If you are just starting out in the homeschool world, you may start to hear terms like Classical, Montessori, Charlotte Mason, Unschooling, and more tossed about. You might hear people telling you that you really need to pick a homeschool style to make sure you are doing everything right. You may have even started researching what homeschool styles even are. And, if you are anything like me, you become completely confused and overwhelmed.
It's okay! Just take a breath. It really isn't all that important. What is important is that you do what works for you, your children, and your homeschool. Plain and simple.
But know what homeschool style you align with can be helpful when it comes to choosing things like curriculum and homeschool groups. So here is a brief explanation of the different styles, and who might like them.
School at Home
This style is pretty self explanatory. It is essential following the same pedagogy of main stream public schools but at home. This style often uses full curriculum consisting of mostly textbooks. It usually has the homeschool parent standing in front of or sitting with the student and giving them formal instruction. School-at-homers would try to keep up with what your children's public school counter parts are doing. This often times includes standardized testing. It is one of the most structured forms of homeschooling.
Who this style might work for:
- Children or families who like lots of structure.
- Parents who want to be directed as to what to teach their children.
- Families in states/countries with strict homeschool laws.
Classical Education
This styles dates back to the days of Aristotle and Plato, and has been a tried and truth method for educating children. This style is based on a three-part process: Grammar (up to ages 6/7), Logic (ages 6/7 to 14), and Rhetoric (ages 14+). Which is mostly equivalent to reading, writing, and speech.
This style uses classically regarded books and resources. Latin is also a large component of this style. Classical education’s main goal is to produce virtuous, life long learners, who seek to find the logic in the world around them. Most Classical programs combine a biblical Christian perspective with the standard classical stages.
Who this style might work for:
- Children or families who like structure.
- Children who a very logical.
- Parents who want to be directed as to what to teach their children.
- Families who have hold biblical Christian perspectives.
Montessori
Based on the teachings of Maria Montessori, this style is best served with a multi-age group of students. However, many of the principles of this style are easily applied in a homeschool setting, especially in the younger years.
Montessori is a holistic learning method that incorporates a full sensory experience. A montessori environment emphasizes kinesthetic and sensory learning letting children use real tools instead of toys. While this style asks children to choose their schedules, books, snacks, and so on, these choices are chosen from a pre-selected set of work centers/materials. So while there is some level of student choice, the available options are limited and structured.
Who this style might work for:
- Kinesthetic Learners
- Plan-ahead families
- Families who like minimal spaces
- Families who like to have clear limits while still allow children to make their own choices.
Charlotte Mason
Charlotte Mason was a British educator who lived from from 1842-1923. She envisioned a world where all children were given a broad-based education regardless of their wealth or class. She believed that children deserve to be respected, given time to play and create, and be involved in real-life situations.
Students of this style will learn through "living books" - books that make these subjects come alive (no textbooks here). Nature, art, and music study are all very large components of this style. As well as narration, discussion, and copy work. Lessons are intended to be short. Just 5 - 15 minutes for young children and only up to 45 minutes for older children. This style often has a biblical Christian perspective as Ms. Mason held this herself.
Who this style might work for:
- Families who love to get cozy and read together
- Families who enjoy nature, music, and/or art.bhop;
- Families who enjoy beauty in simplicity
- Auditory Learners
- Students who do not enjoy or struggle with handwriting
- Time pressed families
- Families who enjoy a whole family style lessons
Waldorf
This style seeks to educated the whole child - "head, heart, and hand". The head refers to thinking clearly and independently. Heart refers to the capacity for feeling. Hand referring to the willingness to take action to achieve one's goals. It states that while academics is important, it should always be balances with practical and emotional intentions.
Like classical education, there are three learning stages. The early years consist of outside time, arts and crafts, and movement. Academics are delayed (formal reading, writing, ect) until age 7. The focus in the early years is on oral storytelling. Language skills are built through repetition of stories, songs, and poetry. The middle years focuses on developing the imagination and learning through play. And finally the high school years are when the more traditional styles of academics come into play.
The Arts are a large component of this learning style. Handiwork, art, music, and movement are key principles. Technology is also delayed (no technology including TV in the early years). Rhythm and consistency are very important to Waldorf homeschooler. There is also a spiritual component to this style. However, it is easily adapted to your families beliefs.
Who this style might work well for:
- Families who hold a high value on the arts.
- Families who like structure with flexibility
- Families who value a whole person approach to learning
- Families who enjoy getting cozy and reading together
- Families who enjoy creating together
- Families who value learning through play
Unit Studies
A unit studies ties all subjects together using one central theme. The them can be anything from a piece of literature, to a history even or holiday, a location, or even a person. You are going to use multiple resources from books and technology combined with activities such as hands-on projects, writing projects, and more.
A unit study approach covers all subject except for math in relation to the central topic they are learning about. Often times the parent will allow the student to choose the central topic based on something they are interested in learning about (Interest-led learning is a term associated with this style).
Unit studies can be adjusted for multiple age levels, so they make great family style learning oppertunities.
Who may like this style:
- Families with children close in age
- Families who enjoy learning as a family
- Student who learn best when they can choose the topic to learn about
- Parents who don't mind pulling materials from several resources (this is more work for the educator than other styles)
- Families who enjoy reading together
Unschooling
Probably the most misunderstood of all the homeschooling styles is Unschooling. Many people see this not educating your child. But is is really a style in which all learning is child-centered and child-chosen. Students choose which topics they would like to study and the method they use to study them. But what people don't realize is that often leads to a ton of work for the educating parent. They must each their children where and how to find information and resources to learn about the topics they have chosen. They have to give them the tools for success.
The goal of unschooling is to allow learning to occur naturally. It is built on the ida that we are all naturally curious. Children do not need to be forced to learn. We are all learning all of the time in a never ending cycle of knowledge. By allowing the child to make discoveries on their own, they are much more engaged and often times able to retain more information than students who are not as interested in what they are learning about.
Who may like this style:
- Families who want to raise independent thinkers
- Families who value child choice
- Families who enjoy going down "rabbit holes"
Eclectic
This style is essentially a mix of all other styles. Sometimes called Relaxed Schoolers, these homeschools are going to take the parts of other styles that work for them and create their own style that meets their specific needs.
With some eclectic homescholers, the only thing that separates them from Unschoolers is that they use a math curriculum. While another eclectic homeschool may use a mix of curriculum for some subjects and then use "living books" to create unit studies for other subjects (**Raises Hand**). Eclectic homeschooling is basically a broad term to describe homeschools that don't fit into one single style.
Who may like this style:
- Families who want to build a homeschool exactly tailored to their needs
- Families who didn't mind planning
- Families who want to provide some Interest-led learning opportunities while still maintaining a certain standard of learning.
I hope this helps clear up some of the confusion you may have around homeschooling styles. While it can be helpful when trying to find a curriculum that might be a good fit for your homeschool, it is not necessary at all to know what homeschool style you are. Especially when you are just starting on your homeschooling journey. I encourage to sample a little of each style and see what is the best fit for you, your children, and your homeschool.
If you would like to hear me chat more about this and what our homeschool style is, check out the video below:
As always, if you have any questions, I will be happy to try and answer them or point you in the right direction down in the comment section. I would also love to hear from you more seasoned homeschoolers about your thoughts on homeschool styles. What style is your homeschool?
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