You may have thought that there was only one type of homeschooling style or method, but nope! There are many different homeschooling styles, and today we’re going to go over 7 of the most popular homeschooling methods.
From the offset, I’d like to tell you that there is no one-size-fits-all homeschooling approach and the longer you homeschool, the more you’ll see how much you tend to glean from various homeschooling methods.
Now, this isn’t to say that you can’t be a homeschooling method purist, however, what I’ve noticed in my 9+ years of homeschooling, is that many families do a holistic blend of methods or styles that best suit their families.
Are you ready to figure out which homeschool style is perfect for your family? Let’s do this!
7 Most Popular Homeschooling Methods and Styles
1. The Classical Homeschooling Method
The Classical method is one of the most popular homeschooling styles drawing wisdom from the ancient educational practices of Greece and Rome.
The Classical method often incorporates Greek and Latin learning which can play a big role in a Classical education, however, although these are not technically required, they are encouraged in using the Classical Homeschooling Style.
In a classical education, students progress through three main stages known as the trivium. Using the “trivium” model, children move through three main stages of learning: concrete learning (the grammar stage), critical learning (the logic stage), and abstract learning (the rhetoric stage).
Here are the stages:
- The Grammar stage- During the Grammar Stage, usually in elementary school, students focus on learning the basics. They absorb lots of facts, words, and ideas in different subjects. The main goals are to memorize information, learn new words, and understand important ideas.
- The Logic stage- During this stage, typically in middle school, students start to think more critically. They learn to analyze information, find patterns, and connect ideas. Instead of just learning facts, they learn how to think about information in a deeper way.
- The Rhetoric stage- In high school, students reach the Rhetoric Stage. Here, they work on their communication skills and learn how to persuade others. They build on what they learned in earlier stages by learning to express their thoughts clearly and convincingly, both in writing and speaking. They practice speaking well, supporting their ideas with evidence, and having meaningful conversations.
Now one thing about a classical education is that it is language-based, rather than hands-on or video-based like many of the other homeschooling styles.
Is the Classical Homeschool Method for you? Check out Classical Conversation Books for some Classical homeschool resources.
A popular history resource is called, Story of Our World which you can check out here.
2. Traditional School at Home (aka public school at home)
Another popular model of homeschooling is School-at-home or “Traditional” Homeschool.
This method is the polar opposite of other homeschooling methods such as Unschooling.
The Tradition School-At-Home method is basically the same as just simply mimicking what your local public or private school classroom would look like and do, but it’s implemented at home.
A public school at home education is typically organized around complete curriculum packages that truly feel like public schooling, and are often arranged by school year. Some parents might even be choose to use the same curriculum their local public or private school uses.
The School-at-Home method can be done independently and administered entirely by a parent-teacher.
There is another spin to this Traditional Homeschool method, and it is one where families choose to use a complete teacher-facilitated school administered online, either as a public or a (paid) private school such as K12.com.
Not everyone who is looking at homeschooling is interested in “revolutionizing” the entire educational system, or willing to throw out all the methods and strategies of a conventional classroom, which is why some parents opt-in for choosing to mimic a public school education at home.
While this homeschool method tends to be more expensive, some parents feel good about choosing this method to make sure their kids are following the common standard for their age/grade level and typically align with federal and state learning standards (including Common Core).
Do you think doing a Traditional/Public School Method at home is what’s going to work for your family? Check out the K12 website for more information on this.
Some popular traditional school resources are:
Abeka (A Christian homeschool and private school resource)
Alpha and Omega (Monarch Publications)
3. Montessori Method
The Montessori method, created by Maria Montessori in the early 20th century, focuses on individualized learning and hands-on experiences.
This method is based on her work with special-needs children and emphasizes students’ freedom to move and explore.
Teachers guide indirectly, using tools and toys, and students have choices in their learning. Now, traditional Montessori education involves mixed-age classes and trained teachers, but many families choose to use Montessori principles in their homeschools today.
One key principle about the Montessori method that interests parents is that it encourages uninterrupted learning time, real-life activities, and a variety of work stations. This homeschool style values sensory experiences and prefers real tools over toys and it discourages screen time, especially for young kiddos.
You will also notice that typically, this homeschooling method is used for younger children, however, Montessori materials exist for high schoolers now a days.
What do you think? Does the Montessori Homeschool style sound like it will fit your family? You can learn more about the Montessori Method here.
Here are some Montessori Homeschool resources:
4. Unschooling Homeschool Method
Unschooling, inspired by homeschooling pioneer John Holt, is a flexible learning approach centered around the student’s interests and curiosity.
Unschooling emphasizes experiential, activity-based learning and doesn’t rely on traditional teaching methods or testing. Basically, it’s the opposite of the Traditional Homeschool or Public School At Home method.
Now instead of parents being the sole teachers in an unschooling education, they actually act as facilitators instead, simply guiding their children’s learning journey.
