There are many reasons why parents choose to homeschool their children. According to the
Coalition for Responsible Home Education, the number one reason 80% of parents choose to homeschool is due to a concern about the environment of other schools. However, other
reasonings are due to dissatisfaction with academic instruction, the desire to include religious beliefs, and a desire to provide a nontraditional approach to learning. (1)
There are different ways to homeschool and what is “best” for one family may not be ideal for another. So how do you know which method to go with? Begin listing the key goals you hope to accomplish by homeschooling. Are you looking for more flexibility and a less stressful learning environment? Do you want to instill a value system in your child’s education? Many questions like these can be answered simply by figuring out what is most important to you as a parent and educator and what will best help your child learn and grow.
So, what methods of homeschooling are available and what are the pros and cons to each?
Let’s take a look at the 5 most common.
Traditional Homeschooling
Traditional Homeschooling is a method many parents use when they are withdrawing their child from a traditional school setting. This method attempts to keep things moving in a structured and orderly timeframe similar to that of public and private school environments.
Some of the pros with traditional homeschooling are there are several curriculum sets that are set up to help get you started right away and have teacher’s manuals available to assist parents with teaching the curriculum. Traditional homeschooling offers a predictability that may help students and parents stay on track because the parent can easily assess their child’s progress.
One of the possible cons of traditional homeschooling is that it can take the fun out of learning because it is so structured.
It can also be difficult to find the right fit for both student and parent. Another con with
traditional schooling is that all-in-one curriculums can be expensive if purchasing brand new. If you’re looking to save some money, (and who isn’t?) try looking for used curriculums in your local homeschool community or online used bookstores. (2)
Montessori Method
Named after the late 19 th century Italian educator, Dr. Maria Montessori, this approach places an emphasis unique individuality of each child who’s creativity and curiosity is encouraged.
Students are invited to learn through play by having activities and learning tools readily and easily accessible to them. Many families with young children opt for this learning style as it lends itself to learning early on positive social and learning behaviors, hands-on learning, and self-regulation.
One of the possible cons is that this method is specifically designed for younger children and likely wouldn't hold the attention of an older child. The Montessori method is also a loosely structured program, and it can be difficult to find a good rhythm for repetition. (3)
Charlotte Mason Method
This method was created by British educator, Charlotte Mason at the turn of the 20th century. During a time when quality education was offered to only those in upper classes, Mason believed that all children, regardless of social class deserved equal education. Built on a Christian worldview, knowledge of scripture is at the forefront followed by classic literature and nature studies.
One of the possible pros for this method is it places a heavy emphasis on the Christian
religion. Of course, if your family follows a different religion or would rather a secular
curriculum, this likely would not be a good fit.
This method relies on a vast reading library which can become expensive and may become boring to a child who wishes to have more hands-on learning. (4)
Unschooling
While several of the homeschool learning methods are structured and have set curricula,
unschooling is the polar opposite. Its name may suggest that there is no learning happening at all but that isn’t the case.
Unschooling places a huge emphasis on “natural learning” or child-led learning, meaning the studies follow whatever the child’s interests are. Learning takes place by way of experiences such as field trips, activities that are hands-on, and allow the child to explore their curiosities.
While unschooling is flexible and customizable to each child, it lacks structure and accountability which can lead to stagnation. (5)
Unit Studies
This method is based on single theme learning and studies are built around that theme to create a unit. All subjects are intertwined into the central theme to create a holistic approach by learning each theme in depth which can help with retention.
Unit Studies are customizable and can be taught to children of various ages and grade levels at the same time, which is a plus if you have a large family. This can help to alleviate a lot of stress because the parent’s prep time is drastically reduced. There's no set curriculum to follow, so lesson plans and materials will need to be planned ahead of time for each concept.
Depending on your theme, it can be difficult to find just the right resources to meet your child’s educational needs. However, the lack of set curricula allows you to spend as much or as little time on a subject as you desire. (6)
In our home, we combine different methods. For our 9th grader who prefers online learning, we add in art classes like graphic design, hands-on science experiments, and additional reading from the Charlotte Mason library. For our 5th grader who prefers workbooks for the core subjects, we add in unit studies, additional reading, and unschooling methods by way of crochet and piano classes. You can read more about our homeschooling experiences here:
If you have been thinking about homeschooling and the doubts have held you back, please know that YOU CAN DO THIS! No one knows your child, loves your child, and understands your child better than you. If you start a curriculum and you both hate it, change it. Even if you have only completed a few pages of the book - switch things up! The beauty of homeschooling is the flexibility of what, when, where, and how you teach.
Sources
Did you know that we have a newsletter? It features some of our favorite recipes and free printables that are only available to our subscribers! And don’t worry, we hate spam mail and value your time. You’ll receive an initial thank you email, and our newsletter is delivered monthly. You can help our small family business by sharing us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Click here to sign up for our newsletter today!
תגובות