Building Your Homeschool: Educational Approach, Learning Style, Curriculum & House Rules

As more and more families choose to homeschool, online homeschool groups are a wash in questions about where to begin from new homeschool parents feeling out of their depth, confused, and often frantic about this major step into the unknown. One mistake I often see is that parents are jumping right into picking curriculum before they have created a solid vision for what kind of education they want to build in their homes. My first advise would be to slow down, take a breath, let the kids play, and start journaling. Let your kids have some unschooling time while you discover what you want to accomplish with them, what matters most to your kids and your family, and discover the educational approach is the best fit for your family life and children's needs. Hopefully this post will get your creative inspiration flowing.

Ponder & Journal These Questions to Begin to Building Your Homeschool:

• Why are we homeschooling?
• What is the purpose of education?
• What are our education goals for our child?
• What kind of home environment do we want to build to foster our home education goals?
• When it comes to my child's development as a human begin, what matters most?
• When it comes to my child's education, what matters most?
• What am I able to provide my child?
• What am I uniquely capable of offering based on my unique talents, interests, and abilities?
• How will I incorporate my unique talents, interests, and abilities into my child's education?
• What does my child need right now, and what can I do to help him?
• What is developmentally appropriate for my child?
• Where do you want to be in 4 or 5 years? 
• What skills does my child need to reach their desires?
• How does my child learn best — kinesthetic, auditory, visual?
• What goals should I set for this year?
• What plans do I need to reach this year's goals.

*Husbands and wives should counsel about these things together

*You may need to take time to get to know your child, if you haven’t been homeschooling you may be surprised how much you don’t know about them and their learning style.

I recommend that you and your spouse begin ordering your homeschool using principles taught by Nicholeen Peck in her book: "Parenting A House United: Changing Children's Hearts and Behaviors by Teaching Self-Government"

On Developmental Research: "How Children Learn" by John Holt.

COMMON EDUCATION METHODS & PHILOSOPHIES:

Classical Education: Classical education can be summarized simply as a set of skills (the Trivium) and a core content of knowledge. A classical education is based on the skills described by the Trivium (Latin for “three roads”). These “three roads” are grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric. Grammar skills involve memorization of facts that students will use in later stages of their education, and is the key focus in early education. As children mature, they become less interested in memorizing facts and more interested in understanding them. They have moved out of grammar and into the dialectic stage (ages twelve through fourteen). Finally, when students reach the rhetoric stage (ages fifteen through eighteen) they will be interested in self-expression. They are encouraged to deliver speeches and to teach others what they have learned; compose arguments on paper by refining their ability to write academic essays, and develop the ability to persuade others of the truth of your arguments. The skills of a classical education—grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric—can be applied to learning any new subject. However, the pursuit of a classical education also involves the best ideas of western civilization. Unlike most modern curricula, a classical student reads works by classics such as Plato, Homer, Virgil, and Shakespeare and studies Latin, logic, and philosophy. Some examples of this educational approach are "Classical Conversations" and the "Well Trained Mind."

Charlotte Mason Method: The Charlotte Mason method is a hybrid of classical education ideas and new age applications. It is based on Charlotte’s firm belief that the child is a person and we must educate that whole person, not just his mind. So a Charlotte Mason education is three-pronged: in her words, “Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life.” By “Atmosphere,” Charlotte meant the surroundings in which the child grows up. A child absorbs a lot from his home environment. Charlotte believed that the ideas that rule your life as the parent make up one-third of your child’s education. By “Discipline,” Charlotte meant the discipline of good habits—and specifically habits of character. Cultivating good habits in your child’s life make up another third of his education. The other third of education, “Life,” applies to academics. Charlotte believed that we should give children living thoughts and ideas, not just dry facts. So all of her methods for teaching the various school subjects are built around that concept.

