What are Homeschooling-Methods?Homeschooling-methods are the various types and styles of teaching and learning that can be implemented in order to provide your children with a home-based education.
My basic thoughts were that education was meant to impart knowledge and to gain mastery of certain concepts and skills, so that they would be retained in order to be recalled and/or applied at a later point in time. Generally speaking, I envisioned this taking place at a desk, with books, for a certain number of hours per day...you know...just like the schools that we attended in our youth. (LOL, I am aging myself here aren't I?)
Use Homeschooling-Methods to Educate the Whole Person!With the passing of time, and the experiences shared, I came to realize that education is SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT! Teaching is about reaching out to the whole person: body, mind, and soul! To forsake one is to forsake them all for they are so closely intertwined. A good education will nurture and tend to the physical health and well-being of a student; as well as to the intellect and spirit! Choosing homeschooling-methods that are all-encompassing andwell-rounded toward that goal is an important step for thebeginning of your home-study journey. One of the greatest blessings of homeschooling is the ability to discover and implement the style of teaching and learning that best suits your family! We, as homeschooling parents, have the ability to choose homeschooling-methods that are in accordance with our personal convictions, beliefs, and moral structure. It's important, therefore, to gear the WAY that you teach toward your family personality.
Homeschooing-Method ReviewsHere are some of the most common homeschooling-methods used in the home-study environment: * Traditional Method The main goal of homeschooling-methods which follow thisphilosophy is to master the concept and graduate...plain and simple! It is very much in line with my memories of the schools in our youth. Classes run most of the day. Lessons are taught via text and workbooks. Most lessons are given via teacher lecture, with students listening, then completing given assignments. Review is given, then retained information tested through written quizzes. The lesson plans are based on national standards for education as would be seen in secular public and private schools. There are several accredited programs which use homeschooling-methods of the Traditional means. * UNSCHOOLING METHOD This homeschooling-method is the extreme opposite of the previously mentioned one. This method embraces the idea of the self-taught student. Unschoolers will oft proclaim: "LIFE is my classroom". Books are only used when the student and teacher decide that they would enrich the current path of study. Material is chosen by way of the individual student's interests. Clustered learning is common among unschoolers because the parent wishes to allow the student to pursue his/her interests,and as student's mature that can become more specified to a certain area. A child must be capable of self-study for the teaching method to thrive. The goal of Unschooling is to raise an independent thinker and self-motivated learner. * Unit Studies Unit Studies are wonderful if you are teaching several different kids (of various ages and levels) at the same time. Assignments can easily be adapted to be age-appropriate. Lapbooking is a common activity for this teaching method. Lapbooks are folders that open to both sides. These are created by the students as part of the lessons,and they highlight the main points which the students have learned. Typically, a theme is set and then all subjects are developed around that theme. This theme might be a certain era in history, a character virtue, a famous figure in history, a painting, etc...There is no right or wrong here...choose a theme that interests you! For instance, if someone chose Colonial Days, then all subjects for that day will focus upon that theme. Perhaps a story would be read, vocabulary pertaining to that era in time given, recipes made for lunch using math skills to double it for the family size and so on. The idea is to focus on a central point, and BUILD upon that point by incorporating facets from all areas of academics. This teaching method's main goal is to provide a family-friendly way of learning and to implement a well-rounded study of a particular topic. * CLASSICAL METHOD The main goals of the classical teaching method are to raise independent thinkers who know how to learn. Many-a-leader was taught this way. Its main focus is upon the Trivium (three stages of learning from a Liberal Arts point of view). These stages are as follows: 1) Grammar stage: the learning of language mechanics 2) Logic stage (also called dialectic): learning to use and analyze language mechanics 3) Rhetoric stage: the ability to deliver what was learned in the first two stages through the written and oral word, in order to suggest and persuade. Handwriting copy work is assigned often, and classic poetry or great literature used for that purpose. A wide genre of literature is provided in the Classical approach.Rather than write the typical "book report", "narration" is used as a comprehension skill. The student will read the passages, then give an oral re-telling of what he/she has read. Latin is usually the chosen foreign language to study. (Catholics can find this handy for studying the Traditional Liturgy!) Drill and memorization IS used in the Classical Method, and a heavy emphasis on reading, then giving a narration. Accredited programs are available using the Classical Method. * CHARLOTTE MASON METHOD Miss Mason is a homeschooling pioneer, and her 1800's writings are quite sought after even today! This teaching method's goal is to raise an independent thinker with a LOVE OF LEARNING. At times, NO text or workbooks are used; although some Charlotte Mason teachers use a few. A great amount of time is spent outdoors here. A nature journal replaces a text book, and students are given ample time to run, play, explore, sketch, think, dream, and experience education by living. Living history books are a favored genre of the Charlotte Mason Method. These are fictional stories based on factual and historically correct information. Again, narration after reading plays a big part in this way of teaching. This method of teaching places an emphasis on the quality of learning as opposed to the quantity of information given. *CYBER METHOD Cyber method teaching is growing more popular all the time. A computer is needed (and internet access). Parents who are really trying to keep costs to a minimum often make this choice. Although this could be considered more of teaching "style" than a method, it can fit into this category as well. This teaching method uses the computer for most of the learning taking place. Like Unschooling, this teaching method requires a student to be self-motivated and able to work independently. The "curriculum" is the Internet and World Wide Web. Many cyber method users participate in interactive studies, which are readily available and connect your student to students in classrooms all over the world. There are accredited program online as well, and in some states, such as Pennsylvania the computer is FREE upon enrollment. * ECLECTIC METHOD Eclectic is define at dictionary.com as "the selecting or employing of individual elements from a variety of sources". The goal of this teaching method is to provide a well-rounded education of the whole person, body, mind, and soul. It completely customizes the system of learning to coincide with the family's personality. The Eclectic teacher will never purchase one set packaged curriculum. Rather, she/he takes a bit from here and bit from there, using that which she/he likes best from ALL METHODS. While sometimes, the eclectic teacher will gravitate toward one method of teaching, and simply hand choose curriculum to suit that...it is more often found that this teacher enjoys different aspects of different methods for various reasons, and seeks to incorporate them all.
Whew! Was I mistaken!As you can see, my narrow view of education in my former years was very incorrect. I am so blessed to now know that education is a gift from God so that we can help Him in His holy work of developing a person's WHOLE BEING: body, mind, and soul! Learn about the various types of curriculum that coincide withdifferent homeschooling-methods by clicking the following link:
This will allow you to explore the programs that are available to complement many types of homeschooling-methods.
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