You may have heard about Charlotte Mason and Classical homeschooling.

You might know people who utilize co-ops or outschool-type classes, where kids go once or twice a week for instruction and tests from a specialized teacher, but do the bulk of their work at home.

You may be familiar with textbook style, traditional homeschooling, where you purchase curriculum, plan your lessons for the semester or year, and handle the instruction yourself.

Each of these options can be fantastic, and we’ve used most of them over the years. But sometimes it can be a challenge to find one style or method that fits your schedule, or your teaching style, or your kids’ learning style. Or, what worked for older ones, isn’t cutting it for younger siblings. Because, as we all learn, kids are all different, with unique needs and aptitudes.

Well my friend, allow me to introduce you to the wonder that is Eclectic homeschooling!

Sometimes, One Size Doesn’t Fit All

It’s a pretty obvious concept, when you really stop and think about it. I mean, we don’t only enjoy one kind of food, or wear one color exclusively. The same is true for learning.

Each of us learn different things in different ways. I think we’ve been conditioned to believe that standardization is the best way to educate, but on an individual level, kids do better with variety.

That’s what homeschooling gives us the freedom to do! And this method allows for the most freedom and flexibility within that framework.

Education Specialized To The Individual

The eclectic method is probably the most popular and easiest to do because it’s not one particular approach. It’s called eclectic because it’s a combination of the others. The parent may pick from several methods combining favorites parts from each.

This is another excellent technique to use when you are just starting out homeschooling, especially if you aren’t sure of the style you’d like to use. Try out some different materials and see which one resonates with your family or specific children.

You may love unit nature studies for science, a classical approach for history, an online program for math (maybe because you’d rather have someone else teach this subject), traditional textbooks for reading, and letting your child lead and explore on his own for arts and creative activities. That’s what eclectic is all about.

It’s Up To You

I have been homeschooling for over several years now, and we are definitely the eclectic homeschooling style in my household.  I have one VERY visual learner who has to see it to understand it, and one with a kinesthetic learning style who needs hands-on practice to drive home new concepts. One homeschooling style would not have worked with both of them.

It became very obvious early on that I needed to individualize the materials for each of them. This does not mean the curriculum needs thrown out. It may simply need some tweaking. If you bought a traditional textbook for a child one year and want to use it with another child who does better with a Charlotte Mason style, one example of a change would be to have the child narrate answers back to you instead writing everything down. There are tons of ways to change up materials. It’s okay to do that!

Freedom And Flexibility

There are a-lot of homeschoolers who utilize this method with great success. Ask around! Get some advice from people you know, or join a group to ask questions and get feedback. There are SO many different ways to make this free-style homeschooling work wonders for your family!

Unsure where to start? Take our Homeschool Philosophy Quiz to get an idea what style suits you best.

Check out the other methods in our Homeschool Philosophy Spotlight Series.

Traditional (textbook) Method

Charlotte Mason Method

Online Method

Unschooling Method

Classical Method

***Make sure to join our How to Homeschool for Free Facebook Support Group for daily encouragement in your homeschooling journey!***

Online Homeschooling Is Easier Than Ever

As a home educated kid myself, I know how much easier I have it than my mom! She read articles, joined groups, scoured expos and conventions for deals on curriculum; she was a trooper in the homeschooling world, pre-Pinterest. Today, most of that information is available at the click of a button. There are support groups I can join to get insight and great advice without ever leaving my house, and I can read reviews and get opinions from people all over the world with only a few mouse clicks.

It’s no surprise that this medium has lent itself so seamlessly to homeschooling. A wealth of information on anything has been condensed and made available in safe, reliable formats to help you educate your kids in exciting ways, all while maintaining a level of involvement that you’re most comfortable with. We’ve used this method on and off over the years and loved the flexibility it has afforded us, while keeping a high standard of education!

Some Of Our Favorite Options

Khan Academy

Khan Academy is a fantastic homeschool resource. It can be used as a homeschool supplement or as a complete course. This secular is most famous for its quality math lessons, but there is actually quite a wide variety of classes available! Students can study science, history, economics, fine arts, coding, and more.

Oh, and it’s completely free!

Easy Peasy All In One Homeschool

Another fantastic free option is Easy Peasy All In One Homeschool. Easy Peasy offers Christian, online homeschool classes for free to support your home education adventure. Classes are available for preschool – 12 Students access the lessons through a student portal (EP Assignments) and just follow the directions. The courses are organized well laid out. The detailed syllabus is available online so you know exactly what to expect with each class.

