There are a lot of terms that will be thrown at you when you enter the world of homeschooling, some you may have heard of before and others will be completely foreign.
This is a compilation of all the major and most important homeschool terms that you need to know. It also includes a list of the major homeschooling methods that families use in their homes.
These are all important to be aware of as you’ll see this terminology used time and again inside online communities such as Homeschool Resource Finder and even when you meet up with homeschoolers in real life.
What is Deschooling
Deschooling is the transition period where children (and often parents) adjust from a traditional school mindset (the period just after leaving school) to a more flexible approach to learning. It allows time to let go of structured routines, deal with school traumas and rediscover a natural love for learning at their own pace.
What is Homeschooling
Homeschooling is an educational approach where parents take on the primary responsibility for educating their children at home. It allows for a flexible, personalised learning experience tailored to each child’s needs and interests.
What is Child or Interest-Led Learning
Child or Interest-led learning is an educational approach where parents provide learning opportunities based on their children’s interests and curiosity. This method allows kids to explore topics deeply and at their own pace, fostering a love for learning and independent thinking.
What is Unschooling
Unschooling is a learner-led approach to education that focuses on a child’s natural curiosity and interests rather than following a curriculum set by the parent. It allows children to explore the world and learn through everyday experiences, play, and self-directed activities.
What is Distance Education
Distance education is a method of learning where students receive instruction remotely, typically online, rather than attending a traditional school setting. It allows students to study from home while staying connected to teachers and coursework through digital platforms.
Understanding Homeschooling Methods
A homeschooling method is essentially your chosen approach or philosophy for how you will educate your children at home. It’s the overall style and the general principles that will guide your curriculum choices, your teaching style, and how you structure your learning days. Think of it like baking a cake. There are many different cake recipes, yet they all lead to a cake of some sort or another, different homeschooling methods can lead to unique and wonderful educational experiences for your children.
What is Eclectic Homeschooling
This approach involves selecting and blending different aspects from various homeschooling methods and resources to create a unique educational experience tailored to a child’s individual needs and the family’s values. It is safe to say that eclectic homeschooling tends to be the most widely used and accepted model of home education.
What is Unschooling
This child-led method emphasises learning through real-life experiences, the child’s interests, and natural exploration, without a structured curriculum or formal lessons. Unschooled children are free to direct their own learning.
What is Child-led or Interest Based Homeschooling
Child-led learning respects the child’s interests as the driving force in their education, with parents actively facilitating learning opportunities and often providing resources related to those interests, while still maintaining a guiding role. Unlike unschooling, where the child has complete autonomy over their learning without a parent-directed curriculum, child-led learning involves a more collaborative approach where the parent supports and enhances the child’s self-directed explorations.
What is Waldorf Homeschooling
Based on the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, this method focuses on the holistic development of the child – mind, body, and spirit – through arts, crafts, storytelling, and a connection with nature, often following developmental stages.
What is Montessori Homeschooling
This method, inspired by Maria Montessori, emphasises child-led learning, independence, and hands-on activities using specifically designed materials within a prepared environment that fosters exploration and discovery.
What is Classical Homeschooling
This approach follows a three-stage “Trivium” (grammar, logic, rhetoric) and often incorporates classical literature, history, and languages, aiming to cultivate critical thinking and articulate communication.
What is Charlotte Mason Homeschooling
This method emphasises the education of the whole person through “living books,” short lessons, narration (retelling), nature study, and cultivating good habits.
What is Traditional School at Home
This approach often mirrors a traditional school curriculum and structure, frequently using textbooks and workbooks, but delivered at home with flexibility in pacing and scheduling.
What is Unit Study Homeschooling
This method organises learning around specific themes or topics, integrating multiple subjects into the study to provide a rich and connected learning experience.
What is Project-based Learning
This method centres learning around in-depth exploration of real-world projects or questions, allowing students to apply knowledge and develop skills across multiple subjects through hands-on creation and problem-solving.
What is Gameschooling
This approach intentionally uses games, both board games and video games, as a primary tool for learning, making education engaging and enjoyable while naturally incorporating academic concepts and skills.
What is Roadschooling
This lifestyle integrates learning with travel, turning the journey and the destinations into educational opportunities, fostering real-world understanding through hands-on experiences and exploration.
