Have you ever asked yourself what the homeschooling methods and styles are? Knowing these Types Of Homeschooling is indispensable for setting the best type that fits the homeschooling goals and your kid’s skills and abilities. Here are the best Homeschooling Methods out there!
To homeschool your kid, it does not only mean setting the curriculum, schedule, and homeschooling space but also choosing the teaching style you’ll follow or someone else.
Check out the most prominent types and decide the best for your child.
Table of Contents
What are the Best Homeschooling Methods?
1. The Classical Homeschooling Method
The concept of the classical method is to get an experience of real education, which lies in books and hands-on experimentation.
It enables learners to discover, think, and read to go deep into learning and motivates kids to learn how to depend on themselves in thinking.
The Classical style contains three learning stages, which are a part of the “Trivium model”:
A. The Grammar stage
Learning grammar is the first stage of the classical method. It maps out the knowledge foundation that children get in their early years.
Through this stage, kids learn effectively beyond memorization style and gain solid knowledge in different subjects.
B. The Logic stage
Children in the logic stage learn to search for logical answers by asking questions. They build analytical skills that help them to interpret information and compare facts.
Homeschoolers get involved in this stage once they reach the fifth grade.
C. The Rhetoric stage
Homeschoolers of the rhetoric stage participate in persuasive writing and debates to learn how to express their opinions.
They’re qualified for this stage through the solid knowledge they get in the grammar stage, and learning critical thinking in the logic stage.
The classical style’s curriculum of homeschooling aims to learn logic, rhetoric, and Latin language, and practice analyzing facts.
Furthermore, the curriculum focus on getting solid knowledge of main subjects like history, mathematics, language arts, and science.
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2. Charlotte Mason Homeschooling Method
Charlotte Mason was one of the pilots of homeschooling, She was a British educator in the early 1900s. Her philosophy of homeschooling depended on learning living books and literature. It motivates homeschoolers to practice narrating.
The method approach builds the learning love and broadens homeschoolers’ knowledge.
The curriculum should include artistic subjects which are art, music, and handicrafts, in addition to subjects of nature study.
Charlotte Mason’s method set the maximum study time of homeschoolers, from 15 to 20 minutes for the elementary stage, and 45 minutes for the high school stage.
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The method emphasized doing activities and practices besides learning such as nature journals, narration, reading living books, nature observation, and copy work.
Charlotte Mason’s style allows the children to spend time beyond the homeschool space and practice activities outside the home in nature. It helps them to develop their knowledge of artistic subjects.
3. Unit Studies Homeschooling Method
This style is also called “thematic units. It aims to concentrate deeply on a particular topic and perfect it by studying its aspects. Traditional schools used this method in the early years of students’ life.
In homeschooling, parents tend to make the learning process in unit studies more engaging by incorporating different activities.
Unit studies style is suitable for parents, who are looking for a curriculum at an affordable cost and who need intense learning on specific topics that last for a short time.
Moreover, this method fits autistic homeschoolers as it meets their needs in focusing on particular topics and is the perfect choice for those interested in in-depth learning.
4. Unschooling homeschooling style
The unschooling method canceled the concept of the following curriculum that is accredited in different educational styles. It motivates the children’s curiosity to discover and learn.
Kids have the freedom of choosing what they want to learn. The method approach highlights that curiosity is natural and instinctive in children.
John Walt, one of the pioneers of homeschooling, whose idea of unschooling, founded a learning based-student that allows to homeschoolers set projects through their interests. He was called “the father of unschooling”.
This nontraditional education requires parents, who play the teacher role at home, to ease learning for their children and emancipated them from conventional schooling.
Unschooling is not only conventional in teaching and learning styles but also in exams and evaluation processes.
One of the goals of unschooling is to eliminate anxiety and stress which come from the firm curriculum that seems to kids difficult and undesirable. It supports the children psychologically.
Here are the other goals that unschooling focuses on:
- Meeting the children’s educational needs, which vary from one kid to another through unconditional and informal learning.
- Respecting the children’s thinking and turning them from memorized and obedient to critical thinkers.
- Letting kids engage more with different ages through participating in social activities.
5. Montessori homeschooling style
The homeschooling types list also includes the Montessori style. In the early 1900s, Dr. Maria Montessori was an Italian physician and educator.
She developed a learning philosophy for kids of their early ages. She came up with her idea after studying kids with special needs.
In the Montessori method, Dr. Maria relied on five principles:
A. Respecting the kid
The first principle lies in showing respect to the children by letting them choose freely, avoiding interruption throughout their attention, and expressing themselves without getting criticism.
B. The absorbent mind
Children can understand information by depending on their senses and living in their world and interacting with others.
C. Sensitive times
The third principle focuses on discovering sensitive periods in their children’s lives in which they are more likely to gain new skills.
Parents can find out these periods through observation as it varies from one child to another.
D. The suited environment
The concept of this principle-centered around the prepared environment as one of the most prominent factors that allow kids to get the most out of education, and have the chance to figure out the content of resources.
Preparing the environment should be done by providing all the required materials and activities that kids get experience through them.
E. Self-education
Through this principle, the Montessori style aims to train children the auto-learning. They are qualified to depend on themselves in learning through the main components that tutors provide, which are motivation, inspiration, and direction.
- How to homeschool using the Montessori style?
For preschoolers, parents can homeschool their kids using the Montessori method for ages 0-3 through these tips:
i. Prepare the learning space
The first tip you should follow when you homeschool your kid using the Montessori method is to set up a clean, well-organized, and comfortable space.
