When I first began homeschooling I knew nothing about methods used for homeschooling. My model was the school system and that is really all I knew! I happened to find a curriculum the first year, for my daughter, which used a Charlotte Mason approach. We loved it! Living books…Christ-centered…what more could I want?
This week I’m going to list some links to different methods of homeschooling, list some of the curriculum that we have used and recommend, as well as share a few resources that I still find helpful today!
Homeschooling methods
1. Charlotte Mason
What is the Charlotte Mason method?
The Charlotte Mason Way: A brand new consulting site for those interested in learning how to best implement the Charlotte Mason method in their homeschool.
2. Unschooling
3. Unit Studies
Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett
4. Classical
5. Notebooking
Tutorial: What is notebooking?
6. Eclectic
What Exactly is Eclectic Homeschooling?
All of the above listed methods and many others could be used within this method of ‘eclectic’ homeschooling!
Of course, there are also other methods of homeschooling. I’ve listed just a few to start.
Favorite homeschool curricula & providers:
Polka Dot Publishing: Life of Fred
Other recommended resources:
Unschooling Rules, Clark Aldrich
Charlotte Mason Companion, Karen Andreola
The Simplicity of Homeschooling, Vicki Goodchild
The Unschooling Handbook, Mary Griffith
The Relaxed Homeschool, Mary Hood
Wading Through the Lists
Now, this is quite a long list of companies and resources for you to work through. My suggestion is that you begin with the homeschooling methods. If you are new to homeschooling, or maybe you just feel you need a change, reading about the different methods will help you to figure out what kind of homeschooler you are, or perhaps the kind you would like to be. After that, you may want to begin searching through the various other links for curriculum companies and other books and resources I’ve listed. All of the listed curriculum and resources following are items I have used in our homeschool at some time over the last 7 years. Many of them are favorites, such as the unschooling handbook. Even if you have no interest in becoming an unschooler, I highly recommend this book. It is a wonderful resource and will get you thinking about what learning can actually look like!
I do hope you have found this list of homechooling methods, curriculum, and resources helpful. Please take time to sort through them. It will be worth it, I promise!
Be sure to come back next week. I’m planning to discuss Homeschool Field Trips.
