Home School Curriculum.

Homeschooling Options

For many people, homeschooling may call to mind the picture of two or three
children sitting at a table and writing feverishly in their workbooks, while
mom or dad stands nearby. This is the not entirely true. There are different
methods of homeschooling, and the method you choose will decide the
curriculum and your style of teaching. Given below are some of the most
influential and popular homeschooling methods.

The Charlotte Mason method:
Charlotte Mason is known as the founder of the homeschooling movement.
A homeschooler herself, she was passionate in her zeal to lay out the foundations
for an effective and complete homeschooling program that is fun and educational
at the same time. This method focuses on all the core subjects with emphasis
placed on classical literature, poetry, fine arts, classical music and craft. Mason
used a variety of books from classical literature, which she called 'Living Books'.

Since this method encourages a passionate awareness of literature, the child is
read to daily from the 'Living Books'. After this, the child is asked to narrate
what she has heard. This process begins at the age of six, and by ten the child
is expected to write her narrations in her book. Mason also advocated the use
of 'Nature Diaries'.

After each short and interesting lesson, the child is asked to go to Nature 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 Homeschooling:
This is a mixture of various homeschooling techniques. Here, the innovative
parents trust their own judgment and pick out the topics that make the best
curriculum for their child. Such parents continuously look out for the best
products that will meet the needs of their homeschoolers. Most Eclectic
homeschooling curriculums are improvised. This means that the basic curriculum
is ready-made. The parents then make changes in the curriculum to accommodate
the individual needs and interests of their children. The child's gifts, temperament,
learning style and interests dictate 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
home schooling 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 child's desire for knowledge to further his education.