One of the first things new homeschoolers discover is just how many ways there are to homeschool.
Some families use textbooks, workbooks, tests and a regular daily schedule that looks a lot like conventional school. Others follow a classical model built around history, literature and logic. Some are drawn to Charlotte Mason and living books, Montessori and hands-on learning, or Waldorf’s emphasis on imagination, nature and the arts.
Then there are unit studies, unschooling, Christian curriculum, online programs and families who borrow a little from everything.
That last group has a name, too: eclectic homeschoolers.
The choices can be exciting. They can also be overwhelming.
New homeschoolers sometimes spend weeks searching for the perfect curriculum, as though choosing the wrong math book in September will somehow ruin the school year. Experienced homeschoolers tend to learn something different: curriculum is a tool, and tools can be changed.
If a program is working for your child, use it. If every lesson has become a battle and very little learning is happening, it may be time to try something else.
That flexibility is one of homeschooling’s greatest advantages.
Your Homeschool Does Not Have to Look Like School
For some children, school-at-home works beautifully. They like schedules, clearly defined assignments and knowing exactly what they are expected to complete each day. There are excellent curriculum programs designed for precisely that kind of student and family.
Other children learn differently.
A child fascinated by the Civil War might spend weeks reading biographies, studying maps, visiting historic sites, watching documentaries and building a model battlefield. History has suddenly crossed into geography, literature, writing, art and research without anyone needing to divide the experience into six separate subjects.
That is one of the ideas behind unit studies.
A Charlotte Mason family might spend part of the morning reading living books and the afternoon outside doing nature study. A Montessori-inspired family might emphasize independence, practical skills and hands-on materials. An unschooling family may allow a child's interests and daily experiences to lead much of the learning.
None of these homes needs to look exactly like another.
Homeschooling Has a Long History of Different Ideas
Many of the approaches homeschoolers use today have deep roots.
Charlotte Mason developed her educational ideas in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Maria Montessori began developing her method more than a century ago. Classical education reaches much further back.
Modern homeschooling has its own influential figures as well. Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore, sometimes described as pioneers or “grandparents” of the modern homeschooling movement, encouraged parents not to rush young children into formal academics before they were developmentally ready. Their Moore Formula emphasized a balance of study, meaningful work and service to others.
Those ideas can still be useful even for families who do not adopt an entire educational philosophy.
You do not have to become a “Montessori homeschooler” to use Montessori materials. You do not have to follow Charlotte Mason completely to add nature study and living books. You can appreciate the Moores’ emphasis on work and service while using a traditional math textbook.
Homeschooling gives families room to borrow good ideas.
Curriculum Does Not Have to Be Expensive
Another misconception is that a good homeschool requires an expensive boxed curriculum.
There are excellent complete programs available, but there are also remarkable free resources.
Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool offers a free Christian curriculum from the elementary years through high school. Khan Academy, CK-12 and OpenStax provide extensive free academic materials. AmblesideOnline offers a free Charlotte Mason curriculum. Homeschool Share provides free unit studies and lapbooks.
Libraries remain one of the best homeschool resources available. Museums, historical societies, parks, nature centers and community organizations can become classrooms as well.
A library card, notebook and curious child can take an education surprisingly far.
Real Life Counts
Homeschooling also gives families an opportunity to reconsider what education actually includes.
Cooking involves reading, chemistry, fractions and measurement. Gardening can involve biology, weather, soil science and planning. Building something requires mathematics, problem-solving and often a fair amount of persistence.
Children can learn through photography, sewing, woodworking, hiking, music, coding, animal care, volunteering, entrepreneurship and employment.
A family trip can lead to weeks of geography and history. A question asked over breakfast can become an afternoon at the library.
Learning does not stop because nobody labeled the experience “school.”
Find What Works for Your Child
There is no prize for choosing a homeschooling philosophy and following it perfectly.
Children change. Families change. Circumstances change. The curriculum that worked wonderfully for one sibling may be completely wrong for another.
Parents should feel free to evaluate what they are doing and make adjustments.
At Freedom Academy, families are not required to use a particular curriculum or educational philosophy. Parents remain free to choose the materials, methods and educational approach that work for their children.
We have expanded our Curriculum Ideas and Homeschooling Approaches resources to help families explore traditional school-at-home programs, classical education, Charlotte Mason, Montessori, Waldorf, unschooling, unit studies, Christian homeschooling, eclectic homeschooling and more. The page also includes curriculum recommendations and free resources for individual subjects.
If you are new to homeschooling, explore the possibilities, but do not let all those choices become another source of pressure.
You do not have to build the perfect homeschool.
