| Copyright 2006 Julie Shepherd Knapp |
| Copyright 2006 Julie Shepherd Knapp. All rights reserved. |
| about the book |
| The Homeschool Diner's Guide to Eclectic Homeschooling -- "Mix and Match" to meet your child's needs. by Julie Shepherd Knapp, copyright 2006 Most educational methods and philosophies dictate, to some extent, what, how, and when a student should learn. This often leads to a "one size fits all" approach, where the student is expected (even required) to conform to the chosen teaching methods and curriculum. Many children do just fine under such conditions -- however, some children do not. Many homeschool parents are looking for a more flexible, individualized, and, often, a more child-centered way to educate their student. For these homeschooling parents the answer is simply to "mix and match" various educational options, resulting in a personalized, "Eclectic" homeschool style. Parents may choose to use only certain parts of a curriculum. They may modify a homeschool philosophy to better suit their child's temperament and abilities. They can choose materials that complement their child's learning style. They can allow their child to progress thru curriculum at his or her own pace, regardless of the grade-level assigned to the materials. Parents can also create or "pull-together" their own tailored curriculum to meet the various needs and interests of each of their children, including the use of library materials, online resources, hands-on experience, and outside classes or tutoring. An eclectic "mix and match" approach to homeschooling obviously requires more preparation time and more research effort on the part of the homeschooling parent than would be needed to follow a prescribed curriculum. Homeschool parents who are very short on time or have several students may only be able to mix and match for certain subjects. Math is often the subject where a "Mix and Match" approach is most needed - where finding curriculum that matches your child's learning style can mean the difference between success or struggle. In general, homeschooling parents often start out using a prescribed homeschool method or curriculum, but become more Eclectic over the years, as they become more comfortable in their role as "Teacher" and more confident in their ability to understand and meet their particular child's educational needs. Also, after trying out a few materials that don't work very well with their student, parents become more "in tune" with what works and what doesn't work ... and more adept at choosing materials that will be appropriate for their child. Suggestions for mixing and matching homeschooling materials can be found on homeschool websites and thru chatting with other homeschool parents, both in real life and in online discussion groups. Be sure to take a look at each of the approaches listed in the Diner's Pocket Guide to Homeschooling Methods - you may find parts of several approaches that will appeal to you and your children. Listed below are a few general resources for those putting together their own Eclectic Homeschooling curriculum. Also, be sure to visit the "Homeschooling by Subject" section of the Homeschool Diner for specific "mix and match" options in each subject area. Take a look at Do I Have To Teach It All Myself? for more ideas. Free lesson plans and learning modules: The Lesson Plans Page - thousands of free K - 12 lesson plans in all subject areas EDSITEment by the National Endowment for the Humanities - free K- 12 lesson plans/unit studies Ruth Beechick - in her book "You CAN Teach Your Child Successfully" educator Ruth Beechick describes her approach to a Christian-focused, literature-based, eclectic style of homeschooling that encourages unit studies and pulling together curriculum from the library. She also wrote the "Three "R's" Series" for teaching K - 3rd at home. Her books include when to teach various topics within the general subject areas. Nebel’s Elementary Education: Creating A Tapestry of Learning covers K-5 for all subject areas, "... a flexible, child-centered, hands-on, minds-on, logical systematic increments lead to broad, integrated knowledge and understanding supported by self-directed inquiry skills..."", designed to foster critical thinking and a love of learning, no religious focus, includes strong coverage of science, can be used as a "spine" to guide parents in eclectic homeschooling What Your __th Grader Needs to Know by E.D. Hirsch, Jr. -- part of the Core Knowledge Series (K-8th), can be used as a "spine" to guide parents in eclectic homeschooling A to Z free teacher stuff - Free Lesson Plans and printables MarcoPolo Internet Content for the Classroom - (k - 12) complied by a nonprofit consortium of education organizations and the MCI Foundation, provides a collection of seven standards-alligned, content- specific web sites with lesson plans, student interactive content, down- loadable worksheets, links to panel-reviewed Web sites and additional resources The Educator's Reference Desk - (K - 12) over 2000 lesson plans written and submitted by US teachers Connexions by Rice University - contains educational materials in all subjects for all levels, from children to college students to professional. Information is organized in small modules that stand alone or can be easily connected into larger courses. Connexions is an innovative environment for collaboratively developing, freely sharing, and rapidly publishing scholarly content on the Web. All content is free. William and Mary Center for Gifted Education - lesson plans in all subject areas, designed specifically for gifted learners in classroom settings, but can be adapted for home learning or (even better) for homeschool co-op use. Some free units available. |
| "If we value independence, if we are disturbed by the growing conformity of knowledge, then we may wish to set up conditions of learning which make for uniqueness." ~~ Carl Rogers (1902 - 1987) Do not train children to learning by force and harshness, but direct them to it by what amuses their minds." ~~ Plato (427 BC – 347 BC) |