The Montessori method: is an educational approach developed by Italian physician Maria Montessori. It has been popular all over the world for over 100 years. The approach focuses on independence, hands-on learning and a thoughtfully prepared environment that allows the child to grow in all the main developmental areas. Montessori Method follows these 7 principles; 1) Play is work, 2) Create an environment of order, 3) Teach a child responsibility & independence, 4) Learn through experience (hands-on-learning), 5) Careful observation of the child to determine their interests and inspire them to learn based on those interests, 6) Freedom within limits, and 7) Respect between child and parent.

"Well Trained Heart" Homeschool Philosophy: This philosophy focuses on first nurturing and educating the heart through the use of art, music, good literature, and nature. In doing this, the child’s heart develops a love of learning, and future learning becomes a love and a lifestyle, not a chore. This philosophy holds that you cannot educate the mind until you educate the heart. To see how this concept differs from the Classics and Charlotte Mason's approaches, you can learn more at their website here.

TJED Homeschool Philosophy: If Classical Education and Unschooling had a baby, it’d be Thomas Jefferson Education. The Thomas Jefferson Education (TJEd) philosophy of education emphasizes mentoring and teaching children how rather than what to think or learn. The goal is for students to develop a love of learning in an atmosphere that fosters their natural ability to reason, question, explore, and experiment. In essence, the educational process becomes more organic as parents tailor-make lessons around each child’s passions and interests. TJEd is a unique homeschooling approach whose focus is on helping children find their true calling in life. It’s much more of a lifestyle than a method or curriculum.

Unschooling Philosophy: Unschooling is an educational philosophy that relies on a child’s innate curiosity and desire to learn. It is a natural way of learning for children based on child-led learner-chosen activities (not following any curriculum) and allows student interests and natural curiosities to drive learning. It’s an alternative to traditional school and homeschooling and allows children to control their own education and trusts kids to follow a learning instinct. The philosophy is based on the theories and teachings of John Holt–that allows children freedom in learning from doing and experiencing away from curriculum or a strict school schedule.

Forest School Homeschool Method: Forest School is an innovative approach that places nature at the forefront of learning. It is a progressive, alternative education model held almost exclusively in the outdoors. It is a child-centered learning process, that offers opportunities for holistic growth through outdoor play and exploration. It encourages child-driven play, exploration and supported risk taking. It develops confidence and self-esteem through hands-on experiences in a natural setting. Its roots reach back to the open-air culture, friluftsliv, or free air life, seen as a way of life in Scandinavia where Forest School began.

Unit Studies Method: This isn't a educational philosophy, but it fits nicely into several philosophies that emphasize the child's interests over a set curriculum. In unit studies, you build an education based on bite size courses that follow your child's interests. If their interested in sharks, you delve into the subject in every direction and usually create projects to solidify the learning into something tangible they can show for what they have learned. Think of a science fair project, but now expand that to any subject under the sun. Unit studies are flexible, fun, creative, and help fuel a love of learning.

Traditional Text Book Methods: Most traditional curriculums are highly scripted and structured. Most have significant book work and/or workbooks. This educational approach is well know and predictable and is most like what most of us are used to from our public school educations. Traditional text book curriculums can make it hard for homeschoolers to make something unique out of their homeschools, but not all. As more and more families choose to homeschool, the homeschool curriculum options have expanded greatly, and with these producers tailoring their textbooks and curriculum to the desires of homeschool families, many are compatible with a variety of innovative homeschool methods and philosophies.

Online Courses & Online Schools: There is a wide variety academic offerings online these days. There are full service online schools that give parents a nearly hands-off homeschool instruction option, but most of these are incompatible with the homeschool methods and philosophies discussed above. A full online school enrollment is much more like doing public school at home, however, there are many online curriculums and courses that are a good fit for more classical and/or holistic approaches to education. Some families use online courses and curriculum in an al-le-cart way. Outschool.com is meeting that niche. Here families can enroll in online unit studies that fit a specific need or interest. There are other types of online tutorials that are used to meet a specific need in an al-le-cart way. Many families utilize online schools like Khan Academy, but rather than using the school for all of their subject area needs, they pick and choose which subjects they want from that online options. Online options have expanded the horizons of homeschool resources and almost every homeschooler today does some part of their education online.

