Step 2 - Our Family's Approach to Home Education
Read more about Step 2 - Understanding Approaches HERE
My own approach has developed naturally during the first year of homeschooling.
After the very first curriculum I bought FAILED TO MEET my expectations or requirements to support my vision, I had to develop my own thing.
So our eclectic approach took form over the years. It was not difficult or cumbersome, and it is still (and will probably always be) in a process of improvement.
How Did We Do It?
Firstly, I must say that I firmly believe you are homeschooling from your child’s birth.
Whether you acknowledge it as ‘doing homeschooling’ or not is irrelevant.
Knowledge about homeschooling and different approaches came later on and by that time it helped me clarify things.
I started reading about homeschooling a long time ago, and I liked the Literature approach (mainly because my husband and I love books and reading).
I also thought that the Unit Study approach was valuable (but I realized that it might involve a lot of work for me as mom).
Information on Delight Directed homeschooling was also stirring something in my soul.
But like many other moms, by the time ‘formal schooling’ had to start I was insecure and opted to buy a Literature based curriculum for some subjects.
During the first week I threw away the Teacher manual (it was too complex and cumbersome to follow) and in the next month I developed my own schedule and rhythm.
The fact that most of the books were English affected my decision to search for my own books (in our home language Afrikaans) the following year.
Thus my ECLECTIC APPROACH developed over the years.
Our Eclectic Approach
- For teaching Languages I follow Ruth Beechick’s logic of a natural way of reading and writing a little every day. A strong focus on good quality literature is important here.
- For Maths I use a prescribed Textbook curriculum. I am not afraid of Maths, but I liked what I saw when researching Math curriculums.
- For Social Studies and Sciences I follow the Charlotte Mason approach, and buy books I find in regular bookshops.
- For Science I have discovered the high quality Apologia books and it supports the worldview we want to develop in our children. This can be viewed as Literature approach.
- For Economics dad has researched some books and discovered Larry Burkett’s Money Matters series at a Homeschool Expo. That can be viewed as a textbook of sorts.
- For Art and Music a literature approach again works best by using the Usborne books, but the Unschooling approach is also done here when doing actual art and music and visiting Art museums or attending Music concerts.
- For Life skills I use common logic.
- Sometimes we are doing Unit studies when we have studied interest related things such as ballet, aeroplanes or even Helen Keller.
So as you can see, in my home the eclectic approach developed naturally.
By my second year of ‘formal schooling’ I have compiled my own framework, course of study and curriculum materials.
To be honest – I am continuously growing and adapting as needed. As you grow in experience, your confidence grows and it becomes easier to adapt and change as the need arises.
Do not worry if you are not there yet, you will also grow in experience as you continue on your homeschool journey.
Get the
Homeschooling Guide on a Personal Eclectic Curriculum
FREE to see how we have compiled our own curriculum over all these years!
For more information on the steps as we did it just click on the link:
Step3 Course of study personal
Step6 Measure and reward personal
Step7 Adapt to improve personal
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