When you are first looking at getting into homeschooling, the sheer number of choices can be overwhelming. You`ll hear talk of classical education, unschooling, Montessouri . . . but what does it all mean? Which is the BEST method and how do you get started?
First of all, let`s get one thing out of the way. There is no best method. Some kids do very well with unschooling. Some need the structure of a more formal educational method. Every family is different, just like every kid is different. Your best bet is to educate yourself and then choose the method that is best for your family.
I should also mention that it`s fine to switch if one homeschool method isn`t working out for you. My mother tried letting us “unschool” to a certain extent for one year. It turned out that we needed the structure of workbooks and schedules, so the following year we were back to regular curriculum, none the worse for wear.
So, without further ado, let`s take a look at some of the most common homeschool methods out there.
Classical
This method of homeschooling is possibly one of the most rigid, focusing on classical techniques. It involves three main stages, Grammar, where children are taught the basics of reading and writing and other necessary skills, Dialectic, which works on logic skills and finally, Rhetoric, allowing the students to present their knowledge and skills in an orderly, logical fashion.
Traditional
A huge number of homeschooling families opt for traditional schooling where they use one of many curriculums on the market. It is also referred to as “school at home”, following the conventional ideas of using a schedule, lesson plans and assignments to help children learn.
In this style, children take tests to see that they have understood what they`ve been taught and basically follow a traditional school ideal.
Unit Study
This method revolves around “units” or themes where the students learn about a specific topic, incorporating all subjects. For example, if the topic is Africa, children may write reports on the continent for English, cook traditional meals for Home Ec., perform a tribal dance for Drama, and work on statistics for Math. Unit studies are often used for the entire family, with children doing work on their grade level within the theme.
Eclectic
For those who can`t decide on one particular homeschool type, eclectic could be a good option. It blends several methods together to form a custom homeschool style. For example, math and language might be taught in a traditional way, with curriculum, but social studies and science done in unit studies.
Unschooling
There are varying levels of unschooling, but basically, you are looking at no formal curriculum and a child-led education. What your child is interested in is what they learn about. Your job as the parent is to facilitate learning. So, if your son has an interest in cars, for example, you might set up a chance to visit a mechanic and learn more about the inner workings, look up diagrams of engines online, etc. Likewise, when the child loses interest, the education in that area stops.
Not everyone is cut out for unschooling or classical education, but for some, these are the best options. Other families will have better luck with traditional homeschool techniques. And, of course, there are even more “sub” methods within each of these which you will want to look into, as well, now that you have a better understanding of what is available to you.
Tags: classical, curriculum, homeschool, methods, techniques, traditional, unit study, unschooling