Deciding On A Homeschool Curriculum

The decision to homeschool children is one that should not be taken lightly. There are so many things that need to be considered when making this choice. Homeschooling takes time, dedication and money. The most daunting choice will be which homeschool curriculum to choose.

Homeschooling offers parents the opportunity to take a hands-on approach to the things their children will learn and the fashion in which they will learn them. In most cases, a parent must be willing to give up their free time to dedicate themselves to the work homeschooling involves. When choosing a homeschool program, it will be best to consider the way in which the student learns best.

Some children are independent learners and retain information best by reading instructions themselves. These children need very little adult supervision. There are some children who need someone to be with them every step of the learning process and require a lot of careful instruction. Some children do not learn well by simply reading information or being told something, they need to experience it. These children are known as hands-on learners.

There is a curriculum to fit every learning style. The most common curriculum is the Traditionalist Method. This method is as close to public school curriculum as it gets.

Traditionalist Method requires a specific set of textbooks, workbooks and experiments that must be completed on a set schedule. This method is usually preferred by students who are transitioning from public to home school. It is also helpful for students who have plans to mainstream from homeschooling into the public school system at some point.

The Classical Approach is a method by which children are taught according to their development. Younger children are great at memorizing and repeating facts. This method capitalizes on that talent to teach them concrete facts and basic thinking during their grade school years. The middle grades concentrate on analytical thinking since children at this stage are beginning to form their own ideas. The higher grades are spent focusing on abstract thinking and articulating ideas.

Children who work well on their own would enjoy the Independent Method of learning. This allows the student to proceed at their own pace. Older students in this field may even switch to an online independent curriculum of learning.

In some states, homeschoolers are not given a choice of study program and are moved into what are known as Umbrella Schools. This system is where the state provides the parents with a state required curriculum to follow. It is the same as what is taught in the public schools but parents are allowed to teach the child at home.

Unschooling is a method by which there are no textbooks. In this method, children learn through life experiences. Reading is taught as something that is necessary to succeed in the world, math is learned by doing home finances and science is learned through every day encounters. Though radical, Unschooling is a widely used method.

There are many choices of methods by which homeschooling parents can choose to teach their children. Christian, Eclectic and Charlotte Mason are just a few of the other popular choices for homeschool curriculum available. Before making the decision, parents should take time to research each one and find the best fit for the child.


Choosing The Best Homeschool Curriculum

Parents who decide to homeschool their children are faced with many things to consider. It is not just about the decision to pull their child out of public school, time and money are also involved. Perhaps the most challenging part of this decision is finding the best homeschool curriculum for their child's needs.

By entering the homeschool system, parents take control over the things that are taught to their children as well as the methods by which they are taught. To gain this educational control a parent must be willing to dedicate themselves to the many hours required to teach the child as well as grade papers and occasionally attend mandatory seminars. Parents who take their child's learning abilities into consideration find it easier to choose the best teaching program.

Independent learners are children who learn better by reading information and instructions on their own with very little adult interference. They enjoy doing it on their own. Assisted learners are those who do need an instructor's assistance to understand the lessons or to execute the assignments. Hands-on learners are children who may not do as well with reading instructions but excel when allowed to learn through experiments and experiences.

However a child learns best, there is a method that will suit their needs. Many children benefit from a very structured curriculum. In these cases, the Traditional Method may be the best option.

The Traditionalist Method is the one most commonly used among students who are coming from public school or who have plans to eventually transition into the public schools. That is because this method most closely resembles the method used in public schools. The textbooks, quizzes and other requirements are specifically structured for each grade level.

The Classical Approach is based on a child's natural learning progression. In grade school children are taught to memorize static facts because at the early ages their brains are hardwired for memorization and repetition. By middle school age children are beginning to wonder about things and to create their own theories so at this stage the lessons concentrate on analytical studies. High grades are focused on fine tuning ideas and abstract thinking.

The Independent Method is exactly as it sounds. Children are permitted to learn online or with physical textbooks. They are not limited by grade levels but allowed to proceed at their own pace.

Some states only permit homeschoolers to use the Umbrella School Method. This means that the child may be taught at home, but they are required to follow the exact teaching regimen as those students in public schools. This is to assure all graduates meet the same state educational requirements.

One of the more controversial methods is known as Unschooling. This method employs no textbooks and no set lesson plans. Children learn reading, math, science and history exclusively through life's daily experiences.

Parents who prefer religious based lessons will find no shortage in methods based on religious teachings. Those who prefer more innovative ways may want to look into the Charlotte Mason or Eclectic methods of teaching. Finding the best homeschool curriculum for the child is the top priority.


Finding An Effective Homeschool Curriculum

Deciding to homeschool a child is a very involved decision. Parents will need to consider the cost of home education along with the time and dedication it requires. The most important decision, however, will be finding the most effective homeschool curriculum specifically for their child.

Teaching a child at home affords the parents almost complete control over how and what their children will learn. It also puts a huge demand on the parent's time because homeschooling goes far beyond just teaching lessons. Parents must take some instruction courses and make time for paperwork. Choosing a program that works best with how their child learns will make the experience more pleasant for everyone.

Parents should consider what type of learner their child is. Some children do not retain information well by reading it or having someone tell them; they must experience it in a hands-on approach. Assisted learners need a little help understanding what they read or putting ideas into action. Independent learners will prefer very little interference in their studies and are comfortable reading and executing instructions on their own.

No matter how the child learns best, there is a program that is right for them. Making the best choice means knowing the available options. Many parents start out with the Traditionalist Method because it is very close to the public school curriculum.

Children who have spent time in the public system or may plan to eventually enter the public school system, often find this method convenient. It is based on the same teaching regimen as the public system. Each grade has a distinct lesson plan and specific textbook requirements.

The Classical Approach is a method that sets lesson plans based on how a child's basic thinking progresses with age. Children learn best when young so early lessons are based on memorizing static facts and repeating general learning tools. Middle ages focus lessons that require the child to think analytically. The higher grade levels are for fine-tuning ideas and learning to take what they know and use it in abstract thinking.

For students who work best on their own and do not like to be either rushed or slowed down, the Independent Method may work best. Students learn at their own pace. Some independent learners may even find it feasible to take lessons online instead.

Unfortunately, some states only allow homeschoolers to use Umbrella School Programs. In this program, the state provides an exact agenda for parents to follow. Students at home will learn the same things as the children on their level in public schools are learning. Some states have strict education regulations.

Unschooling is still a somewhat controversial teaching method. There are no lesson plans and no textbooks or tests. Children learn how to things like read out of necessity. Other lessons such as math, history and science are taught through daily experiences. What is learned is based on what the child is interested in or what they encounter.

From religious-based to concept-based, there are many other study programs for parents who wish to teach their children from home. Parents should do some research to know the homeschool curriculum choices available in their state. Knowing the choices will help find the method that is best for their child.



