Educational Methods & Philosophy

There are many ways to educate your children, and, if you're just getting started in home schooling, just choosing the approach you wish to take can be overwhelming, never mind the curriculum itself! If you're interacting with more experienced home school families, the stuff they're doing might intimidate you into thinking you can't possibly home school your kids, but stop! Take a breath. You just need to sit down, ask yourself a few common sense questions about what you want to accomplish, and get a handle on what options there are.

As we see it, all approaches to education should fall under a broad "covenantal approach," in which parents deliberately focus on training their children to love and reverence their God, respect their parents, and explore their world. From our perspective, that's the main reason to home school. But when one talks about "approaches," one typically means the philosophy driving the way you educate your kids. There are limitless methods to teach your kids, but they seem to fall under five main philosophies.

These are: 

 "Eclectic" home schooling, explained conservatively, is to blend elements of all of them (generally what we recommend). "Eclectic" can also refer to a much more liberal, anti-Christian education; We obviously suggest steering clear of that approach.

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97 Items found Print
Active Filters: 3rd grade (Ages 8-9)
Abigail Adams Package (FACE)
by Rosalie J. Slater, Evelyn Witter
from Foundation for American Christian Education
for 3rd-6th grade
in Principle Approach (Location: HSR-METPA)
$19.20 (1 in stock)
America: Our Stories Volume 1
by Lorene Lambert
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
American Presidents & Presidential First Ladies Notebooking Pages
from Notebooking Pages
for 3rd-8th grade
in American Presidency (Location: HISV-PRE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Ancient Egypt and Her Neighbors
by Lorene Lambert
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Ancient Egypt (Location: HISW-ANEG)
Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin (FACE) - Teacher Guide and Student Notebook Packet
by Rosalie J. Slater
5th edition from Foundation for American Christian Education
for 3rd-6th grade
in Principle Approach (Location: HSR-METPA)
$17.00 (1 in stock)
Bible Picture Portfolios - Genesis
Bible Picture Portfolios
by Emily Kiser
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Big Book of Books and Activities
by Dinah Zike
from Dinah-Might Adventures, LP
for 2nd-5th grade
in Unit Studies & Lap Books (Location: HSR-METUS)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Big Book of How to Make PROJECTS
from Dinah-Might Adventures, LP
for Kindergarten - College
in Classroom Teacher Resources (Location: HSR-CTR)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Book of Centuries (BC/AD Edition)
from Living Book Press
for 1st-12th grade
in Timeline Resources (Location: HISRF-TIM)
$10.99
Book of Centuries (BC/AD Edition) - Hardcover
from Living Book Press
for 1st-12th grade
in Timeline Resources (Location: HISRF-TIM)
$11.00 (1 in stock)
Book of Centuries (BCE/CE Edition)
from Living Book Press
for 1st-12th grade
in Timeline Resources (Location: HISRF-TIM)
$10.99 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch (FACE) - Teacher Guide and Student Notebook Packet
by Rosalie J. Slater
5th edition from Foundation for American Christian Education
for 3rd-6th grade
in Principle Approach (Location: HSR-METPA)
$17.00 (1 in stock)
Castle with Many Rooms
by Lorene Lambert
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in History Spines & Surveys (Location: HISRF-SPINE)
Castle with Many Rooms - Narration Notecards
by Crystal Lee Hildreth
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in History Spines & Surveys (Location: HISRF-SPINE)
Charlotte Mason
by Lanaya Gore, illustrated by Twila Farmer
from Blue Sky Daisies
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Charlotte Mason Education (Location: HSR-METCM)
$16.11
Charlotte Mason Book of Centuries
from Living Book Press
for 1st-12th grade
in Timeline Resources (Location: HISRF-TIM)
$13.99
Charlotte Mason Elementary Arithmetic Series Book 3
by Richele R. Baburina
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 3rd grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Classic Konos Character Curriculum - Obedience
by Jessica Hulcy and Carole Thaxton
from KONOS
