The Spectrum of Homeschooling Approaches
Structured Homeschooling Methods to Radical Unschooling Styles
Sep 14, 2009
The spectrum of homeschooling approaches ranges from the most structured "school at home" to the least structured radical unschooling lifestyle. Most homeschooling families fall somewhere in between and might change over time to suit the interests and needs of individual children, as well as of the family as an interrelated whole.
Structured Forms of Homeschooling
School-at-Home: A majority of homeschoolers follow a structured curriculum program in imitation of traditional schooling (subjects, assignments, tests, grades, etc.) The selected curriculum package, of which there are many varieties, typically includes lesson plans for parents and textbooks, assignments, and tests for children.
Unit Studies: Some curricular programs emphasize "unit studies," by which several subjects are covered under one theme, i.e., a specific time period or location. The unit studies, or theme-based, approach might be more interesting to children than a subject-by-subject approach, because integrating the subjects under a theme is a closer imitation of real life than, for example, extracting the math, science, literature, social studies, etc., from an event and teaching each subject separately. Lap books may be used during unit studies.
Relaxed Forms of Homeschooling
Relaxed, Eclectic Homeschooling: Some homeschooling families practice a hybrid form between school-at-home and unschooling. For example, these parents might assign a curriculum for math, but allow the children to direct their own learning in other areas.
Unschooling: Unschooling parents trust learning to occur spontaneously during the course of daily life. In this way, it might appear at times that an unschooler is "doing nothing." At other times, with specific learning goals in mind, an unschooler might utilize educational materials along with any other tools or available resources, including instruction and direction, resulting in the appearance of an activity identical to that of a child doing curricular work. The unschooler, however, does the work by his or her own motivation. An unschooler’s desire to attend college, for example, is a goal that manifests in focused, self-directed activity toward meeting specific entrance requirements.
From Homeschooling to Lifestyle
Radical Unschooling: Whereas the term "unschooling" refers to a style of learning, "radical unschooling" is a lifestyle. Radical unschoolers, or "whole life learners," apply unschooling ideals such as freedom and mutual respect to their whole lives. They do not perceive learning as separate from any other life activity, nor do they perceive parenting as separate from any other act of living.
"Radical" is a word that means both "root" and "revolution." Radical unschooling is both the root way of life, necessarily lacking arbitrary separation of the various life activities, and revolutionary as a marked diversion from the conventional way of life in institutional culture.
Homeschooling families may find themselves at different points on the homeschooling spectrum at different times in their lives. Even within one family, multiple children might prefer varying levels of structure and guidance. The important thing is to find the true, best fit for the family, honoring the needs of each family member.
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