What’s Your Style?

Here's a brief overview of different Education Styles…this is just a starting point!

Nature-Based

Learning outside through nature and the seasons.

Hands-On

Learning by doing, building, creating, and experimenting.

Book-Based

Learning through great books and read-alouds.

Creative

Using art, music, crafts, and imagination as part of learning.

Play-Based

Learning through play, games, and exploration.

Discussion-Based

Learning by talking, asking questions, and sharing ideas.

Interest-Led

Following a child's interests to inspire learning.

Project-Based

Exploring one topic through a variety of activities and subjects.

Real-Life Learning

Learning through everyday experiences, travel, cooking, chores, and community.

Structured

Following a planned curriculum or daily lessons.

Things to think about as you explore

• What does "Education" mean to you?
  Do you as the educator, parent, role model need to de-school yourself and reconfigure what true education looks like outside of the 4 walls of a brick and mortar school?

• What makes your child tick? What excites them?
  Does this style feed into that or stifle it?

• What type of role do you see yourself having with your child in terms of education?
  Are you the facilitator? The Demonstrator? The Lecturer? The Authoritarian? Does this style allow for you to be those things? Are you willing to change that about yourself in order to connect best with your child?

You're Never Stuck

There is absolutely no pressure or expectation that you have to have a specific homeschooling style in order to start homeschooling. Honestly, your style will change and shift as your child grows, subjects change, toddlers become pre-schoolers, and just....life. We are here to tell you- that. is. OK! The beauty of homeschool is to allow for that ebb and flow of drifting in and out of styles, mixing them together, and finding a rhythm and a beat that works best for your family. It's cutting edge, honestly. Schools have been around for almost 200 years and their philosophy and classroom layouts haven't changed. There isn't another industry that operates the way it did when it first started—why? Because you live, learn, and grow!

So here's your permission to just start.

Where to Start

Curriculum is usually the FIRST place people want to start with when deciding to homeschool. Our suggestion is to observe instead. Watch and see how your child learns, what makes them tick, take time to reflect, educate yourself, and THEN start to plan. 

Cathy Duffy is a homeschool guru who has reviewed hundred of different curriculums. You can find an unbiased (unpaid) review on just about any homeschool curriculum with insightful points and takeaways. She has has a learning style assessment to give you a launching pad of various curriculums to start your search with.