4 of the More Popular Home Schooling Methods

By Wesley Beck

The picture for most of home schooling is 2 or 3 kids sitting at the dining room table writing frantically in their notebooks. This is the not the true picture. There are several methods of home schooling, and the method you choose will decide the material and the way you teach it. Some of the more popular methods are discussed below.

The Charlotte Mason method:

Charlotte Mason is known as the founder of the home schooling movement. A home schooled herself, she was very hopeful in her ability to plan out a program for an effective a complete education. A program that would hold the interest of children and still be educational.

This method focuses on the basics with an emphasis placed on classical literature, poetry, fine arts, classical music and craft. Mason used several of books from classical literature; she called these 'Living Books'. This method encourages a passionate awareness of literature. The child is read to daily from the 'Living Books'. Then the child is asked to give an opinion on what was read. This process begins at the age of six, and by ten the child is expected to write her opinions in her book. Mason also suggests the use of a nature diary. After each short and interesting lesson, the child is asked to go to on a nature walk and draw observations from Nature. Thus the child also gains a sense of respect for her environment. Mason believed that development of good character and behavior was essential to the complete development of the child's personality.

The Eclectic Home schooling:

This is a mixture of various home schooling techniques. Here, the parents trust their own judgment and pick out the topics that make the best curriculum for their child. Such parents are continuously on the watch for the best products that will meet the needs of their home schoolers. Most Eclectic home schooling studies are improvised. This means that the basic curriculum is provided. The parents then make changes in the curriculum to meet the needs and interests of their children. The childrens gifts, impermanent, learning style and interests determine the curriculum. Eclectic programs include visits to the museum, libraries and factories.

Unschooling:

A Boston public educator name John Holt laid the beginnings of the unschooling method. He believed that children learned best when they are free to learn at their own pace and when they are guided by their own interests. His message was to 'unschool' the child.

This method is a hands-on approach to learning, where the parent takes definite cues from the children. There is no definite curriculum, schedules or materials. This method is the most unstructured of the various homeschooling techniques.

The Montessori Method:

This method began in Italy, when it was observed that children have acute sensitive periods, during which they undergo periods of intense concentration. During such phases, a child will repeat an activity till he gains a measure of self-satisfaction. The Montessori Method depends on a prepared environment to facilitate learning. All the materials used in this method are designed to satisfy the inner desire for spiritual development of the child. The materials used progress from simple to complex, and are rather expensive.

These are just a few of the methods of homeschooling. Whatever the method, the underlying factor is flexibility and a keen interest in the desires of the child. The secret is to use the childrens desire for knowledge to further his education.

What Research Says On Parental Involvement in Children's Education: Epstein's Framework

In Relation to Academic Achievement

Source: U.S. Department of Education

Epstein's Six Types of Parent Involvement

Joyce Epstein of Johns Hopkins University has developed a framework for defining six different types of parent involvement. This framework assists educators in developing school and family partnership programs. “There are many reasons for developing school, family, and community partnerships,” she writes. “The main reason to create such partnerships is to help all youngsters succeed in school and in later life.”

Epstein's framework defines the six types of involvement and lists sample practices or activities to describe the involvement more fully. Her work also describes the challenges inherent in fostering each type of parent involvement as well as the expected results of implementing them for students, parent, and teachers.

Epstein's Framework of Six Types of Involvement

PARENTING: Help all families establish home environments to support children as students.

• Parent education and other courses or training for parents (e.g., GED, college credit, family literacy).

• Family support programs to assist families with health, nutrition, and other services.

• Home visits at transition points to pre-school, elementary, middle, and high school.

COMMUNICATING: Design effective forms of school-to-home and home-to-school communications about school programs and children's progress.

• Conferences with every parent at least once a year.
• Language translators to assist families as needed.
• Regular schedule of useful notices, memos, phone calls, newsletters, and other communications.

VOLUNTEERING: Recruit and organize parent help and support.

• School and classroom volunteer program to help teachers, administrators, students, and other parents.

• Parent room or family center for volunteer work, meetings, and resources for families.

• Annual postcard survey to identify all available talents, times, and locations of volunteers.