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in KONOS Unit Studies (Location: CUR-KON)
$45.00 (1 in stock)
Classic Konos Character Curriculum - Orderliness
by Jessica Hulcy and Carole Thaxton
from KONOS
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in KONOS Unit Studies (Location: CUR-KON)
$40.00 (1 in stock)
Classical Reader
by Dr. Christopher Perrin & Leslie Rayner
1.4st edition from Classical Academic Press
for Kindergarten-12th
in Recommended Book Lists (Location: LIR-REC)
$9.95 $4.50 (1 in stock)
Easy Start in Arithmetic
by Ruth Beechick
from Arrow Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Clearance: Home School Resources (Location: ZCLE-HSR)
$1.50 (2 in stock)
Educated Child
by William Bennett
from Simon and Schuster
for Preschool-8th Grade
in Practical Home Schooling (Location: HSR-PRAC)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Enjoy the Poems: Alfred, Lord Tennyson
by Emily Dickinson, Sonya Shafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Poetry Curriculum & Resources (Location: LIR-POET)
Enjoy the Poems: Emily Dickinson
by Emily Dickinson, Sonya Shafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Poetry Curriculum & Resources (Location: LIR-POET)
Enjoy the Poems: Robert Louis Stevenson
by Robert Louis Stevenson and Sonya Shafer, Compiled by Ruth Smith
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Poetry Curriculum & Resources (Location: LIR-POET)
$8.50 (1 in stock)
Enrichment Studies Volume 1: Lesson Plans for Grades 1-12 (old)
by Sonya Schafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Enrichment Studies Volume 2: Lesson Plans for Grades 1-12
by Sonya Schafer
2nd edition from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
$17.50 (1 in stock)
Exploring Creation with Astronomy - Printed Lapbook
by Cyndi Kinney
2nd edition from Knowledge Box Central
for 3rd-6th grade
in Apologia Exploring Creation (Location: SCICUR-AEM)
$15.00 (1 in stock)
Galloping the Globe
by Loree Pettit & Dari Mullins
3rd edition from Geography Matters
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Geography Matters products (Location: GEO-GEOM)
$29.95 $20.00 (1 in stock)
Galloping the Globe - Lapbook
from Geography Matters
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Geography Matters products (Location: GEO-GEOM)
$15.00 (1 in stock)
Genesis through Deuteronomy & Ancient Egypt (old)
by Sonya Shafer
3rd edition from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Old Edition History & Geography (Location: OHIS)
$12.50 (1 in stock)
Gridded Math Notebook - 1/2" Graph Paper
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 3rd-6th grade
in Algebra (Location: MATR-ALG)
Gridded Math Notebook - 3/4" Graph Paper
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 3rd-6th grade
in Algebra (Location: MATR-ALG)
Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates (FACE) - Teacher Guide and Student Notebook Packet
by Rosalie J. Slater
from Foundation for American Christian Education
for 3rd-6th grade
in Principle Approach (Location: HSR-METPA)
$17.00 (1 in stock)
Heidi (FACE) - Teacher Guide and Student Notebook Packet
by Rosalie J. Slater
from Foundation for American Christian Education
for 3rd-6th grade
in Principle Approach (Location: HSR-METPA)
$17.00 (1 in stock)
Home Start in Reading
by Ruth Beechick
from Arrow Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Clearance: Home School Resources (Location: ZCLE-HSR)
Illustrated Nature Journal
by Fiona Biddington
from Cicada Books Limited
for 3rd-8th grade
in Nature Study & Journaling (Location: NAT-GEN)
Individual Studies: Lesson Plans for Grade 3
by Sonya Schafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 3rd grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Introduction to Classical Studies - MP Package
by Cheryl Lowe
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 3rd-8th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Studies (Location: HISCUR-MP)
$92.84
Introduction to Classical Studies - Student Guide
by Cheryl Lowe
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 3rd-5th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Studies (Location: HISCUR-MP)
$21.60
Introduction to Classical Studies - Teacher Guide
by Cheryl Lowe
from Memoria Press
for 3rd-5th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Studies (Location: HISCUR-MP)
$21.60
Journaling A Year in Nature
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
$15.00 (1 in stock)
Konos Kids' Timeline for Obedience
