Just being a homeschooler does not mean that your system of studies is the same as any other homeschooling family’s. Besides the traditional homeschooling technique which is modeled on regular school there are a multiple number of choices in techniques and methods available to homeschooling parents today. Some of these are briefly discussed here.
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Charlotte Mason Method
Charlotte Mason (1842-1923) developed a method of teaching children about the world that they live in without hassling them. It is a peaceful method which negates all stress that the parent educating the children can feel. For instance her idea of a nature walk involved the mother sitting on a picnic blanket and letting the children run around the park finding out things that interest them. You can see how such a laid back attitude would help the educator stay stress free and still explain the facts of life to her children as they bring rocks, leaves and even insects to show her.
Montessori Method
Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952) was another innovative educator who decided that it was best to let children learn at their own pace. This method of teaching has gained wide spread acceptance in pre-school and primary school levels even in regular schools. Allowing the children to progress at their own pace individually may not be possible in higher classes in regular school but its something easily done in the homeschooling atmosphere. There are even places where you can be trained as a teacher in the Montessori Method.
Unit Studies Approach
This is another popular homeschooling techniques where the parent does not teach individual subjects but instead focuses on a topic as a whole unit. For instance if you are learning about the city that you live in you will cover history by visiting the town’s landmark buildings, you will learn about geography by learning where the city is placed on the map of the country. The special attractions of the city will be discussed in terms of commercial activity and also the industries that the city hosts are explained to the child. In short all the possible subject disciplines attached to the topic get covered in a unit study of that topic.
Article Inspiration: About Homeschooling
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