Time 4 Learning

Time 4 Learning offers math, language arts, science, and social studies online homeschool classes for students in kindergarten – 12th grade. This program is self-paced so kids can work at their own speed. Time 4 Learning will teach and grade the assignments, but parents can monitor their child’s progress online.

The membership cost is $19.95 per month for the first child and $14.95 for each siblings.

Schoolhouse Teachers

Schoolhouse Teachers offers a wide variety of Christian homeschool options for the entire family. Courses are available for preschool – 12th grade. Class offerings include core subjects like language arts, math, science, and history as well as a ton of elective options. Each class is a little formatted a little differently. Some courses are taught online through videos and others require parental involvement. The courses that require parental support include the lesson plans to make it as easy as possible.

They charge $18.97 for a monthly family membership. Quarterly and annual memberships are also available.

Enjoy The Journey

These are just a few of the many online schooling options out there! There are several  methods or styles of homeschooling and figuring out which one works for your family can take some trial and error, but the journey is so worth it! And the time with your kids is priceless!

Unsure where to start? Take our Homeschool Philosophy Quiz to get an idea what style suits you best.

Check out the other methods in our Homeschool Philosophy Spotlight Series.

Traditional (textbook) Method

Charlotte Mason Method

Unschooling Method

Classical Method

Eclectic Method

***Make sure to join our How to Homeschool for Free Facebook Support Group for daily encouragement in your homeschooling journey!***

Traditional (textbook) Or School At Home Method

When we began our homeschool journey, I felt clueless and overwhelmed. I wanted to make sure the education I provided was comprehensive and conducive to my kids’ needs, so we could be as efficient and cover as much ground as possible. I’ve since adopted a much more eclectic homeschool method, but this traditional, textbook style felt like it was well tested and that even I could implement it, despite my lack of experience. If this rings any bells then keep reading!

The traditional or school-at-home homeschooler teaches much like a teacher in the school system would. Parents teach from traditional textbooks similar to what they use in a regular classroom. Some parents borrow the actual books from the school. This method is very appealing to new homeschoolers in that it helps build confidence as they become more comfortable. Because it lays all the lessons out and there is a scope and sequence to follow, they don’t worry about missing skills. Many traditional homeschoolers opt for a complete curriculum package, which can be pricey, but it’s a trade off when everything is thought out and planned for you.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, using the school system’s books is cheaper, however, you risk them not having enough leftover for your child, not getting the books to you until after the school year begins, or having to turn them in before you are finished. This is something to take into consideration. If you plan to put your child back into the school system at some point, this may be the best route. He will be on the same track as his peers and be able to jump right back in.

A Gentler Transition From Public Schooling

Traditional home education is (compared to other home education methods) the closest parents get to replicating the school environment in their home. Many parents who use this method try to create a school-at-home environment with desks and chairs in which homeschoolers sit until their homework is completed. Most homeschoolers take an average of two to three hours to complete their homework, but a traditional curriculum may take a little longer due to in-built busywork.

A drawback to this method is it binds students to a set curriculum and they may not have time to explore other interests. They can also get bored quickly. While textbook style learning can ease the transition from school to home when you’re just starting out, as you gain more experience, you might consider branching out to other approaches if your child isn’t thriving. As we see from our spotlight series, there are SO many options for you to choose from!

Switch It Up With Block Scheduling

One variation to this is block scheduling: working on one subject each day rather than switching between several subjects every day. This has works well for kids who may have trouble transitioning. When my youngest was just starting we implemented this kind of schedule and went from 7-8 hours a day to 3-4 hours a day. She still got as much done each week, but in half the time. It made our days much smoother!

There are tons of options available for traditional/textbook curriculum. We’ve used and loved Apologia, BJU, Abeka, Alpha Omega Press, just to name a few!

Lots Of Options

These are just a few of the many traditional schooling options out there! There are several  methods or styles of homeschooling and figuring out which one works for your family can take some trial and error, but the journey is so worth it! And the time with your kids is priceless!

Unsure where to start? Take our Homeschool Philosophy Quiz to get an idea what style suits you best.

Check out the other methods in our Homeschool Philosophy Spotlight Series.

Unschooling Method

Online Method

Charlotte Mason Method

Classical Method

Eclectic Method

***Make sure to join our How to Homeschool for Free Facebook Support Group for daily encouragement and more great resources for your homeschooling journey!***

So what is the Charlotte Mason Method?

