A Brief Overview of Homeschooling Methods

There are as many different approaches to homeschooling as there are homeschoolers, ranging from a formal school-at-home philosophy to the child-led philosophy of unschooling, with many variations in-between.  When we first made the decision to homeschool our children, I was overwhelmed by so many different choices.  I read books, talked to other homeschoolers, attended conferences, and surfed the internet, all of which helped me to form my own opinions.  If you are considering homeschooling, or just trying to learn more about it, here is a brief summary of the more popular methods.

School-At-Home.  This method attempts to duplicate a traditional school in the home environment, complete with textbooks, teacher-led instruction, and formal scheduling.

Classical Education. Comparable to European private schools of two centuries ago, studies include Greek and Latin, logic, art, philosophy and music.

Unschooling. Child-led learning where children explore as they naturally develop various interests. 

Charlotte Mason. Developed in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, this method recommends reading “living” books (books written by a single author passionate about a particular topic) and narrating them back to a teacher to demonstrate understanding. 

Distance Learning and Umbrella Schools. Some programs provide a combination of learning materials, DVDs, satellite courses, internet courses, grading and record-keeping services, and even diplomas.

Homeschool Co-ops.  These are usually put together by home-school support groups and utilize parents with specific skills in related areas.  Co-ops can be as small as two families or combine the resources of a large support group.

Eclectic Homeschooling.  Choosing and combining your favorite homeschool philosophies, you can create your unique homeschooling approach.  This is probably the most common method of homeschooling.

This is not an all-inclusive list, but it hits the highlights.  Although it is a very broad overview, my intent is to give you an introduction, helping you to focus your research in areas you find intriguing.