There are all sorts of homeschooling styles out there. But what does that mean, really?

And of all the so-called homeschool styles out there, what's right for your family?

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a 10-minute quiz you could take somewhere to find out? It could be like that old "What Color Is Your Parachute" test that’s supposed to help you sort out your future career. In less than half an hour, you’d know exactly what to do to find your joy.

Believe it or not, there are a lot of quizzes online to help you identify your homeschool style. I started one on homeschool.com, but the teaching terms on the few questions I read were so technical, I didn't even understand them myself, and I've been in teaching since the 1990's. "Immersive learning?" "Living books?"

The truth is, the most a quiz like that will do is give you a starting point. It takes time to find a teaching style at home that’s right for you and your kids. A quick quiz isn’t enough.

But here's one thing you do need to know. You don’t have to pick a single way of teaching in your homeschool and stick to it all the way through.

You can mix and match and experiment as much as you need to until you find what’s right for your family.

Homeschool Style Defined 

As a homeschool teacher, you decide how your kids get the skills and knowledge they need to graduate high school and succeed in college and the world beyond.

The approach you choose for your kids to receive that information is your homeschool style. It's as simple as that.

In the brick-and-mortar school classroom, we call it teaching style. When you’re a classroom teacher, if you’re lucky, you get to choose your own style. But you, a homeschool teacher, are free to choose any approach you like, or even invent your own.

Enjoy that freedom of choice! It’s a wonderful opportunity for creativity.

As you explore your options, keep the following questions in mind.

First, what are your reasons for homeschooling?

For example, is it for religious reasons? Do your kids have needs that public schools can’t meet? Do you simply live in a remote area? Being ultra-clear on your reasons why will clarify what you value and want for your kid’s education.

Second, what are your most positive memories of your own schooling? What did you enjoy most when you were a kid?

When I was in high school, I remember one French teacher that planned a lot of varied, fun activities and units for us on French culture and history. We used to have slide shows on French Impressionist art, work in small groups regularly to prepare skits on things like the druids and the making of Roquefort cheese, and we had the occasional French food day. Yum.

I’m many decades away from that time, but I still remember what I learned from her.
Do you have any memories like that? Rely on those to guide you.

It’s going to take some time to sort out your homeschool style. You’ll know right away which styles won’t work for your family at all. For other approaches, you might need to take some time to try them out.

And as your homeschool evolves, your kids grow, and you become a more experienced teacher, you homeschool style may change too.

What’s Your Kids’ Best Learning Style? 

Once you’ve considered your reason for homeschooling, your family values, and how you like to learn, it’s time to think about your kids’ learning styles.

How do your kids best learn? What sorts of lessons or learning activities do they respond to the most?

For example, a child might prefer to read and write creatively, while another may be more mathematical and logic oriented. Some kids are more physical and others more musical. Sometimes children prefer to work alone, while others hate working alone prefer to work with a partner or in a group. Some kids may be more spatial or visual, meaning that they’re good at design, perhaps of charts or graphs.

Over time, as you observe your children’s favorite learning styles, you’ll adjust your homeschool style to meet them. In other words, you’ll pick a style that allows them to learn in the way they learn best.

This way you’ll give them an optimal homeschool experience.
 

Thanks,

Lily