Eclectic: Most homeschools are eclectic, which means that they don't usually stick to one set philosophy, method, or curriculum. Especially those who homeschool more than a couple of years, which may be a tip to families new to homeschooling. It isn't surprising that parents desire to provide their children with customized education, are likely to pick and choose their methods and resources as to best fit each child. Most homeschool families create their own homeschool approach out of parts they pick up from different methods, their own family culture, and their child's unique learning styles.

Some Sound Advice in Your Curriculum Search:

I generally advise new homeschoolers to be careful about choosing box set curriculums that advertise every subject you need for a particular grade in one box, most of the time these purchases come with a great deal of buyers remorse. As you approach curriculum buying:

• Search by subject.
• Look for curriculum and resources that fit your homeschool philosophy & methods.
• Use your child's learning style to guide your choices.
• Ask other homeschoolers what they have liked and not liked about particular curriculum.
• If you can find someone local who uses a particular curriculum you are interested in, ask them if you can drop by and see the curriculum. 
• Attend curriculum fairs.

Curriculums Aren't Always Necessary, Think Outside the Box:

Use read-aloud, study & discussion to help children learn to read, think, and study.
Work on projects together to strengthen bonds and teach children how to develop their talents – garden together, quilt, build something, etc.

Take care of plants and animals.

Get into nature together.
ART is learning, create something together. 
Listening to songs and stories together.
Engage in imaginative play.

Storytelling activities like skits

Do puzzles together.
Read picture books with themes in history & culture.

Read historical fiction.

Read classic literature from other periods of history.
Do unit studies in areas of interest, explore multiple sources: videos, books, museums, hands-on science experiments, etc.

Teachers Have Classroom Management, Homeschools Have Home Management!

Chaos in the home is an antidote to learning, so getting this right is the most important ingredient to building your homeschool. Earlier in the blog post I recommended the book "Parenting A House United: Changing Children's Hearts and Behaviors by Teaching Self-Government", I cannot stress more how important the principles in this book have been to the success of my parenting and homeschool, and not that only, the principles are the foundation of happy family life. Here are a few more important pillars of parenting that will make for a rich home life and an effective homeschool:

• Start everyday with the LORD and no matter what that day brings you will have peace. Don’t be so distracted by the world that you don’t communicate with God & family.
• Boundaries & consequences are essential elements of individual growth and family peace. In the game of family life, sometimes the players will get mad at the ref, but in the end everyone knows the rules of the game and the role of the ref to enforce the consequences.
• When you are trying to “change someone,” control tactics will not work. Provide your child as much choice and autonomy as possible while making the consequences consistent and predictable for all.
• If you are doing too much for your child, you’re “enabling” behavior will be destructive. Children learn helplessness when parents pick up all the pieces of their child's failure.
• Kids need to meet deadlines, show up for appointments, so create daily routines and monthly plans to hold your kids accountable.
• Require boredom!! Everyone needs a time-out on electronics & tasks. At least one hour a day, one day a week, and one week a year – Go without electronics or entertainment!
• Teach them, don’t tell them. Teaching is discovery, it is making tangible connections through doing and thoughtful learning. Telling is downloading information and will not result in learning.
• Yelling is a very dangerous choice for the regular frustrations of parenting. Yelling should be for safety, when you are yelling it should be because someone's life is in danger and the yelling might save them. Yelling and lecturing is a punishment, but it is a very poor one.

*Read my article: "Stop the Homeschool Fights & Instill Independence in Your Child's Learning"

Remember what I said at the beginning, take a breath, slow down, let the kids play, and give yourself time to discover what matters most, what you want to accomplish, and how you want to accomplish it. Homeschool is a journey and there is no need to hurry!