Homeschooling has been on the rise in the U.S. over the past two decades, and it’s estimated that more than two million children are educated at home. Why?
Common reasons include concerns about the school environment and bullying, parents’ desire to have more choice over their child’s education, and wanting to spend more time together.
But, of course, there’s no one right way to do it. Parents and caregivers can choose from various homeschooling methods (or create their own combined style!)—it’s all about finding what works best for you and your child.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the range of homeschool styles out there and explore how they work, the pros, and the cons.
Let’s get to it!
Choosing your homeschooling style
Classical
The Classical homeschooling method uses practices that date back to Ancient Rome and Greece, focusing on grammar, logic, and rhetoric across three distinct periods.
Typically, grades 1 to 4 cover grammar (or language), helping the child to grasp writing, reading (including ancient texts), maths, history, the arts, and science.
Grades 5 to 8 focus on logic (or thought), developing critical analysis and deep thought on ideas.
Grades 9 to 12 explore rhetoric, in which the child learns how to express themselves and convey meaning in an eloquent, persuasive way.
Pros
- The Classical method provides children with a broad knowledge base.
- Develops strong reading and writing skills at a young age.
- Encourages critical thinking and logic from a young age.
Cons
- The sheer amount of reading can be overwhelming for parents and children.
- Classical homeschooling can be less interactive and experiential than other homeschool styles.
- Studying Latin and Greek may not be of much use to children today.
Charlotte Mason
This homeschooling method is based on the teachings of Charlotte Mason, a pioneer of homeschooling in the 19th century. It’s steeped in Christian values and emphasizes studying in short bursts, usually between 15 and 20 minutes (elementary) and up to 45 minutes (high school) at a time.
The Charlotte Mason method breaks these learning periods up with studying history portfolios, taking nature walks, and practicing good manners. Keeping nature journals and observing the world are also key. Reading is crucial, particularly “living books” — stories involving life lessons and demonstrating heroic principles.
Pros
- The Charlotte Mason homeschooling method tends to be low-cost, due to the affordable nature of learning materials/resources.
- The emphasis on nature walks and nature journaling encourages children to connect with their environment.
- Could be considered more accessible to parents than more complicated alternatives.
Cons
- Christian framing can be a challenge for non-Christians.
- Some find this method old-fashioned, as the materials make little use of modern technology (cell phones, the internet, etc.).
- Some parents may feel math and science are underserved.
Montessori
The Montessori method was created by Maria Montessori, a 20th-century educator, and physician. It’s based around substantial, often unstructured learning blocks, usually of around three hours each.
This homeschooling style uses individualized learning plans and provides students with plenty of choices in terms of what and how they learn, using objects and toys (depending on age).
It’s about imparting desirable behavior as opposed to direct teaching, enabling children to follow their own interests more than in other methods.
Pros
- The child-led nature makes teaching a good match for ability.
- The tactile learning environment means teaching is more engaging.
- Encourages curiosity and independence.
Cons
- Can be ill-suited to older children, especially teens.
- Montessori requires parents to do a lot of research and preparation, which can be very time-consuming.
- This method can be costly due to the amount of recommended equipment.
Unschooling
This is a free-form approach to homeschooling with an unconventional model. It’s designed to take advantage of children’s natural love of learning and cultivates this by not forcing the child to learn things they may not want to.
All learning plans and projects tend to be tailored to suit the child’s interests, taking a learn-as-you-go structure. While teaching basic skills such as writing and reading tends to be systematic, there’s usually no traditional evaluation/testing.
Pros
- Aims to nurture a lifelong love of learning.
- Helps to strengthen bonds between the parent and child.
- Self-structured learning prepares children for further education.
Cons
- May lead to gaps in knowledge.
- Not necessarily ideal if you plan to send your child to school in the future.
- Can lead to discipline issues if parents take the loose structure too far.
School-at-home
The School-at-home method is designed to recreate the traditional classroom experience at home. It uses curriculum packages that may be similar or identical to those used in schools in your area.
Children progress through the work as they would at school, using online resources and materials conventionally.
Pros
- Ideal for parents who want to deliver a traditional education at home.
- A broad curriculum offers plenty of choices.
- Usually, School-at-home homeschooling is aligned with federal or state educational standards.
Cons
- Can be expensive, due to the range of textbooks, learning guides, and other resources required.
- The range of topics to be covered can make this exhausting for single parents teaching children.
- The conventional nature of School-at-home makes it time-consuming.
Unit studies
The Unit studies homeschooling method hinges on picking a single theme and organizing work across different subject areas around it. The theme could be a type of food, a novel, a film, an era, or almost anything else!
For example, choosing Ancient Greece as the theme could lead to studying famous texts, foods, cultural practices, and getting dressed up for the day.
Pros
- Unit studies help to make learning engaging by choosing a fun theme.
- Works well with other methods, such as Unschooling or Classical.
- Encourages research skills.
Cons
- Finding learning materials around each theme can take a lot of time.
- Can lead to knowledge gaps as certain topics may be overlooked.
- Some subjects might not work well together.
Shop around!
We hope this makes choosing your homeschooling style a little easier. As you can see, each of these methods offers its own benefits and drawbacks, so take the time to research the options carefully. And, think about what works best for your family.
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