Provide all the supplies that your kid in this space. In case of playing and eating in the same spot, you should bring all the toys, and games, in addition to a kid’s table.
ii. Teaching basic skills
Learning basic skills for preschoolers qualifies them efficiently for the elementary stage. So they should learn language arts, mathematics, language art, science, and social studies.
Hands-on activities are a stepping stone in this stage, kids should learn through practices like identifying shapes and counting. They help the child to gain solid knowledge and evolve their social skills.
iii. Providing materials
Make sure that you’ve prepared all the materials that your kid needs to learn and engage through the homeschooling year.
These materials help them to learn about shapes, letters, colors, numbers, etc.
Moreover, providing homeschooling space with materials to make the environment stimulating to engage.
You should supervise your child during learning time and make sure the tools are safe to save protect your preschooler from hurt.
iiii. Pick the Montessori curriculum
Homeschooling your kid will be completed once you choose the best curriculum that combines lessons and hands-on activities.
The lessons’ curriculum should be engaging for kids, to encourage them to concentrate and learn. That requires adding fun and educational activities.
Follow motivation throughout learning times and avoid forcing your child to focus and learn. Select the times that your preschooler is available to learn.
6. Eclectic Education of the types of homeschooling
When it comes to the most common homeschooling methods list, Eclectic education is at the top of it. It’s a mix of several homeschooling methods that fit individualized learning.
Eclectic homeschooling provides various resources to allow parents to pick the best for their kids. Its concept contravenes the principles of Charlotte Mason and Classical.
One of the main reasons for Eclectic homeschooling’s popularity is allowing parents to set the homeschool method that fits them, pick what works out for them, and design a personalized curriculum and schedule.
Families can follow this style through these tips:
- Mapping out a personalized curriculum by collecting its components from various resources.
- Making sure that the chosen curriculum meets the children’s interests.
- Connect with coop homeschooling groups which help homeschooler parents to benefit from their experiences and boost their knowledge through collective activities.
- Giving the children the chance to learn what interests them from the curriculum.
- Facilitating difficult subjects by incorporating fun activities.
7. Thomas Jefferson Homeschooling Method
Thomas Jefferson was the founder of Virginia University and one of the pioneers of education in the United States, besides his political leadership.
The concept of Thomas Jefferson education’s method combines classical and unschooling styles. Homeschoolers learn from living and classic books. They don’t rely on worksheets or textbooks.
This style is the best for those who want their kids to be more self-confident and self-learners.
Homeschoolers who follow Thomas Jefferson’s homeschooling method go through three phases:
A. The foundational phase
This phase contains two parts. The first part is for 0-8 ages. It focuses on teaching social principles which are related to family and other relationships, taking responsibility, and social values.
The second part is for 8-12 ages. It’s about building learning love through reading classic literature and doing projects.
B. The educational phase
Children’s ages in this phase range from 8 to 12 years old. They reinforce their skills by engaging with tutors. Learning the classics is the main curriculum of this phase.
This stage has a second part, which is designated for adults from 18 to 24 years old. Tutors of this level guide homeschoolers to learning depth.
C. The application phase
Homeschoolers learn how to teach kids as this phase for adults how to manage to be self-learners and develop their skills to be qualified for tutoring.
Moreover, this method includes seven learning components: simplicity, classic literature, inspiration, mentors, learners, quality, and structure time.
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8. School-at-home Method
The style of school-at-home is a form of distance learning, which depends on using a boxed curriculum and public school system’s courses or accredited online school programs.
It’s similar to the schools’ materials, whether they are public or private. It’s also called “traditional homeschooling”.
This model is one of the easiest types of homeschooling as it is flexible with using and buying the curriculum.
The difference between school-at-home and schools is the parents who administrate and guide their kids and the learning process is individual.
You can check out Sahlah academy’s accredited online programs from the elementary to high school stage if you’re looking for the best homeschooling curriculum.
9. Waldorf Homeschooling Method
Rudolf Steiner developed the Waldorf homeschooling method
in the late 1800s and early 1900s. His philosophy is to focus on education which includes mind, body, and spirit, through studying liberal arts.
His concepts have been one of the most popular homeschooling styles in the United States for a long time. The curriculum style concentrates on learning foreign languages, Art, Music, and gardening in the elementary phase.
Waldorf style breaks the limits of textbooks and sticks to formal grades in the primary stage. It also aims to provide a learning method that fits each age.
The low cost of Waldorf’s curriculum is one of the most prominent advantages of this method as it focuses on boosting imagination, discovering, learning creativity, and other activities.
The Waldorf method’s stages are
- Early childhood education: it’s about practical activities.
- Elementary education: homeschoolers of this phase learn an academic curriculum that boosts their mental abilities.
- Secondary education: It concentrates on helping homeschoolers to be cooperative, facts analyzers, and sympathetic.
Homeschooling Styles Quiz
Now, after you’ve identified the homeschooling types, it would be challenging for you to choose the best style which fits the goals you’ve set.
If you’re still hesitant to decide on the homeschooling method, you can discover it through a homeschooling quiz. Contact Sahlah Online School to learn more!
This quiz consists of 30 questions, after you answer all the questions, you’ll figure out the style that fits your philosophy, principles, and goals in learning.
Conclusion – How to decide the best homeschooling styles to follow?
Deciding the best homeschooling type is a stepping stone when you homeschool your kid. This step enables you to set the curriculum and schedule that complete your plan.
School-at-home style fits traditional homeschooling, unlike unschooling. Many methods help you to update the learning style such as Charlotte Mason, Montessori, Eclectic, Thomas Jefferson, and Unit Studies.
