Although
each homeschooling family is unique, the following is a list of some popular homeschooling styles and some working definitions:
School-At-Home /Traditional: School-At-Home is a method
that typically follows a strict routine and uses a prepackaged curriculum. This method can be less demanding on the parent
if student directed workbooks are used. Some less confident parents may even opt to pay for online homeschooling, which comes
complete with online instructors.
Eclectic: Eclectic homeschooling
uses a variety of teaching methods and curricula to accomplish educational goals. Often, subjects like History and Science
are taught from the same textbooks to children of different ages, while math and language arts are taught individually at
grade level. This method allows the parent to tailor a unique program for each child individually or for all of their children
collectively, based on their own personal educational priorities.
Relaxed:
Relaxed homeschooling is a less structured approach which is great for preschool-aged kids or the mentally handicapped, but
may not be structured enough for the average student.
Unit Studies:
Unit studies teach many subject areas at one time revolving around a particular theme. This is a great idea for parents who
have the time, resources, and motivation to piece together their own curriculum.
Umbrella School / Distance Learning: Umbrella schooling or distance learning is used by parents who would like
professional record keeping services, curriculum requirements, and a high school diploma from a school. This method is more
popular for high school students since the added cost may not be justifiable for younger students. This can be done through
correspondance or online. Online high schools are becoming more and more popular. Umbrella schooling is the same in philosophy
as "school-at-home" or "traditional" homeschooling.
Unschooling: “Unschooling” is a dangerous method that puts the child in charge. Unschooled students
are encouraged to study only what they are interested in and only if they feel like it. Unschoolers give other homeschoolers
a bad name by not teaching their children the fundamentals that are necessary to function in today's world. If you like
the idea of unschooling, a better idea would be to let your child choose electives to pursue in addition to required core
subjects.
You may find that your preferred style is a combination of several of these basic styles.
