Making sense of methods

Have you ever noticed that some people load the dishwasher totally different than you? Some fit in to the spoons on one side, forks on the other crowd, while others toss them in the rack willy-nilly. I won’t dwell on which side I fit in to (although you may already suspect!), but if you’re anything like me you’ve had to choose to ignore the differences for the sake of maintaining cordial relationships.

But I digress.

So when it comes to different dishwasher styles, who is right? That’s just the thing – as long as the job gets done, the method only matters to the person using it. Homeschool methods function the same way. There are several ways to get the job done, but which one you choose can have a huge impact on how you get there.

I am going to give you a quick summary of the 7 major homeschool methods out there, and a few resources to learn more about them. Knowing what you like will help you narrow down the huge array of curriculum choices you’ll find.

Let’s get to it.

Classical

If you like the idea of learning big ideas, completely chronological history, foreign languages, and logic, this approach may be for you.

Charlotte Mason

If you like the idea of short periods of learning on each subject, with lots of time for outdoor exploration, journaling, and reading (not textbooks!), this method may be ideal.

Unit Studies

If you like studying a single topic across all subjects (Ancient Egypt in history, making papyrus in art, mummification in science) and don’t mind jumping around to different topics in any order, unit studies might be for you.

Unschooling

If your child is very self-motivated, and you want to be able to dive deeply into whatever interests them (rather than following a general set of standard topics), this method may work for you.

School at Home

If you are happy with the public school education your child is getting, but just want to offer that at home, then school at home can work for you.

Montessori

If your child is gifted or has special learning needs, you like very tactile learning environments, and your child does not need much push to learn, this method may suit you. Note that true Montessori schooling requires some training, and is generally only suitable for elementary aged children.

Eclectic/Relaxed

If you feel you fit in to more than one of these styles, and you are comfortable combining them into something that is just right for you, then you may follow an eclectic or relaxed style.

Find your fit

At first glance, which of these styles appeals to you? An easier question may be which of them do you not like? Take into account your personality and how you see yourself teaching. Will you work well choosing your own materials or do you need open-and-go materials that require very little planning? Be sure to think about your children too, especially if their personalities are very different from yours. Are they motivated to learn on their own? Do they like to read books on their own? Do they need a lot of external motivation or guidance from you? Just because you love the idea of feasting on great books doesn’t mean they will – and you could set yourself and your kids up for a frustrating experience if you aren’t prepared for it.

So as you think about the options, be sure to consider both you and your kids in terms of how you learn and even whether or not you like to learn. Shh! Don’t mention I said that. I know that it sounds crazy to even consider that some of us might not like to learn! I mean we’re homeschoolers, right? That’s our jam. The reality is that not everyone loves to learn just for the sake of learning. If your kids fall into that boat, it’s ok. You just may want to avoid methods like unschooling that require a lot of personal motivation.

Remember, it’s pretty normal to mix a few styles to find your particular groove. And it’s also ok to change styles as you go. With each passing year you will grow as a teacher and discover new things that are important to you. Just be careful not to over-mix or you may find yourself overwhelmed and confused about what you are trying to accomplish!

If you are interested in getting deeper into what each of these methods entails, check out this article from The Best Schools. You’ll find pros and cons plus links to resources on each method. Note that what I have listed in my descriptions of each method are just a few of the many resources available (and ones that I have used or perused). My goal is to help you narrow the field so you can do some deeper research on the few methods that interest you most.

Which methods are you most curious about?