Learning Styles & Teaching Methods
There are so many ways to teach.
But, before you start looking at curriculum and getting excited about one method over the other, take some time and look into what learning style you have.
Then, look into what learning style your child has.
This will help you narrow down your focus to the most effective method of teaching.
Below are links to articles on these topics.
Learning Styles
So, what to we mean by learning styles?
Everyone has a different personality. Character traits and preferences vary from person to person. So too do our learning personalities or styles.
We all interpret the world through our own personality. While that might sound strange, think about it for a minute. If you are someone who is very sympathetic by nature, you are going to take into account people’s emotions more readily than someone who is very systematic and schedule oriented.
There are four main, recognized learning personalities:
- the people person
- the thinker person
- the feeler person
- the idea person
We all have strengths and weaknesses for sure. One learning personality is not better than the other. They all have great importance to a society.
Nobody can be fit neatly into a box. The reality is we all have a little bit of everything in us. One or more learning personalities may be more dominant over the other, but we can always choose to develop the less dominant personalities with some effort on our part.
Teaching methods
There are many different approaches to teaching.
These differences include what concepts or subjects you prioritize, what schedule you teach on, and form of instruction you prefer.
Most of us do not prefer to leave our comfort zone. But, we may be faced with one or more students who simply do not learn like us at all. If this happens, what will you do?
Will you simply trudge through, dragging your child along kicking and screaming while you stay cozy in your zone?
Or, will you peek out into the world of varied teaching methods and maybe spend some time with your child exploring what is right for both of you?
Whatever way you approach homeschooling, try to be flexible. And, do not be afraid of trying something, finding it doesn't work, and just trying a new method.
A parting word of advice is to stretch both your comfort zones and your child's comfort zones and try new approaches from time to time.
I like to classify most curriculum into 6 main categories. Investigate and see which one you think fits you and your child's learning personalities the best.
Traditional Approach
Charlotte Mason Approach
Made for Homeschoolers
Classical Approach
Unschooling
Self-Paced Curriculum
What about schedules and Co-ops?
One of the phrases my parents coined back in the olden days of homeschooling was Parent-Directed Education.
The reality is that homeschooling is a very broad term, especially these days.
School doesn't always take place at home.
Mom and Dad are not always the teachers.
School probably doesn't happen from 8am to 2pm, Monday through Friday.
As long as the parent presides over their child's education, they are still homeschoolers.
The explosion of Co-ops and online classes for homeschoolers proves just that.
Also, do not bog yourself down with a cut and dried schedule.
Lately, I have found that doing certain school subjects at night increases my children's focus and patience. Guess why? Because they really, really, really do not want to go to bed!
Enjoy the journey, and do not get overwhelmed by trying to keep up with made-up grade levels, days of attendance, and butt-in-a-seat hours.