Homeschool Types: Different Styles With Book Suggestions
Homeschool Types: Different Styles With Book Suggestions
Introduction to Homeschooling
As homeschooling has grown in popularity, especially since 2020, there's been an influx of various homeschool styles. Of all the families I've met, if I've learned anything it is that there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. Some families prefer a structured routine, while others embrace a more relaxed, child-led learning journey.
The beauty of homeschooling is that you can choose to incorporate any of the homeschool styles that best support your child’s needs and family’s values. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your approach, understanding the different homeschool styles can help you create a learning environment where your children learn, grow, and thrive.
Different Types of Homeschool - Is There A Right Way?
I remember when I first started homeschooling I had no idea what people (and blogs) were referring to when they mentioned homeschooling types or styles. I quickly realized that the phrase 'type of homeschooling' referred to the various approaches a family could take, such as eclectic homeschooling or traditional homeschooling, each with its own characteristics and advantages. Wasn’t teaching just teaching? Having been a classroom teacher, this variety of approaches genuinely intrigued me.
It’s all kinda confusing and a bit ridiculous, IMO. Are you a jock or a nerd? It sometimes feels the same.
Homeschoolers are strong people & can come with some strong opinions. Be true to yourself!
There are many different beliefs on how to homeschool a kid properly and it’s easy to get caught up comparing yourself. I help parents compare less and feel more confident about homeschooling with weekly tips and new information in my newsletter, Seeds For Thought. Check it out
As for teaching styles, your best bet is to take the time to figure out what your homeschooling goals are, then figure out if any of the homeschooling styles below seem appealing. A key advantage to finding your homeschooling style is that it can make it easier down the road when deciding on for curricula.
If a particular homeschooling method seems like a fit, then begin researching the curriculum (if that applies).
Remember to stay realistic. If it seems daunting, keep looking. Daunting isn’t something you want to take on with homeschooling.
A List of Popular Homeschool Styles & Book Suggestions
I think exploring the ever-expanding world of homeschool methods can be fun as it highlights the variety of approaches available and exposes a ton of curriculum options.
However, I really want to emphasize the importance of finding one that aligns with your family’s educational philosophy and goals. Understanding different homeschool philosophies can help you make informed choices about which approach best fits your family’s needs and values. Don’t try to be what you’re not - it won’t go well.
Instead of being the expert on each homeschooling type (because I’m not), I’ve compiled a list of the homeschooling styles I hear most commonly referenced from homeschool families, including classical education, eclectic homeschooling, and others.
For each style, I’ve tried to make it easy to see a few things:
Day-to-day
Main learning beliefs
Who it is generally a better fit for
Book suggestions that discuss that particular philosophy
Homeschool curriculum suggestions (when possible) to research
Keep in mind that most homeschoolers do not strictly follow one method, but often blend elements from different styles to create a system that works best for their family.
Montessori
The Montessori method emphasizes having a learning environment where children can explore and learn at their own pace, guided by their natural interests. A montessori education focuses on fostering independence and self-directed learning, following Maria Montessori's philosophy of supporting early childhood development through a child-centered approach. This is referred to as child led. This is a very popular homeschooling style for younger children in the preschool through early elementary school years.
Day-to-day: Hands-on activities with developmentally appropriate learning materials.
Learning Belief: Children are naturally curious learners who thrive on independence.
Best For: Families who have the patience to allow small children to explore and perform activities independently, with a penchant for practical life skills.
While Montessori homeschooling shares many principles with Montessori schools, such as respect for child-led exploration and natural development within a thoughtfully prepared environment, Montessori schools typically offer a more structured setting given their need to accommodate more students in a setting. Homeschooling within a Montessori approach allows for greater flexibility of the prepared environment with customization to the child's needs and interests.
