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From HLSA

Articles about Home Education adapted from HLSA's newsletters.

Different Home Education Methods and Philosophies

The following are brief descriptions of only some of the many different philosophies and methods that are used by home-based educators. These are not meant to be seen as complete definitions but to be used as a starting point.

People who are new to home education are often surprised to find that there are as many different ways to home school as there are people who do it. It can be confusing and overwhelming - which is the best way? An important thing to remember is that it can and usually does take time to develop your own routine and it is not uncommon to start out with one method and find yourself doing something entirely different as time goes on. This is normal and one of the joys of being at home is that you can do this. There is no time limit on learning, no race to be won, no one right way. Take your time, read, explore and enjoy the journey.

Unit Studies

Unit Studies are a way of integrating most, if not all subjects under a single topic of study. If you were studying Ancient Greece, you would cover the history of ancient Greece , the science of the time period, practice writing skills through reports, short stories, etc. and practice reading by reading the mythology of the times. Pre-packaged unit studies are available for sale on an array of topics or they can be made up at home. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/8259/unitstud.html

Waldorf

The Waldorf Method is based on the work of Rudolf Steiner and stresses the importance of educating the whole child-body, mind, and spirit. There is an emphasis on arts and crafts, music and movement, and nature. Children are taught to develop self-awareness and how to reason things out for themselves. They do not use standard textbooks; instead, the children create their own books. The Waldorf method also discourages the use of television and computers because as not being good for the child's health and creativity.

School-At-Home

School-At-Home This is pretty much what it sounds like with most families teaching to their children around the kitchen table or at desks and using a purchased curriculum that includes textbooks, study schedules, grades, and record keeping. Some families opt to use lesson plans that they have designed themselves, in place of bought, and assemble their own learning materials. http://www.home-school.com/

Eclectic

Eclectic home-schoolers pick and choose their resources. They may use workbooks for some subjects but not for others. They focus on subjects they believe are the most important and chooses the method ( incl. textbooks, fieldtrips etc.) that they see as the best for learning. They rarely use a resource exactly as instructed. They will likely use the information to get the most of what they need from it, and and everything can be considered curriculum.

Unschooling

Unschooling - was coined by author and educator John Holt. He wrote, "... say 'unschooling' when we mean taking children out of school...". Soon the term was used to indicate any non-schoolish approach to learning. Unschooling may also be known as natural, interest-led, and child-led learning." John Holt also wrote in his book, What Do I Do Monday?: "We can see that there is no difference between living and learning, that living is learning, that it is impossible, and misleading, and harmful to think of them as being separate...the children have been learning, all the time, for all of their lives before they met us. What is more, they are very likely to be much better at learning than most of us who plan to teach them something." http://www.unschooling.com/

Work/Study/Service

The Work/Study/Service Method is a home-schooling style developed by Raymond and Dorothy Moore. They feel success comes when "close individual attention is paid to the needs of the student, following their interests and allowing them to mature at their own rate, with emphasis on work (for pay), and service (in the home and in the community) with these non-academic learning opportunities receiving equal time to book learning. As the children learn to be diligent in their work application, this diligence caries over into their academic performance as well as they mature.". http://www.moorefoundation.com/

Classical

Classical Home schooling - a teaching model that seeks to tailor the curriculum subject matter to a child's cognitive development. This emphasizes concrete thinking and memorization of the facts of the subjects in grade school; analytical thinking and understanding of the subjects in middle school; and abstract thinking and articulation of the subjects in high school. Subjects include Grammar, the science of language usage, Logic, the science of right thinking; and Rhetoric, the science of verbal and written expression. The goal of the classical approach is to teach people how to learn for themselves.

Charlotte Mason

The Charlotte Mason Method - children deserve to be respected and that they learn best from real- life situations. Children should be given time to play, create, and be involved in real-life situations from which they can learn. They take nature walks, visit art museums, and learn geography, history, and literature from books that make these subjects come alive. Students also show what they know, not by taking tests, but via narration and discussion. http://www.charlottemason.com

Montessori

Montessori Method -"In the early years, the environment is filled with cultural, artistic, scientific activities. The child is never forced to attend a lesson or do a piece of work. The teacher is trained to model kindness and consideration, to observe the child and follow her interests in suggesting work, to give careful, individual lessons, and to refrain from interrupting when the child is concentrating on an activity. The focus is on enriching the environment and becoming good models than in teaching the child. That children learn what they love. Anything forced will probably be detested, or forgotten. A child must know why he has to learn a required subject. Educational requirements can be reduced to one page per year and the child needs help in learning to schedule time, develop enjoyable methods, and become responsible for meeting deadlines. This work usually takes no more than two or three hours a day." http://www.montessori.edu/homeschooling.html

Multiple Intelligences

Multiple Intelligences - an idea developed by Howard Gardner and Harvard University 's "project zero." The belief is that everyone is intelligent in his or her own way and that learning is easiest and most effective when it uses a person's strengths instead of their weakness. Home schoolers emphasize their children's strengths and tailor teaching to match their child's learning style. They also adjust the learning environment and schedule as necessary. Some children prefer structure and learn best when they are told what to do, others learn best on their own. Some children do their best work around the kitchen table, and others excel when they are out of doors. The goal for the parents is to identify how, when, and what their child learns best and to adapt their teaching style to their child. http://www.life.ca/hs/styles.html