Homeschooling Methods
For many people, homeschooling may call to mind the picture of two or three children sitting at a table and writing feverishly in their workbooks, while mom or dad stands nearby. This is the not entirely true. There are different methods of homeschooling, and the method you choose will decide the curriculum and your style of teaching. Given below are some of the most influential and popular homeschooling methods.
The Charlotte Mason method: Charlotte Mason is known as the founder of the homeschooling movement. A homeschooler herself, she was passionate in her zeal to lay out the foundations for an effective a complete homeschooling program that is fun and educational at the same time. This method focuses on all the core subjects with emphasis placed on classical literature, poetry, fine arts, classical music and craft. Mason used a variety of books from classical literature, which she called 'Living Books'. Since this method encourages a passionate awareness of literature, the child is read to daily from the 'Living Books'. After this, the child is asked to narrate what she has heard. This process begins at the age of six, and by ten the child is expected to write her narrations in her book. Mason also advocated the use of 'Nature Diaries'. After each short and interesting lesson, the child is asked to go to Nature and draw observations from Nature. Thus the child also gains a sense of respect for her environment. Mason believed that development of good character and behavior was essential to the complete development of the child's personality.
The Eclectic Homeschooling: This is a mixture of various homeschooling techniques. Here, the innovative parents trust their own judgment and pick out the topics that make the best curriculum for their child. Such parents continuously look out for the best products that will meet the needs of their homeschoolers. Most Eclectic homeschooling curriculums are improvised. This means that the basic curriculum is ready-made. The parents then make changes in the curriculum to accommodate the individual needs and interests of their children. The child's gifts, temperament, learning style and interests dictate the curriculum. Eclectic programs include visits to the museum, libraries and factories.
Unschooling: A Boston public educator name John Holt laid the beginnings of the unschooling method. He believed that children learned best when they are free to learn at their own pace and when they are guided by their own interests. His message was to 'unschool' the child. This method is a hands-on approach to learning, where the parent takes definite cues from the children. There is no definite curriculum, schedules or materials. This method is the most unstructured of the various homeschooling techniques.
The Montessori Method: This method began in Italy, when it was observed that children have acute sensitive periods, during which they undergo periods of intense concentration. During such phases, a child will repeat an activity till he gains a measure of self-satisfaction. The Montessori method depends on a prepared environment to facilitate learning. All the materials used in this method are designed to satisfy the inner desire for spiritual development of the child. The materials used progress from simple to complex, and are rather expensive.
These are just a few of the methods of homeschooling. Whatever the method, the underlying factor is flexibility and a keen interest in the desires of the child. The secret is to use the child's desire for knowledge to further his education.
(word count 572)
PPPPP
|
Benefits Of Homeschooling Why let Tim and Lisa learn at home than send them to school? Well, first of all, ... read more
Disadvantages of public schooling When we consign our children to public schools, we feel satisfied that they are receiving 'quality ... read more
Financing homeschooling When people talk about teaching their children from home in the absence of any definite or structured curriculum, ... read more
Grading in homeschooling Grading in homeschooling is done by the teacher-in-charge. In most of the cases, this means mom! In ... read more
Homeschool burnout When a parent takes on the responsibility of educating his or her child, homeschool burnout is one of ... read more
Homeschool - Field trips If you are going over a particular subject with the family and feel that a field ... read more
Homeschool - staying connected The world has become a jungle of knowledge. Wherever you turn, you find a new fruit ... read more
Homeschool teachers The teacher is the key to the success of homeschooling. In most cases, the teacher is a parent ... read more
Homeschooling and college As children grow out of their little pants and are ready to begin their teens, many parents ... read more
Homeschooling and the family According to the National Center For Education Statistics, almost 1.1 million children underwent homeschooling in 2005 ... read more
Homeschooling hours How many, how often and when? These are some oft-repeated questions when it comes to homeschooling hours. Flexibility ... read more
Homeschooling Methods For many people, homeschooling may call to mind the picture of two or three children sitting at a ... read more
Homeschooling online If Johnny is fascinated by the blinking cursor and struggles to master the movements of the mouse, you ... read more
Homeschooling the teenager As children start maturing into adults, parents feel insecure about homeschooling. Many parents then discontinue the homeschooling ... read more
Homeschooling - the darker side It's not all hunky-dory and smooth sailing on the homeschooling front. Like all things in ... read more
Homeschooling with a disability If you feel that your child suffers from a disability that seriously hampers his ability to ... read more
How to Homeschool Your Child Now that you have decided that homeschooling is the way to educate your child, get ... read more
Is Homeschooling legal? Without a doubt, homeschooling is legal in all the 50 States of the U.s. But, that is ... read more
Maintaining Discipline in Homeschooling When the child stays at home all day, and mommy is the teacher, there are certain ... read more
Montessori Homeschooling Developed from the work of Dr. Maria Montessori, this style of teaching aims at duplicating natural laws that ... read more
Record keeping in Homeschooling A topic that frequently comes up in meetings and forums that deal with homeschooling is record ... read more
Social concerns of homeschooling Social skills is an area of deep concern when it comes to homeschooling. Many critics point ... read more
Structure the School year Now that you have begun your homeschooling schedule, there are various questions that trouble you. Should ... read more
Unschooling your child Unschooling is the most fluid style of homeschooling. There is no curriculum and no set boundaries. Many ... read more
What is Homeschooling The term 'homeschooling' basically refers to the process in which one or more children of not more ... read more
|
|
|
Disclaimer:
The Publisher has strived to be as accurate and complete as possible in
the creation of this website, notwithstanding the fact that he does not
warrant or represent at any time that the contents within are accurate
due to the rapidly changing nature of the Internet.
This site
is a common sense guide to Homeschooling Methods. In practical advice websites,
like anything else in life, there are no guarantees of income made.
Readers are cautioned to reply on their own judgment about their
individual circumstances to act accordingly.
This site
is not intended for use as a source of legal, business, accounting or
financial advice. All readers are advised to seek services of competent
professionals in legal, business, accounting, and finance field.
Any
perceived slights of specific people or organizations are unintentional.
|