Book Suggestions:
“Montessori from the Start” by Paula Polk Lillard and Lynn Lillard Jessen
Curriculum Suggestion: NAMC Montessori Curriculum, Montessori Homeschooling Curriculum by Montessori for Everyone, ShillerLearning, The Global Montessori Network
Classical Homeschooling
Classical homeschooling the original type of homeschooling methods! It is a time-tested (think ancient education!) philosophy of education. The classical approach homeschool method of teaching embraces historical learning stages known as the Trivium. The classical method is a structured, traditional approach to education that guides students through the grammar, logic, and rhetoric stages. Within a classical education, classical languages such as Latin and Greek play a crucial role in developing critical thinking and a comprehensive understanding of the arts and sciences. The classical education model has its roots dating back to the time of Plato and Aristotle, when the trivium and similar thought processes were developed and widely used in educational traditions.
Day-to-day: Depending on the stage, students will work on memorization, analytical thinking, and questioning through literature, conversations, and thoughtful materials.
Learning Belief: Structured learning with a strong emphasis on cyclical learning in developmental stages. Cyclical meaning that content is often covered in 3 times throughout a student's entire academic career (grammar, logic, and rhetoric stages), each with a different emphasis on the concept or developmental stage is being developed.
Best For: Homeschool families who enjoy a structured learning approach and value bringing critical thinking, beauty, order, truth through asking relevant questions to the forefront of their lessons.
Book Suggestions:
“The Well-Trained Mind” by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise.
“The Core: Teaching Your Child the Foundations of Classical Education” by Leigh A. Bortins.
Curriculum Suggestion: The Veritas Press, Memoria Press, Classical Conversations (faith-based)
Unschooling (not deschooling, see below)
Eclectic homeschoolers don’t follow a set homeschool style. The term eclectic homeschooling is more like a catch-all to describe someone open to many types of homeschooling methods. It’s a variety of approaches that allow families to create a custom fit for their child’s education. By tuning into a child's interests, parents can tailor learning experiences to what excites and engages their child most.
Day-to-day: A mix-and-match approach using different methods and resources. They might follow a Charlotte mason homeschooling approach for language arts and an unschooling practices for math.
Learning Belief: Flexibility and adaptability are key to catering to a child’s learning style. This is typically the approach taken for families who mix and match secular and faith-based curriculum while taking liberty to add or omit information presented.
Best For: Parents who like to cherry-pick the best aspects of each educational philosophy or choose a curriculum based on its style or effectiveness rather than it's secular or faith-based core.
Book Suggestion:
“Educating the WholeHearted Child” by Clay and Sally Clarkson (faith based)
“The Call of the Wild and Free: Reclaiming the Wonder in Your Child’s Education, A New Way to Homeschool” by Ainsley Arment (very encouraging!)
Curriculum Suggestion: A little bit of this, a little bit of that - the eclectic homeschooler likes to choose a curriculum or project based on the child’s needs and learning styles. Many eclectic homeschoolers also incorporate online curriculum options to further personalize their educational approach.
You will find many curriculum suggestions that come from various styles throughout this website because we are an eclectic homeschooling family!
Eclectic
Eclectic homeschoolers don't follow a set homeschool style. The term eclectic homeschooling is more like a catch-all to describe someone open to many types of homeschooling methods. It's a variety of approaches that allow families to create a custom fit for their child's education.
Day-to-day: A mix-and-match approach using different methods and resources.
Learning Belief: Flexibility and adaptability are key to catering to a child’s learning style.
Best For: Parents who like to cherry-pick the best aspects of each educational philosophy.
Book Suggestion:
Curriculum Suggestion: A little bit of this, a little bit of that - the eclectic homeschooler likes to choose a curriculum or project based on the child's needs and learning styles.
Waldorf
Waldorf education focuses on fostering a child’s intellectual, artistic, and practical skills in an integrated and holistic manner. The Waldorf method, rooted in Rudolf Steiner’s philosophy, emphasizes nurturing the whole child—body, mind, and spirit—through a holistic, arts-driven, and child-centered educational approach. Waldorf homeschooling tends to be one of the more gentle styles of homeschooling, especially for younger kids.
