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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104 Items found Print
Active Filters: 5th grade (Ages 10-11)
106 Days of Creation Studies
by Sonya Shafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 3rd-Adult
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
A to Z Guide to Home School Field Trips
by Gregg Harris
from Noble Publishing
for 1st-8th grade
in Practical Home Schooling (Location: HSR-PRAC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
America First updated
by Lawton B. Evans, Updated & Revised by Rachel Lebowitz
from Charlotte Mason Plenary LLC
for 4th-6th grade
in American History Reference (Location: HISA-REF)
$14.00 (1 in stock)
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)
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 (BCE/CE Edition)
from Living Book Press
for 1st-12th grade
in Timeline Resources (Location: HISRF-TIM)
Castle with Many Rooms
by Lorene Lambert
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in History Spines & Surveys (Location: HISRF-SPINE)
Charlotte Mason Book of Centuries
from Living Book Press
for 1st-12th grade
in Timeline Resources (Location: HISRF-TIM)
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 Me, Classical Thee for Homeschoolers
by Rebekah Merkle
revised for homeschoolers from Canon Press
for 5th-12th grade
in Classical Education (Location: HSR-METCE)
$11.99 $8.00 (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)
$8.96
Early Modern & Epistles: 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)
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)
Enjoy the Poems: Robert Louis Stevenson (old)
by Emily Dickinson, Sonya Shafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Poetry Curriculum & Resources (Location: LIR-POET)
Enrichment Studies Volume 1: Lesson Plans for Grades 1-12
by Sonya Schafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Explorers
by Mary Ellen Sterling
from Teacher Created Materials, Inc.
for 4th-6th grade
in Age of Exploration (1450-1700) (Location: HISA-16EXP)
$2.50 (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)
Illustrated Nature Journal
by Fiona Biddington
from Cicada Books Limited
for 3rd-8th grade
in Nature Study (Location: NAT-GEN)
Individual Studies: Lesson Plans for Grade 5
by Sonya Schafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 5th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Introduction to Classical Studies - MP Package
by Cheryl Lowe
from Memoria Press
for 3rd-8th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Studies (Location: HISCUR-MP)
$100.26
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)
$20.95 $8.00 (1 in stock)
Introduction to Classical Studies - Teacher Guide
by Cheryl Lowe
from Memoria Press
for 3rd-5th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Studies (Location: HISCUR-MP)
$20.95 $9.00 (2 in stock)
Jack's Insects: Narration & Nature Study Notebook
by Karen Smith
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 4th-6th grade
in Nature Study (Location: NAT-GEN)
$13.00 (1 in stock)
Joshua through Malachi & Ancient Greece
by Sonya Shafer
2nd edition from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Charlotte Mason Education (Location: HSR-METCM)
Journaling A Year in Nature
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Nature Study (Location: NAT-GEN)
$15.00 (2 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)
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
from Blue Sky Daisies
for 3rd-8th grade
in Commonplace & Journaling Books (Location: LIR-Com)
$9.95
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)
Matthew Through Acts & Ancient Rome: 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)
Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation & Epistles
by Sonya Shafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Charlotte Mason Education (Location: HSR-METCM)
Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation, & Epistles
by Sonya Shafer
2nd edition from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Modern Times & Epistles, Revelation: 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)
Morning Time: Student Anthology
by Cindy Rollins
from Blue Sky Daisies
for 3rd-8th grade
in Charlotte Mason Education (Location: HSR-METCM)
$13.95
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)
My Reading Logbook - Journal
from Peter Pauper Press
for 3rd-Adult
in Recommended Book Lists (Location: LIR-REC)
$2.80 (1 in stock)
Native Americans
by Leigh Hoven
from Teacher Created Materials, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Clearance: History & Geography (Location: ZCLE-HIS)
$1.00 (1 in stock)
Noah Plan English Language Curriculum Guide
Noah Plan
by Carole Goodman Adams
from Foundation for American Christian Education
for Kindergarten-12th grade
in Principle Approach (Location: HSR-METPA)
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
Noah Plan Reading Curriculum Guide
Noah Plan
by Martha Barnes Shirley
from Foundation for American Christian Education
for Kindergarten-12th grade
in Principle Approach (Location: HSR-METPA)
$39.95
Olympic Games
by Charlene Notgrass with Mary Evelyn Notgrass
from Notgrass Company
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Unit Studies & Lap Books (Location: HSR-METUS)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Paper Sloyd for Primary Grades
by Ednah Anne Rich
Facsimile Edition from Repressed Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Charlotte Mason Education (Location: HSR-METCM)
Paper Sloyd for Primary Grades
by Ednah Anne Rich
Facsimile Edition from Yesterday's Classics
for 3rd-6th grade
in Charlotte Mason Education (Location: HSR-METCM)
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: 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)
Practice Makes Perfect Level 5
by Angela O'Dell
from Master Books
for 5th grade
in Math Lessons for a Living Education (Location: MAT-MB1)
$26.39
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
Renaissance
by Linda J. Larsen
from Teacher Created Materials, Inc.
for 4th-8th grade
in Renaissance & Reformation (Location: HISW-REN)
$2.50 (2 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)
Spelling Wisdom - Book 2
by Sonya Shafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 5th-6th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
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 of America Volume 1 - Narration Notecards
by Crystal Hildreth
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Stories of America: Volume 1
by Charles Morris, Sonya Shafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-6th grade
in Modern History (Location: HISW-MOD)
Stories of America: Volume 2
by Charles Morris, Sonya Shafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-6th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Stories of the Nations Volume 1 - Narration Notecards
by Crystal Hildreth
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Stories of the Nations: Volume 1
by Charles Morris, Sonya Shafer, Lorene Lambert
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 4th-8th grade
in Modern History (Location: HISW-MOD)
Stories of the Nations: Volume 2
by Charles Morris, Lorene Lambert
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 4th-8th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Stories We Shared
by Douglas Kaine McKelvey & Jamin Still
from Rabbit Room Press
in Recommended Book Lists (Location: LIR-REC)
$31.50
Stuff They Left Behind: From the Days of Ancient Egypt
by Sonya Shafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Stuff They Left Behind: From the Days of Early Modern
by Sonya Shafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Stuff They Left Behind: From the Days of Modern Times
by Sonya Shafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Stuff They Left Behind: From the Days of the Middle Ages
by Sonya Shafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Thematic Unit: Medieval Times
by Cynthia Ross
from Teacher Created Materials, Inc.
for 4th-8th grade
in Middle Ages (Location: HISW-MID)
$3.00 (4 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)
Ultimate Lap Book Handbook
by Tammy Duby & Cyndy Regeling
from Meggie Dee Press
for 1st-5th grade
in Unit Studies & Lap Books (Location: HSR-METUS)
$16.00 (1 in stock)
Visits to South & Central America, Australia
by Sonya Shafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Geography Curriculum (Location: GEO-CUR)
Visits to the Middle East
by Sonya Shafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Geography Curriculum (Location: GEO-CUR)
$14.00 (1 in stock)
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 $19.00 (1 in stock)
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
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