As long-term homeschoolers, our learning style is "eclectic", which is flowing, rather than a set identity. From the very beginning over 25 years ago we have included some traditional style formal schoolwork: a little handwriting, some regular foreign language lessons, and a Maths workbook, for example.
Some of the first home education books I read were by John Holt, and I loved the Natural Learning philosophy. However, others' expectations and our children’s need for more structure kept me searching for an alternative. Deep down, though, unschooling still calls to me above all other educational philosophies.
Whilst mothering my first three very young children I read about Steiner (Waldorf) style education. It is a very gentle, artistic, rhythmic philosophy which appealed to me but didn't seem to completely fit my eldest child or modern times! We used some Steiner concepts like the head, heart, hands rhythm of lessons, following the seasons, celebrations, and keeping close to nature.
Next, I delved into Charlotte Mason's hundred-year-old educational philosophies. This didn't click as our ideal learning method, but from Miss Mason's writings we adopted some successful ideas. Short lessons, especially for Maths, were a game-changer. Nature Study was also very popular. I supplied the children with a quality sketchbook, magnifying glass, good drawing pencils, and lots of free time to draw and write outdoors. Another fine Charlotte Mason idea is learning language through reading, narrating, and enjoying quality literature, especially Living Books. This has been enjoyable and rich in essence for us, as we read aloud often as a family.
The inspirational words of Maria Montessori, another remarkable woman ahead of her time, influenced me from my early years as a homeschooler as well. I provided the children with plenty of real-life learning opportunities and hands-on materials, as recommended by Montessori.
We’ve tried not to impose on the children's natural curiosity for life and ability to learn through play, whilst still providing meaningful activities to give them some skills to extend their learning at their own pace, as well as provide plenty of stimulation and rhythm to their days. Therefore, I describe our homeschooling as an eclectic style of home-based learning.
What a privilege to choose the facets most suitable to us from many educational philosophies! We know of our State Education Department's guidelines, and we are freed by Holt's wisdom, spiritually enriched with Steiner's influences, inspired and more efficient thanks to Charlotte Mason, and humbled by Maria Montessori who said, "Education is not something which the teacher does, it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being."
As we continue this learning journey today with our seventh child, we can pick and choose from Outschool classes to suit her learning goals and interests, and build online classes into the rich learning environment of an eclectic homeschool. Being open to various teachers and class styles adds a new level of interest for the whole family.
How Outschool Can Help
Outschool is your go-to resource for unschooling and online home education programs. Whether your child is passionate about foreign languages or computer coding and anime, we’ve got a course for them. Outschool makes it easy with more than 140,000 affordable online classes to supplement your Unschooling home education program. Your kids can dig into a variety of subjects including Anime, Roblox, Dance, Creative Writing, Acting, Music, Drawing, Science, Nature, Video Game Design and thousands more!
