Home Education methods
Traditional
The traditional homeschool method is the textbook-workbook style approach often used in the regular school system. The link below shows an example from Seton Home Study School.
Books:
Catholic Home Schooling: A Handbook for Parents by Mary Kay Clark
Charlotte Mason
The Charlotte Mason method stresses the use of "living books" and narration as opposed to traditional textbooks and workbooks. Other hallmarks of a Charlotte Mason style education include virtuous habit training, picture study, time outdoors and nature study, and handicrafts.
Books:
For the Children's Sake by Susan Schaeffer MacAulay,
The Three R's by Ruth Beechick
Laying Down the Rails by Sonya Shafer
Classical
Classical education is education in the liberal arts based on long standing educational methods that were used in western civilization since the middle ages. There is a focus on learning the grammar of language and basics of various subjects which includes memorization. There are stages of learning according to students' ages and mental development called the grammar stage (learning to read, write, and work with numbers), logic/analytic stage (learning to compare and analyze), and the rhetoric stage (learning to defend, explain, and teach). The socratic discussion method is used. Classical education frequently includes a study of ancient Greece and Rome and study of Latin.
Books:
Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum: A Guide to Catholic Home Education by Laura Berquist
The Three R's by Ruth Beechick
Video: What is Classical Education? short video by Memoria Press
Montessori
Maria Montessori was an Italian, Catholic doctor who cared for and educated children in the early 1900s. She taught that children under six years old have an "absorbent mind" with their learning coming through their senses and movement. She observed "sensitive periods" or ages at which children easily develop language skills, a sense of order, sensorimotor skills, and socialization. Her method focuses on training the senses, developing an ordered mind, gross and fine motor skill development, and basic life skills.
Books:
Teaching Montessori in the Home: the Pre-School Years by Elizabeth Hainstock
Teaching Montessori in the Home: the School Years by Elizabeth Hainstock
Dr. Montessori's Own Handbook by Maria Montessori
Mommy, Teach Me! by Barbara Curtis
Mommy, Teach Me to Read! by Barbara Curtis
Unit Studies
The Unit Study method incorporates learning in all the subjects taught around a topic or thematic "unit." Usually, multiple units are used such as bugs, the farm, seasons, medieval life, etc. This is often used for preschool, but is also used for other grades and even to combine children of various grade levels. The link below gives an example of a unit study/lap book from the Catholic homeschool blog, Shower of Roses.
Books:
Videos: Colonial Life Unit Study Projects with Homeschool in the Woods
Eclectic
The Eclectic Method is used when parents pick and choose from among various styles, methods, and materials available to design a unique program for their own children.
Books: Catholic Homeschool Companion by Maureen Wittmann and Rachel Mackson
How to choose which method(s) work best for your family?
Selecting an educational method or combination of methods and curriculum can seem overwhelming to parents who are just starting to homeschool. Pray about what will work best for your own children in your individual family. Children have different talents, temperaments, styles of learning, and interests. These can guide which methods and curriculum will be a good, individualized fit for each child. Talk to other homeschooling moms and dads or even homeschool graduates and do your own research. There are also "umbrella schools" that offer prepackaged curriculum and assistance as well. You can often choose to buy some of their syllabi and texts without enrolling, or you may choose to select the enrollment option if the extra assistance would benefit you.
During your research, you may find the following resources helpful.
- How to Choose Homeschool Curriculum by Cathy Duffy. This book is available as a download in pdf form and goes over how to figure out your educational goals and which methods and curriculum might work for you.
- Five Flavors of Homeschooling video by Sonya Shafer. This talk gives the basics of five different homeschooling methods and what they look like from the perspective of a mom who has chosen and is excited about the benefits of the Charlotte Mason method.