It is important to know right away that there are a few different styles of homeschooling, and one style of homeschooling that is becoming quite popular is Eclectic Homeschooling.
If you have never heard of Eclectic Homeschooling before, don’t panic. We’ve got you covered.
We are going to go over the basics of Eclectic Homeschooling so you can decide if this is a viable and potential avenue that you can explore with your kids.
The Basics Of Eclectic Homeschooling?
In simple terms, Eclectic Homeschooling is a unique and flexible style of homeschooling that gives parents more freedom to curate their children’s curriculum.
It allows the parents to combine various teaching methods from multiple sources in order to create a curriculum that is best suited to their children.
Traditional homeschooling is a lot more rigid in comparison. It requires parents and kids to follow a structured curriculum and use more specific teaching methods.
Eclectic Homeschooling allows you to combine these things to create something a bit more unique.
Lots of parents prefer Electic Homeschooling because it caters to each individual child.
You can plan and design a curriculum that will suit your kids’ learning styles, and this can help them process a lot easier than they would in a more traditional environment.
Working Out Your Eclectic Homeschooling Curriculum
There is no set curriculum when it comes to Eclectic Homeschooling, so it is important to do your research beforehand.
Not only do you have to observe your children and see what they respond to best, but you also have to take note of what they respond to negatively. It involves a lot of trial and error.
If you have never homeschooled before and have just switched over to this option, it is important to know that you won’t nail your child’s Eclectic Homeschooling style until a bit of time has elapsed.
Some families don’t work their Eclectic Homeschooling Curriculum out for at least the first year or two of homeschooling.
When it comes to working out the Eclectic Homeschooling curriculum that works for you and your kids, take the things below into consideration.
Observe Your Child Carefully
If your children are still in public school, it might be in their (and your) best interest to observe them for 6 months to a year before you pull them out.
You need to observe the way they respond to their schooling. Pay attention to what they take an interest in, what they get distracted by, and what they respond to.
This can be difficult if they are still in public school, but don’t be afraid to ask them questions or even set up meetings with their teachers. If you are already homeschooling, you can just observe them yourself.
Remember, you are looking to set your eclectic curriculum up in a way that will keep them engaged and focused.
Do Your Research
Aside from observing your kids as they learn, the next most important thing you need to do is research.
When it comes to Eclectic homeschooling, you need to look into lots of different materials, curriculums, media, and tools in order to find something that works for you and your children.
You can talk to your school district and teachers to get some advice. You can use the internet to find available courses and materials. Be creative in your approach.
Base The Curriculum Around Your Child’s Needs
Once you have observed your children in a learning environment, you can then start outlining and planning your eclectic curriculum.
Bring your children into the planning if you need to. Show them what you have planned and see how they feel about it.
Talk to your children and see what resources they need. No two children are the same, and this is why Eclectic Homeschooling works so well for children who do not get along positively in more traditional environments.
If something in your curriculum does not work or your children do not respond positively to it, you can change it! Leave room in your curriculum plan for changes.
The Cost Of Eclectic Homeschooling
Eclectic Homeschooling is tricky to outline because it is so different for each family.
Whether you have lots of money to spend or you have tighter finances, it is very important to plan a budget around this style of homeschooling.
You need to take into consideration the following things in your budget:
Materials
Resources
Online Classes
Activities
Field Trips
Individual Needs
Creating a budget and keeping a record of your finances will take a lot of stress off of your Electic Homeschooling approach.
You will need to spend money regardless of how you do it, but you do not have to break the bank.
Have a plan, work out roughly how much money you can/want to spend, and have it worked out before you start your Eclectic Curriculum.
Eclectic Homeschooling In Stricter States
Some states in the U.S. have very strict laws in regard to homeschooling. If you want to follow an Eclectic approach to homeschooling and you live in one of these states, you may need to rethink your plans.
It is incredibly important that you stick to the legal requirements of your state when homeschooling, so if your Electic Curriculum and plan don’t do that, you will need to reorganize.
Conclusion
Traditional homeschooling is definitely not for every family, and this is why Eclectic Homeschooling is becoming more popular.
Non-traditional learning curriculums and environments can drastically improve the way your kids learn and benefit them in the long run.
Now you have a better understanding of what Eclectic Homeschooling is, you can decide if you want to introduce it into your child’s education.
Use the information we have provided here to make an informed decision as to how you move forward.
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