Approaches

What you have heard called "homeschooling," is in reality just one of the many independent educational approaches .

Many brilliant, creative independent educators throughout history have thought about and practiced education in unique ways. These curious, fearless, and relentless way-makers created new ways when old ways no longer served--or when previously there had been no way forward at all for entire socio-economic groups--or just a certain type of learner. Then, they wrote down their approaches and offered them to others.

Here are just a few different ways you can independently educate: Homeschooling, Charlotte Mason, Classical, Waldorf, Montessori, Unschooling (don't be scared of that term--I promise it's not what you fear), World Schooling, Democratic Free Schools...the list goes on).

A lot of IEs have had one approach appeal deeply to them, and they've chosen to stick with that (more or less) through the years. Others have taken a decidedly eclectic approach and have chosen to use different approaches for different kids--and often at different times in the kids' lives. Or, they prefer one approach to a particular discipline/class instead of a different one. Creative, learning hybrids are something we've been enjoying for decades. I'm in the group who has used different approaches for both of my kids at various points in each of their educational practices.

I read curriculum like it's pulp fiction, and I'm going to go ahead and blame that on my mom (there's a story there--another time!). I'm terribly interested in all the ways something can be learned. I'll soon share the approach I've been most drawn to through the years as well as offering a summary of several others that I find interesting. The old maxim has proven true regardless of how tired it is: one size doesn't fit all.

And that, my friends, is a really beautiful thing!