Sometimes when you are searching for teaching materials for your children, it’s not just the number of products that is confusing, but it’s a shock to discover that the products are coming from different ideas of how children should be taught and what they should be learning.<\/p>\n
A home school curriculum fair is kind of like an interdenominational meeting, but there aren’t just doctrinal differences–there are different educational philosophies, different teaching approaches, and different convictions about what kinds of lifestyles home schooling families should have.<\/p>\n
Common teaching approaches<\/p>\n
All home schooling materials fall into two main categories: traditional textbook curricula and non-textbook curricula.<\/p>\n
The Traditional Approach-<\/p>\n
In the Traditional Approach, graded textbooks or workbooks follow a scope and sequence that covers each subject in 180 daily increments over a span of 12 years. Teacher’s manuals, tests, and record keeping materials are usually available that correspond to each of the texts. Textbook curricula assume you will run your home school like an institutional school.<\/p>\n
Worktext programs present textbooks in consumable workbook format. The student learns his lesson, is given assignments, and is tested all in the workbook. The worktexts include tests or checkpoints to ensure that the material in each section is mastered before the student moves on to the next. Worktexts also allow more independent study and require minimal teacher preparation time and supervision.<\/p>\n
Video programs are also available that are actual classrooms on video. The child follows along with the video as if he or she were attending an actual classroom, and uses the accompanying textbooks or workbooks. \nTraditional curricula are also available on computer. Many satellite schools and well as universities now offer computer courses on CD or through the internet.<\/p>\n
Most of the textbook and worktext programs used in private Christian schools are available to homeschoolers. They each share a distinct doctrinal perspective, and usually contain strong elements of essentialism (the view that there is one “right” essential course of study for all children).<\/p>\n
Some questions to ask yourself before trying the traditional, textbook approach are listed below. Yes answers indicate this approach may work for you and your child:<\/p>\n
1. Did my child perform well in a school classroom? \n2. Does my child like to complete assignments and to have defined goals? \n3. Is my child academically oriented? \n4. Will my child complete assigned tasks with a minimum of prodding from me? \n5. Am I the kind of person who will follow through with the lesson plans and pace of the course of instruction? \nSome additional questions to ask before using the workbook approach with your child: \n1. Does my child read well and have good reading comprehension skills? \n2. Can my child work well independently? \n3. Can my child learn without a lot of variety to the teaching materials?<\/p>\n
Strengths of the Textbook\/Worktext Approach<\/strong> \n\uf0cc Everything is laid out for ease of use \n\uf0cc Follows a standardized scope and sequence \n\uf0cc Has definite milestones of accomplishment \n\uf0cc Testing and assigning grades is easy to do<\/p>\n
Weaknesses of the Textbook\/Worktext Approach:<\/strong> \n\uf021 Is geared to the \u201cgeneric\u201d child. Does not take into account individual learning styles, strengths and weaknesses, or interests \n\uf021 Assumes that there is a body of information that comprises an education and that this information can be broken down into daily increments \n\uf021 Treats children\u2019s minds like containers to be filled with information \n\uf021 Focuses on transmitting information through artificial learning experiences \n\uf021 Is teacher-directed and chalkboard oriented \n\uf021 Different aged students study different materials \n\uf021 Expensive when teaching multiple children \n\uf021 Discourages original, independent thinking \n\uf021 Has a high \u201cburn out\u201d rate<\/p>\n
Non-Textbook Approaches<\/p>\n
Although there are a number of excellent textbook and worktext programs available, many home educators object to the fact that textbooks are teacher-directed, chalkboard-oriented, and seldom take into account different teaching approaches or the different ways children receive and process information.<\/p>\n
John Gatto says, \u201cReal books educate. School books school.\u201d With textbooks, parents may feel they are \u201cbringing the classroom home\u201d instead of educating their children in a way that is uniquely home-based. These parents have found alternative teaching approaches that allow them to tailor their home schooling to their family\u2019s particular needs. Here are the six most common non-textbook teaching approaches:<\/p>\n
