Quiz: Which Homeschooling Approach Is Right For You?
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Photo: Eleaf/Creative Commons
The decision to homeschool is usually followed by a rookie mistake--rushing out and ordering every curriculum catalogue known to man. But buying a curriculum before deciding your homeschooling style is premature: You may not even need to follow a formal curriculum in order to make the most of your homeschool time.
Take this quiz if:
1. You're a newbie. You'll find your style and start out strong.
2. You're an experienced homeschooler feeling burnt-out -- it may be time time to reevaluate your methods.
The Questions:
1. When you think of homeschooling your kids, you imagine your days:
a. Out exploring nature and the natural world around you.
b. Following the interests and topics that arise naturally out of your curious kids.
c. At home with a classic book, exploring and learning from great literary minds.
d. Structured, with time for each subject, workbooks, tests, and a teachers' guide.
e. A little of all of the above.
2. It's midday: What are you doing?
a. We are still on our nature hike-- we packed a picnic lunch.
b. We are exhausted from building our space station, so we grab some lunch and head to the
couch to watch a NOVA documentary on space exploration.
c. We were inspired by the Little House on the Praire books we read, so we are baking
cornbread.
d. We have a 30 minute lunch break, and then it's time to hit the math workbook.
e. Every day looks different for us.
3. Which best describes you?
a. Mother Earth
b. Free Spirit
c. History Buff
d. Organized and Efficient
e. Some of each of these.
4. If your kids were a book, what would their title be?
a. The Outdoor Explorers
b. The 100 Interests of the Smith Kids
c. Louis and Clark: The Next Generation
d. Dot Your I's and Cross your T's
e. The Amazing Smith Kids Do It All
5. Your husband's work requires the family to travel to Costa Rica for a week during your homeschool year. What would you bring?
a. Binoculars, a nature journal, and books written by local authors.
b. I'd let the kids pack -- they'll be the ones picking activities when we get there.
c. Books written by native authors, maps, and recipes for local fare.
d. Our curriculum, of course!
e. A few workbooks, some scuba gear, and an extra suitcase for souvenirs.
6. Your child is fascinated with Native American Culture. You would:
a. Build a wigwam in the backyard and let them spend the night in it.
b. Give your child access to lots of tools and information and then follow their lead.
c. Read books, visit museums, and cook native meals.
d. Say, "Sorry, we are not learning about Native Americans, this year is Ancient Rome."
e. It would depend on my mood.
Your Style:
Mostly a: Charlotte Mason Homeschooling
Your homeschool will focus on three main areas: "Atmosphere"--learning from the home environment, "Discipline"--character education, and "Life"--learning from the passions and interests of others through books and personal interactions.
Mostly b: Unschooling
Forget the curriculum! All you need to unschool your child is their natural curiosity and your willingness to be their guide. This child-led homeschool is fueled by natural life experiences and inquiries.
Mostly c: Classical Homeschooling
Teaching kids how to learn for themselves is the goal of a Classical Education. It's a more formal style of education that teaches children the five tools of learning, known as the Trivium--reason, research, relate, record, and rhetoric.
Mostly d: Curriculum Based
You want and need order and structure in your home. This style gives you all the tools--workbooks, teacher's guide, print or online resources. Many new homeschoolers prefer this method, because it is most like traditional school, except that you get to work one-on-one with your child.
Mostly e: or a mix of answers: Eclectic Homeschooling
A little bit of this and that. You like to be flexible and use the best bits from all the different styles of homeschooling.
Now that you know your style, you can better focus your research and efforts. But remember, homeschooling is flexible and if one of these styles isn't working for you or your kids, don't view it as a failure -- see it as the very first thing you learned while homeschooling.
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