by Jessica Hulcy and Carole Thaxton
from KONOS
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in KONOS Unit Studies (Location: CUR-KON)
Konos Kids' Timeline for Orderliness
by Jessica Hulcy and Carole Thaxton
from KONOS
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in KONOS Unit Studies (Location: CUR-KON)
Latin-Centered Curriculum
by Andrew A. Campbell
2nd edition from Non Nobis Press
for Kindergarten-12th grade
in Classical Education (Location: HSR-METCE)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Literary Life Commonplace Book for Kids - Colored Pencils Cover
by Angelina Stanford, Cindy Rollins, and Thomas Banks
from Blue Sky Daisies
for 3rd-8th grade
in Commonplace & Journaling Books (Location: LIR-Com)
$9.95
Literary Life Commonplace Book for Kids - Dragon Fire Cover
by Angelina Stanford, Cindy Rollins, and Thomas Banks
2nd edition from Blue Sky Daisies
for 3rd-8th grade
in Commonplace & Journaling Books (Location: LIR-Com)
$9.95 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Literary Life Commonplace Book for Kids - Fairy Tale Cover
by Angelina Stanford, Cindy Rollins, and Thomas Banks
2nd edition from Blue Sky Daisies
for 3rd-8th grade
in Commonplace & Journaling Books (Location: LIR-Com)
$9.95
Little Women (FACE) - Teacher Guide and Student Notebook Packet
by Rosalie J. Slater, revised by Cheri Mabe
2nd edition from Foundation for American Christian Education
for 3rd-6th grade
in Principle Approach (Location: HSR-METPA)
$17.00 (1 in stock)
Math Lessons for a Living Education Level 3
by Angela O'Dell
from Master Books
for 3rd grade
in Math Lessons for a Living Education (Location: MAT-MB1)
$39.19
Morning Time: Student Anthology
by Cindy Rollins
from Blue Sky Daisies
for 3rd-8th grade
in Charlotte Mason Education (Location: HSR-METCM)
$15.95
Music Study with the Masters: Beethoven 1770-1827
by Sonya Shafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 3rd-8th grade
in Music Appreciation (Location: ELE-MUSAP)
Music Study with the Masters: Haydn 1732-1809
by Sonya Shafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 3rd-8th grade
in Music Appreciation (Location: ELE-MUSAP)
Music Study with the Masters: J. S. Bach 1685-1750
by Sonya Shafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 3rd-8th grade
in Music Appreciation (Location: ELE-MUSAP)
Music Study with the Masters: Mendelssohn 1809-1847
by Sonya Shafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 3rd-8th grade
in Music Appreciation (Location: ELE-MUSAP)
Noah Plan English Language Curriculum Guide
Noah Plan
by Carole Goodman Adams
3rd edition from Foundation for American Christian Education
for Kindergarten-12th grade
in Principle Approach (Location: HSR-METPA)
$28.00 (1 in stock)
Noah Plan History and Geography Curriculum Guide
Noah Plan
by Elizabeth L. Youmans
2nd edition from Foundation for American Christian Education
for Kindergarten-12th grade
in Principle Approach (Location: HSR-METPA)
Noah Plan History and Geography Curriculum Guide (old)
Noah Plan
by Elizabeth L. Youmans
1st edition from Foundation for American Christian Education
for Kindergarten-12th grade
in Principle Approach (Location: HSR-METPA)
$28.00
Noah Plan Literature Curriculum Guide
Noah Plan
by Rosalie Slater
from Foundation for American Christian Education
for Kindergarten-12th grade
in Principle Approach (Location: HSR-METPA)
$39.95 $24.00 (1 in stock)
Noah Plan Mathematics Curriculum Guide
Noah Plan
by Arthur Paul Ricciardi
from Foundation for American Christian Education
for Kindergarten-12th grade
in Principle Approach (Location: HSR-METPA)
$39.95 $28.00 (1 in stock)
Noah Plan Reading Curriculum Guide
Noah Plan
by Martha Barnes Shirley
2nd edition from Foundation for American Christian Education
for Kindergarten-12th grade
in Principle Approach (Location: HSR-METPA)
$39.95 $24.00 (1 in stock)
Paper Sloyd for Primary Grades
by Ednah Anne Rich
Facsimile Edition from Repressed Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Paper Crafts & Origami (Location: ELE-ORI)
Paper Sloyd for Primary Grades
by Ednah Anne Rich
Facsimile Edition from Yesterday's Classics
for 3rd-6th grade
in Paper Crafts & Origami (Location: ELE-ORI)
$14.95
Picture Study Portfolio Extra Print Pack: Millet (1814-1875)
by Emily Kiser
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Picture Study Portfolio Extra Print Pack: Rafael (1483-1520)
by Emily Kiser
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Picture Study Portfolios: Constable (1776-1837)