Charlotte Mason was a highly respected British educator of the nineteenth century. She believed in teaching to the whole child and that all learning should be delightful, which was quite progressive for her time. She stressed that lessons should be done in short periods of time, preferably 15-20 minutes for elementary aged students and 45 minutes for high school.

The Charlotte Mason method is based on Charlotte’s firm belief that the child is a person and we must educate that whole person, not just his mind. So a Charlotte Mason education is three-pronged: in her words, “Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life.”

A 3 Pronged Approach

By “Atmosphere,” she meant the surroundings in which the child grows up. A child absorbs a lot from his home environment. Charlotte believed that the ideas that rule your life as the parent make up one-third of your child’s education. By “Discipline,” she meant the discipline of good habits—and specifically habits of character. Cultivating good habits in your child’s life make up another third of his education. The other third of education, “Life,” applies to academics. Charlotte believed that we should give children living thoughts and ideas, not just dry facts. So all of her methods for teaching the various school subjects are built around that concept.

For example, Charlotte’s students used living books rather than dry textbooks. Living books are usually written in narrative or story form by one author who has a passion for his topic. A living book makes the subject “come alive.” This methodology was designed to be child–led and includes observation with nature, picture studies, narration, memorization, art and music appreciation, poetry, and handicrafts. There is an emphasis put on reading literature from classics, living books, and biographies.

Making It Work For You

This method is easy to implement. Many parents who feel they aren’t qualified to teach a comprehensive curriculum find this approach more manageable. It allows for a lot of flexibility with the child’s interests and ability. It’s inexpensive and children can move along at their own pace. Because this was developed in the nineteenth century for children who were taught by tutors or their nannies, it was primarily geared towards the elementary level. Parents may find as children reach high school age is it more difficult to attain the same level of education for today’s standards. Supplementing with other materials that are not Charlotte Mason influenced can be a solution. Science and math are also areas that are not focused on as heavily and parents may desire to add some supplemental materials for these as well.

This is a gentler homeschooling style that is more laid back and allows interest-led learning. The smaller time periods for learning are quite effective and keep students motivated. You’ll be surprised what your child can learn in short spurts.

Ambleside and An Old Fashioned Education are FREE, online, Charlotte Mason method curriculum.  You can also find the Charlotte Mason book series on amazon. There are also several resources to buy Charlotte Mason or Charlotte Mason inspired curriculum at Queen Homeschool, Alveary, and My Father’s World.

As with all things, there are pros and cons, but this method is beloved by homeschoolers the world over! Now that you have some foundational information, I definitely encourage you to dig a bit deeper to see if this style is right for your family! Happy homeschooling!

Not sure what your homeschooling style is?

Take the Homeschool Philosophy Quiz and see which method is right for your family!

Check out the other methods in our Homeschool Philosophy Spotlight Series.

Unschooling Method

Traditional (textbook) Method

Online Method

Classical Method

Eclectic Method

***Make sure to join our How to Homeschool for Free Facebook Support Group for daily encouragement and more great resources for your homeschooling journey!***

So, what is unschooling?

In basic terms, unschooling is a method of learning that does not follow a curriculum, but instead allows a child’s natural interests to guide the parent in what to study. Marla Taviano puts it this way in her ebook; An Unschooling Manifesto: Unschooling: student-led, interest-driven, mostly-fun, super-meaningful education  that happens at home (and/or any other place along the way). Parents and other adults are valuable facilitators, but instead of lecturing, they’re sharing from experience and often learning right alongside the kiddos. There’s no set curriculum, no list of things the kids need to know, no replication of school at la casa. Creativity and innovation and community (and all the important stuff in life) are encouraged and nurtured. Kids are celebrated for who God created them to be and inspired to become the very best grown-up version of that unique and amazing person. Unschooling families think school cramps their style; childhood’s too short to spend cooped up in a classroom; and learning happens best in the context of real life. And real life starts right this very minute.

What do you do when you want to learn about something?

You look it up, right? That’s what I do. I use Google, YouTube, and Pinterest and instantly I have access to information. Or, I find a book that explains the topic or question and run to my local library or Half Priced Books. The same concept is the basis of unchooling. It’s talking with your kids in detail about their interests, asking questions, and pursuing the answers together using whatever is at your disposal.

Unschooling is about creating a lifestyle of learning.

