Homeschooling Methods Questionnaire

There are different homeschooling methods. Each method has its supporters. How will you choose what is right for your family? Different people gravitate to different homeschool approaches. For you to decide what would work for your family you will need to ask yourself some questions. I came up with this questionnaire to help you decide. You may think of other questions.

Questions for the Teacher

Traditional Schooling

• Do you like traditional schooling?
• Do you like structure?
• Do you like routine?
• Do you like grades?
• Do you like teacher manuals?
• Do you need to keep records?

If you answered yes to the above questions the traditional or school at home approach would be for you. The approach uses textbooks or workbooks for each subject.

Classical Education

• Do children go through learning stages?

• Do you want your child to have critical thinking skills?
• Do you want your child to memorize facts?
• Do you want to study the classics?
• Are you impressed with the education method of the Greeks and Romans?

You will want to use a classical approach to learning. You can read more about the classical method by reading The Well Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer.

Literature Approach

• Do you want to use living books instead of textbooks to learn from?
• Would you rather go on nature walks than read books about nature?
• Do you want to use books to teach morality?
• Do you want to use literature to understand history?
• Do you want to expose your child to great literature?
• Do you like to read out loud?

There are several literature approaches. Charlotte Mason is one of them.

Unschooling

• Do you want your children to learn from life?
• Do you believe in child directed learning?
• Do your children have a natural curiosity?

If your child knows what they want to be when they grow up and he is an independent learner. Then you might be happy with unschooling. You can read more about unschooling from John Holt.

Unit Studies

• Do you like your children to do projects?
• Can you live with messes?
• Do you like to combine subjects?
• Do you or your children like to research ideas?
• Are you teaching more than one child?

If you answered yes to the above questions, then give unit studies a try. There are even some short unit studies that can be finished in a week or two. This is probably the easiest method to try without spending a lot of money.

Questions about How Your Children Learn

• Do they like hands-on?
• Do they like to read or listen to stories?
• Are they self motivated?
• Is your child a visual learner?

There is one more approach that families use to homeschool. People who use the eclectic approach take the best from several methods combined together.

After Taking the Quiz

Asking the right questions can help you see which homeschooling method might be correct. This quiz is to help you get started thinking about the method that seems right for you. After you find a method you like, learn more about it. Read books or look online. I have reviewed some of the methods you can check out the pages in the right column.

You can also learn more about homeschooling by asking your friends. They sometimes will give you a better understanding of the pros and cons of using one homeschool approach over another.

Some of the homeschooling methods overlap. I have used unit studies for most of my subjects but still had to buy a math textbook. We also read a lot of real books like in the Charlotte Mason approach. We also take days off where we learn about life by making bread and taking care of the garden. Am I eclectic? I really don't spend a lot of time worrying about the homeschooling methods that I am using. I just home school.

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