The Lowdown on Homeschooling Methods and Philosophies

Exploring the wide array of homeschooling methods can help you tailor your child’s education to their needs, interests, and your family’s values. Let’s dive into some popular and diverse approaches:

Traditional/School at Home

This method brings the structured environment of a traditional classroom into your home, using a set curriculum, scheduled lessons, and regular testing. It’s ideal for those who appreciate a structured educational approach. You can read my detailed post about this method here.

Unschooling

In contrast to traditional homeschooling methods, unschooling is a child-led learning approach where education naturally occurs through everyday life. Children follow their interests without a formal curriculum. It’s a flexible homeschooling method that encourages exploration and learning as part of day-to-day activities.

Charlotte Mason

This literature-based approach uses classic literature and emphasizes short study periods. Learning includes a strong focus on narration, nature, the arts, and physical activity, all delivered through a Christian worldview.

Montessori

Focused on child-led, hands-on learning within a structured environment, Montessori methods foster natural curiosity using practical life skills and sensory activities. It’s particularly effective for young learners, but can be adapted for older children.

Unit Studies

This approach integrates multiple subjects around a central theme. It encourages deep engagement and flexibility to cater to various ages at once.

Relaxed/Eclectic

These homeschooling methods blend structured learning with flexibility, allowing families to mix elements from different homeschooling philosophies to best suit their child’s learning style and needs. If you like the idea of taking bits and pieces of various other methods to create your own way of learning, you might be an eclectic homeschooler!

Classical

Based on the trivium of stages: grammar, logic, and rhetoric, this rigorous, language-focused approach emphasizes critical thinking and reasoning through classical literature and philosophical texts.

Waldorf

Waldorf encourages creativity and imagination, integrating arts, crafts, music, and language learning. This philosophy generally avoids early technology use in order to promote physical activity and creativity.

Multi-sensory/Multiple Intelligence

This philosophy tailors learning activities to a child’s dominant learning style and intelligence, such as linguistic, logical-mathematical, and kinesthetic. The method supports a personalized educational experience.

Deschooling

This is less of a method, but more of a transition period. Deschooling helps children adjust from traditional schooling to homeschooling, and involves minimizing structured learning to better integrate into the new approach.

Lifestyle of Learning

Developed by Marilyn Howshall, this philosophy integrates biblical principles into education, emphasizing a relational and spiritually enriched learning environment where education is a natural part of life. Parents and children explore and learn together, focusing on character development and individual growth through self-directed activities. Learn all about Lifestyle of Learning on this website.

Delight-Directed

The Delight-Directed approach allows children to pursue learning in areas that interest them most. Often this approach leads to deeper exploration and mastery of specific subjects.

Literature-Based

Literature-Based learning encompasses a variety of curriculums, such as My Fathers World or Tapestry of Grace. These methods utilize a wide range of literary works to teach various subjects, enhancing students’ understanding and appreciation of language, culture, and history. This homeschooling method is flexible, allowing for the selection of materials that cater to the child’s interests and reading level, fostering a lifelong love of reading.

Each of these homeschooling methods offers unique advantages and can be customized to suit different learning styles and family dynamics. Whether you prefer a more structured approach or a flexible, integrated learning experience, there’s a homeschooling style that’s right for your educational goals and family values.

For families interested in a faith-centered educational experience that promotes both academic and spiritual growth, Marilyn Howshall’s Lifestyle of Learning offers a comprehensive framework. More information on her approach and publications, such as the “Wisdom’s Way of Learning” series, can be found on her official websites.