Homeschool Philosophies - What are the different types of homeschooling methods?

If you homeschool, you might be asked what homeschool philosophy you follow. And if you are looking into homeschooling, you might be trying to find a philosophy that fits your lifestyle. The following is a partial list of some of the more prominent homeschool philosophies or curricula.

1. Charlotte Mason

Charlotte Mason is sometimes credited with being the founder of the homeschooling "movement." She emphasizes good habits and character development in her approach. A homeschool teacher who follows the Charlotte Mason (CM) model would seize learning opportunities as they come and work with the individual child's learning style and interests. All of the core subjects are covered in CM, and an emphasis is placed on classic literature and poetry.

2. Classical

This approach is based on a "trivium" - grammar (birth to age 12), logic (ages 13-18), and rhetoric (high school) - that are said to be compatible with the natural way the child's brain learns and develops. Classical education involves learning Latin, math, world history, the arts, and science.

3. Structured or traditional

This type of homeschooling is the closest in style and approach to "regular" schools. The subject matter and lessons are divided into grades, and planning is essential to avoid gaps. Every subject is covered each day, and students are tested as in an educational institution. Textbooks and teacher's manuals on each subject are standard with this philosophy.

4. Unit study

Learning via unit studies is a way for home educators and their students to delve into a subject in-depth and hands-on. A unit study-based curriculum takes one broad subject and integrates the core subjects into the main one. You can create your own unit study curriculum; choose a broad subject - art or science, for instance - and design all other lessons with an art or science theme.

5. Biblical principle

This type of homeschooling philosophy bases the core subjects in the Bible. A Christian worldview and Biblical reasoning are taught. The development of Christian character and Biblical principles are emphasized.

6. Design Your Own

Some homeschoolers do not subscribe to one particular philosophy. Instead, they choose to design their own curriculum and philosophy, which may or may not be based on one of the main approaches. You may want to combine approaches.

As you can see, homeschooling is not a one size fits all way of thinking. That is one of the benefits of homeschooling. You can choose which method of learning works best for your family or child.

 

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