4 Very Popular Homeschooling Methods

For a lot of people, the idea of homeschooling brings to mind the image of a few children sitting at a table intensely focused on reading and writing as the mother or the father stands nearby ready to lend a helping hand. However, this picture is not entirely accurate. There are various methods of homeschooling, and the method selected is usually the determining factor for both the curriculum and teaching style. As partially gleaned from Earned Media, the following are some of the most popular homeschooling methods.

The Charlotte Mason method:

Charlotte Mason is considered the founder of the homeschooling movement. As a long time homeschooler, she was completely immersed in her desire to provide the foundation for a complete and effective homeschooling program that is also fun and educational. This method focuses on all the key disciplines with particular attention given to classical literature and music, fine arts, poetry and crafts. Ms. Mason used various books from literary classics, which she called 'Living Books'.

Because this method promotes a passionate knowledge of literature, the student is read to read daily from the 'Living Books'. Following this, the child is asked to tell in her own words what she heard. This process begins at the age of six, and by age ten the child is expected to write her narratives in her workbook. Mason was also a great proponent of 'Nature Diaries'. Here, following after each lesson, the child is encouraged to go outside and imaginatively draw reflections from nature. In this way, the student also develops a sense of respect for the environment. Ms. Mason believed that good character development and behavior was crucial to the full development of the child's personality.

The Eclectic Homeschooling method:

This is a combination of various homeschooling techniques. Here, the parents largely draw on their on judgment and choose the topics that provide the best curriculum for their children. Though many Eclectic homeschooling curriculums are improvised, the core curriculum is of consistent standard and ready-made. The parents then adjust the curriculum to meet the personal needs and interests of their children. The child's talents, temperament, and learning style largely dictate the curriculum. Parents are sometimes tasked with continually finding the suitable complementary products for their homeschooler's needs. Eclectic courses of study include visits to the libraries, museum and surrounding businesses.

Unschooling:

John Holt, a Boston public educator, laid the foundation of theunschooling method. He thought that children learn best when they are allowed to freely earn at their own pace and when they are led by their own interests. His agenda was to 'unschool' children. This method is a practical method for learning wherein parents take definitive cues from the children. There is no traditionally structured curriculum, materials, or schedules. This method is the least structured of the various homeschooling strategies.

The Montessori Method:

This method has its origins in Italy, where Mr. Montessori noticed that children have peak sensitive periods, during which they experienced a period of

intense concentration. Within these phases, children will repeat activities to achieve some measure of self-satisfaction. The Montessori method counts on a formal environment to foster learning. All materials used in this method are packaged to satisfy the spiritual development of children. The materials used for the progress range from simple to complex, and very expensive.

These are just a few of the methods of homeschooling. Regardless of the method, the primary factor is flexibility to spur keen interest in the desires of children. The secret is the use of the child's thirst to become more knowledgeable. And that's a good thing.