What Does It Mean To Homeschool
Not being tied to a 9-5 job or school schedule is my definition of freedom. I have two kids. Homeschooling is the plan when we get on the road. There are various homeschool methods to consider based on your child’s needs. The work is implemented by a parent, online teacher, or tutor and completed at home.
Homeschooling models
Classical
According to The Quad, https://thebestschools.org/magazine/homeschool-style-right/, the classical method is based on logic and critical thinking. This method is the original method and has been practiced since Ancient Greece and Roman times. It can include Greek and Latin studies. It tends to have a heavy emphasis on Bible studies and biblical worldview.
Charlotte Mason
The Charlotte Mason method is a mix of the classical method and unschooling. Generally, it’s fairly inexpensive. The curriculum is geared toward elementary-aged children through 6th grade. This method is Christian-based and follows a Christian approach to learning. It is a time-tested and proven method that is over 100 years old.
Montessori
The Montessori Method is a student-based approach. This is great for elementary ages students that need to touch, move, and play to learn. It works great for children with special needs. Technically, you need a Montessori teaching certificate, but parents can employ the techniques without it.
Unschooling
Unschooling is an unconventional, student-centered model that focuses on the child’s interests. It can be exploratory learning that is based on activities and gaining knowledge through experiences. The lessons are taught utilizing technology and materials. There is no traditional testing and evaluations used.
School-At-Home
School-At-Home is the traditional style of homeschooling and is the opposite of unschooling. This method is a complete pre-packaged curriculum used by public and private schools. It is a textbook led way. Children are often on pace with their peers in traditional schools.
The model may follow a regular school calendar. School-at-home can be led by a parent to teach the student, but it is administered online by a public or private teacher-facilitated school. This will follow federal and state standards for learning, including Common Core, and often uses standardized methods for testing. This testing works with college admission essays and scholarship applications.
Unit Studies
Unit Studies are a collection of learning activities tied to a theme. The activities associated with the lessons help children retain the information they learn. This is a very popular approach with homeschoolers. By using this method, children retain 45% more facts than using a traditional approach to learning, according to The Homeschool Mom, https://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/unit-study-approach/.
Eclectic Education
Eclectic Education is the most popular method of homeschooling. It is a combination of various methods, using the techniques that work best for your child’s needs. This is a child-directed and non-curriculum-based method. Eclectic education offers the ability to customize education to suit your approach to teaching and your child’s style of learning.
The Heart Of A Teacher
We all want the best for our kids. For this reason, homeschooling has appealed to me over the years. I have always been passionate about teaching my kids. I love to work with them. We enjoy doing craft projects, growing crystals, or making our own crazy balls if that gets them excited.
Will We Homeschool?
From my research, it seems like some homeschooling programs can be burdensome. They weigh you down with books, printouts, and kits. This can be taxing for traveling families without a home base. Families tend to reevaluate schooling and may bowl it down to a set curriculum just for reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Roadschooling
Then, families use road schooling for geography, social studies, history, culture, etc. Why not let kids experience firsthand what they would have to study in a book at school? That is what road schooling is all about. Visiting places, national parks, monuments, countries, and using that real-world experience to teach children.
My plan is to use a blend of concepts: homeschooling methods, road schooling, and unschooling. My oldest son is 13 and will be 14 years old when we set out. The idea of bringing him on the road at this time in his life is a fear of mine. College is important to him. He wants to be a dermatologist and bless him, achieves straight-A's in school, and has a passion for science.
On the flip side, as much as I am afraid of ruining his chances to get into a good college. He loves exotic food, traveling, culture, and adventures. As of today, he will be an adult in five years. This experience would round him out and open his eyes to other cultures, real-world experience, communicating with others, currency exchange, itinerary/trip planning, and geography.
With this in mind, he has communicated that he likes the routine of school and does like to follow a curriculum. Based on this I will use that for the language arts, science, and math. But he is an observant and intelligent guy, and I am sure he will learn by our travels and get out of it exactly what he needs to succeed.
Resources For Educating Teenagers
Recently, I stumbled upon a great resource for anyone who is looking to travel with a teenager. It has an enormous amount of educational information, tips, and resources, http://www.vagabondfamily.org/blog/road-schooling/roadschooling-highschool/. It is written by Jennifer Miller of www.Edventureproject.com.
In conclusion, there will be a learning curve for us since this is all so new. I do plan on going with the flow and seeing what works for our family. It looks like I have a lot of my own homework to do.
Recent Update
Since writing this article I have created an updated post about homeschooling and what we have learned. Please feel free to give it a read for more information. It is titled Homeschool How To Start.