Protip: This is a lot of information. Each educational philosophy has its own article so you can dig deeper if you wish!
So you’re asking, what is an Educational Philosophy?
Educational philosophy has been studied for years in education. With an enormous amount of literature and studies generated on the subject, much research on educational philosophy is very “dense.” But for parents, this can be undiscovered territory! You may have heard of Montessori, Waldorf, or other innovative schools. Professional teachers often discuss these methods and incorporate aspects into their classrooms. However, this is a more personal style and approach question for the home educator. Read on to learn how to discover your educational philosophy – or philosophies!
What’s the difference between Educational Philosophy and Teaching Style?
Educational philosophies are “schools of thought,” or ideologies on teaching. But your personal teaching “style” may mix various aspects of these. For example, rock, jazz, and classical are forms of music, but your style might be a little jazzy rock. You can take the aspects of each educational philosophy that work for you and personalize them into your teaching style. Your signature way of helping your child learn is all about you. But trying to do this all by yourself is daunting. It helps to have some educational philosophical guides in your pocket, and plenty are available!
YDNWYDN (You don’t know what you don’t know). Yet.
When you begin your homeschooling journey, you probably have at least some vague idea of your ideal homeschool day. This will likely change as time goes on once you discover what works for you and your kids. One of the most important discoveries of homeschooling will be finding out your teaching style and your children’s learning styles. After determining your teaching style, your family can enjoy the teaching process and develop a love for learning.
Ever heard of “educational philosophies?” No? Not surprising. These styles are rich and allow tailoring education with students’ needs and family philosophy. Each educational philosophy can be effective in helping your children grow into well-rounded, productive, and happy mature adults. Implementing these philosophies into your unique teaching style depends on your family dynamic and child’s interests. Understanding each method can help you determine what type of curriculum, if any, is most suitable for your family.
Traditional School-at-Home
Let’s start with the school-at-home educational philosophy. This method is ideal if you prefer matching your studies with a given grade level, like at public schools. Perhaps you’re unsure if homeschooling is for you and want the ability to transition back to brick-and-mortar schools. If your kids (and you) like structure, routine, and predictability, they would do very well with “School-at-Home” homeschooling. Waking up at the same time every day? Yes, this educational philosophy is for you.
One of the school-at-home method’s benefits is the available curriculums for you, often including simple and easy-to-use “all-in-ones.” This method can simplify choosing coursework. Many of these curricula advertise themselves as “tried and true” because they’ve been around long enough to have proven results. Saxon, Abeka, Singapore, and Moving Beyond the Page are just some examples of curriculum developed for a “school-at-home” method of home education.
School-at-home homeschooling also involves a daily routine. Here, you aim to complete several lessons in the curriculum within a timeframe. This method constitutes graduating and moving to the next grade level’s curriculum. School-at-home often involves worksheet completion and teacher instruction, but older students can do it independently. In this way, it functions like public, preparatory or parochial school education. However, school-at-home homeschooling allows for more one-on-one instruction than traditional brick-and-mortar schools. You’re basically a classroom of one.
An advantage of this philosophy is the reassurance that your kids are learning similar skills as their publicly educated peers. This philosophy may not suit all families. However, parents starting homeschooling can rest reassured as it allows for a “what if we return” fail-safe.
Classical
Classical educational philosophy shares similarities with the traditional “school-at-home” method, but key differences remain. It focuses on memory work when students are young, usually 4-11. The method’s premise is that children retain information best young. Materials memorized between 4-11 will often be remembered long-term. Meanwhile, content learned in middle and high school is quickly forgotten, usually not following children into adulthood.
Hence, this style focuses on memorizing as much as possible during the early years. This philosophy includes musical education with historical facts, skip counting, science memory, and word usage. Catchy songs allow for quick memorization. Initially, kids may not understand it. However, complete conceptual understanding in the early years of classical education isn’t a priority.
The memory work repeats every few years. This is because it’s suggested that repetition is key to memory and learning. This method prioritizes memory work first and comprehension later. In this teaching style, kids 11+ begin exploring the memorized details from their early years.
For instance, a 4-year-old learns a song about the Sheng Dynasty. That child can’t understand the song’s meaning, but that doesn’t matter yet. By 11, that child learned that song repeatedly for years. Now, they can study the Sheng Dynasty in greater detail through literature. By middle and high school, they start forming and defending their points. Classical education emphasizes the importance of memory as a precursor to rhetoric and persuasion, working best if used with continued long-term practice.
Protip: Not sure about it? Ask yourself when you learned “Ring Around the Rosie” as a child. Perhaps you learned later in high school that it’s about the Black Death in the Middle Ages. See? It works!
