Most homeschooled students get more in their educational experiences as the methods that hone their intelligence are customized to fit their needs and cultivate their passions. Despite the complicated tasks entailed in coming up with tailor-fit curricula and personalized modules, not to mention the process of teaching students in unorthodox methods, the outcomes can be far greater than traditional learning and certainly worth all the effort.
Fortunately for parents who are planning to homeschool their children, much progress has been achieved throughout the years by education experts. Today, restructuring the approaches in adapting a customized learning method is less tedious and more efficient, presenting a win-win result for both parents and students.
Here’s a useful guide to today’s most effective homeschooling methods and their respective benefits.
Classical Homeschooling
This is one of the oldest forms of homeschooling that even historical figures from the Middle Ages have been subjected to the process. The main objective of classical homeschooling is to rouse the interest of the student in order to teach him how to seek knowledge for himself. This entails the Five R’s of learning which are: Reason, Record, and Research (which are learned during the earlier years), Relate and Rhetoric (which leads to more complex teachings, rigorous research, and voracious reading).
Homeschoolers under the classical method have similarities with Relaxed or Eclectic homeschoolers in how they rely in historical teachings via textbooks, which they then further attempt to update with their own discoveries.
In terms of how classical homeschooling is usually carried out in the home, parents typically deal with general lessons at the start of a class day, then proceed to notes-taking during study time prior to lunch, reading in the early noon, and practical exercises during the afternoon.
Web-based Learning
One standard tool in customized learning that effectively measures a student’s current intelligence level to come up with personalized lesson plans and practical exercises is web-based learning. This tool assesses students’ knowledge and gives respect to their own pace in learning new information. It eliminates the pressure that is usually experienced by classroom students in the form of written or oral exams and instead applies a close and meticulous review of their learning process until they master a certain skill set. Only when this is achieved does teaching move forward to other lessons.
Another positive thing about web-based learning is how it stimulates the interests of students and increases their level of engagement via visual presentations and interactive programs or software. The tools are usually easy to use and come in the form of materials which doesn’t require much supervision. This way, parents attain more convenience in monitoring, teaching flexibilities, and assessment on whether their students need help on a subject or how they can further be motivated to learn.
Relaxed/Eclectic Homeschooling
Ideal for families who are looking for a more relaxed homeschooling approach, this method first sets up students daily to what they can look forward to throughout the day. This is so that their expectations are managed while giving them ample allowance to prepare for the work ahead. Mornings are usually reserved for workbook lessons and afternoons are allotted for special activities and practical exercises. Time is usually not a factor when applying this homeschooling method making it more stress-free and laid-back for both parents and students. However, students are expected to attain comprehension levels as in other forms of homeschooling.
Some parents who practice the Relaxed/Eclectic method also refer to traditional education standards to determine the level of education they teach their children and use standardized tests to assess their learning progress. Parents find an advantage in how this method focuses on systematically teaching their children subjects that trigger their main intelligence. By determining which materials and practical exercises they can engage in, and from selecting appropriate textbooks to choosing venues for their children for social interaction, this method guarantee that the student’s needs and interests are properly motivated making cooperation an active factor throughout the process.
Network-based Homeschooling
Since 2004, the Global Student Network (GSN) has been offering one of the highest qualities in customized learning online. The network has helped homeschooling families with its wide-ranging curricula which totals over 2000 courses from Honors to Technical Education.
Homeschooled students and parents can take advantage of GSN’s state-of-the-art learning tools and digital lesson plans that come in various and efficient formats in record-keeping and assessment. The network also offers programs for Elementary, Middle School, High School, Adult Education and GED preparatory, and even summer learning courses.
Choosing a method that can offer both parents and students the utmost convenience and best results may initially take some profound contemplation and consideration. However, once a parent determines a child’s dominant intelligence, pays close attention to his building interests and passions, and identifies a workable daily schedule, coming up with a customized learning method can be accomplished much easier and can be truly fulfilling.
Reference:
- https://www.homeschool.com/homeschooling-methods/#relaxed-eclectic-homeschooling
- https://www.homeschoolfacts.com/personalized-learning-homeschool-students/
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