How to Choose a Homeschool Style (Or Why You Don’t Have To)
My Unfiltered Opinion on Picking a Homeschool Style or Philosophy
When I first decided to homeschool my oldest son, it was the spring before kindergarten. I didn’t know a soul who homeschooled. And I had no social media at the time to connect to other homeschooling moms on Facebook or Instagram. I was truly on an island by myself.
My first thought was to get books and read up. I ordered every book Amazon had on homeschooling. The more I read, the more I was convinced homeschooling was the answer for us, and that it would be one of the best decisions I had ever made in my life.
Here’s the thing about these books: every single one had a chapter (at least) about how to get started. Every book said I’d have to choose a homeschool philosophy before we even dived in.
I know you might be thinking I’m nuts, but here’s my unfiltered opinion: you don’t need to choose a homeschool philosophy before you start. Honestly, you may not need one at all, ever. Let me tell you why.
1. You know your kids, but you haven’t met them as students yet
Sure, you know them better than anyone, but have you ever sat them down prior to homeschooling to ask them to take a test? To study? My suggestion: get to know your child as a student and learner before investing time, money, and energy in adapting to a particular philosophy.
2. You may not be able to pick one philosophy for the whole family
The idea of going full-force Charlotte Mason like we see on social media might sound good to you, like it did to me: light candles and read poetry (I’m simplifying here), but if you’ve got a mix of boys and girls and a mix of different ages, how can you be sure one size will fit all? If you’re doing it right, you try to adapt as much as possible to meet every kid’s needs. If you can’t make every kid fit into the same box, don’t stress because you can mix it up based on your kids’ needs.
3. There are different philosophies for different seasons
When the school year starts, I’m very much a traditional homeschooler digging into our academics at the kitchen table. In winter, we shift into a student-led style of learning to get through the winter months, and by spring, we are sort of unschoolers. That’s something I never thought I’d say, but it’s great for us. You might call me eclectic, but I’m not sure any of us truly fit into any label. Each of our homes and families are so special and unique. Depending on the season, and sometimes even the day, I do things differently.
So if you’re new to homeschooling, or you feel pressure to pick one style, here’s the permission you didn’t know you needed: You don’t have to start with a label, and you don’t have to commit forever.
How It All Comes Together
Here’s my advice: Instead of viewing these homeschool styles as boxes to fit into, think of them as tools in your homeschool toolbox. Homeschooling isn’t about rigid labels. It’s about building a life of learning that fits your family. You don’t have to choose your philosophy today. You don’t have to commit to one for a lifetime. You just need to start with what you have: your kids, your home, your heart.
What are your thoughts on this topic? I invite you to join other homeschooling parents and me in the Homeschool Connections Community or our Facebook group.
Editor’s Note: Kaitlin Zara is a veteran educator, homeschool mom, and host of the Homeschool Connections Podcast. See her podcast episode on this topic here:
