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ARL: Educational Resources in North Carolina

homeschooling infromation, books, support

Homeschooling allows parents to teach their children at home instead of sending them to school. While homeschooling has been around for over one hundred years, modern homeschooling grew popular in the 1970s and 1980s.
There are now around two million children being homeschooled each year. Families choose how to approach home education based on what works best for them. There are many different philosophies to consider.
With a wealth of resources and opportunities available to homeschools today, we hope to provide information that will be helpful to new and long-time homeschool families.

 

If you're just starting out, This Reading Mama's So You Want to Homeschool blog series has a lot of great information.

 

If you're looking for links, click here.
If you would like to request materials for your homeschool, click here.
If you would like to make a suggestion to make this page better, recommend a resource, or request a library lesson, click here.

general information

Which homeschool style is right for you?
There are many homeschool styles. Determining which style is right for your family is one of the first steps in homeschooling. Below you will find short summaries of the styles, articles, and quizzes to help you find the right style for you and your student(s).
 For information, books, and resources for each style, click the images.
Style summaries provided by Homelife Academy.
Comparing Styles & Determining Your Match
  • This article from The Quad Magazine is a comparison, including benefits and drawbacks, of each style.
  • This quiz from Eclectic-Homeschool will help you find out how you score with Charlotte Mason, Classical, Montessori, Project-Based, Thomas Jefferson, Traditional, Unit Studies, Unschooling, and Waldorf styles.
  • This quiz from Orison Orchards will consider your scores in Unschooling, Reggio Emilia (Project-Based), Montessori, Charlotte Mason, Waldorf, Ecelectic, Classical, Traditional, Unit Studies, Worldschooling, and Gameschooling.
  • Homeschool.com has collected information about the top homeschooling methods, including Ecelectic, School-at-Home (Traditional), Unschooling, Classic, Charlotte Mason, Waldorf, Montessori, Multiple Intelligences, and Project-Based Learning.
  • Read Life Beyond the Lesson Plan's Beginners Guide to Homeschooling to learn more about several methods, what worked best for her family, and why what's "best" is different for everyone
Learning Styles
When determining your homeschool style and curriculum, you will want to take the learning styles of your students under consideration.

Visit VARK-learn.com to learn more about learning preference and take the VARK questionnaire.
These books about homeschooling serve as a great introduction to the process, styles, curriculum, and more.
Click on the book cover to learn more or put the book on hold
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Looking for more inspiration or advice?
charlotte mason
Charlotte Mason philosophy believes education should apply to the whole person, not just the mind.
A Charlotte Mason education has three facets: atmosphere, discipline, and life. Atmosphere is the surroundings that the student grow up in. Discipline is the cultivation of good habits in your child, specifically character-building habits. Life is the belief that children should learn from living thoughts and ideas rather than only dry facts. All of Charlotte Mason's teaching methods are centered around this facet.
Looking for more?
  • Find out more about the Charlotte Mason method in this article from The Homeschool Mom.
  • Learn about the seven characteristics of a Charlotte Mason education in this article from Simple Homeschool.
  • Learn more and get book recommendations and tips for a starting out with Charlotte Mason in this post from The Joyfilled Mom.
  • In addition to providing curriculum, Simply Charlotte Mason brings discussion, development, and speaking engagements to practitioners.
  • Ambleside Online is a free homeschool curriculum that uses Charlotte Mason's principles. AO features detailed schedules, extensive teacher resources, support forum, wisdom from experienced Charlotte Mason educators, and books and articles about Charlotte Mason's living ideas.
Click on the book cover to learn more or put the book on hold
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classical
Classical homeschooling involves teaching based on the three stages of learning: the Grammar stage, the Logic stage, and the Rhetoric stage. The Grammar stage involves learning facts, memorization, and knowledge gathering. The Logic stage is when reasoning and logic begin to be applied to the knowledge. The Rhetoric stage completes the Trivium and is when the student learns the skills of wisdom and judgment. The instructional style is based on a method developed by Latin writer Martianus Capella in the Middle Ages and popularized during the Renaissance period.
Looking for more?
Click on the book cover to learn more or put the book on hold

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eclectic
Ecelectic Homeschooling combines a bit of other styles of homeschooling. Practitioners may use textbooks and workbooks (a la traditional) combined with student-led learning, a concentration on classical curriculum, and unit studies. This style encompasses many of the other styles and works well for many learners.
Looking for more?
Click on the book cover to learn more or put the book on hold
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montessori
The Montessori method is one of the most popular homeschool philosophies. Montessori is based on scientific understandings of human development. Rather than fitting the student to the school, the school fits its students. Montessori programs typically involve mixed-age groups, individual student choice of research and work, and long periods of concentration. Montessori focuses on providing learning tools to facilitate learning and develop independence. Through the process and materials, children learn that work is rewarding.
Looking for more?
Click on the book cover to learn more or put the book on hold

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online
Online homeschooling uses online learning programs like Khan Academy, DIY.org, or Codecademy to teach concepts to students. It is not the same as remote or virtual school. Online schooling can be supplemental or it can be the exclusive type of learning used in a homeschool. Many other homeschooling philosophies may use online schooling as a facet to facilitate learning.
K12.com, Time4Learning, Connections Academy, edX, and CK-12 Foundation all offer various courses and levels.
Additional online support is available from ABC Mouse (use it free at your ARL library), BrainPOP, PBS Kids, Starfall, Reading Eggs, National Geographic Kids, and many more.
Looking for more?
A Traditional Homeschooling approach, sometimes called School-at-Home, is similar to a typical classroom. Materials will include grade-level workbooks and textbooks. Tests, grades, and schedules are likely to be a part of this type of homeschool. Many families start out with traditional homeschooling.
Traditional homeschooling curriculum can be purchased from Abeka, Bob Jones, Switched on Schoolhouse, K12, ACE, BJU Press, Saxon Math, and others. Christianbook.com carries many of these materials.
Looking for more?
  • Confessions of a Homeschooler offers homeschooling ideas, resources, printables, and curriculum reviews.
  • Looking for resources, curriculum reviews, and tales of homeschooling moms of many types and styles? The Unlikely Homeschool, originally created by Homeschool Bravely author Jamie Erickson, has all this and more!
Click on the book cover to learn more or put the book on hold
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unschooling
Unschooling is the most often misunderstood type of homeschooling. Simply put, it is child-led learning. Inspired by the teachings of John Holt, unschooling encourages children to pursue their own interests and ideals as they interact with the world. Unschooling children flourish with a parent who has the time and commitment to allow their child to explore their interests. Unschooling involves a lot of reading aloud, encouraging a child's engagement, and loving guidance.
Looking for more information?
Click on the book cover to learn more or put the book on hold

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The Waldorf method began in Europe in the late 19th century. Waldorf focuses on a holistic approach. Subjects are not separated so that education can encompass body, mind, and spirit. Waldorf education uses textbooks rarely and only in later years. In early years, the method focuses on activities and experiences. In middle years, the focus shifts to discovery. In the upper grades, students endeavor to find their place in the "real world." Throughout a child's education, moral qualities will be emphasized.
Looking for more information?
Click the book cover to read more or put it on hold

 

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