by Emily Kiser
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Picture Study Portfolios: da Vinci (1452-1519)
by Emily Kiser
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Picture Study Portfolios: Dürer (1471-1528)
by Emily Cottrill
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Picture Study Portfolios: Fra Angelico (1395-1455)
by Emily Kiser
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Picture Study Portfolios: Gainsborough
by Emily Cottrill
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Picture Study Portfolios: Giotto
by Emily Kiser
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Picture Study Portfolios: Mary Cassatt
by Emily Kiser
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Picture Study Portfolios: Michelangelo
by Emily Cottrill
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Picture Study Portfolios: Millet (1814-1875)
by Emily Kiser
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Picture Study Portfolios: Monet
by Emily Kiser
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Picture Study Portfolios: Rafael (1483-1520)
by Emily Kiser
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Picture Study Portfolios: Rembrandt
by Emily Cottrill
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Picture Study Portfolios: Titian (1488-1576)
by Emily Kiser
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Picture Study Portfolios: Van Gogh (1853-1890)
by Emily Kiser
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Picture Study Portfolios: Velazquez (1599-1660)
by Emily Kiser
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Pinocchio - Teacher Guide and Student Notebook Packet
by Rosalie J. Slater
3rd edition from Foundation for American Christian Education
for 3rd-6th grade
in Principle Approach (Location: HSR-METPA)
$17.00 (1 in stock)
Practice Makes Perfect Level 3
by Angela O'Dell
from Master Books
for 3rd grade
in Math Lessons for a Living Education (Location: MAT-MB1)
$22.39
Print to Cursive Proverbs
by Sonya Shafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-4th grade
in Handwriting Resources (Location: HAN-REF)
Reader's Guide
by Dr. Christopher Perrin & Leslie Rayner
from Classical Academic Press
for Kindergarten-12th
in Clearance: Home School Resources (Location: ZCLE-HSR)
$4.17
Seven Laws of Teaching
by John Milton Gregory
from Charles Nolan Publishers
for Preschool-12th grade
in Classical Education (Location: HSR-METCE)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Shakespeare in Three Steps: As You Like It
by Rebekah Shafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 2nd-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
$19.50 (1 in stock)
Shakespeare in Three Steps: Midsummer Night's Dream
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 2nd-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
$20.00 (1 in stock)
Snailopolis - Thematic Science Unit
by Karen G. Frandsen
from Critical Thinking Books
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Miscellaneous Science Curriculum (Location: SCICUR-MISC)
$12.99
StoneBridge Art Guide
Noah Plan
by Wendy Giancoli
from Foundation for American Christian Education
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Principle Approach (Location: HSR-METPA)
$29.95
Stories We Shared
by Douglas Kaine McKelvey & Jamin Still
from Rabbit Room Press
in Recommended Book Lists (Location: LIR-REC)
$35.00
Strong Start in Language
by Ruth Beechick
from Arrow Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Clearance: Home School Resources (Location: ZCLE-HSR)
$1.50 (3 in stock)
Three R's
by Ruth Beechick
from Arrow Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Practical Home Schooling (Location: HSR-PRAC)
$12.00 $7.00 (2 in stock)
U.S. Elections Lap-Pak
by Amy Pak
from Home School in the Woods
for 3rd-8th grade
in Hands-On History Activity-Paks (Location: HISRF-HOH)
Well-Trained Mind
by Susan Wise Bauer & Jessie Wise
4th edition from W. W. Norton and Co.
in Classical Education (Location: HSR-METCE)
$28.00
Well-Trained Mind
by Susan Wise Bauer & Jessie Wise
5th edition from W. W. Norton and Co.
in Classical Education (Location: HSR-METCE)
$39.99
Well-Trained Mind (old)
by Susan Wise Bauer & Jessie Wise
3rd edition from W. W. Norton and Co.
in Clearance: Home School Resources (Location: ZCLE-HSR)
$16.00
Wonders of the World Lap-Pak
by Amy Pak
from Home School in the Woods
for 3rd-8th grade
in Hands-On History Activity-Paks (Location: HISRF-HOH)
$12.00