Different Educational Approaches
by Mrs. Kathy Jordan

Your approach to educating your children involves much more than choosing curriculum.
It also involves deciding on what type of approach you will use to teach each subject. There are a great variety of approaches and sometimes they can be at odds with each other. In this article, we will attempt to explain the different common approaches to home education in an effort for you to decide which one will be best for your family.

There are two things to think about first:

1. What Are Your Convictions?
These, of course, may change over time. We began "one year at a time" and grew to "at least through elementary school" and as we continued to learn we eventually became "can't imagine any other way". You need the conviction that this is what God wants you to do for your family even if it is "just this year". Why? Because it will get you through the tough days (or weeks!)

2. What Is Your Philosophy?
Is it late starting (Better Late Than Early) or early starting (Never Too Early)? Is it relaxed or structured? Do you like the subjects compartmentalized (school at home) or more of a learn:ing lifestyle (home school)?
Most important: What kind of family do we want? This will determine your goals, direction, and character issues.

Approaches to Education:
The following factors are things you should take into consideration when choosing your educational approach:
-the number and ages of your children and your family goals
-the individual learning abilities, styles, and interests of your children
-the time you have available for: planning, teaching, grading, record-keeping
- your finances: if you have a large family you may want to use reusable materials that
can be passed down; if you have a smaller family there may be less up front cost (?)
[Don't overlook free resources like the library.]

Brief Summary of Approaches:
(in alphabetical order)

Charlotte Mason Method (Living Books)
There are two main principles in this method: using real life experiences to teach,
and reading "real" or "living" books (they make the subject come alive.)
e.g... How many remember reading about frontier living in a history text? Compare that with reading the Little House books. The details are remembered better with living books!
You teach the basics of math. reading, and writing then expose the children to real-life learning experiences.

Classical Education
Predicted by Michael Farris of HSLDA as "the wave of the future" in home schooling,
this is not a curriculum, per se. Rather, it is based on the Trivium and it's three stages of learning:
1. Grammar (age 6- l0) - concrete, basic facts, knowledge, memorization
2. Dialectic (begins age l0-l2) - learning to reason, understanding, logic, debate, how/why - Latin, sometimes Greek
3. Rhetoric (about age 15-up) - art of expression, use written and spoken language eloquently & persuasively, independence, creativity - WISDOM
The Goal for Christians educating Classically is to learn to use Wisdom effectively!

Principle Approach
A key element of the Principal Approach is the use of notebooks with the 4 R's.
1. Research the Bible for principles
2. Reason - what is the Biblical and governmental significance of this subject?
3. Relate principles to character issues
4. Record personal application of principle

Technology-related/Correspondence- see Practical Homeschooling magazine for many good reviews
Video courses, schools - examples: ABeka, School of Tomorrow - computer/video interactive, BJU satellite network
Computer classes, on-line instruction, academies - examples: Alpha Omega Switched On Schoolhouse CD-ROM; Eagle Christian H.S. offers all courses on Web through correspondence; Escondido Tutorial Service - classical education on-line
Traditional correspondence - Alpha Omega, School of Tomorrow
Satellite schools - Christian Liberty Academy, Sycamore Tree, School of Tomorrow

Textbook/Worksheet
Major publishers: ABeka, Bob Jones University Press, Christian Liberty Press, Rod & Staff
Paces: School of Tomorrow; Lifepacs: Alpha Omega, Light Units: Christian Light Education
**Be careful to make sure that the student develops an understanding; you may want to supplement with additional resources.
Some ways to adapt this approach: Use the same text for several children at once
Find the corresponding topics in their texts and develop a mini-unit.

Unit Studies
Integrating the various academic disciplines around a chosen theme or topic
The philosophy here is that information is more easily learned and retained if interrelated
Some common concerns about Unit Studies:
- the amount of time required for planning (you can plan in summer)
- too many hands-on activities- (you don't have to be a "3 Ring Circus"; you can have book units, pick & choose activities, and tailor the study to your family situation
Math, phonics, and grammar are usually done separately.

Unschooling/Relaxed Home Education
(see John Holt materials)
Two elements to this approach:
- Involvement in the real world and in the lives of adults
- Allowing enough time and space to think

Whatever approach you choose, you can incorporate other elements of other methods as they suit your family.
1. You may want to start with a prepared curriculum (text, worktext, unit study) the first year.
2. Then re-evaluate each year - How did it go? What are our current needs?
3. Don't be afraid to experiment.
4. Be sure to attend a curriculum exhibit so you can see different examples and what is available.
5. Never stop learning - READ, READ, READ (refer to Resources)!!
-Talk to more experienced homeschoolers
-Join an e-mail list, on-line digest or chat room

In our family, we have had much overlap in our methodology. For example, we use unit studies (prepared or self-designed) for our major "curriculum" but we also use textbooks for math and grammar. We read a lot of "living books", memorize facts in certain areas, and have even "unschooled" (by providing a rich learning environment) during difficult times such as just after a new baby, in early pregnancy, or during extended illnesses.

Resources for developing an educational approach:

The Christian Homeschool by Gregg Hams - One of the home school pioneers gives a thorough overview to all aspects of home education.

For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School by Susan Schaeffer Macauley - An educational philosophy derived from the writings of Charlotte Mason.

Home Educating With Confidence and Yes, They're All Ours by Rick and Marilyn Boyer - These homeschool pioneers and parents of 13 children live what they write. Their books are simple, honest, and often humorous accounts of "real people" teaching "real children". Inspiring!

Home Grown Kids by Raymond and Dorothy Moore - Why children learn, how children learn, and the integral role parents play.

How to Create Your Own Unit Study by Valerie Bendt - Even if you can't imagine doing unit studies, read this book to see the "big picture" and to free yourself from the school-at-home mentality. Valerie helps you to see the educational value of many of your typical day-to-day activities.

How to Home School - A Practical Approach by Gayle Graham - A home schooling mother of five and certified teacher explains all the practical how to's to get you off on the right foot. Her organization tips alone are worth the price of the book.

The Three R's Manuals and You Can Teach Your Child Successfully in
Grades 3-6 by Ruth Beechick - Mrs. Beechick advocates a "natural teaching" approach and shows you how to carry it out. The Manuals are probably the best investment you could make for your beginning students. Read these before a spending money on curriculum!

Catalogs: These catalogs are more than just resources for buying educational materials. Each of them is an annotated index by experienced homeschool parents who share their schooling philosophies. These are catalogs to READ.

The Always Incomplete Catalog Lifetime Books and Gifts
3900 Chalet Suzanne Drive, Lake Wales, FL 33853-7763
813-676-6311/FAX 813-676-2732 Orders 1-800-377-0390
The Elljah Company
Timberdoodle Company

Mrs. Kathy Jordan and her husband, Terry, have been homeschooling their 7 children (and one on the way) for 10 years and also lived in Virginia where they were involved in a Unit Study based Co-Op with five other families for 5 years.