Day-to-day: Artistic activities, storytelling, and lots of imaginative play.
Learning Belief: Intellectual, emotional, and physical development should be harmoniously balanced.
Best For: Children who thrive in a rhythmical and artistically rich environment.
Book Suggestion:
“You Are Your Child’s First Teacher” by Rahima Baldwin Dancy.
“Understanding Waldorf Education: Teaching from the Inside Out” by Jack Petrash.
Curriculum Suggestion: Oak Meadow or Christopherus Homeschool Resources.
Charlotte Mason
The Charlotte Mason method of education emphasizes rich literature, nature study, and the formation of good habits to nurture a child’s love for learning and moral character. The Charlotte Mason approach is an educational philosophy that focuses on living books, nature studies, and a gentle, child-centered learning style rooted in the ideas of 19th-century British educator Charlotte Mason. Charlotte Mason was a British educator who developed a profound method for teaching children and recorded her beliefs to help others educate similarly. Charlotte Mason homeschooling is a holistic, nature-based philosophy that uses practical methods like narration, art, and field trips to foster a love of learning and connectedness with the material.
Day-to-Day: Short, focused lessons, nature walks, nature studies with direct observation of the outdoors, diary keeping, and opportunities to visit art museums as part of experiential learning.
Learning Belief: Education should encompass the whole child and the formation of good habits, while fostering a child's natural curiosity through exploration and discovery.
Best For: Families who relish the outdoors, good stories and literature, and gentle learning. Typically has some faith-based undertones unless specifically secular, so it’s best for flexible secular/eclectic families who don’t mind references or skipping over ideas.
Book Suggestion:
“Mother Culture ®: For a Happy Homeschool” by Karen Andreola
“For the Children’s Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School” by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay
“Habits: The Mother’s Secret to Success (Charlotte Mason Topics)” by Charlotte Mason
Curriculum Suggestion: Ambleside Online, Simply Charlotte Mason, Build Your Library, Wildwood Curriculum, Ursa Minor
Nature Schooling (Forest School)
Imagine if every lesson took place under the canopy of trees or the vast open sky. Nature schooling is an awesome way for children to learn and grow by transforming the great outdoors into a vibrant classroom, where every leaf, stream, and creature plays a part in the living curriculum of life’s lessons. This approach emphasizes hands on learning, allowing children to engage directly with their environment through practical, experiential activities.
Day-to-day: Outdoor exploration and activities, with nature as the chief teacher.
Learning Belief: Direct contact with nature stimulates learning and respect for the environment.
Best For: Adventurous families who’d rather have their hands in the dirt than on a tablet. This style is typically geared for younger children before the need for formal supplies, abstract concepts (ahem.. math proofs and such), and structured education are necessary (think history, civics, etc.)
Book Suggestion:
“Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder” by Richard Louv.
“Play The Forest School Way: Woodland Games and Crafts for Adventurous Kids” by Jane Worroll
Curriculum Suggestion: Blossom and Root, Wildwood Curriculum, Exploring Nature With Children
Deschooling
Deschooling is the buffer period where you adjust from traditional schooling to homeschooling freedom. It's like a system reboot for learning.
Day-to-Day: Taking a break from formal education to reset and prepare for a homeschooling approach.
Learning Belief: Transitioning smoothly into homeschooling requires stepping back first.
Best For: Families new to homeschooling or those needing a break from formal methods.
Book Suggestion: I honestly don't know any for this... I have never pulled a kid from school that needed a reset. Sorry!
Curriculum Suggestion: Generally no curriculum here—just time and space to learn in the space of life!
Unit Study (PBL: Project Based Learning)
Unit studies, also sometimes called thematic units, immerse students in a singular topic, allowing them to explore it from diverse angles and integrate multiple subjects for a comprehensive understanding. These studies often incorporate other subjects beyond the main theme, ensuring a well-rounded and diverse educational experience.
Need an example? If you take a deep dive into Venice, Italy, you can cover culture, money & finances, math, history, literature, science, art, art history, cooking, chemistry, etc.
