Approaches to Homeschooling: Eclectic

By Sandra

So many great choices, why limit yourself to one style? That’s exactly what the eclectic homeschooler thinks! If you can see parts of several homeschooling styles that you like, and can envision using a little of each of them in you approach to homeschooling, this method may be for you.

This approach brings freedom to teach each child differently or identically in styles, as is convenient with the learners in your home, or the subjects the learners have in common. This style requires the teacher to test whether the goal of each lesson has been achieved for each child. It’s common in the eclectic home to have a child narrating, to show understanding with literature, while using a traditional textbook approach for science, for example. There is no limit to the number or ways of mixing styles together, unless the child is not progressing within one approach. If that is the case, the homeschooling parent simply adjusts the approach to better fit the subject and style of the student learner.

In Educating the WholeHearted Child, Clay and Sally Clarkson cite five D’s to an eclectic approach. They include: Discipleship Studies (using the Bible to start the day); Disciplined Studies (language arts and math focus for competence); Discussion Studies (reading literature and history aloud and discussing); Discovery Studies (stimulating learning by creating curiosity and creativity, as in nature); and Discretionary Studies (community involvement, individual gifts and interests).

The eclectic method can work well, as long as you monitor your kids’ progress and you remain flexible enough to change approaches mid-stream, if your students require that.

Combos to consider for an eclectic style: Charlotte Mason, Classical, Traditional Textbook, Unschooling, and Unit Studies.