|
You
are here: Home
> Homeschool
Resources > Homeschooling Methods
|
|
If you are new
to homeschooling and you are not too sure
how to go about choosing the philosophy or
method you will use for your child's program,
do not fret just yet. There are actually many
philosophies and methods that you can choose
from. The only thing that you should do is
research about these different methods. This
way, it will be easier for you to find the
most appropriate one that you will use as
a base in developing your educational program.
Take note that
you do not really have to copy all the concepts
of your chosen philosophy and use just those.
You can mix and match these related concepts
to your liking, as long as they fit with the
homeschooling regulations implemented in your
state.
|
You can
also choose to adapt any number of concepts, tweak
them to your liking, and then incorporate them into
your own method. Here are some of the philosophies
that you might want to consider.
Charlotte
Mason
During
the latter part of the 1800s, Charlotte Mason came
up with a teaching philosophy - one that wrote in
6 volumes. The basic premise of Charlotte Mason's
philosophy is really just about the incorporation
of major subjects being taught in school. What is
added to these major subjects is the love and appreciation
of the arts and nature. Charlotte Mason also made
use of narration and dictation, which is good because
it initiates interaction, as opposed to using just
the regular textbooks. In fact, in place of textbooks,
Charlotte Mason used what she termed as 'living
books'.
For parents
who are considering using Charlotte Mason's method,
it is strongly encouraged to start with just short
lessons so that the child would not be overwhelmed.
Gradually, increase these lessons in length so that
it would be easier for the child to adjust along
the way.
|
|
Eclectic
Homeschooling
Terry
McKee pioneered what is now known as the eclectic
homeschooling method. Terry McKee came up
with the name for this method by evaluating
the very homeschooling methods that her family
was using. Keeping the combination of names
in mind, it is also important to note that
the eclectic homeschooling method is not really
a single method per se; rather, it is a combination
of homeschooling methods, interrelated in
concept.
|
According
to McKee, eclectic homeschooling is really all about
inspecting homeschooling methods' concepts and taking
the ones that work well for your own approach.
Eclectic
homeschooling is therefore the basis in formulating
your very own unique philosophy. This method grew
in popularity so strongly that McKee was able to
establish her own homeschooling group based in Alabama.
Today, other states have also come up with their
own eclectic homeschooling group. If you are interested
in this approach, then it is best that you get the
unit study guidebook that was created by McKee herself.
Unit
Studies
This
approach pretty much operates like eclectic homeschooling,
in the sense that there is a collection of school
subjects that occurs here. The main difference is
that the combination here entails school subjects
that can be used to match one particular topic or
theme. The theme here could be a specific location
or time period.
For instance,
parents who prefer to use the unit studies method
could create a unit around the very state they live
in. The created state unit would then handle relevant
topics about the state, such as its history, its
flora and fauna, the minerals that can be found
there, the famous people who played significant
roles in the development of the state, literature
about the state itself, and even literature written
by the state's local authors.
The great
thing about the unit studies method is that unit
themes and combinations of concepts to be tackled
here are virtually limitless. As long as a particular
subject is related to the chosen unit studies theme,
then this can be taught to the students themselves.
Unschooling
Unschooling
is one attractive option for children because the
children themselves get to decide what they want
to learn themselves. This is a great thing because
the children themselves would remain interested
in their own lessons - these would be of their own
interest, after all.
Most
unschooling parents believe that there is no fixed
schedule for education because education can easily
become a lifestyle. Education is not really something
that is practiced just within the typical school
day. What is important here is for parents to show
the children that education is indeed a way of life.
One great
thing about this method is that the children are
given free reign - a great opportunity to develop
a strong sense of responsibility as well. However,
much emphasis should be placed in the fact that
unschooling is not equal to uneducation. In fact,
children who have been raised using the unschooling
method of teaching do have a healthy appreciation
for learning new concepts and such.
Back
to Top ^
|