Day-to-day: Focused learning on one topic, while integrating various subjects. Students might complete a project or Lapbook to help retain, recall, and memorialize their rabbit hole journey.
Learning Belief: Immersing in a single topic deepens understanding and creates a bigger picture of connectedness between disciplines.
Best For: Enthusiastic learners who love to dig deep and explore topics wholesale.
Book Suggestion:
“Project-Based Homeschooling: Mentoring Self-Directed Learners” by Lori Pickert
Curriculum Suggestion: Make your own! Moving Beyond the Page, PBL units on Teachers Pay Teachers, Homeschool Helper Unit Studies
School-at-Home (Traditional Homeschooling)
The school-at-home approach is exactly what it sounds like: bringing the structure and routine of a traditional school setting into your home. Rather than a style, this is more of a structure. Although those super cute old school desks and a well used chalk board are an aesthetic for sure!
For many new homeschool parents, this can feel like a natural starting point because it mirrors the public school environment they’re already familiar with. Think of it as “traditional homeschooling”—maybe with separate textbooks for each subject, scheduled lessons, and a clear daily routine.
This homeschool method is often chosen by families who want to ensure their children are covering all the traditional subjects in a way that’s easy to track. It can be especially helpful if you’re transitioning out of public or private schools and want to maintain a sense of continuity.
While it's a perfectly fine way to structure your personal homeschool if it gives you peace of mind, it’s important to remember that replicating a traditional school system at home isn’t the only way—and it may not be the best fit for your child. Some kids thrive with the structure, while others may find it restrictive.
If you’re drawn to the school at home approach, I encourage you to tweak it as you learn what works best for your family.
Worldschooling
Worldschooling is one I am not too familiar with but it seems like it could be a vibrant and adventurous homeschool style. Instead of sticking to a single location or a set curriculum, worldschooling families use travel, cultural experiences, and real-world travel and exploration as the foundation of their child’s education. This approach is all about learning through immersion—whether that means visiting art museums in Paris, exploring ancient ruins, or simply connecting with local communities during travels.
Worldschooling is perfect for families who value lifelong learning and want their children to develop a global perspective. It’s a flexible homeschool program that adapts to wherever you are in the world, allowing children to pursue their own interests and learn from the people, places, and cultures they encounter. Field trips, hands-on activities, and spontaneous adventures are all part of the journey, making every day a new opportunity for discovery.
This homeschool style tends to be popular among digital nomads, expats, and families who love to travel. I would imagine this would suit younger children rather than older children who might crave that consistent social base, however there are many online homeschool communities that families can connect with.
Choosing Your Homeschooling Style
There are as many different homeschooling styles as there are homeschooling families. Each homeschool journey will be different. If you’re ready to start homeschooling, take time to research your local regulations, connect with other homeschool parents, and remember that you can start homeschooling at any time that works best for your family.
Try not to stuff yourself into a mold, or fit what you see other families are doing. Be true to your family goals and pay attention to how your kids learn.
Once you have an understanding of their learning styles, you’ll naturally find your groove - with or without the label of a particular homeschool method.
Choosing a homeschooling style that fits your family’s lifestyle and enriches your child’s education, fully supporting their learning and development is super important. If you don’t, it will always feel like a struggle.
If you need help figuring out how your family tick, you’re welcome to reach out and I can try to help you navigate finding your personal style!
Conclusion
Homeschooling is truly a mixed bag and is what you make of it. There are no set styles that are better than others, but a really great mix of options that you can use to help shape your family values and goals with educating your kids from home.
One thing I'd stress is that none of these styles are fixed and you should never feel forced into a system that doesn't work for you. A successful homeschool is one that is full of love, with consistent exposure to appropriate learning for your child.
You can change from a nature based learning to a literature based Charlotte Mason approach as your kids get older. Or maybe you have an off year with lots of stress and you ditch everything for online learning programs. The beauty of homeschooling is your ability to embrace your values, personalize your experience, and shift when needed.
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