conversations with their children about what interests them. This helps parents support their child’s learning in those interests. They will also observe the children as they play and go about their daily activities to see what else may interest them and help encourage those activities as well. Unschooling is mainly about letting the child learn about the things they are passionate about at their own pace and in their own way.

Highlights:

• Families can enjoy a lot of flexibility in their daily since there are no set schedules or deadlines to reach.
• Children are encouraged to follow their interests. This means they are more likely to absorb and retain information while being able to learn at their own pace.

Challenges:

• If returning to a brick-and-mortar school, students may not do as well on entrance exams or grade-level assessments.
• It can also lack in the education of some subjects if those are not a passion of the student.
• Some interests may be more costly than others and following multiple interests could become expensive.

Eclectic

This style, while not actually a style at all, is the most commonly used homeschooling strategy. Basically, this style is a family’s own personalized mix-and-match of the other methods based on what qualities or curriculums that best fit with their family. Most families choose a combination of styles based on their childs learning style, wanted flexibility level, the parent’s preferences, and their local state laws regarding homeschooling. It allows flexibility for field trips, outside play, and individual interests while also letting families choose the workbooks, literature, and other classes they may need. For example, a family may use a traditional textbook based curriculum for social studies/history, a Montessori hands-on manipulative approach for math, unit studies for science and literature, and then a more open child-led approach for the fine arts and physical education.

Highlights:

• It allows for both structure and flexibility.
• It is easily customizable to suit your child’s learning style and abilities.
• Depending on how it is customized it may be less costly than other methods.

Challenges:

• It may become overwhelming if different styles are used with multiple students.
• It may be more time consuming for the parent than methods that are more structured. The parent must research into curriculums, study their child(ren)s learning style, prepare lessons, and facilitate outside field trips and interest activities.

How to Choose a Method

While some homeschooling families fall strictly within one of these groups, many actually use a combination of different ones to fit their needs and style of learning. I have found that the easiest way to make a decision is to first make a list of what is most important for your family’s education. This list might include flexibility of schedule, the ability of the student to learn at their own pace, or a pre-made curriculum that will dramatically cut down on the time the parent needs to spend lesson planning.

Then you will need to check your state’s homeschool requirements. Some states require certain paperwork, tests, or portfolios to prove that your child is progressing according to their state’s standards. If you are unsure, you can find your state’s standards and homeschooling information HERE. That may mean that unschooling or the Montessori method may not work well for you. Finally, you need to take into account your child(ren)’s learning style. If you know that your child does best when on a routine or when following a schedule, then you may want to choose a method that is more schedule based such as traditional or the classical model.

Keep in mind that once you choose a method, that decision is not set in stone. If you find that you do not like some of the features of that method, change them. If you decide that the method is not working well with your family, try another one. Trial and error is just part of the process. Also take into account that some methods are more suited for younger students. You may have to change styles as your child ages.

What is a preferred homeschooling method for your family? Help out the homeschooling community by telling us more in the comments below.