The Charlotte Mason method: Charlotte Mason is known as the founder of the homeschooling movement. A home schooler herself, she was passionate in her zeal to lay out the foundations for an effective a 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 home schoolers. 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 homeschooling 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.

I myself use curriculum materials from Bob Jones University (BJU Press). It is a Christian based curriculum and that is important to me. However, you don’t have to stick with every single subject from the same vendor. If I liked a math book I saw from another vendor, for example Saxon Math is an excellent math book, I can mix up my curriculum materials.

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.

Let’s first delve into the “Why”. Why would I want to even consider homeschooling. Everyone’s answer can be different. I actually have a couple of different reasons. No. 1, my daughter wasn’t emotionally ready for middle school. She tried it for 5 weeks and she called me everyday crying. I would drop her off in the morning and she would walk away from my car crying. You know what I did on my drive back home everyday? Yep, cried. The jump from elementary school to middle school was just too much for her at this point in her life.

I said I had two reasons. No. 2, the public schools failed me. My twins who were in elementary school, came home every night with homework they didn’t understand. When I questioned the teacher about it, my answer was “..it was covered in the 15 minute lesson I gave during class before we moved on to another subject.” So basically, if they didn’t get it in that 15 minutes, they were left behind. That just didn’t sit right with me. My child needed to be “taught,” not just “talked at.” That wasn’t happening in my public school. I don’t doubt that those that “got” the concepts went on and had great success in learning. It was those that were left behind, such as my sons, that suffered.

I did a lot of research before I made the leap. But for the sake of my children, I did make the leap. To me, being qualified to teach my children was the least of my concerns once I made the decision. There are laws that you have to follow that differ from state to state. You have to pick a curriculum. You have to purchase books. And you have to set some rules. Yes, it’s enough to make your head spin! I read a lot and used a lot of homeschooling self-help books to get me started.  Some of these homeschooling self-help books will not only give you a checklist to go by but will walk you through every step you need to get started.

After the dust settled and I had researched and chosen a curriculum, everything else fell into place. My home school sessions during the day only consist of about 4 hours. Here is a cold, hard fact. Most of the time a child spends in school is spent sitting while the teacher deals with behavioral problems…sitting while others catch up….in line in the hall several times a day…recess….lunch…transitioning from subject to subject. So how much time does that leave for teaching and learning? Ah hah! Is this picture becoming more clear? I can do the same job in 4 hours that the teacher does in 8 hours…I can give one on one attention…I can repeat a lesson if my child doesn’t get it…and I know my child is getting 100% positive reinforcement!

So we come back to our initial statement…”I don’t feel qualified to teach.”  Take it from me who once doubted myself…you are more qualified than you ever dreamed you could be.  Your curriculum is there to guide you in what to do. You have teachers guides with each subject that follow along right with what your child should be doing. YOU CAN DO THIS!

Do your research, get yourself a homeschooling self-help book which will provide you with a checklist and a “what to do next” and then start reading all of the free home schooling information that’s out there.

Bookmark my Blog as I’m going to be giving you some help and providing some valuable information and steps that you will want to know about. That you need to know about.

May God bles you every day!

Laurie Crafton

Stay At Home Moms Unite!