\uf021\u00a0The Classical Approach<\/strong>\u00a0is derived from successful courses of study throughout history and recently revived through the writings of Dorothy Sayers. \n\uf021 \nThe Principle Approach<\/strong>\u00a0is based on the premise that our nation is a unique and vital link in the westward chain of Christianity.<\/p>\n
\uf021\u00a0The Living Books and Life Experiences Approach<\/strong>\u00a0of Charlotte Mason treats children as persons, not as containers to be filled with information.<\/p>\n
\uf021\u00a0The Unit Study Approach<\/strong>\u00a0integrates several subject areas around a common theme.<\/p>\n
\uf021\u00a0Unschooling<\/strong>\u00a0assumes that children are natural learners and gives them resources to do so.<\/p>\n
The Eclectic Approach<\/strong>\u00a0takes a cafeteria-style view of home schooling and chooses suitable teaching materials from all different approaches.<\/p>\n
The Classical Approach<\/p>\n
The Classical Approach<\/strong>\u00a0to education has produced great minds throughout history, and has strong elements of perennialism (the view that the core body of knowledge that students should learn has remained constant throughout hundreds of years).<\/p>\n
The modern proponent of the Classical Approach was British writer and medieval scholar Dorothy Sayers. As the Nazis rose to power in the 1930s, Sayers warned that schools were teaching children everything except how to think. Because young adults could no longer think for themselves, Sayers felt they could be easily influenced by tyrants. To remedy this, Sayers proposed reinstating the classical form of education used in the Middle Ages.<\/p>\n
In the\u00a0Classical Approach<\/strong>, children under age 18 are taught tools of learning collectively known as\u00a0The Trivium<\/em>.\u00a0The Trivium<\/em>\u00a0has three parts, each part corresponding to a childhood developmental stage.<\/p>\n
The first stage of the\u00a0Trivium<\/em>, the “Grammar Stage,” covers early elementary ages and focuses on reading, writing, and spelling; the study of Latin; and developing observation, listening and memorization skills. The goal of this stage is to develop a general framework of knowledge and to acquire basic language arts and math skills.<\/p>\n
At approximately middle school age, children begin to demonstrate independent or abstract thought (usually by becoming argumentative or opinionated). This signals the beginning of the “Dialectic Stage” in which the child’s tendency to argue is molded and shaped by teaching logical discussion, debate, and how to draw correct conclusions and support them with facts.<\/p>\n
The goal of the Dialectic Stage is to equip the child with language and thinking skills capable of detecting fallacies in an argument. Latin study is continued, with the possible addition of Greek and Hebrew. The student reads essays, arguments and criticisms instead of literature as in the Grammar Stage. History study leans toward interpreting events. Higher math and theology begin.<\/p>\n
The final phase of the\u00a0Trivium<\/em>, the “Rhetoric Stage,” seeks to produce a student who can use language, both written and spoken, eloquently and persuasively. Students are usually ready for this stage by age 15.<\/p>\n
Here are some questions to ask yourself before trying the classical approach with your child:<\/p>\n
1. Does my family like to read good literature? \n2. Are my children intellectually oriented and comfortable with a rigorous academic program? \n3. Am I a learner? Am I comfortable learning alongside my children so I can teach them things I never studied? \n4. Do I like to study and discuss ideas that have influenced civilization?<\/p>\n
Strengths of the Classical Approach: \n\uf0cc Is tailored to stages of mental development \n\uf0cc Teaches thinking skills & verbal\/written expression \n\uf0cc Creates self-learners \n\uf0cc Has produced great minds throughout history<\/p>\n
Weaknesses of the Classical Approach:<\/strong> \n\uf021 Very little prepared curriculum available \n\uf021 Requires a scholarly teacher and student \n\uf021 May overemphasize ancient disciplines and classics<\/p>\n
The Unit Study Approach<\/p>\n
A\u00a0Unit Study<\/strong>\u00a0takes a theme or topic (a unit of study) and delves into it deeply over a period of time, integrating language arts, science, social studies, math, and fine arts as they apply. Instead of studying eight or ten separate, unrelated subjects, all subjects are blended together and studied around a common theme or project.<\/p>\n
