Homeschool Satisfaction
Homeschooling would have been the farthest thing from my mind several years ago. But, now we are in our second full year of it. Of course, it has more good and bad points, but it is easier than our family thought.
For many people, homeschooling Homeschool Satisfaction may call to mind the picture of two
or three children sitting at a table and writing feverishly in
their workbooks while mom or dad stands nearby. Unfortunately, this is not
entirely true. There are different methods of homeschooling,
and your chosen strategy will decide the curriculum and your
style of teaching. Given below are some of the most influential
and popular homeschooling methods.
The Charlotte Mason method:
Charlotte Mason is known as the founder of the homeschooling
movement. A homeschooler herself, she was passionate in her zeal
to lay out the foundations for a practically complete
homeschooling program that is fun and educational at the same
Time. This method focuses on all the core subjects, emphasizing classical literature, poetry, fine arts, classical music, and craft. Mason used various books from classical
literature called 'Living Books.' Since this method
encourages an emotional awareness of literature, the child is read
daily from the 'Living Books.' After this, the child is asked
to narrate what she has heard. This process begins at
six, and the child is expected to write her narrations in
her book by ten. Mason also advocated the use of 'Nature Diaries.' After
each short and interesting lesson, the child is asked to go to
Nature and draw observations from Nature. Thus the child also
gains a sense of respect for her environment. Finally, Mason believed that
the development of good character and behavior was essential to the
complete story of the child's personality.
The Eclectic Homeschooling:
This is a mixture of various homeschooling techniques. Here,
innovative parents trust their judgment and pick out the
topics that make the best curriculum for their Homeschool Satisfaction. Such parents
Continuously look for the best products to meet their homeschoolers' needs. Most Eclectic homeschooling curriculums are improvised. This means that the primary curriculum
is ready-made. The parents then make changes in the curriculum to
accommodate their children's individual needs and interests.
The child's gifts, temperament, learning style, and interests
dictate the curriculum. Eclectic programs include visits to
museums, libraries, and factories.
Unschooling:
A Boston public educator name John Holt laid the beginnings of the
unschooling method. He believed that children learn best when
they can learn at their own pace and when their interests guide them. His message was to 'unschool' the child.
This method is a hands-on approach to learning, where the parent
takes definite cues from the children. There is no actual
curriculum, schedules, or materials. This method is the most
unstructured of the various homeschooling techniques.
The Montessori Method:
This method began in Italy when it was observed that children
have acute sensitive periods, during which they undergo periods of
intense concentration. During such phases, a child will repeat an
activity until he gains Homeschool Satisfaction. The
The Montessori method depends on a prepared environment to facilitate
learning. All the materials used in this method are designed to
satisfy the child's inner desire for spiritual development.
The materials used progress from simple to complex and are relatively
expensive.
These are just a few of the methods of Homeschool Satisfaction. Whatever the
way, the underlying factor is flexibility and a keen interest
in the child's desires. The secret is to use the child's
thirst for knowledge to further his education.