If the school-at-home and classical methods don’t work for you, you may be a more free-spirited homeschooler. No worries! There are many alternative approaches.
Montessori
The Montessori method encourages kids to pursue knowledge about subjects that interest them the most. This method assumes that there is so much knowledge to gain and that no one can ever learn all of it. Therefore, you may as well pursue knowledge about the subjects that interest you most. This method strongly emphasizes self-motivation. It encourages students to take ownership of their own education by allowing them to dig into the things they care about.
Montessori methods emphasize developing and practicing motor skills. As such, students frequently use manipulatives to aid their learning. Additionally, students are encouraged to learn in a personal comfortable position rather than at a traditional desk and chair. This teaching style is suitable for people who are comfortable branching out from traditional education.
If you believe children should have ample time to discover interests, this teaching style would suit you well. If you have curious and inquisitive children, this approach will also work quite well for them. Additionally, Montessori education focuses on instilling basic life skills such as preparing food, sweeping the floor, or setting the table. Montessori is a student-led form of education. However, there are curriculums available that can guide you and your child by catering to their interests and learning style. Most Montessori curriculum will guide you in setting up stations in your home to promote self-motivated learning.
While the Montessori method of teaching is student-led, it is not a free-for-all for the child. Proponents of this method encourage teachers to provide structure and guides for the children as they explore their areas of interest.
Charlotte Mason
The Charlotte Mason method is based on the educational philosophy of English schoolteacher Charlotte Mason (1842-1923). Although Mason was a school teacher, her writings and thoughts on education are equally applicable for homeschoolers. Her philosophy focuses on Living Books. Mason believed children should read beautiful, quality literature, which is the way they learn best. Charlotte Mason homeschool methods utilize read-aloud in literature and poetry to teach, instead of textbooks.
Instead, children narrate what they learn in their readings, either orally or on paper. Additionally, children copy lines from literature, poetry, or scripture verses in journals to practice penmanship and reinforce understanding.
Mason believed children should be outdoors as often as possible and learn science by observing patterns in nature. Charlotte Mason homeschool students will usually do regular nature journaling. By journaling, it serves as both a gentle introduction to science and a means of nature appreciation.
A Charlotte Mason curriculum will also include plenty of art and music study. Students learn about artists and study great works of art and music. Overall, the Charlotte Mason curriculum is an ideal choice for kids who love art, music, and nature. Mason also believed in the importance of forming good habits from a young age. For this reason, habit training remains an essential part of Charlotte Mason’s homeschooling. Students learn good study habits to score well on tests, do their best work, and develop hard work.
Finally, Mason believed lessons should be short and to the point. A typical Charlotte Mason-style class lasts no longer than twenty minutes. This allows students to give each subject their full attention without becoming bored or overwhelmed. They use a lot of lap books and nature journaling. Many nature schools and nature/adventure co-ops are routed in the Charlotte Mason philosophy.
Waldorf
Waldorf schools are based on the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, who lived from 1861 to 1925. Steiner believed education must include the formation of the spirit as well as the mind. As noted by the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America, “Waldorf education holds as its primary intention the idea of bringing forth—in every child—his or her unique potential in a way that serves the further development of humanity.”
So how does this translate into homeschooling? Waldorf homeschool curricula focus on developing the child’s imagination, emotions, and artistic spirit. It accomplishes this by integrating art, music, and movement into every subject the child studies. This allows students to make learning their own, not simply assimilate information.
Steiner believed children learn differently depending on their age. For example, young children learn best through imitation, whereas older children learn best through critical thought. These principles guide the course selections and methods for each child. The Waldorf method is also well known for its emphasis on nature. Students use natural materials, and technology is discouraged until the high school years.
Waldorf students do not begin formal academic classes until first grade. The preschool and kindergarten years are spent playing and spending time outdoors in order to foster imagination.
Waldorf and Montessori methods are sometimes confused. The primary difference is that Waldorf homeschooling is less student-led and more teacher/parent-led. The Association of Waldorf Schools of North America has an excellent table comparing the two methods.
Project-Based Learning
(Both an educational philosophy and a teaching style.)
Like child-led learning, project-based learning (PBL) believes that children learn better when they can take ownership of their learning. Instead of using workbooks, tests, and other typical materials, students receive real-life projects that help them understand concepts firsthand.
Although this teaching style is ideal for a group environment, PBL can also be taught in a homeschool setting. In fact, PBL works well for families with special needs or older students interested in learning real-life application. PBL allows parents to remain more of an observer in their child’s education. This makes PBL an ideal alternative for children who struggle learning from their parents.