For example, a unit study on birds could include reading and writing about birds and about famous ornithologists (language arts), studying the parts, functions, and life cycles of birds and perhaps even the aerodynamics of flight (science and math), determining the migration paths, habitats, and ecological\/sociological impact of birds (social studies), sketching familiar birds (art), building bird houses or feeders (“hands on” activities) and so forth.<\/p>\n
Several fine prepared unit study curricula are available, but it is easy to prepare your own unit studies around areas of interest. History is the logical core curriculum to build ongoing unit studies around. History provides a framework for all the other subjects because it follows a progression and covers every other subject (except possibly math), like art, music, science, literature, etc.<\/p>\n
Here are some questions to ask yourself before trying unit studies with your children:<\/p>\n
1. Am I a creative person? \n2. Do I like trying to make everything interesting and fun? \n3. Do my children have a variety of interests and learning styles? \n4. Can I live with the fact that there may be \u201cgaps\u201d in my children\u2019s education? \n5. Do I have the time and energy to be the driving, creative force behind the development of units?<\/p>\n
Strengths of the Unit Study Approach:<\/strong> \n\uf0cc All ages can learn together \n\uf0cc Children can delve as deeply or as lightly into a subject as they like \n\uf0cc The family\u2019s interests can be pursued \n\uf0cc Students get the whole picture \n\uf0cc Curiosity and independent thinking are generated \n\uf0cc Intense study of one topic is the more natural way to learn \n\uf0cc Knowledge is interrelated so is learned easily and remembered longer \n\uf0cc Unit studies are fairly easy to create<\/p>\n
Weaknesses of the Unit Study Approach:<\/strong> \n\uf021 It is easy to leave educational \u201cgaps\u201d \n\uf021 Hard to assess the level of learning occurring \n\uf021 Record keeping may be difficult \n\uf021 Prepared unit study curricula are expensive \n\uf021 Do-it-yourself unit studies require planning \n\uf021 Too many activity-oriented unit studies may cause burn-out of teacher and student \n\uf021 Subjects that are hard to integrate into the unit may be neglected<\/p>\n
The Living Books Approach<\/strong><\/p>\n
The Living Books Approach<\/strong>\u00a0is based on the writings of Charlotte Mason, a turn-of-the-century British educator. Miss Mason was appalled by several tendencies she noticed in modern education: (1) the tendency to treat children as containers to be filled with predigested information instead of as human beings; (2) the tendency to break down knowledge into thousands of isolated bits of information to be fed into \u201ccontainer\u201d children; and (3) the tendency to engineer artificial learning experiences.<\/p>\n
Mason believed in respecting children as persons, in involving them in real-life situations, and in allowing them to read really good books instead of what she called \u201ctwaddle\u201d\u2014worthless, inferior teaching material. She considered education a failure when it produced children able to \u201cdo harder sums and read harder books\u201d who lacked \u201cmoral and intellectual power.\u201d Children were to be taught good habits, to be involved in a broad spectrum of real-life situations, and given ample time to play, reflect, and create.<\/p>\n
Mason’s approach to academics was to teach basic reading, writing, and math skills, then expose children to the best sources of knowledge for all other subjects. This meant giving children experiences like nature walks, observing and collecting wildlife; visiting art museums; and reading real books with \u201cliving ideas.\u201d She called such books \u201cliving books\u201d because they made the subject “come alive” unlike textbooks that tend to be dry and dull and assume the reader cannot think for him\/herself.<\/p>\n
Here are some questions to ask yourself before trying the Charlotte Mason method:<\/p>\n
1. Does our family love to read, both alone and together through reading aloud? \n2. Do we love to go to the library? \n3. Am I comfortable with more of a \u201cfree-form\u201d approach to learning? \n4. Will I follow through with teaching my children good habits and character qualities? \n5. Do I trust my children to learn on their own? \n6. Will I follow through with exposing my children firsthand to nature and to great art?<\/p>\n
