Homeschool Styles
Let’s talk about homeschool styles.
It is one of those things that a lot of families stumble into over time (a lot like your parenting style), but knowing what type of style fits with your own education beliefs, personal limitations, and family dynamics can save you lots of frustration, time, and money.
It is especially important for short term or temporary homeschooling. These are families choosing to homeschool for a season. Your ultimate goal is for your kiddo to return to the previous educational setting. This might happen for lots of reasons, like regular schools are closed due to a pandemic. You don’t have time to try different things every 3-6 months.
I think there are three big homeschool styles and everything else are methods and curriculum types that fall into one of these categories:
- Traditional
- Literature Focused
- Interest Led
Want to listen instead? Check out the Suddenly Seeking Homeschooling Podcast
Traditional Homeschool Style
Traditional homeschooling is using similar methods to public or private schools. Most families will be familiar with this style of learning. It is not uncommon for homeschoolers to start with this style and evolve to other styles as they get more experience.Typically students are taught individual subjects and it may involved purchasing textbooks, desks, wall posters, and a traditional looking school space.
Key Components of Traditional Homeschool
- subjects are taught individually (consider separate classes)
- checklist of learning objectives to complete
- there is a structured organization to the lesson
- follow some type of specific curriculum whether it is textbook, online, or in person.
Literature Focused Homeschool Style
Rather than using textbooks the literature focused approach to homeschooling relies on literature to engage kids in learning more about topics that include science, social studies, and components of language arts (like literature study). This homeschool style usually incorporates a specific curriculum for learning to read and math.
This is a popular homeschool style and one of the advantages is that it allows students to study subjects more in-depth and follow some of the rabbit trails that might come up during the study. Without so many strict learning objectives there is more freedom to spend more or less time in area of study.
Key Components of Literature Focused Homeschool Approaches
- reading and discussing books
- pursuing nature study
- often considered a lifestyle/ family culture
Interest Led Homeschool Style
Children direct their own learning as the homeschooling adult takes cues from their child’s interests. The focus is on the intrinsic curiosity that we all possess and how to nurture that in children. Interest led homeschoolers don’t use a defined curriculum although they may choose to develop unit studies around their child’s interests. These families work very hard to support their child in learning about their interests and developing skills that support that interest. This ranges from radically unschooling to formal unit studies.
Key Components of Interest Led Homeschool Approaches
- child led learning environment
- students often learn through play and following their natural interests
- parents play an active role in acquiring materials but allow the students to use as they wish
Grab the ebook to help you really decide on which homeschool style fits your family so you can make homeschooling work for you instead of you trying to fit into a way to homeschool that isn’t working.
