Let’s talk about traditional homeschooling next.
One of my favorite questions when we share that our life is built around the family and education at home is, “So, do you guys have like a classroom and stuff at the house?”
The implication is a little humorous if you think through the picture that they have in their mind. The question is usually more in the spirit of, “Do you do normal school?”
Because they have heard the stories of unschooling and the frame of reference they have is a teacher in a room full of children with books, backpacks, a marker board, and some sort of bulletin board that is like an educational Pinterest achievement.
The traditional homeschooling classroom is somewhat of a misnomer…but alas, if the student is not at a desk in front of a chalk or marker board then how can it even be school?!
The answer is that education has many forms and we have discussed several already in our highlights of home education methods.
The most recognizable to someone outside of these worlds is what I often think of as a Traditional Classroom Setting.
Traditional sounds nice. It sounds nostalgic. Perhaps, you would even hear that and think tried and true.
So is the traditional classroom something you should use as a model for your students?
When a teacher by trade starts homeschooling, there is perhaps a comfort in the things more akin to the standard classroom setting. So let’s look at some hallmarks of what I mean when I say classroom setting.
Firstly, I think it can be assumed that there is a more structured and familiar sense of school setting.
Some families rely on kitchen tables and private workspaces while this model would trend more to a dedicated school room and standard amenities. Desks, chairs and chalkboards that would be common in a traditional classroom.
Another aspect of traditional homeschooling would be using a curriculum that utilizes consumable worksheets, quizzes and tests.
While there are many ways to measure a student’s comprehension and “grasping” of concepts, the use of worksheets, quizzes and tests can provide a reliable and tangible way to assess a student’s learning.
Many homeschool families choose to use these tools throughout their homeschool journey and find that it works quite well.
Finally, when I think of a traditional classroom setting, I picture a school room with a teacher at the front of the class, lecturing the students and giving directions for finishing their assignments.
It may be difficult to imagine a homeschool parent standing in front of their own children giving a lesson, because many homeschool parents are often teaching multiple ages of children.
But I’ve found in my homeschool journey that doing subjects, like history and science, can be done together. Then assignments can be catered to different grade levels.
Gathering your children and teaching the lesson can be a great way to get everyone back on the same page for a bit (homeschool days can be going in numerous different directions at any given time – it can be a little crazy at times!).
Explaining a new lesson in history can be a time when the older kids teach the younger kids simply by asking questions and commenting. Their knowledge is passed onto their younger siblings without even realizing it! The beauty of homeschooling!
Traditional schooling is a method, another option to educate our children that may perhaps be the best option for our family.
While homeschool methods are nearly limitless, we are blessed to be able to school our children in the way we choose, catering to our children’s needs and the values our families uphold.
I hope you enjoy the journey of homeschool and resist the temptation to compare!
Other homeschool styles:
One Comment