You have to build one that works for your family.
Some families use textbooks, workbooks, tests and a regular daily schedule that looks a lot like conventional school. Others follow a classical model built around history, literature and logic. Some are drawn to Charlotte Mason and living books, Montessori and hands-on learning, or Waldorf’s emphasis on imagination, nature and the arts.
Then there are unit studies, unschooling, Christian curriculum, online programs and families who borrow a little from everything.
That last group has a name, too: eclectic homeschoolers.
The choices can be exciting. They can also be overwhelming.
New homeschoolers sometimes spend weeks searching for the perfect curriculum, as though choosing the wrong math book in September will somehow ruin the school year. Experienced homeschoolers tend to learn something different: curriculum is a tool, and tools can be changed.
If a program is working for your child, use it. If every lesson has become a battle and very little learning is happening, it may be time to try something else.
That flexibility is one of homeschooling’s greatest advantages.
Your Homeschool Does Not Have to Look Like School
For some children, school-at-home works beautifully. They like schedules, clearly defined assignments and knowing exactly what they are expected to complete each day. There are excellent curriculum programs designed for precisely that kind of student and family.
Other children learn differently.
A child fascinated by the Civil War might spend weeks reading biographies, studying maps, visiting historic sites, watching documentaries and building a model battlefield. History has suddenly crossed into geography, literature, writing, art and research without anyone needing to divide the experience into six separate subjects.
That is one of the ideas behind unit studies.
A Charlotte Mason family might spend part of the morning reading living books and the afternoon outside doing nature study. A Montessori-inspired family might emphasize independence, practical skills and hands-on materials. An unschooling family may allow a child's interests and daily experiences to lead much of the learning.
None of these homes needs to look exactly like another.
Homeschooling Has a Long History of Different Ideas
Many of the approaches homeschoolers use today have deep roots.
Charlotte Mason developed her educational ideas in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Maria Montessori began developing her method more than a century ago. Classical education reaches much further back.
Modern homeschooling has its own influential figures as well. Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore, sometimes described as pioneers or “grandparents” of the modern homeschooling movement, encouraged parents not to rush young children into formal academics before they were developmentally ready. Their Moore Formula emphasized a balance of study, meaningful work and service to others.
Those ideas can still be useful even for families who do not adopt an entire educational philosophy.
You do not have to become a “Montessori homeschooler” to use Montessori materials. You do not have to follow Charlotte Mason completely to add nature study and living books. You can appreciate the Moores’ emphasis on work and service while using a traditional math textbook.
Homeschooling gives families room to borrow good ideas.
Curriculum Does Not Have to Be Expensive
Another misconception is that a good homeschool requires an expensive boxed curriculum.
There are excellent complete programs available, but there are also remarkable free resources.
Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool offers a free Christian curriculum from the elementary years through high school. Khan Academy, CK-12 and OpenStax provide extensive free academic materials. AmblesideOnline offers a free Charlotte Mason curriculum. Homeschool Share provides free unit studies and lapbooks.
Libraries remain one of the best homeschool resources available. Museums, historical societies, parks, nature centers and community organizations can become classrooms as well.
A library card, notebook and curious child can take an education surprisingly far.
Real Life Counts
Homeschooling also gives families an opportunity to reconsider what education actually includes.
Cooking involves reading, chemistry, fractions and measurement. Gardening can involve biology, weather, soil science and planning. Building something requires mathematics, problem-solving and often a fair amount of persistence.
Children can learn through photography, sewing, woodworking, hiking, music, coding, animal care, volunteering, entrepreneurship and employment.
A family trip can lead to weeks of geography and history. A question asked over breakfast can become an afternoon at the library.
Learning does not stop because nobody labeled the experience “school.”
Find What Works for Your Child
There is no prize for choosing a homeschooling philosophy and following it perfectly.
Children change. Families change. Circumstances change. The curriculum that worked wonderfully for one sibling may be completely wrong for another.
Parents should feel free to evaluate what they are doing and make adjustments.
At Freedom Academy, families are not required to use a particular curriculum or educational philosophy. Parents remain free to choose the materials, methods and educational approach that work for their children.
We have expanded our Curriculum Ideas and Homeschooling Approaches resources to help families explore traditional school-at-home programs, classical education, Charlotte Mason, Montessori, Waldorf, unschooling, unit studies, Christian homeschooling, eclectic homeschooling and more. The page also includes curriculum recommendations and free resources for individual subjects.
If you are new to homeschooling, explore the possibilities, but do not let all those choices become another source of pressure.
You do not have to build the perfect homeschool.
You have to build one that works for your family.
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