This is the fourth in my Getting Started Homeschooling Series. Check out the rest of the articles in this series:
- Getting Started
- Why Should I Homeschool?
- What Do I Do First?
- Homeschooling Laws
- The Different Homeschooling Methods
- What is Deschooling?
- What is Unschooling?
- What is the Charlotte Mason Method?
- Homeschool Distance Learning
- Choosing Homeschool Curriculum
- Sonlight Homeschool Curriculum
- Abeka Homeschool Curriculum
- Creating Your Own Curriculum
- Homeschool Planning
- Homeschool Support
- Homeschool Socialization
Homeschooling is very flexible; parents can choose to home school their children any way they want! That’s part of the reason many of us home school, isn’t it? You are probably reading this because you are dissatisfied, for whatever reason, with the public schools your kids currently attend and you want to research options.
With that said, there are many different homeschooling methods that you can choose to implement. Your choices may be a combination of your child’s learning style, your teaching style, and perhaps even your schedule. I will introduce a few homeschooling methods to you, but the homeschooling methods are in no way restrictive; just outlines based on beliefs.
I will go into further detail on different homeschooling methods later, but for right now, I’ll give you an overview of the Unschooling homeschooling method, the Charlotte Mason Homeschooling Method, Distance Learning, Unit Studies, and I’ll even discuss Deschooling with you, even though it’s not technically a homeschooling method.
Unschooling Homeschooling Method
Unschooling is a homeschooling method that totally negates everything you know about education. Unschoolers do not use textbooks, nor do they do lessons; the unschooling homeschooling method does not use any formal training or education lessons at all. Instead, unschoolers learn from their real life experiences.
Charlotte Mason Method
The Charlotte Mason homeschooling method is based on the teaching methods of a British teacher who lived in the 1800s. This homeschooling method is based on the theory that education is based on three parts: atmosphere, discipline and life experiences.
Distance Learning
The Distance Learning homeschooling method is just what it sounds like: education through the mail or the Internet. There are many places that offer distance learning for homeschoolers, but we will discuss those when we go more in depth with this homeschooling method.
Unit Studies
The final homeschooling method I will discuss is unit studies. This homeschooling method involves theme based studies that encompass multiple school subjects. There are lots and lots of unit studies available (many for free!) on the Internet, or you can visit different education stores for great deals on unit studies.
Deschooling
Deschooling is often confused as a homeschooling method. However, it’s not a homeschooling method. Deschooling refers to the process of transitioning from a structured public school system to the more relaxed home school setting.
Later, I will explain each of these in more detail, so you can learn everything you need to know about each homeschooling method and make an educated decision on which method will work best for you and your family.
