If you are in a place where you are thinking about homeschooling and what it can do for your child, you will find that there is more than one mode of education out there when you choose to take on your child's schooling yourself. When you are considering the idea of homeschooling, take some time to learn about the various different options that you have in front of you; there is a wide variety of different types of instruction out there, so make sure that you choose the one that best suits you and your child.
Structured Learning/ Traditional
When you are looking at structured homeschooling, you will find that you are effectively duplicating the school day at home. Your child will have a day that is regimented much like a public school student's day might be, with time allotted for specific subjects. One of the advantages to structured learning is that both the child and the teacher have a strong sense of direction for their studies.
Unschooling
Unschooling takes on the belief that the modern institution of education is flawed, and that for a child to get a good education, he or she needs to take the initiative. For the most part, children who are taught in the Unschooling method will be taught to read, write and do basic math, but after that, their studies will be guided by their own natural curiosity. This method of child-led learning permits the child to explore as they will, and it also allows the teacher to provide very individualized curriculum to meet the child's needs
Faith Based
Faith based homeschooling is a method of instruction that allows the parent to instill in their child the religious and moral instruction that they feel might be lacking in a public institution.
Waldorf Education Method
In the Waldorf Education Method, it is understood that a person is composed equally of spirit, soul and body, and that for a child to become completely well educated, he or she needs every part
Unit Studies Approach
When looking at the unit approach to homeschooling, you will find that the child's education starts off with one point of interest which is then used to branch out into other fields of study. For instance, if the child is interested in stars, the parent might choose to direct the course of study towards astronomy, then English through looking at what poets wrote about stars and math that centers on the distances between them.
Eclectic Learning
Eclectic learning will take aspects of each method of homeschooling and tailor it to the needs of the student and the teacher. In this way, a good balance can be struck and a curriculum that is appealing and effective to the student can be developed.
Accredited curriculum/distance learning
When a parent is working with an accredited curriculum, he or she will use as the foundation of their study the recognized curriculum from a learning institution. This gives the teacher a solid base to work with, and by sticking with this curriculum, the teacher can guarantee that their student have roughly the same experiences as those he or she would receive from a conventional institution.
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An example of a quality distance learning program is Laurel Springs School http://www.laurelsprings.com Laurel Springs School is an accredited, college prep private school offering distance learning programs and teacher services for students in grades K-12. Laurel Springs uses web-based communication tools, a standards-based curriculum, and personalized instruction to offer students the highest quality home education experience based on your child's learning style. |