Strengths of the Living Books Approach:<\/strong> \n\uf0cc Treats children as active participants in the learning process \n\uf0cc Exposes children to real objects and books instead of interactions with distilled information \n\uf0cc Encourages curiosity, creative thinking, and a love of learning \n\uf0cc Eliminates meaningless tasks, busywork \n\uf0cc Developmentally appropriate \n\uf0cc Stresses formation of good character and habits<\/p>\n
Weaknesses of the Living Books Approach:<\/strong> \n\uf021 Tends to be very child centered \n\uf021 Very little prepared curriculum \n\uf021 May neglect higher level studies because of its emphasis on art, literature, and nature study \n\uf021 May become too eclectic<\/p>\n
The Principle Approach<\/strong> \n \nThe Principle Approach<\/strong>\u00a0is an effort to restore to American Christians three vital concepts: the knowledge of our Christian history; an understanding of our role in the spread of Christianity; and the ability to live according to the Biblical principles upon which our country was founded. The\u00a0Principle Approach<\/strong>\u00a0is a way of living life, not just a way of educating children.<\/p>\n
Developers of the\u00a0Principle Approach<\/strong>\u00a0rediscovered seven Biblical principles upon which our country was founded and by which many of the founding fathers were educated. The seven principles are as follows: (1) Individuality (God has created distinct differences in people, nations, etc.); (2) Self Government (Government starts in the heart of man.); (3) Christian Character; (4) \u201cConscience is the Most Sacred of Property;\u201d (5) The Christian Form of Government; (6) How the Seed of Local Self Government is Planted; (7) The Christian Principle of American Political Union.<\/p>\n
Four emphases are unique to this educational approach. First, there is a recognition of God’s Hand (Providence) in history. Second, there is the understanding that God has ordained three governmental institutions (the home, the church, and civil government) through which He unfolds His purposes and manifests Christ on this earth. Third, each Christian is responsible for extending God\u2019s government. Fourth, the student assumes responsibility for learning and for applying knowledge to his own life.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Principle Approach<\/strong>\u00a0may be applied to the study of any subject with the use of notebooks to record \u201cthe 4 Rs\u201d (Researching God’s Word; Reasoning from the researched Biblical truths\/principles; Relating the truths and principles discovered to the subject and the student’s character; and Recording the individual application of the Biblical principles to the subject and the student).<\/p>\n
Here are some questions to ask yourself before trying the\u00a0Principle Approach<\/strong>:<\/p>\n
1. Do I have a real concern for the application of Christian principles to my family and my nation? \n2. Will my child assume responsibility for a great deal of learning on his\/her own? \n3. Does my child like to express him or herself through writing? \n4. Am I willing to undertake extensive biblical research and teaching preparation?<\/p>\n
Strengths of the Principle Approach:<\/strong> \n\uf0cc Students learn to think \u201cgovernmentally\u201d \n\uf0cc Students become self-learners \n\uf0cc Students learn to apply biblical principles to the whole of life \n\uf0cc Students create their own \u201ctextbooks\u201d<\/p>\n
Weaknesses of the Principle Approach: \n\uf021 Focuses mainly on American history \nMay present a narrow view of life and of history \n\uf021 Requires a great deal of teacher preparation \n\uf021 Prepared curriculum available in few subjects \n\uf021 Extremely literal approach to Scripture<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.homeschoolmarketplace.com\/images\/middle-boyswrite.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.homeschoolmarketplace.com\/images\/well-trained.jpg\")
The Well Trained Mind<\/a>\u00a0by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer. Teaching history chronologically; reading great books; learning to speak well; mastering another language; focusing on understanding and thinking skills…. these are the kinds of things that produced some of our most influential scientists, statesmen and leaders in the past. Here is THE reference book for people who choose to blend the best of family-centered, home-based learning with a rigorous quest for academic excellence.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.homeschoolmarketplace.com\/images\/well-educated.jpg\")
The Well-Educated Mind<\/a>\u00a0In this “sequel” to The Well Trained Mind, Bauer and Wise help parents seeking self-education in the classical tradition.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.homeschoolmarketplace.com\/images\/stockcoursesmall.jpg\")
