by Tere Scott

Created on: July 29, 2009

You've made the big decision to teachyour children at home, but how do you do that? It's time to choose your style and method of instruction. Choosing what method of learning is best for your family is one of the most important parts of homeschooling. Selecting the proper method of learning can be an ongoing task. Don't be afraid to dive in and choose one. There is nothing that says you have to continue using that particular method once you begin & decide it's not working for you or your child. The important thing is that your child is continuously learning and not that they have completed a series of workbooks. If this means switching curriculums mid-course, then don't be afraid to do just that.

There are many different styles of teaching and many philosophies for which method is the best. There are 4 popular methods: Unschooling, Charlotte Mason Method, Classical Education, and Traditional. Many families are an eclectic style, which means they incorporate a little bit of several styles of teaching & learning as it's appropriate for their family and individual children. For every homeschooler, the library can become your friend. This is especially true for those using living books.

Unschooling: Some families believe solely in unschooling. And, within most unschooling families is a variety of methods & beliefs. The term Unschooling can un-nerve some. A better term may be "natural learning" as unschooling can raise eyebrows of question as if you are anti-learning because you "Un" school. Chances are, however, the term won't unravel the typical unschooler. Unshcooling can be similar to the Montessori hands-on, child-led learning with the belief that children will learn naturally what they need to know if they are in an atmosphere to do so. It's a desire to impart knowledge to our children without re-creating the public or private school setting in our homes. An unschooler is more concerned about the learning process than about rote learning. Some Unschoolers may even use textbooks. Some believe solely in "living books." Parents might set books and art projects, and items of interest in their child's path throughout the day for the child to "discover" on their own, but setting down to plan a strict lesson schedule complete with times and dates as to when certain goals must be met is not a typical part of unschooling. Still, learning does occur just as your children learn to walk on their own timeframe and heir own initiative without a lesson

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