Once you have decided to homeschool, most parents start by choosing curriculum. But before you choose curriculum, it’s helpful to understand the different homeschool styles. Understanding your educational philosophy can save you time and money in the curriculum search. Your homeschooling philosophy will influence everything from your materials to your schedule to the age you begin formal instruction. Navigating the different homeschool styles can be confusing, but the good news is that you don’t have to fit perfectly into one category. Let’s explore the 7 most common homeschool styles so you can see which one fits your family best.

Traditional Textbook

Traditional textbook schooling is a version of doing school at home. In this style, parents teach from a textbook, and students complete lessons on worksheets or workbooks. These are teacher-directed lessons with a lot of parent involvement. Lessons follow a structured format. This style of homeschooling is best for families who prefer structure and routine or who may be transitioning from public school.

The benefits of a traditional textbook method of teaching is that there is minimal planning and it is easy to follow for parents. This method also has a clear scope and sequence so you know exactly when and how you are teaching each concept. It is also familiar to families who have been in a traditional school setting.

Some things to consider with this method are that it can feel rigid and there is less flexibility in the lessons you teach. (Although, as a homeschooling parent, you can always change lessons as needed for your family.) This method also relies heavily on worksheets, which can lead to burnout in kids and parents alike.

Charlotte Mason

The Charlotte Mason method of education is based on the work of its namesake. She was an educator in the early 1900s who wrote extensively of her teaching methods. The main idea of her work is that she values the child as a whole person. This means that she gives ample time for exploration of interests and hobbies while also providing a rich, well-rounded education. Her method is largely literature-based. It involves reading interesting, “living” books on different subjects and having children narrate what they hear or read. It also includes studies on composers, artists, nature, and hymns. Because she wants children to have time to explore their interests, lessons are kept short. This method works well for big families that can learn together and parents who love to read.

The Charlotte Mason method really fosters a love for learning and builds curiosity in children. It also encourages a love for nature and rich literature. Educating in this method paints a picture of an idyllic, peaceful learning environment that respects and values children.

This method also comes with some downsides, mainly in that it can be difficult to plan. Because it is literature-based, it leaves the parent to source rich, living books on the topics they want to teach. Although there are some websites that can help you plan, it requires great attention from the parent. You also will need to source other curriculum for some subjects such as math. And because, it is mostly a spoken curriculum with a lack of worksheets, it can be hard to assess if there are gaps in learning.

Classical Education

In this style of education, there are three main stages of learning: the grammar stage, the logic stage, and the rhetoric stage. During the grammar stage (ages 5-10), children naturally enjoy memorizing facts, songs, and patterns. The focus is on building a strong foundation of knowledge through reading, phonics, math facts, history, science, and language. Activities often include memorization, narration, copywork, and hands-on learning.As children mature, they begin asking “why” and enjoy making connections between ideas. This leads to the logic stage (ages 11-13). This stage emphasizes critical thinking, reasoning, and analysis. Students learn to evaluate information, identify cause and effect, solve problems, and develop logical arguments. In the final rhetoric stage (ages 14-18), students learn to communicate their ideas clearly and persuasively. They build on the knowledge and reasoning skills developed in the earlier stages by writing essays, participating in debates, giving presentations, and discussing complex topics. The goal is to prepare students to think independently and express their ideas with confidence. This method as a whole includes a deep study of history in cycles, Latin studies, and a lot of memorization.

Benefits of this method are very strong academics, excellent writing skills, and great critical thinking skills. Some downsides of this style of homeschooling are that it is extremely rigorous for active little ones, and that there is a very heavy reading load. It may not be ideal for energetic young children.

Montessori

In the Montessori method, developed by Maria Montessori, children are allowed to freely explore prepared environments to promote learning. This method involves setting up hands-on activities that children can master after watching an adult complete them. Maria Montessori believed in giving children beautiful, high quality learning materials. The Montessori style of schooling give children the freedom to choose which activities are interesting to them. This method is best for hands-on learners, especially preschool or early elementary students.

One of the great things about this style of learning is that it allows children to practice important life skills and build independence. It also fosters natural curiosity and an interest in learning. Some things to keep in mind are that materials can be expensive and it can take careful planning to ensure there are no gaps in learning. It can also be harder to implement with older children as more specific skills need to be taught.

Unit Studies

Unit studies are another popular method of homeschooling. This method includes teaching multiple subjects integrated with a common theme. One unit study may include science, history, geography, reading, writing, and art. An example might be an ocean unit study. This could include ocean science, shark anatomy, ocean geography, creative writing, an ocean art project, and counting fish in ocean pictures. This style of homeschooling works really well for families with multiple children of different ages, curious learners who enjoy deep dives into learning, and families that enjoy hands-on experiences.

Unit studies are great because they make learning meaningful, they promote sibling relationships in learning together, and they are highly engaging. Something to consider is that unit studies require careful planning to ensure learning is on level for every child and there are no gaps in learning.

Waldorf

In the Waldorf style of homeschooling, imaginative, creative learning and teaching is encouraged. This method includes a lot of nature play, handcrafts, and storytelling. Formal educating is usually delayed until age 7-8 and begins with gentle, play-based learning. This style encourages a familiar rhythms rather than a strict schedule.

This method works well for creative, nature-loving families. It emphasizes gentle rhythms and beautiful, artistic teaching. Keep in mind, this method is highly involved for parents and does delay formal academics.

Unschooling

Unschooling gets a bad rep around traditional education, but it can be a great way for families to educate independent, curious kids. This method does not use a formal curriculum, but follows the child’s interest in learning. This may mean reading many books about a topic that a child is curious about or taking field trips to learn more. Unschooling offers flexibility and personalization that other styles lack.

While unschooling is great for fostering a lifelong love of learning, it can feel overwhelming. Parents need to be comfortable with less structure and understand that they may need to focus learning slightly to ensure a well-balanced education.

Can You Mix Homeschool Styles?

Most homeschoolers do not fit neatly into any of these styles. They usually become eclectic homeschoolers. This might mean using a Charlotte Mason method for reading, traditional math curriculum, unit studies for science and history, Montessori for preschool, and a classical method for writing. There are no rules in choosing your homeschool style, only what works best for your family.

To help you decide what method works best for you, consider the following:

Does my child like structure or freedom? Do I enjoy planning lessons? Do I love reading aloud? How much time do I have? Do I want textbooks? How important is nature study? Do I want siblings learning together?

There isn’t one “right” homeschool style. The best homeschool is the one that helps your family thrive. That may change as your children grow, so give yourself permission to adapt as you go.

Still not sure which homeschool style is the best fit? During a personalized homeschool consultation, we’ll explore your child’s learning style, your family’s goals, and your teaching preferences to help you build a homeschool plan with confidence.