It’s about learning to learn. It’s about following what sparks your child’s curiosity most and diving deep. When you unschool, “school” and life begin to blend seamlessly together and, before you know it, you’re seeing learning opportunities in everything around you.  Sometimes, you have to leave the confines of curriculum and lesson plans to find out just how fun learning can really be. And in this new unschooling lifestyle of learning, you’re free to explore all the nuances of the things your child is really interested in. This leads to learning from even the most ordinary things: Why does toothpaste foam? What role does gravity play in the health and function of my body? How do bridges work? When was my city founded? Who first discovered cement?

Following your child’s interests may sound like a way to just play video games all day but if you really dive deeper into what their interests are, you can find a wealth of knowledge just waiting to be absorbed. And because they’re interested in it, your child will internalize it like no other.

So how do you actually do it?

1.Encourage questions and be ready to research the answers.

If you can’t research them right away, write them down to look up later. These questions are the jumping-off point for engaging conversation and further research.

2. Figure out what your child is really interested in and dig deep.

Dissect these interests. Think about them through the lens of what they have to teach and make a list of those topics. You may be surprised how quickly the list grows. Check out this Unschooling With A Purpose binder if you want to be intentional with your interest-led unschool.

3. Practical skills count as learning, too

Unschooling is about teaching your kids to be citizens of society now instead of being students now and citizens later. That means teaching them practical skills that they will use in the future, like how to cook, do laundry, keep house, do yard work, maintenance appliances and cars, pay bills and budget money, the list is endless!

4. Make resources available.

Once you’ve figured out what really ignites your child’s curiosity, make as many related resources as you can available on that subject. Always provide access to plenty of books, videos, podcasts, classes, games, field trips, and anything else that you need to learn more about that topic.

Look for classes on Outschool. Join a local homeschool group. Visit the library often, not just for books, but also everything else they have to offer.

5. Let exploration and discovery happen naturally.

Don’t force things. Forcing the process can instantly turn something fun into an unpleasant chore.

6. Never stop looking for new things to investigate.

Dive deep but don’t pigeonhole. This helps keep things fresh and prevents boredom. You can always return to previous topics later. You may even find that the new themes you have investigated bring renewed perspectives and ideas to those older topics.

7. Don’t forget the importance of play and imagination.

We adults sometimes think that play is only recreation, but play is a major way kids learn about and process the world around them. We must build in time for play and allow play to “count”. Even if your children are older, they will still use imagination and daydreaming to learn and process information. So don’t think this step is just for the little ones!

8. Stop thinking of yourself as a teacher and start thinking of yourself as a facilitator or guide.

Instead of putting the emphasis on what you teach them, emphasize what (and how) they are learning. Follow their interests like bread crumb trails, providing supplemental resources, experiences, and discussions wherever possible. You’re there to guide them on their learning journey, facilitating the process, and supplementing wherever you can.

9. HAVE FUN!

This is the most important tip I can give you. Make room for fun in your learning. Plan field trips. Do hands-on activities. Go for a nature walk. Read. Play. Explore. You will be surprised to find that you will learn as much (if not more) than your kids as you make this journey together.

Lots Of Options

There are several  methods or styles of homeschooling and figuring out which one works for your family can take some trial and error, but the journey is so worth it! And the time with your kids is priceless!

Unsure where to start? Take our Homeschool Philosophy Quiz to get an idea what style suits you best.

Check out the other methods in our Homeschool Philosophy Spotlight Series.

Traditional (textbook) Method

Online Schooling Method

Charlotte Mason Method

Classical Method

Eclectic Method

***Make sure to join our How to Homeschool for Free Facebook Support Group for daily encouragement in your homeschooling journey!***

Children go through three stages of development called the Trivium. There are also three stages in each subject: Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric, which correlate with the Trivium.

Grammar Stage

This first stage aligns nicely with the elementary years. Children in this stage love memorizing and cheerfully agree with you about everything. They parrot jingles from commercials and quote parents. Young children love memorizing facts, even if they don’t truly understand the facts. The little grammar students are busy laying the foundation for future education.

A lot of emphasis is placed on “great books” throughout each level. In modern classical education, elementary kids memorize history lists, parts of speech, and multiplication tables. These years are also the perfect time to have kids memorizing beautiful poetry and Bible verses. Even if they don’t memorize every fact, the object is to expose them to incredible stories. Stories of great men and women from fairy tales and mythology. Stories of good versus evil that will help shape them into men and women of good character.

As you’re teaching your youngest students, remember that you’re laying a foundation. Young kids should love their studies and be eager to learn more.

