| There are a variety of methods that can be | | | | to adapt to the individual needs and |
| applied in the area of homeschooling. The | | | | interests of their children. The curriculum |
| method you select will have an impact on the | | | | is generally established according to the |
| curriculum and style of teaching. The | | | | temperament, learning style, and interests of |
| following are some of the most popular | | | | the children. These programs typically |
| homeschooling methods. | | | | include visits to libraries, factories, and |
| | | | museums. |
| The Charlotte Mason method is named after | | | | |
| Charlotte Mason, who is known as the | | | | John Holt, a public educator in Boston, |
| originator of the homeschooling movement. She | | | | developed the 'unschooling' method. Holt |
| herself was a homeschooler, and she wanted to | | | | believed that children learn best when they |
| establish a basic plan for a complete and | | | | learn at their own pace and are guided by |
| effective homeschooling program. The | | | | their own interests. He wanted to 'unschool' |
| Charlotte Mason method emphasizes poetry, | | | | the child by requiring parents to take their |
| fine arts, classical music, crafts, and | | | | cues from the children. This approach has no |
| classical literature. This method is designed | | | | set curriculum, schedules, or materials. It |
| to encourage an awareness of literature and | | | | is the most unstructured of the homeschooling |
| involves reading to the child every day. The | | | | techniques. |
| child is then asked to tell what he or she | | | | |
| has heard. This starts at the age of six. By | | | | The Montessori method had its start in Italy. |
| the age of ten, the child is expected to | | | | It was found that children go through |
| write narrations in a book. Mason encouraged | | | | extremely sensitive periods in which they |
| the use of nature diaries as well. The child | | | | experience periods of intense concentration. |
| writes observations of nature in the book as | | | | In these phases, children will repeat an |
| well. This creates a sense of respect for the | | | | action until they receive some measure of |
| environment in the child. Mason thought that | | | | self-satisfaction from it. This method relies |
| good behavior and character were critical for | | | | on prepared environments to facilitate |
| a child's complete personality development. | | | | learning. All materials utilized in this |
| | | | method are meant to satisfy the child's |
| The Eclectic Homeschooling method is a | | | | interior desire for spiritual development. |
| combination of several techniques. Innovative | | | | Materials for this method range from simple |
| parents rely on their own judgment to select | | | | to complex, and they are relatively costly. |
| topics that make up the curriculum for their | | | | |
| own child. These parents are always looking | | | | Whatever method is selected, the underlying |
| for the best products they can find to help | | | | concept is flexibility and a strong interest |
| them meet the needs of their home schoolers. | | | | in the child's own desires. The key is to use |
| Many of the curricula in this method are | | | | children's desire for knowledge to further |
| improvised. This means that, while the basic | | | | their education. |
| curriculum is established, parents change it | | | | |