Tips to choose a good homeschooling method

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