Is Eclectic Homeschooling Right For My Family? {Real Homeschooling for Real Families}

Today’s Real Homeschooling for Real Families post is written by Courtney from Homeschool Mastery Academy. She is writing about Eclectic Homeschooling and how to tell if it’s right for your family.

Eclectic homeschooling is a popular method of homeschooling for many reasons. You can blend all of your favorite homeschooling methods for a custom curriculum. You never have to feel limited or constrained to just one method. That is precisely why I am such a fan of eclectic homeschooling!

What exactly is Eclectic Homeschooling?

It is whatever you want it to be. Seriously. You can pick and choose resources from any homeschool method and blend them into your homeschool. You can take different homeschool books, resources, printables, games, curriculum and make it your own. Eclectic homeschooling has all the freedom you could ask for when it comes to home educating.

What are some of the benefits of eclectic homeschooling?

• Customizing curriculum to fit the learning styles of each child. Most of us have very different children with various learning styles, and eclectic homeschooling is perfect for that. One child that may excel at one homeschool method might struggle in another method. By having the freedom to choose what works for each child, we can customize their educational journey to fit their personal needs best.
• The ability to select any resource you like and use it however you like. Can you say FREEDOM? There seem to be fewer rules or constraints than some methods of homeschooling. If you are generally a “color outside of the lines family,” you will love eclectic homeschooling. You can choose and use what works for you at the time.
• Children and seasons can and usually do change over time, so with eclectic homeschooling, we can adjust as circumstances change. The freedom that you have with eclectic homeschooling allows for you to make changes whenever necessary. As your homeschool evolves, so can your curriculum.

What Does an Eclectic Homeschool Routine Look Like IRL?

One of the biggest blessings of eclectic homeschooling is that our routine can shift as our family does. We have changed our routine many times over the years, as babies were born or my husband’s work schedule changed.

We currently homeschool 4-5 days a week with a fun Friday every other week. We are homeschooling three children ages preschool to high school.

Our mornings begin with core subjects usually, and we transition into art studies, read-alouds, Bible, crafts, and nature study after lunch. We are typically finished with school each day by 2 pm at the very latest. Mind you that we are in no rush to complete anything and our overall goal is cultivating a love of learning. We have opted for a stress-free way of homeschooling.

What Methods Can You Use for Eclectic Homeschooling?

You can use any homeschool curriculum you want. There are no rules to what you can choose, use, and/or combine.

As I mentioned earlier – seasons change, so the way we began homeschooling is not the way we homeschool today. Our homeschool has evolved as our family and knowledge of home educating has grown.

When we began over a decade ago, we were using homeschool in a box and as a brand new homeschool mom with one child – that worked for a few years. As time went on, I branched out to try new things and fell in love with combining all sorts of interesting educational choices.

These days you can find us blending Charlotte Mason, Unit Studies, Classical, Hands-On Activities, and Fun Printables. My kids enjoy homeschooling because we keep it fun and exciting.

Because of that evolution of our homeschool, I became a homeschool consultant where I help other homeschool families find the best fit for their unique families and lifestyles. Homeschooling is not a one size fits all approach, and I love helping families find their perfect recipe for homeschooling success.

Here are a few questions you can ask to find out if eclectic homeschooling is right for your family:

1. Do you want a customized education without limits on the curriculum you choose?
2. Do you want to maximize the freedoms that homeschooling has to offer when it comes to choosing curriculum, routines, and homeschool lifestyle?
3. Do you believe that your homeschool should be as unique as your family?

If you answered yes to any of those questions or if you are considering homeschooling, I bet eclectic homeschooling might be right up your alley. Or maybe your homeschool still doesn’t feel like you have found the best possible fit, I encourage you to explore eclectic homeschooling. You will be glad you did.

 

Courtney Messick, the founder of Homeschool Mastery Academy, is a homeschooling mother of three who works as a writer, educational curriculum & content creator, and homeschool consultant.

She coaches new and experienced homeschoolers on streamlining their homeschool processes, focusing on implementing organizational strategies and identifying individual learning styles. Her goal is to help every member of the family embrace homeschooling with ease and cultivate a love of learning.

You can connect with Courtney on Facebook or Instagram or Pinterest.

Join us each week as a new post about homeschooling methods and styles goes up on the Real Homeschooling for Real Families page! You can click on the image below to check out all of the blog posts in this series!