Christine August 31st, 2009 at 5:30 am

Thank you for the breakdown of educational philosophies. I plan to read about several of them – as I’m currently a mix of two or three! We do Five In A Row (which is more unit study), but we also have some Clasical and Charlotte Mason mixed in – quite a combination! Anyway, this information has been so helpful, and I look forward to following the links in the last download later today/tonight.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom!

Emily August 31st, 2009 at 5:50 am

I agree with you that we must take aim, even if we later adjust our sights. I have researched a lot on different philosophies and approaches, and, yes, we too are fairly eclectic as we begin and learn our daughters’ learning styles. I have been most interested in learning more about living books and Charlotte Mason’s approach (as well as the Biblical Principle Approach), but so far haven’t really been able to spend the time I would like to determine how to apply the CM approach, checking out library books and looking online. I am SO excited to receive Teaching Less While Your Child Learns More: An introduction to Charlotte Mason education!!! I am hoping it will shed more light on this fascinating approach! I have enjoyed the five free lessons and am trying to think of how to sum it all up for my FB status!!! As a new homeschooler, I am afraid I haven’t been able to fully digest all the wonderful information you have shared these last five weeks, so I am glad to have printed out each lesson to refer back to. Thank you for the patient reminders to not worry if we haven’t selected curriculum yet (amid everyone who asks what we’re using) and to focus on our relationships with our kids and enjoy the process of learning. Your encouragement has been a blessing!

Lisa White August 31st, 2009 at 6:41 am

It is so important to have a philosophy of education. We are eclectic homeschoolers; but reading “Teaching Less While Your Child Learns More” has made me want to reconsider our approach! Thank you for these wonderful lessons; I plan to blog about them as well as post them on my FB page.

Jennifer August 31st, 2009 at 7:22 am

I have never really considered what my philosophy about education was. I just dived in and tried to teach my children their alphabet and numbers. I can see now that I ought to do a little soul searching and include my husband and pray and find out the underlying beliefs we want as a base for our homeschool. Thank you so much for these lessons. It really is like a class, you get just a little chuck each week. I have really enjoyed them.

Jackie August 31st, 2009 at 8:05 am

I am thankful there are different philsophies to choose from. The classical education appealed to me from the beginning. Taking the time to learn what works for you and your children is well worth the effort. Thanks again for great suggestions and resources.

Melinda August 31st, 2009 at 8:15 am

It’s nice to read a concise description of these different philosophies. I’ve noticed for myself that as the children get older our philosophy is changing. That’s probably because I’ve read most of the Moore’s books and believe in the “Better Late Than Early” philosophy. The children are getting older now, and I’m leaning more in the direction of a Charlotte Mason style. I’m looking forward to reading the e-book. Thanks again for all the ideas and helps.

Vicki Feaster August 31st, 2009 at 8:56 am

Thank you so much! I have really enjoyed the five lessons!

I enjoyed today’s lesson. I started out as a school-at-home mom, but as I integrated teaching more children with different learning styles, I have changed my philosophy. What worked for my oldest auditory learner definitely did not fit my middle kinesthetic/visual learner who also happens to have dyslexia. This year, I have been studying and implementing the Charlotte Mason approach, and we all love it! Thanks for the thorough information on the different schooling philosophies!

Rosie August 31st, 2009 at 9:13 am

I guess I’m a mix of everything! I’ve heard all these various titles for schooling methods but never had any idea what each one of them meant specifically. Thanks for the info.

Nancy August 31st, 2009 at 10:14 am

Thank you for the breakdown of the different teaching methods. I have heard of most of these methods, but some I had no idea what they were. While up until this point we have used a traditional school-at-home approach, we are branching out a little this year.

Shannon Drinnon August 31st, 2009 at 11:15 am

These lessons have been such a blessing and a help. I am a new homeschooling mom and have greatly benefitted from your practical insights and wisdom. As a result of these lessons, I have avoided much of the frustration that new homeschool moms go through. THANK YOU!

Emily Plowfield August 31st, 2009 at 11:26 am

Thank you for lesson 5! I liked reading about the different philosophies and approaches to homeschooling. Even though I think I fit mostly into the school-at-home category, I do dabble in some others.

Lauren August 31st, 2009 at 11:33 am

I loved this lesson — I am so torn between CM and classical. I am trying to find the right balance between them for my kids. Loved the resources!

sherry g. August 31st, 2009 at 12:00 pm

Each year has brought its own unique opportunities and challenges, and the flexibility to choose from year to year what approach works best for us has been a huge blessing. And, a relief, when I finally give myself permission to do something different and “out-of-the-box.” I appreciate the sharing of your family’s approach, and likewise would classify our approach as eclectic. I think you can experience the best of many worlds that way. The downside is that sometimes I can be paralyzed by all the good things that I don’t know what to do next and then I am concerned that we aren’t doing any of them well. Thank you for the overview of those approaches and for the encouragement to review our teaching and learning styles.