One key idea about Unschooling is that it recognizes that learning happens naturally, all the time, and encourages children to explore their interests freely. This is why we personally embrace a lot of Unschooling approaches in our very own homeschool.
Interestingly, while some unschoolers avoid formal classes of any kind, there are actually some who may enroll their children in courses aligned with their passions.
Contrary to popular stereotypes, when parents choose to unschool their kids, this does not mean they’re doing nothing all day and that their children are just lounging around being lazy. Unschooling also does not mean that children are not getting educated.
Ultimately, unschooling empowers children to take control of their education, pursue their interests and foster a lifelong love of learning.
Does the Unschooling method intrigue you? Here’s where you can learn more about Unschooling your children.
5. Charlotte Mason Method
Now, this is the homeschool style that I am most familiar with because this is the homeschooling method we use the most in our home.
The Charlotte Mason homeschooling method is based on the teachings of 19th century homeschooling pioneer, Charlotte Mason who had many beautiful beliefs about children and the ways they learn and thrive.
A Charlotte Mason method is typically Christian-based and embraces short periods of study, typically around 15-20 minutes maximum for elementary students, and 45 minutes maximum for high schoolers.
The reason for these short periods is to keep the attention of the child and to prevent dawdling.
The one thing I love about the Charlotte Mason method is that is not just focused on the “three R’s” (reading, writing, arithmetic), but instead, a Charlotte Mason education is coupled with nature walks, nature journals, art studies, classical music appreciation, rich history, and lots of practice in observation, memorization, and narration.
Charlotte Mason preferred “living books” (which essentially are stories, with heroes, life-lessons, read in story form) over textbooks, and believed that children were whole people who should be treated as if they are capable of understanding the world around them.
This method skips lectures and lets children take the lead in their learning journey, which is budget-friendly and flexible. It encourages kids to explore and learn at their own speed.
In summary, the Charlotte Mason Homeschooling method spreads an educational “feast” of learning and emphasizes positive habits, short lessons tailored to the child’s age, clear thinking through narration, and spelling and grammar through dictation, often using Scripture. It values children as individuals and believes they learn best through play, creativity, and real-life experiences. Kids following this method enjoy nature walks, art museum visits, and learning from engaging books that bring subjects to life.
Do you think the Charlotte Mason method will work for your family? Here is the best resource to learn all about utilizing the Charlotte Mason method.
Here are some great Charlotte Mason resources:
- A free resource to give you lesson plans that follow a Charlotte Mason education is Ambleside Online.
- And for an open and go, family-style curriculum for grades K-8, you can check out my curriculum called The Simplified Feast.
6. Unit Studies
Unit studies are themed learning plans where students explore the same topic across different subjects.
For example, when studying Ancient Egypt, they might study Egypt in Geography, the book of Exodus for Bible, pyramids in Geometry, build a mummy for art class, etc.
Unit studies can be used alone or alongside other teaching methods like Charlotte Mason or Unschooling, which is actually what we do. We sometimes throw a Unit Study into our homeschool mix to deep dive into one topic that my children or I am interested in.
The cool thing about Unit Studies is that they are so versatile and you can turn lessons into engaging projects that cater to different interests and learning styles. Not only do Unit Studies make learning fun by incorporating hands-on activities and games, but they empower students to take charge of their learning and strengthen weaker subjects.
Overall, unit studies provide a holistic approach to education, connecting different subjects and fostering a deeper understanding of topics and I highly recommend you doing a few Unit Studies a year.
Does bringing in some Unit Studies sound fun to you?
Here are some great Unit Study resources:
7. Eclectic Homeschooling
We are on the last one I’ll cover in this post today, and this homeschooling method is called Eclectic Homeschooling.
Eclectic homeschooling, also known as “Relaxed” homeschooling, is a popular method because it allows parents to customize education for each unique child without sticking to a rigid curriculum, method or style.
The thing I love about eclectic homeschooling is that it’s flexible, child-directed, and resourceful, drawing from various teaching methods and materials like a buffet.
When choosing the eclectic homeschooling method, you can combine elements from different approaches, such as Classical or Charlotte Mason, Unit Studies or Unschooling, some Traditional Methods mixed with Montessori methods, and so on to create a tailored learning experience for your homeschoolers.
Now if you haven’t noticed by now, you probably have guessed that my family and my true homeschooling method we use is the Eclectic method. I do this for a few reasons, but mostly because I find so much good and beauty in many of the homeschooling methods out there and lastly, because I’m eclectic in nature and have a hard time sticking to just ONE thing.
What about you? Do you find yourself leaning more towards an Eclectic homeschool method?
If you want a fully eclectic, family-style curriculum for grades K-8 that spreads an abundant feast, that’s simple, rich and full of goodness and beauty, then you will love our curriculum, The Simplified Feast.
