What are Different Homeschool Options?

There are lots of ways to homeschool. One of the reasons families turn to homeschool is the flexibility and freedom it gives to follow a child's lead. If you're the kind of parent that likes to get creative and design their own curriculum- you can. If you need more structure and want to purchase a curriculum designed by education experts, you can do that too. You may even choose to utilize an online program or virtual school, so you don't have to do the planning. 

Whatever you choose, homeschool doesn't have to be stressful. We're breaking down some of the options families have to help make homeschool-life easier. 

What are my options?

A wide number of homeschool options are available to explore. Below captures highlights from a few of the more popular approaches. 

1. Traditional homeschooling: This is the likely option that most often comes to mind when first contemplating the idea of home education. Simply put, it is “school at home.” It involves educating in the home environment using curriculum models that are similar to those utilized in a public school setting. Lecture teaching style, lessons and annual educational goals are aligned with a traditional learning format. Some families begin with this approach since it is familiar and structured. It provides confidence and familiarity for parents and attracts families who are new to the homeschool concept. It also ensures a smooth transition back into the physical school setting if the homeschool duration is intended to be short-term. 
2. Unit studies: Most seasoned homeschool families are fairly familiar with unit studies, even if they have not tried them personally. The general purpose of this model, also referred to as thematic studies,  is to focus all areas of learning on a particular subject. Multi-sensory learning is encouraged through a multitude of creative activities. Unit studies often allow parents to create the curriculum themselves, using a blend of lessons and projects from various sources, and often leads to a more cost-effective syllabus. Unit-studies learning may appeal to parents of students of various age levels or children who are extremely interested in one particular subject. It has even been proven to be successful for children on the autism spectrum.  
3. Charlotte Mason: This style of learning reflects the beliefs of a 19th century British educator who felt that learning should include a child’s atmosphere and disciplines. Her holistic approach, which encourages self-expression, focuses heavily on literature, exploration, hand crafts and fine arts. Students’ experiences within this method entail participation in outdoor nature lessons, discovery and journaling versus tests, papers and quizzes. Parents can expect shorter lessons and a more affordable manner of providing education at home.
4. Unschooling: Having gained much attention in recent years, unschooling does not follow any traditional guidelines or formats. Although a formal curriculum can definitely be integrated into this model, the goal is to support an active learning process. The parent is encouraged to teach according to the child’s personality, learning style and interests to stimulate an experimental education. If a student loves trains, provide hands-on activities and projects on trains. If a student is interested in a particular country, study that country, learn its dialect, and taste its cuisine. Unschooling may be most alluring to parents hoping to encourage or reinstate a love for learning in a particular student.

Additional styles to explore could include Road Schooling, Montessori, Waldorf, and World Schooling. There is no correct way to homeschool, which may be the beauty of home education, in and of itself. Finding a manner in which to provide education that will both engage the student and satisfy the parent is the first step in the journey of learning at home. For more input on the design of a homeschool program, try contacting your local school today or search for nearby preschools.