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