It’s July and more likely than not, school curricula and registrations and shopping lists are the furthest thing from your mind right now – as they should be. However, August will be here before we know it. If you’re thinking about homeschooling your kids – especially for the first time – there are some choices to be made when it comes to curriculum and teaching style.
You might not have known this, especially if you’re not coming from a homeschool background, but there are a number of different approaches to homeschool instruction. The folks at homeschool.com have some great resources for both new and seasoned homeschooling parents. We will reiterate some of their points below, along with support from some other helpful resources and a few anecdotes from Editor Andy’s own time as a homeschool student and eventual graduate.
Traditional Homeschooling
This approach is the closest to “real school” (a misnomer that doesn’t get a lot of love in HS circles). Traditional homeschooling typically involves the most structure and accountability – an observed, albeit flexible, school day from a reasonable morning hour to a point in the mid- to late afternoon.
A traditional approach adheres to the calendar and generally hopes to mirror the basic schedule of the local school district and their counterparts. (Often, this is so HS parents can let their kids participate in extracurriculars whenever possible.)
The approach to instruction varies. It always offers the best outcome when guided closely by the parent. That is going to be more intensive in kindergarten and the earlier grades, but parents can slowly reduce their daily input as students segue into the middle school and high school years and are able to be more and more self-guided and self-motivated (hopefully).
It is possible to just teach directly from the textbook, but most, from the late 1990s onward, have opted to include some digital components in their programs.
Faith-based programs like Bob Jones University Press’s HomeSat (as their homeschool curriculum was known at the time) and Pensacola Christian College’s publishing arm Abeka Book cornered the market early on this, providing class videos via satellite and later through physical media to watch at home. Teachers instructed from a set, usually staged to look like a classroom. BJU Press/HomeSat staff typically talked to the screen, implying a classroom beyond view. Abeka often included young pupils in view, offering at times a greater sense of immersion in the classroom experience.
The format has evolved in the last two decades – even more so since the COVID-19 pandemic and the move for a lot of education toward increased digital classroom accessibility. Regarding online learning, curriculum publisher Classical Conversations noted, “Typically, students access their course materials through a virtual learning environment (VLE), such as Moodle, Google Classroom or any number of proprietary platforms. Lessons can be synchronous (taking place in real-time) or asynchronous (taking place according to the learner’s own schedule).”
Editor Andy’s family utilized a mixed approach throughout his 11 years as a homeschool student. Early elementary revolved around the BJU Press daily video structure. From late elementary through early junior high, his family utilized distance learning (incorporating some in-person facilitation and online learning) through an online charter school called “K12.” The education was driven by daily online modules and textbook work. Regular progress was gauged by check-ins with an assigned certified educator. Various community-building events were scheduled throughout the year with this teacher’s “group,” allowing for some sense of connectivity.
For him, high school instruction was primarily textbook-based and self-driven, without the digital component. The spectrum of approaches throughout the years, altered as needed for the family and student, allowed for a very well-rounded educational experience.
There is also the option of a “satellite school.” The team at Classical Conversations shared, “The term ‘satellite school’ has a few different definitions, but in the context of homeschooling, satellite schools (or umbrella programs) are schools that offer homeschoolers resources, support and oversight. Some satellite schools simply handle the paperwork for homeschoolers, while others offer a complete curriculum. Many satellite schools also provide diplomas and transcripts. Satellite schools can also provide legal legitimacy in states where homeschooling is subject to strict requirements.”
Traditional homeschooling is a really solid model – but it can feel restrictive and it can burn out families quickly. This model requires constant facilitation and it’s not for everyone, for sure.
Unschooling
Opinions are divided on unschooling. To the uninformed, the general perception is educationally (and perhaps otherwise) neglected children run wild while parents abdicate responsibility. But it doesn’t have to be that way, advocates for the method insist – many are utilizing the popular method successfully.
Simply put, it places the child in the driver’s seat of their own education. The May 2025 USA Today article “These parents are ‘unschooling’ their kids. What does that mean?” explains it well.
Self-directed education, commonly known as unschooling, is a form of homeschooling that is based on activities and life experiences chosen by the child, according to the Alliance for Self-Directed Learning (ASDE), a nonprofit dedicated to increasing awareness and accessibility to unschooling.
Education experts say parents and caregivers unschool differently. Some take a few pages from the homeschooling curriculum and carve out lessons for their children. Others attend micro-schools or “free schools,” where unschooled children are grouped together in a “nature school” or “outside school” under the guidance of parents or teachers, said Daniel Hamlin, associate professor of education policy at the University of Oklahoma.
Unfortunately, as with all things, this system can be abused. On paper, allowing your child to choose and often to lead their instruction can be a game-changer for those who don’t bloom as well in a more traditional classroom setting. The key to unschooling well is support and accountability – to yourself as a home instructor, to the child or children at hand and to your school district.
The author of the USA Today article noted New York State’s strict reporting laws – and Editor Andy remembers those days well, from the annual intent to homeschool notification supplied to the superintendent’s office to the quarterly performance progress reports. Not all states’ homeschooling laws are that well-structured, but there are resources out there to guide the aspiring “unschooling” educator and make sure their students are well taken care of.
The Coalition for Responsible Home Education is named in the article and has some great support resources available. There are many others.
Montessori, Waldorf & Beyond
Most homeschooling homes in 2025 are making use of the traditional or unschooling approaches (or the “eclectic approach,” which in this author’s mind bleeds into the unschooling movement) or some customized hybrid of the two. But options don’t end there and there is certainly “the road less traveled” to examine.
Though in its purest form it requires a certified teacher, the Montessori method is a hands-on approach which has proven very successful for young children. (Further reading: a general explanation of the Montessori approach – and a Montessori mom and educator’s approach to the style and curriculum.)
Much less popular, but still a school of thought that exists in the discussion, is the Waldorf method. “This approach to education emphasizes creativity and imagination at all stages of the child’s development,” the article at homeschool.com states. More information can be found at waldorfeducation.org.
Homeschooling can be done successfully and with wonderful results; it simply requires introspection, planning and balance. It’s going to take work – and you as an educator need to look inward and make sure you have what it takes to lead your children through a not just adequate, but fulfilling and enjoyable, education at home.
The saying “it takes a village” is especially true here. Make connections with homeschool support groups and cooperatives – Loving Education at Home (LEAH) is a great resource for New Yorkers. Seek out extracurricular opportunities in your local school district. Develop good relationships with your superintendent’s office and staff – and know your state laws. Legal advocacy group Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is a great resource on that front.
Be responsible. Be accountable. But don’t forget to have fun and enjoy every step of the experience once you take the leap. There is freedom and enjoyment for you and your child as you step into a way of looking at and engaging with the world.
