Homeschooling has changed so much over the past few decades. Once seen as something only a select few would ever attempt, homeschooling has grown and morphed into many different styles of learning. Most homeschoolers I know don’t even use the term “homeschool” anymore. Instead, they say they’re “home educating.”
There are many methods that can be used to help your children with their schooling at home, but today I wanted to share a very popular style of home education: interest-led learning.
What are the different methods of homeschooling?
When it comes to homeschooling methods, you have a lot of options. The most common methods include:
- Unschooling
- Interest-led learning (including the Charlotte Mason method)
- Classical education (including Waldorf and Montessori)
- Christian education
- Bible school
How does an interest-led homeschool work?
Interest-led homeschooling is a method of learning where the child is the teacher, student, and learner. The child learns at his or her own pace and learns about what interests them. This can happen in a classroom setting or through individual study. In this type of homeschooling environment, you’ll find that your students will learn more quickly than they would in a traditional classroom setting because they are motivated by their own interests rather than being told what they need to know by others who may not have any connection with their life experiences.
When should I begin to homeschool from an interest-led method?
When your child is ready to learn independently, at their own pace, and from their own interests. This may be when they have reached the end of the school year, or when they have finished the school curriculum that you were using. You can also begin homeschooling from an interest-led method if you feel that your child’s learning needs are not being met by traditional schooling methods (e.g., public or private). Some parents choose this option early in their children’s academic careers because there is no suitable education available in their area, while others choose it as an alternative to traditional schooling after they’ve become dissatisfied with conventional schooling options.
Can we use an interest-led curriculum for our homeschool?
Interest-led homeschooling is another way of looking at homeschooling. Instead of focusing on imparting knowledge, interest-led homeschooling focuses on stimulating curiosity.
The advantage of this method is that it’s easy to incorporate into your life and doesn’t require a lot of preparation time in order to teach your children.
The disadvantage is that you may not be able to cover all the required subjects in their entirety, especially when you are first starting out with an interest-led approach.
What does independent self-guiding look like with an interest-led curriculum?
Let’s give you an example of how this works in a real class.
The first question is always: “What do you want to learn about?” This is important because it gives students the power to direct their own learning. They are experts in their fields, and the teacher is there only as a guide and facilitator throughout their learning process. It’s like going on a hike with your child—rather than telling them where to go and what they need to see, you’re asking them questions along the way so that they can figure out where they want to go next based on what interests them most. You’ll notice that when students are given this freedom, they’re more relaxed and engaged in their studies than if someone else were telling them where they need to be right now.
Should I try to teach all subjects to all of my children using the same lessons, books, and activities?
If you’ve got more than one child and they have different interests and learning styles, then it may be difficult to stick to the same lessons, books, and activities for all of them. It’s important to adapt your approach so that you can cater to each child’s learning style.
One way of doing this is by allowing your children to learn from each other. For example, if one child has a passion for art while the other has a passion for music, they could swap books on their own subjects every few weeks or so. This way they’re both getting an education at home without having exactly the same thing as their sibling (and also without having totally different things).
Homeschooling can be adaptable to many styles of learning. If you’re looking for a way that’s flexible and student-centered, interest-led homeschooling might be right for you.
As the name suggests, this approach is all about “led” by your child’s interests. You’ll find out what they enjoy most and then help them develop their skills in those areas while still giving them plenty of time to explore other topics as well. It’s a great option if you want flexibility in your homeschool curriculum and prefer not having too many rules or requirements on how things are done.
Homeschooling has become increasingly popular over the years, with many people realizing that there are other options for schooling their children who may not fit into traditional school environments well (or at all). Students learn at different paces and in different ways—and it’s important to understand how your child learns best so you can tailor their education accordingly!
Conclusion
I hope this blog has helped you gain a better understanding of interest-led learning and how it’s not only effective for homeschooling but can also be used in any educational situation with children. This method is often successful because students are given the opportunity to learn at their own pace and express themselves through what they enjoy most. If you’re interested in learning more about interest-led learning, check out our website where we’ve got tons of resources just waiting for you to download them!