Amy Dorse August 31st, 2009 at 12:36 pm

Thank you so much for this lesson! I’ve never quite understood some of the different methods, so this has been so very helpful! I hope I’m one of the 25 winners, because I want to keep learning!!!

Jenny A August 31st, 2009 at 1:22 pm

Thank you for your breakdown of the various methods. I like that you gave some of the criticisms so they could be taken in consideration when deciding for your family. Thanks again for providing these resources.

Amanda August 31st, 2009 at 1:54 pm

Great explanation of several teaching methods. I have been doing Charlotte Mason for a couple of years now and my daughter thrives on it. I will be recommending your lessons to a new homeschooling friend who jumped in with both feet, taking 3 kids out of public school. These lessons really are great at keeping you from panicking and giving up. Thanks for all the freebies, too!!

Kristina August 31st, 2009 at 2:12 pm

Thanks for sharing your eBook this week! I’ve appreciated receiving all of the 5 free lessons. I think it’s interesting that, in the late 80s, when I was getting my education degree at a Christian college, very few of these philosophies were taught, like the Charlotte Mason, and some others. Perhaps some of them were still in the development stage or not well-known at that point. Anyway, when I began homeschooling (after being a teacher for 4 years), I found myself fairly eclectic despite desiring to go a specific route, but realizing I probably wasn’t going to have success that way. Right now, as my oldest kids are approaching high school, we’re getting more rigid with their approach, but still being a lot looser with the younger kids. So, I guess it’s possible to be using 2 separate methods at one time!

Thanks again for the lessons.

Kellyann August 31st, 2009 at 3:57 pm

Thank you for the breakdown of kinds of homeschooling. We are definately leaning more toward the Classical style of homeschooling. However, I will be reading (and have already started on some of the books you listed) books off the lists in most of the catagories. We would like to somehow incorproate unit studies but from a classical bent. I know that God has blessed us with our precious children and I just want to be sure that I’m giving them all they can.

Sandra Reade August 31st, 2009 at 4:14 pm

Whilest I cannot afford to purchase your lessons fully I have so appreciated the past 5 free lessons. I had hit a brick wall. I use what materials I can to help teach my two daughters who both have learning difficulties. Both are kinesthetic learners and your lessons on various learning styles was an enormous help to me. I had come to a point of being so dry and wondering how I can freshen up our learning times. Your free lessons have given me fresh inspiration. Even if I do not qualify for the draw I have been totally blessed. Thankyou Terri for allowing us all to participate in these past 5 lessons. It is wonderful to know that others out there work so hard putting material like this together to help Mums like me who struggle to homeschol/teach our children. Praise God for your dedication. Thank you so much.
In His Service,
Sandra in New Zealand

Jennifer August 31st, 2009 at 4:25 pm

Thank you for breaking it down for me. I have read on a lot of these styles already but was having trouble seeing the difference between unschooled and Charlotte Mason. The link you provided should help further clarifiy for me.

Jane August 31st, 2009 at 4:30 pm

A very good summary of the different approaches to education and the importance of a godly perspective. The most common in our area is school at home but many have a mix and you give resources that can help develop those with which they may not be familiar.

Laura August 31st, 2009 at 6:16 pm

I’ve been using mostly Classical methods but have been finding that the kids and I are not enjoying each other as much as I’d like, so I need to rethink some things. These lessons have given me a lot to think about. I really felt encouraged after each one, yet also a little dis-heartened thinking I wouldn’t be able to implement all that was there. Thank you for this opportunity whether I continue in the series or not. I do think they are worth the price, especially for someone just starting or just a few years in like me. THANKS!

Mrs. Hewett August 31st, 2009 at 6:52 pm

I have thoroughly enjoyed these lessons. This last lesson helped clarify some of the vague information I had heard about various methods of learning. It was very helpful. I love the Charlotte Mason approach to learning – it fits well with us and feels very natural. It also works for our special needs son, which is a huge plus. However I wouldn’t say we were strictly CM in our homeschool, because I mix in a little of the unit study, the relaxed approach of the Moores, and a touch of the Classical – so I guess we’re eclectic!

Gay T August 31st, 2009 at 7:39 pm

I’d read about forming an educational philisopohy before and enjoyed this lesson on them. It takes a lot of thought for me to put in writing our philisophy, mission statement and resons for homeschooling our only child since it is such a heart choice for us.

Thanks for the wonderful encouragement through this series…blessings to you…Gay T. in Alaska

Michelle August 31st, 2009 at 10:32 pm

Thank you for everything you have to offer. These lessons have taught me so much, and I have enjoyed every one. I have heard about some of these educational philosophies, and I appreciated the opportunity to learn more. Thank you for another wonderful lesson.