If you’re a parent who loves hands-on learning, you’ll find PBL is an easy fit. However, parents who are more used to the traditional School-at-Home approach may also use PBL to supplement their child’s studies. Instead of using PBL for every subject, you can start with one area and slowly integrate PBL into your regular homeschool curriculum. If you homeschool multiple children, PBL is a great way to encourage all the kids to work together and learn about a concept at their own level (See Family Style below). For more information about PBL, check out the book Project Based Teaching: How to Create Rigorous and Engaging Learning Experiences. Although written for schoolteachers, the book contains excellent PBL ideas, information, and inspiration.
Project-Based Learning can often be part of a Unit study.
Unit Studies
If you’re a parent struggling to homeschool different subjects for multiple students, unit studies may be a solution. A unit studies approach is centered around one theme, which some or even all of your children can study at the same time at their own level. There are a few different approaches to unit studies.
- Subject by Subject: You can choose a unit for several subjects – for example, an astronomy unit for science, American history unit for history, human anatomy unit for health, and Greek mythology unit for literature – and study each subject as a group for a given period of time.
- All-Encompassing Theme: Alternately, you can choose one theme to encompass multiple subjects and base your learning on that topic. For example, if you choose to do a themed unit study on animals, you could read literature about different animals, study animal classification in science, learn about animals in different parts of the world for geography, and draw pictures of animals in art class.
One benefit of unit studies is focused attention. Instead of studying a new subject in science every other week, for example, your child might focus on birds for weeks or even months at a time. This allows for a depth of learning and understanding that would not come about with a less focused approach. Unit studies are also great for homeschooling families with different ages and levels of students. You can do some activities with all the kids, such as reading a picture book together and completing a craft, and then assign more complex and difficult activities for older children.
Several homeschool curriculum companies offer unit studies, including Beautiful Feet Books, UnitStudy.com, KONOS Unit Study, and The Good and The Beautiful.
Gameschooling
What if your everyday education involved playing games? Gameschooling is an educational philosophy that uses board games, video games, and card games as a teaching tool. If you and your kids are board game lovers, this homeschooling method might sound too good to be true. Most likely, you’ve also noticed that games have benefits beyond fun. Games can engage minds and teach kids concepts in ways they can understand. This makes gameschooling a legitimate homeschooling option. Games can cover several subjects including history, science, and more! A game exists for just about everything. Anything Academic has hundreds of subject-based games available to explore!
Beyond the fun factor, games offer multiple teaching benefits. Board games often incorporate life lessons while teaching kids to cooperate, follow the rules, and good sportsmanship. Those are hard lessons to learn from textbooks alone! Additionally, playing board games is a great way to encourage family time. Rather than each child working individually, playing games together encourage bonding and collaborative learning.
Additionally, older kids can help younger kids master concepts like counting, adding, subtracting, and reading. Board games present unique, real-life strategy and problem-solving opportunities. They also provide practice with basic math and reading skills. If your kids are bored with schoolwork, introducing board games as a learning method will surely motivate them!
You can use gameschooling on its own alongside more traditional homeschool curriculums. For example, complete traditional textbook and workbook activities certain days of the week and play board games on others. Choose certain games for each subject, and mark them on your schedule. For a great list of suggested games, just search under Gameschooling on Anything Academic. You can choose traditional games, educational-based games, or a mix of both. Creativity, strategy, and fun are key elements to a successful gameschooling approach.
Family-Style
Family-style homeschooling is similar to a unit studies approach. However, its primary goal is providing a homeschooling solution for large families with multiple children in different grades. In a family-style model, students study the same topics together at different paces and levels. In addition to encouraging family bonding and collective learning, this approach also tends to be affordable for large families. For example, in other teaching styles, a family with three students may need a $500 curriculum per child’s grade level. With family-style, however, you can purchase one curriculum on a single topic that includes modifications for students of different ages.
Like the one-room schoolhouses of ages past, family-style homeschooling integrates a variety of ages and levels. While this might seem like a difficult task, many different curricula out there use this model. Family-style homeschooling can be done in conjunction with various other educational philosophies while adjusting each subject to your family’s needs. Many homeschool styles – Gameschooling, Roadschooling, and Charlotte Mason – lend themselves very easily to this approach.
Family-style homeschooling works well for science, art, history, health, geography, and literature. Contrarily, it’s more difficult to implement for skill-based subjects, like math, reading, and grammar. For this reason, you might choose to mix and match individual and family-style learning, depending on the subject. For example, practice family-style reading time for history, science, and art, followed by individual time for math and reading.