Dialect or Logic State

If the grammar stage aligns with the elementary years, the dialectic stage aligns with the middle school years. However, there is quite a bit of discussion about when kids move from the grammar stage to the dialectic stage, simply because kids mature at different rates. If the grammar stage is about memorization, the dialectic stage is about argumentation, which corresponds nicely to the tween and early teen years, doesn’t it? Since children in this stage love to argue, it’s the perfect time to teach them critical thinking, logic, and argumentation.

Middle school kids need to learn critical thinking skills and how to argue well. And not only by using a critical thinking text, but also through discussion in all the subjects they are studying. This is a great time to ask kids about cause and effect, about why things happened the way they did. And also to let them squirm just a bit as they think critically about the world. Uncomfortable questions and gray areas can be fodder for some incredible conversations!

Rhetoric Stage

Gradually, when your child stops arguing with you at every turn and you find yourself having deep philosophical discussions about the state of the world or why people are not logical, then your child is entering the rhetoric stage. And the rhetoric stage aligns well with high school.

Once the student reaches this stage, they usually have a good grasp of various subjects such as history and science. They’ve learned the basics and learned to think critically about the world. It’s now time to learn to express themselves well. So encourage your teenagers to ponder and discuss the world around them. Ask questions and encourage your teens to elaborate on their thoughts about everything. You’ll be surprised at the depth of their thinking!

What It Looks Like

For many homeschoolers using the classical model, history is at the center of the education. History provides a systematic framework to develop young minds over 12 years. And literature, writing, geography, fine arts, philosophy, and government can all be taught in and around history. A 4-year rotation through history is popular as it allows you to cover all of world history at each stage.
The four-year rotation is usually:

1. Ancient History
2. Fall of Rome – 1650
3. 1650-1850
4. 1850-present

The first time through the rotation happens during the grammar stage. So concentrate on teaching kids the essence of what happened and stories of the men and women who shaped history. The second time through history occurs during the dialectic stage so you concentrate on teaching kids to think critically. Why did Napoleon need to sell Louisiana to President Jefferson? Your kids will be in high school during the third time rotation. So now expect your kids to not only think critically but also analyze their studies. What were the long-term consequences of selling Louisiana for both France and the United States? And how can you apply the lesson to your life?

Systematic Studies

This systematic study doesn’t just apply to history, but also to all other disciplines. For instance, many classical educators rotate through the scientific disciplines in a similar manner.

1. Biology
2. Earth Science and Astronomy
3. Chemistry
4. Physics

And the same happens for literature. Grammar stage kids begin by reading children’s books, Bible Stories, fairy tales, and mythology. In the dialectic stage, they move to classic literature or abridged editions of the Great Books. During the rhetoric years, teenagers read through the Great Books of Western Civilization.

Where to Find It

Because this is such a prevalent way of teaching, there are many pre-packaged curricula choices available to homeschoolers giving you many options to choose from.

Classical Conversations is probably the most popular classical curriculum today. It is is usually done in a co-op so homeschooled students can learn in groups for a few hours each week, and it’s more reasonably priced than most classical curriculum.

Veritas Press is another great option. They offer different plans from K-12th grade, with younger grades being cheaper, while older grades are more expensive. The  plans range from book work alone, all the way to live classes with a teacher and students from all over the world!

Memoria Press has a wide variety of curricula, including pre-school and junior kindergarten and offers offline, book ordering so students can work at their own pace.

There is also a great Classical curriculum available for FREE here.

Pros and Cons

This method can be very time consuming for the student, requiring a lot of reading and taking away from other potential activities. This is more thorough than an education from the school system but will also require more time and dedication. If you’d prefer a more laid back approach, this might not be the best fit.

Ultimately classical education isn’t about just giving your kids an excellent education to get them into college. It’s about teaching your children about what is good, beautiful, and true, about giving them the gift of clear thinking and good expression.

Lots Of Options

These are just a few of the many classical schooling options out there! There are several  methods or styles of homeschooling and figuring out which one works for your family can take some trial and error, but the journey is so worth it! And the time with your kids is priceless!

Unsure where to start? Take our Homeschool Philosophy Quiz to get an idea what style suits you best.

Check out the other methods in our Homeschool Philosophy Spotlight Series.

Traditional (textbook) Method

Online Method

Unschooling Method

Charlotte Mason Method

Eclectic Method

***Make sure to join our How to Homeschool for Free Facebook Support Group for daily encouragement and more great resources for your homeschooling journey!***