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When we decided to homeschool, I thought it was really important to have a Homeschooling method, approach or style. After all, I could just pick one and move forward, right? But after weeks of research, I realized it was less important to label our style or method, than it was to teach what we felt was important to our children. As time went on...we found out that we fit in the mold of Eclectic by nature and by Method. What is the Eclectic Method? While I like to take a more traditional approach for Math, Language Arts, and Science (through the use of textbooks), I also find other resources and methods that work for us for history, writing, reading, the arts.... Most Eclectic families pick and choose from a wide variety of curriculums, resources, and methods. What is the Traditional Method? Having been a product of the public school system and a certified teacher, I thought I'd be more Traditional. But as it turned out, a Traditional Approach, with grading systems and Traditional structure similar to a public school setting, didn't work for us. What is Unschooling? Unschooling is a child-led method that often catches a lot of unnessary flack from the media. Unschooling encourages children to pursue their own interests and experiences, learning naturally, while incorporating traditional subjects as they go. This method is also referred to “natural learning”, “experience-based learning”, or “independent learning.” What is the Classical Method? Short and sweet: The Classical method is based on a three-part process of training your mind. The grammar stage (the memorization stage), Logic Stage (The “why” stage), and Rhetoric Stage (Students learn to apply the knowledge gained in the previous two stages). This method is best described by Susan Wise Bauer. What is the Charlotte Mason Method? Charlotte Mason believed that education was more than training a child for a job, getting into the right college, and passing the test. She developed a three-pronged educational approach centered around atmosphere, discipline, and life teaching. You can learn more about Charlotte Mason Method on this website. What is the Montessori Method? The Montessori method is based on the idea that learning should be a natural, self-directed process. It is also commonly referred to as child-led learning. While I love this method for the early years, I'm not so confident it would work for us after fifth grade. You can learn more about this method at the Montessori website. Some of the best field trips are fun and free, while still being educational. One trip may even start a fire in a child’s heart to pursue more information or even a future career! I have personally taken children, preschool to high school, on these trips and they have loved them. On some trips, it was like an episode of Dirty Jobs first hand. Living Skills and Community Helpers Field TripsPost Office Do you know what happens after you put the envelope in the mailbox? I didn’t know until I organized a tour at our local post office. Some offices have specialized equipment where envelops are sorted, but many are still sorted by hand. Dentist Oral health education with a possible free tooth brush. Going here for a tour before their first “experience” may be a good idea. Optician or Eyeglass Store Teach one of the 5 senses while learning how to cut lenses. Orchard or Produce Farm I don’t know about you, but I want my children to know where our food really comes from. Near us, we have a traditional farm and a hydroponics farm. Compare and contrast if you have the opportunity. A Cereal factory or Bakery Taking a tour of a cereal factory or bakery is ideal for a child that loves to bake, decorate cakes, or just plain likes to sample baked goods. Fire Station Fire safety and fire engines. Need I say more? Instrument Repair Shop or Store Whether you have a budding musician or child that likes to fix things, an instrument repair store can be a lot of fun. Most of the employees probably play instruments, so why not ask them to do a short demonstration too. Wildlife Refuge, Doggy Day Care, Pet Store or Veterinary Clinics Responsibility, as well as other character traits, can be learned firsthand from trained a pet care specialist. A Local University or College It’s been my experience, that children like to see how older people attend school too. Have them check out a HUGE lecture hall and a small science lab if you can get access to it. My daughter loved watching the students work on their ceramics projects and even got to see where her mom and dad took classes. Hardware Store Complete a scavenger hunt by looking for tools to complete a particular project. Construction sites Whether it was a complete tear down or a wooden pole being driven down into the dirt, my daughter has asked me to pull over to watch the work being done. Plus, it’s fun watching other people walk on roofs and high places. Train Stations or Airports Preschoolers and School-aged children love to learn about transportation. Find out where to get tickets, the process of boarding, what you can bring on and what you can’t, how important it is to get to the station on time, etc. Service Projects Helping those in need is not only Biblical, it builds Character! Volunteer to help a neighbor paint their fence or bake a batch of cookies for someone who would appreciate them. Sometimes these projects takes more effort and time, but they are usual worth it in the end. Natural Resources and Nature StudyNational Parks There are some outstanding National Parks in the United States! Many of them have a Junior Ranger Program where your child can earn their very own Junior Ranger Badge. That’s my daughter above working toward her badge. Wetlands, Caves, Deserts, and Beaches See creatures in their natural habitat, make bark rubbings, and compare different habitats by their unique characteristics. Beaches are the best places for children to find treasure for their collections. Bring a shell book from the library so they can learn about the creatures that inhabited what they found. Fishing Check your state for license requirements, but children are usually free. Camping Go camping in your backyard. Your children still learn the basics like constructing a tent or cooking on a campfire/grill, but you have a real bathroom when needed. That’s the best part, in my opinion. Free Botanical Gardens and Community Zoos We have been to a few small botanical gardens and zoos. While they are small, you would be surprised how much time you could spend there. If we bring our nature journals, we end up spending a lot of time on one area and have to come back another time to see more. Your Backyard Turn your backyard into an exotic location. We had an archaeological dig where I buried toys in our sandbox and they acted as archeologists, documenting what they found and constructing grid patterns for recording where they found them.
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