Getting Started–Step 4: Determine Approach
Many people decide on a philosophy of education before they can decide on curriculum or methods. At the end of our Decide section, you will find some of the most helpful books we have found over the years. They are a great place to begin developing your homeschool philosophy!
Some parents are more pragmatic and prefer selecting curriculum they feel comfortable teaching, while other parents let their children decide which curriculum they will use next year. Each of these approaches to selecting curriculum stems from your educational philosophy.
Here are some helpful pointers for you and your spouse to discuss when determining your educational philosophy:
- Try writing down what you believe about how children learn in general.
- Now write down what you have observed about how your child learns in particular.
- What are your goals in your children’s education?
- What are your expectations of yourself, your spouse, and your children?
- Have you discussed your expectations together as a family?
If parents are lifelong learners, they will model the joy of learning for their children. So be sure to sharpen the tools in your own toolbox– attend conferences, listen to podcasts, join a homeschool support group, and read! Take care of yourself mentally, physically, and spiritually, because a whole education is more than just learning facts about reading, writing, and arithmetic. A complete education nurtures your mind, body, and soul. You have what it takes to teach your children, and NCHE is here to help you every step of the way!
Different Approaches to Homeschooling
There are many approaches to homeschooling. Below we provide a quick summary of six common approaches.
| Traditional Method
The “school model” Examples: Abeka, Bob Jones, Modern Curriculum Press, Scott Forsman, Alpha Omega, Lifepacks, PACE (School of Tomorrow), Rod & Staff, Houghton-Mifflin, Switched on Schoolhouse (computer-based) |
Classical Method
Teach using the ‘Trivium’— learning divided into three stages of development, roughly coinciding with brain development. Resources & Examples: Well-Trained Mind (Bauer), Teaching the Trivium, Introduction to Classical Studies, Veritas Press, Classical Conversations, Tapestry of Grace |
Charlotte Mason
“Living Books” versus “twaddle” Resources: A Charlotte Mason Education, More Charlotte Mason (Levinson), A Charlotte Mason Companion (Andreola),www.amblesideonline.org, simplycharlottemason.com, For the Children’s Sake (McCauley) |
| Unit Study
Integrated Learning—learning centered around a common theme Resources: |
Unschooling & Relaxed Schooling
Loose or No Schedule Resources: |
Eclectic
Most home educators end up in this category to some extent Example: Sonlight (literature-based eclectic curriculum) www.sonlight.com |
Decide on Curriculum and Resources
More resources are available for your family than ever before, and new resources are launched every day. What makes a curriculum a success for your family isn’t the package, the sales spin, or the success stories you’ve read on their website. The closer a curriculum fits to your family’s philosophy and approach, the more successful you will be.
Most families piece together their own curriculum by picking and choosing the best for their family from different publishers. It is usually best to start small and add later. This is referred to as an “eclectic” approach. Frankly, this tailored style of education has always been one of the the most beautiful and beneficial components of a home education.
- For a lists of some of the most commonly used curricula and resources visit:
- this Curriculum Section for elementary and middle school students, or
- this Curriculum page in the High School Section.
- For a more detailed and comprehensive description, we refer you to the book: Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum, by Cathy Duffy and cathyduffyreviews.com
- Finally, to get a firsthand look at the a large variety of materials, we invite you to attend NCHE’s Thrive! Conference each Spring. Our conference features a huge vendor hall and thousands of materials.
Plan
One of the beauties of homeschooling is that each family can do it their way, in a way that fits with their philosophy, style, and life situation. The only thing the NC law says about how we must homeschool is that we must school on a regular schedule for at least nine calendar months each year. It doesn’t say how many days per week, which days per week, how many hours per day, or which hours of the day. As a homeschool teacher, you can structure your school any way that works best for you.
However, it is helpful to have a plan–even if that plan has lots of built-in flexibility. There are many personal factors that will affect your plan, but the age of your children is one of the biggest. More than likely, the older they get the more hours you will spend on structured school.
Make a plan and give it a try, but always be ready to adjust plans that don’t work. We learn what works for us as we try different things, so be creative! NCHE is here for you. Our Facebook community and Pinterest profiles are consistently terrific resources!