The information below has been pulled from many resources. You will find links to supporting curriculum and suggested reading for more exploration.
This post breaks down the philosophies like this:
- Traditional
- Unit Studies
- Classical
- Charlotte Mason
- Learning Lifestyle
- Principle Approach
Traditional
- Uses textbooks
- Instruction follows a systematic scope and sequence of skills, based upon textbooks and workbooks or written exercises
- Every subject every day
- Fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice
- When preparing a portfolio of work samples, collect: worksheets, tests, dictated, or written stories, science labs, artwork, photographs of the child playing educational games, brochures from field trip venues or theater experiences, photocopies of letters written to friends, family or officials
Proponents:
Abeka Books and Bob Jones
Unit Study
- Incorporates all subjects into a learning experience, generally a combination of written and experiential (hands-on) activities with the objective of increasing rate of retention as children study inter-related components of a subject.
- Easily allows for teaching multiple levels of children simultaneously
- When preparing a portfolio of work samples, collect: a highlighted library list of books read or referenced, a photograph of the books used, recipes and experiments, research projects, art projects or pictures of projects, photographs of things not easily saved (a paper mache volcano), photocopies of letters written to friends, family, or officials, brochures from field trip venues or theater experiences.
Proponents and Websites:
A Journey Through Learning/Lapbooks and Unit Studies
Beautiful Feet Books (History-based)
Ben and Me – The Traveling Homeschool
Steve and Jane Lambert, Five in A Row
Valerie Bendt, Unit Studies Made Easy
Valerie Bendt, How to Create your Own Unit Study
…click here for more
Classical
- Follows the Trivium (language and image focused)
- Grammar Stage (K-4) memorizing and learning foundational facts for future learning, listening
- Logic Stage (5-8) organizing, analytical thinking, and debate
- Rhetoric Stage (9-12) developing and expressing knowledge
- Follows three, four year cycles of instruction over twelve years
- When preparing a portfolio of work samples, collect: written work samples, coloring pages, map work, tests, dictated or written stories, science labs, artwork, brochures from field trip venues or theater experiences, photocopies of letters written to friends, family, or officials.
Curriculum Companies/Websites:
Proponents:
Dorothy Sayers, The Lost Tools of Learning
Susan Wise Bauer, The Well Trained Mind
Leigh Bortins, Classical Conversations
Kevin Clark and Ravi Jain, The Liberal Arts Tradition: A Philosophy of Christian Classical Education
Charlotte Mason
- Living books and great literature written in conversational style
- Simple and gentle approach
- Narration of a story by the child to increase retention and promote self-education
- First hand experiences such as nature walks, discovery centers, museums, art galleries
- When preparing a portfolio of work samples, collect: written work samples, nature sketches, dictated, narrated or written stories, photographs of history or science projects (especially if they are outside or cannot be kept), brochures from field trip venues or theater experiences
Proponents and Curriculum Companies/Websites:
John and Sonya Shafer and Doug and Karen Smith, from Simply Charlotte Mason
Karen Andreola, A Charlotte Mason Companion
Catherine Levison, A Charlotte Mason Education
Learning Lifestyle
- A blending of life and learning, most everything is considered educational
- Family can pursue interests together
- Eclectic methods – use what is relevant and real
- When preparing a portfolio of work samples, collect: written work samples, dictated or written stories, science labs, artwork, brochures from field trip venues or theater experiences, menus form ethnic restaurants, photocopies of recipes used, photocopies of letters written to friends, family, or officials, photographs of student changing the oil or putting in tile.
Proponents
Jim and Marilyn Howshall, Lifestyle of Learning
Dave and Barb Shelton from Homeschool Oasis
Principle Approach
- Focused on providential history and Biblical principles of the Founding Fathers
- Bible is primary resource
- Liberal and fine arts focus
- The 4 R’s: Research, Reason, Relate, and Record
Curriculum Companies/Websites:
The Foundation for American Christian Education
Delayed Academics
- Delaying formal academic schooling until the child is ready
- Equal portions of study, work, and service
- Children encouraged to explore, wonder, and question
- Many learning activities take place without tangible work therefore documentation might include photographs. Also consider brochures and tickets from field trips, art, and theater venues
Proponents:
The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook
Home Grown Kids
Home Style Teaching
Better Late Than Early
Home Spun Schools
Unschooling
- Student interests propel subjects taught as well as length of study
- When preparing a portfolio of work samples, collect: written work samples, coloring pages, tests, dictated or written stories, science labs, artwork, brochures from field trip venues or theater experiences, photocopies of letters written to friends, family or officials
Proponents and Curriculum/Websites:
John Holt
How Children Learn
Learning All the Time
Teach Your Own (revised by Pat Farenga)
Pat Farenga
What to Teach When
Diane Lopez, Teaching Children
Rebecca Rupp, Home Learning Year by Year
Other Helpful websites:
World Book Typical Course of Study
Not enough? Want to talk it out? Email us at homeschoolersoflakecounty@gmail.com or post on the Facebook group page and see what other families are doing.