Family-style learning also provides older children opportunities to help younger children. In addition to teaching older kids patience and helpfulness, it can also reinforce their learning. For example, if an older child struggles with math, allow them to help their younger sibling with basic math skills. Or, if your older student requires reviewing a certain historical period, let them drill timeline flashcards with a younger sibling.
Unschooling
Similar to the Montessori style, unschooling focuses on student-led learning. It encourages learners to pursue knowledge by following their passions. However, unschooling is less structured by parents. Proponents of unschooling believe in learning in real-life, hands-on ways. For example, instead of a math worksheet, they might bake cookies to practice measurements or play “store” to count money.
Unschooling uses real-life situations to teach students. Families interested in unschooling emphasize the learning process more than the outcome. For the unschooled, creativity and the pursuit of passionate learning are more valuable than accumulating many facts.
Many find unschooling’s freedom refreshing from the education “factory model” provided by public schools. Unfortunately, it hasn’t existed long enough to gather sufficient data. However, available data suggests unschoolers become quite productive members of society. Unschooling focuses on loving to learn, building meaningful relationships, and allowing children to pursue their passions.
An unschooled, child-led learning approach to homeschooling looks quite different from a school-at-home style. Rather than parents setting curriculums, children choose some, or all, of their subjects and how they study them. For example, instead of answering workbook questions to demonstrate knowledge of a book, students can perform plays or create art.
Unschooling assumes that children are naturally interested and curious and can take ownership of their studies. Since each child is different, unschooling is ideal for homeschooling families who can accommodate each child’s needs.
Unschooling requires flexibility, but again, you don’t have to use this approach for every subject. For example, you can choose set curriculums for math and language arts while your child chooses other subjects. This approach is known as “partial unschooling”. The parent’s primary role is providing a good and encouraging learning environment for the child to explore their interests. Many support groups exist to help you discover this novel path.
Eclectic, Mixed, or Hybrid
You might find that you are attracted to several methods described above. If that’s the case, there’s a style for you! Most homeschoolers opt for a hybrid of two or more of these forms of learning.
For example, upon starting homeschooling, I joined the Classical Conversations Co-op and fell in love with the classical method. Yet, I don’t stick to only that form of education. I also purchased Saxon math – a traditional math program. Additionally, I like to implement some unschooling. On Fridays, we do fun learning days. We’ll skip count during hide-and-seek, pretend playing cashier and customer, bake treats, or observe things under a microscope. One of my kids’ favorite games is researching the native wildlife of any place in the world. Afterward, we’d act out survival scenes in that environment. I don’t stress about getting behind in our traditional-style textbooks because unschooling methods also work toward their education. We have fun singing the songs we learn at Classical Conversations, we work in our math workbooks most days, and once a week, we learn through games and hands-on activities.
Whether you stick with one teaching method or mix-and-match, finding what works best for you and your learners is key. No one style is right for everyone. The best you can offer your kids is giving them your time and attention, which all these homeschooling styles incorporate.
World Schooling/Road Schooling
This form of schooling is not just an educational philosophy; it’s a way of life. If your family enjoys traveling often, a world schooling or road schooling approach might be the perfect homeschooling solution. This homeschool educational philosophy is exactly how it sounds – school on the road or while traveling. Although it might sound like all fun and games, world schooling has some serious benefits for children. As noted in the book World Schooling: How to Revolutionize Your Child’s Education Through Travel by Ashley Dymock de Tello:
- Parents are deeply involved in the planning world schooling entails, making this a perfect approach for those who are less inclined to follow a set curriculum plan.
- Road schooling provides an amazing opportunity for homeschooled kids to make friends all over the world. You choose where, when, and how your child learns and can change your homeschool calendar to accommodate travel needs, instead of vice versa.
- Traveling and learning together provides a great opportunity for family bonding and rich family time. Part of your road schooling curriculum can involve skill development.
- For example, kids can learn how to plan a trip, cook with a camp stove, and study maps.
Families who road school tend to do a lot of hands-on learning, making this a great option for kids who are visual and tactile learners. For example, while studying American history, a road schooling family can visit the relevant sites and see firsthand where battles and other important events took place. Some road schooling families even base their homeschool syllabus on where they will be traveling during the school year. Although some full-time travelers use a road schooling approach year-round, you could also use it for shorter time periods of travel in order to keep up with homeschooling while on the road.
Choosing your Educational Philosophy and Teaching Style
For your personal teaching style, you can add and incorporate elements of the educational philosophies you like. Stick with one method or add a few together. Be strict and firm with progress or take on a more relaxed and easy-going approach. It is up to you. Be sure to incorporate your child’s learning style into your plans as well. At the end of the day, sit back and enjoy the journey. Your style may change. Your children will adapt and grow up. Yet your time together will be the most important.