<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.homeschoolmarketplace.com\/images\/Expositorywriting.jpg\")
<\/a>![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.homeschoolmarketplace.com\/images\/angelbook.jpg\")
<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.homeschoolmarketplace.com\/images\/DavisSeminars.jpg\")
<\/a>![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.homeschoolmarketplace.com\/images\/FHS2HBset.jpg\")
<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.homeschoolmarketplace.com\/images\/for%20children%27s%20sake.jpg\")
For the Children’s Sake<\/a>\u00a0by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay. If you only read one book about Charlotte Mason’s approach, let this be the one. In a wonderfully uplifting way, Mrs. Macaulay shares how education can be \u201cthe diet that opens doors for each child to build a relationship with God, other persons, & the universe.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.homeschoolmarketplace.com\/images\/teaching%20children.jpg\")
Teaching Children\u00a0<\/a>by Diane Lopez. An invaluable guide to what children should know in grades K through 6 with teaching suggestions and reading lists of \u201cliving books\u201d for each grade in every subject.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.homeschoolmarketplace.com\/images\/Educating%20wholehearted.jpg\")
Educating the Whole Hearted Child<\/a>\u00a0by Clay and Sally Clarkson is a guide to using whole books and real life to teach and train children at home. Each chapter focuses on a facet of home centered education.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.homeschoolmarketplace.com\/images\/Charlotte%20Mason%20Education.jpg\")
A Charlotte Mason Companion<\/a>. If you only read two books about Charlotte Mason\u2019s approach, let this be the second. Karen Andreola leads the Charlotte Mason Research Institute and has been responsible for many of Mason\u2019s ideas being introduced to the home schooling community. In this huge, oversized book, she masterfully explains how to adapt Mason\u2019s ideas to the home school.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.homeschoolmarketplace.com\/images\/Charlotte%20Mason%20Companion.jpg\")
A Charlotte Mason Education<\/a>. Catherine Levison has collected the key points of Charlotte Mason’s methods and presents them in a simple, straightforward way that will allow families to quickly maximize the opportunities of homeschooling.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.homeschoolmarketplace.com\/images\/More%20Charlotte%20Mason.jpg\")
More Charlotte Mason Education<\/a>. “Catherine Levison takes an in-depth journey offering even more ideas for implementing the popular methods of Charlotte Mason into home schooling. In this concise and practical guide, Levison presents the key points of Charlotte Mason’s methods as contained in her six-volume series.”<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.homeschoolmarketplace.com\/images\/Charlotte%20Mason%27s%20Original.gif\")
Charlotte Mason’s Original Homeschooling Series<\/a>. This six-volume set is the complete works of Charlotte Mason. It includes over 2400 pages of the finest material ever written on education, child training and parenting.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.homeschoolmarketplace.com\/images\/Unschooling%20Handbook.jpg\")
The Unschooling Handbook<\/a>\u00a0by Mary Griffith tells how to use the whole world as your child\u2019s classroom. Fun to read, the book is a compilation of input and advice from many families who are unschooling their children.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.homeschoolmarketplace.com\/images\/Homeschooling%20excellence.jpg\")
Homeschooling for Excellence<\/a>\u00a0by David and Micki Colfax. The story of California goat farmers whose interesting, encouraging, unorthodox methods of home educating their four adopted sons won the boys scholarships to Harvard and Yale. Contains an outline of the course of study they used.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.homeschoolmarketplace.com\/images\/Christian%20unschooling.jpg\")
Christian Unschooling<\/a>\u00a0“If you are new to homeschooling – BUY THIS BOOK! It will save you years of frustration and confusion. If you are a veteran homeschooler trying to unschool – BUY THIS BOOK! It will comfort you, inspire you, encourage you, and always be at hand when you need a word of wisdom and an optimistic opinion of what you are trying to do for your children! It will thoroughly explain unschooling to you in an easy-to-understand way!”<\/p>\n