Karen August 31st, 2009 at 10:39 pm

Since we are just new to homeschooling this year, your lessons are proving invaluable. You have been very generous to offer them. We’ll have to see if we settle into one philosophy, or pick and choose what will fit us best. At least I have a guide to the different approaches. Thank you.

Jeannette August 31st, 2009 at 11:32 pm

This was a great overview of the main types of homeschooling. I wish I had had something like this when I was first starting out – it took me years to figure out what people meant when they talked about “unschooling”, Charlotte Mason, and the rest (there was no internet back then!). I didn’t learn to apply the term “eclectic” to our approach until quiet recently. Thank you for these free lessons!

Cynthia Graven August 31st, 2009 at 11:39 pm

Fantastic! I expect that I shall have an eclectic approach to our philosophy of education, largely because my experience has shown me that locking myself into one method often results in frustration. I will, however, choose a primary umbrella philosophy, under which I may utilize others as necessary. I appreciate that you so clearly explained the different philosophies; there were a couple of them with which I was unfamiliar. I am now able to make a more informed decision. Thank You!

Linda M September 1st, 2009 at 12:38 am

This week’s lesson was very informative. I’ve heard all these buzz words many times and it is nice to finally have solid definitions. Thank you for offering these five free lessons!

Katharine Brown September 1st, 2009 at 2:21 am

Thank you! Once again you’ve hit on a subject I’ve been struggling with this year! I’ve been schooling at home for a number of years, but this is my first experience beginning school and my youngest is really making me think and rethink everything I ever thought I knew (he’s awesome at that, has been since birth! LOL) So thank you again! I now have a quick reference to differing philosophies and how each one may work (or not work) for Elijah!

Rachel September 1st, 2009 at 10:13 am

When we first began homeschooling I always felt at a loss when people would ask what method of homeschooling we were using. Eventually I used the word “eclectic” and now, after reading Lesson E, I know that this is not uncommon among homeschooling families and it really does describe our homeschooling philosophy. Thank you for the brief overview of different homeschooling philosophies and for all of the free sample lessons.

Elizabeth September 1st, 2009 at 10:36 am

I’ve always thought unschooling would be what I would do, but it’s hard to do that with a Kindergartener! This lesson has helped me see the other options, and I like the unit study choice. I used that the first week and we had a great week of homeschooling. I recently became interested in the Charlotte Mason philosophy and I really appreciate the bonus gift introduction to it! Thanks!

Shari Cap September 1st, 2009 at 11:36 am

Thanks, Terri! Yet again, another fantastic lesson. We are truly ecletic learners in our home. It was great seeing all the different approaches and philosophies!

Charity September 1st, 2009 at 2:15 pm

Thank you very much for the lessons. It was a good review of the philosophies of education and reminded me that it’s always a good idea to take a look at those every once in a while. I think your point of being sure to establish your personal philosophy was very important and that you need to be sure to “land somewhere.” Thank you again for sharing these free lessons with us.

Debbie S September 1st, 2009 at 4:22 pm

I’m sad I’ve gotten to the end of the sample lessons already! Thank you for the concise list of learning philosophies. My mom is visiting IL from TX, and it this lesson was a great opportunity to explain a bit more about homeschooling. Great job!

Julie Carlisle September 1st, 2009 at 5:44 pm

I have really enjoyed your lessons. The info and samples are great. Thank you! I do think that at $10.00/mo. they are worth it.

Alisha September 1st, 2009 at 6:00 pm

This lesson provided a great overview of the different types of homeschooling. The descriptions were concise and it was good to see some of the criticisms of each educational philosophy as well. Thank you so much for offerring these lessons to us. I’ve really enjoyed them and they have been a source of both help and encouragement for me.

Sherri Boekweg September 1st, 2009 at 7:22 pm

I think it is really helpful to see different ways of homeschooling when deciding what works for your family. Too often we copy the school system because that is all we know. The resources you listed are very good ones as well.

Karen September 1st, 2009 at 7:43 pm

When I first began observing homeschoolers almost 20 years ago, I thought it was either unschooling or school in a box. Then I heard about unit studies, but wondered if one could receive a complete education that way. When I started planning what I wanted homeschooling to look like (before I even had children), it was probably more eclectic–textbooks/workbooks for math/language/spelling/phonics and literature-based for history and science. I’m still leaning that way somewhat, but I’m also looking at Charlotte Mason techniques. My Wiggly Willy loves math manipulatives and will sit still for good books, but I doubt he would for a textbook. Haven’t decided yet how I’ll approach language/spelling, but I have time. He’s only in kindergarten. If I decide to use them in first grade, I still have 6-8 months to decide what to order.