Holistic Homeschooling is a Viable Educational Option | HomeschoolToGo

 

The three basic aims of education in New Zealand are to educate students in academic and practical knowledge and skills, values, and citizenship skills (socialization).

Among the many reasons for Holistic Homeschooling we hear daily from families across the country, these three stand out.

IQ and SK

As a result of changes in pedagogy (and thus teacher training content), vast changes in educational delivery have occurred, which are not universally accepted.

Moreover, even with the best of intentions and the dedication and commitment of most teachers, quality teaching does not guarantee quality learning.

As a result, parents who homeschool their children have the opportunity to research good teaching methods and use what best suits their children's needs. They can also get professional help and advice when needed.

Values

However, removing all traces of Judeo-Christian belief has not changed many New Zealanders' core moral values.

Parents who oppose this shift in values can teach the values they believe are most important. They can also help their kids think for themselves and form their own opinions.

Socialization

Many parents will say that socialization is the main reason they chose to homeschool. It is, in fact, the most common factor we encounter daily. Holistic Homeschooling allows parents to foster positive relationships in their children's lives.

Contrary to popular belief, homeschooled children learn to socialize naturally within their families and communities with people of all ages and backgrounds.

In reality, many homeschoolers believe that constant socialization with a large group of peers is not natural (and occurs only in schools) and that its inherent flaws foster a variety of social issues, including bullying. This term refers to “the influence of a peer group or an individual on other individuals to change their attitudes, values, or behaviors in order to fit into group norms.” Many young people are pushed towards undesirable behavior due to too much rigid, age-banded ‘socialization' (and the subsequent over-influence of the all-powerful but very immature peer group).

Holistic Homeschooling methods

About 7,000 New Zealand children are currently home-educated according to the National Council of Home Educators New Zealand (NCHENZ). The following are some of the more common home education methods, though most families use a mix of them.

Holistic Homeschooling Some people ‘school at home with a fixed curriculum, workspace, and schooling hours – a highly structured approach.

BUS STUDIES It combines literacy, numeracy, science, arts, and other subjects with the child's interests.

Unschooling

Unschooling is a misunderstood term, so some people prefer terms like natural, child-led, or free-range learning. Such a program focuses on the child's interests and passions. Author John Holt has written extensively about natural learning.

Waldorf: 

Based on the work of Austrian philosopher and educator Rudolf Steiner. Steiner emphasized the importance of the ‘whole child' by focusing on body, mind, and spirit. The subject content is carefully developed to be truly relevant to the child's inner life. Natural play materials, storytelling, art and craft, music and movement, nature, and life rhythms are emphasized.

Montessori

Dr. Maria Montessori developed this educational method around 1897. Respect for a child's natural psychological development is emphasized. Rather than using formal teaching methods, Montessori encourages children to pursue natural interests. It is vital that a child is allowed to explore and make choices.

Charlotte Mason

Charlotte Mason was a British educator who spent her life improving education in England at the turn of the century. Her use of living books instead of dry factual textbooks or books condescending to children is perhaps her most famous method. Living books are usually written by one person who is passionate about the topic and has a broad command of the language.

Classical

Classical education emphasizes language learning rather than visual learning (pictures, videos, and television). Early schooling is spent absorbing facts, middle school is spent thinking through arguments, and high school is spent expressing oneself. The Trivium is a classical pattern. This is a very methodical approach.

Eclectic Approach: 

An eclectic approach to home education combines elements from various philosophies and sources. A lot of homeschoolers use an eclectic approach because they can tailor their curriculum to their family's goals, commitments, and lifestyle. For example, they might use unit studies, follow a math curriculum, have set activities during the week, and leave the afternoons open for child-led learning.