| There is a wide variety of home | | | | schools, libraries and shops, or are |
| education methods and materials. Many | | | | overseas. |
| home education families base their work | | | | These materials typically recreate the |
| on a particular educational philosophy | | | | school environment in the home, and are |
| such as: Classical education (including | | | | typically based on the same subject-area |
| Trivium, Quadrivium) Waldorf Education | | | | expectations as publicly-run schools, |
| Charlotte Mason education Theory of | | | | allowing an easy transition into school |
| multiple intelligences Montessori method | | | | if desired. They are among the most |
| Others use a broad combination of ideas | | | | expensive options for the home-educated, |
| or allow the child to develop their own | | | | but are easy to use and require minimal |
| motivation, through what is known as | | | | preparation. The instructional guides |
| Unschooling. | | | | are usually extensive, with step-by-step |
| Because home education laws vary widely | | | | instructions. These programs may include |
| according to individual government | | | | standardized tests, and remote |
| statutes, official curriculum | | | | examinations to yield an accredited |
| requirements vary. | | | | privately-run school diploma. |
| Unit studies Unit studies teach most | | | | Student-paced learning Similar to |
| subjects in the context of a central | | | | All-in-one curricula are learner paced |
| theme. For example, a unit study of | | | | curriculum packages. Often times called |
| Native Americans could combine | | | | paces, these workbooks allow the student |
| age-appropriate lessons in: social | | | | to progress at an individualized speed. |
| studies, like how different tribes live | | | | They allow the student to master |
| now, and lived prior to colonization; | | | | concepts before moving on to the next |
| art, such as making Native American | | | | subject, instead of being held back by |
| clothing; history of Native Americans in | | | | the speed of the teacher and other |
| the U.S.); reading from a special | | | | students or rushing forward for the same |
| reading list; and the science of plants | | | | reasons. Prices vary widely depending |
| used by Native Americans. The following | | | | upon the publisher. |
| unit-study subject could change to some | | | | Community resources Home educators take |
| other broad topic of study. | | | | advantage of educational programs at |
| Supporters say unit studies make | | | | museums, community centers, athletic |
| excellent use of student time by | | | | clubs, after-school programs, churches, |
| combining several fields into one study | | | | science preserves, parks, and other |
| time, and permit students to follow | | | | community resources. Secondary school |
| personal interests. Unit studies also | | | | level students often take classes at |
| permit children of different ages to | | | | community colleges, which typically have |
| study together. For example, in a Native | | | | open admission policies. |
| American unit, a 10th-grade student | | | | Eclectic curricula The majority of |
| might make a deer-skin coat for an art | | | | today's home-educated use an eclectic |
| project, while a 1st-grade student might | | | | mix of materials. For instance, they |
| make construction-paper tipis. | | | | might use a pre-designed program for |
| Home educators often purchase unit-study | | | | language, arts or mathematics, and fill |
| guides that suggest materials, projects | | | | in history with reading and field trips, |
| and shopping lists, and supplement them | | | | art with classes at a community center, |
| with specialized curricula for maths, | | | | science through a homeschool science |
| and sometimes reading and writing. | | | | club, physical education with membership |
| Special materials Special materials | | | | in local sports teams, and so on. |
| focus on skill-building. Individual | | | | Unschooling Unschooling is an area in |
| subject materials usually consist of | | | | which students are not directly |
| workbooks, sometimes with textbooks, and | | | | instructed but encouraged to learn |
| an instructional guide. Many specialized | | | | through exploring their interests. Also |
| subjects are only available in this | | | | known as interest-led or child-led |
| form. | | | | learning, unschooling attempts to |
| Special materials are frequently used | | | | provide opportunities with games and |
| for math and primary reading. | | | | real life problems where a child will |
| Critics say that some parents over-focus | | | | learn without coercion. An unschooled |
| on skills while excluding social | | | | child may choose to use texts or |
| studies, science, art, history and other | | | | classroom instruction, but it is never |
| fields that help children learn their | | | | considered central to education. |
| place in the world. | | | | Advocates for unschooling claim that |
| All-in-one curricula "All-in-one" | | | | children learn best by learning from |
| curricula, sometimes called "school in a | | | | doing. A child may learn reading and |
| box", are comprehensive packages | | | | math skills from playing card games, |
| covering many subjects, usually an | | | | better spelling and other writing skills |
| entire year's worth. They contain all | | | | because he's inspired to write a science |
| needed books and materials, including | | | | fiction story for publication, or local |
| pencils and writing paper. Most such | | | | history by following a zoning or |
| curricula were developed for isolated | | | | historical-status dispute. |
| families who lack access to public | | | | |