Homeschool Terminology

— April 27, 2024

“We Unschool.”

“I use a boxed curriculum.”

“He does piano to round out his portfolio.”

“I chose this curriculum because it’s secular.”

“We no longer abide by a schedule, our homeschool has a rhythm.”

Comprehensive Guide

The home learning community’s terminology and verbiage can easily overwhelm a new homeschooling parent. When I first stepped into the world of homeschooling there were a lot of words I was unfamiliar with even though I was a former educator. There are some words that filter in from the school system but there are many that are specific to the homeschooling community.

In this article I share the most common terminology and verbiage used among homeschooling families and in home learning books. From methods, to schedules you will find a straightforward answer. I have placed an asterisk next to words to denote that it is defined in this list as well. I hope this gives you confidence in your homeschooling journey. 

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Methods – The ways parents teach. Usually formed or chosen from a family’s priorities and ideals.

• Deschooling -very little to no formal instruction is used to allow your child to fall in love with the act of learning again. Usually occurs after a child has left a formal education system.
• Unschooling -child-led learning at its utmost. Children learn through naturally occurring curiosities and interests as well as life experiences. 
• Classical Model -a rigorous program that emphasizes a child’s learning based on three developmental periods (elementary -grammar, middle school -dialectic, high school -rhetoric

• Charlotte Mason -a relaxed learning method that emphasizes beauty, nature, and reading. Specifically reading *living books.
• Unit studies -children learn about a specific subject using a variety of topics. This can be accomplished from various resources that the parent chooses or one purchased guide. 
• Waldorf -a holistic learning approach that emphasizes creativity and imagination in topics of study that are designed by the parent.

• Montessori -a child-led learning focus that emphasizes hands-on, self-directed, and real life skills.
• Hygge schooling -The emphasis of creating a nurturing, warm and contented environment for learning at home and together as a family.

This is not a comprehensive list of homeschooling methods nor should any be taken at face value. There are more intricate details and various pros and cons to each method. However, the definitions provided may assist you in determining which way your homeschool method leans. Many families enjoy blending the various methods and that is why there is Eclectic homeschooling:

• Eclectic -the blending of various homeschooling methods and/or resources to create an individualized approach for every family and child.

Read more at How to know which homeschooling method is the right one for you. Or read Homeschooling Methods by Paul & Gena Suarez.

Schedules -how a parent structures the homeschool day.

• Loop -the practice of ordering specific subjects that will be completed in that sequence. Not all subjects will be completed in one day but the following day resumes where the learning left off.
• Rhythm –a relaxed approach to a “schedule.” Certain subjects are expected to be completed but there is no specific time expectation for completion. 
• Traditional -the opposite of the rhythm schedule. Subjects are expected to begin at a certain time everyday. Boxed curricula works best with this schedule type.
• Block -allows the parent and child to focus on fewer subjects at one time allowing for deeper study of each subject.

These scheduling practices are an excellent start for considering the structure of your day. There are more ideas available but they are not used as frequent in the homeschooling community or are adaptations of the ones listed.

Materials/Fillers

• Morning basket -a time usually at the beginning of the day that a family has set aside to gather and learn together. This time can be planned throughout the day and can be known by a few other names such as “morning meetings” or “lunch basket.”
• Manipulative -a physical item that allows a child to touch and learn through hands-on learning.
• Curriculum -learning materials for a specific objective that utilizes a *scope and sequence.
• Prepackaged or boxed curriculum -everything, including curriculum, that a parent needs to teach their child for a school year.
• Scope and sequence -the framework for what and when to teach subjects and topics.
• Homeschool electives -topics of study outside of required academics. Usually the child chooses based on interest.
• Living books -these types of books will captivate readers of almost any age with the story-telling, illustrations, and passion of the author.
• Nature Journal -a specific location for your child to record their observations and thoughts of the natural world as it occurs around them.

General Terms

• STEM/STEAM -an acronym for a teaching approach that blends science, technology, engineering, art, and math. STEAM is the evolution of STEM.
• Objectives -the methods defined to achieve goals.
• Faith based -topics are grounded in the knowledge and wisdom of God.
• Secular -learning a topic is not rooted in faith. This is not the opposite of *faith based. The topic at hand may simply not have a religious connection.
• Strewing -a tactic commonly used in unschooling where a parent places item(s) of a specific topic out for the child to discover them and peak their curiosity.
• Learning style -the best way a child learns. There are basic styles such as kinesthetic, auditory, etc. However, there are more advanced categories that have been defined such as the Vark Modalities or Myers-Briggs Learning Styles. Either way it is beneficial to know how your child learns the easiest so you can shape their lessons to accommodate their needs.
• Teaching style -the most natural way a parent finds they are able to instruct their children in their studies.

Legal Terms -every state has different homeschooling laws and requirements.

• Homeschool association -an official group that supports and encourages homeschool families in various ways to make home learning possible.
• Individualized home instruction plan – or IHIP is required of homeschooling parents by some states. It’s an official statement that informs the local school district of the child’s name, age, grade level, curriculum, textbooks, etc. that will be used that year in school. 
• Letter of intent -a form that must be submitted to the local school district informing them of your intention to homeschool your child(ren). The less-oversight version of IHIP.
• Progress report -required by some states. The report measures your child’s progress and provides feedback. 
• Portfolio -a form of record keeping to showcase your child’s progress. Some states require portfolio submissions at the end of the year.
• Standardized testing -tests that are meant to be given and graded in a consistent way, measure a child’s knowledge, and compare peers. Some states require this of homeschoolers.

If you’re interested in what your state requires of homeschoolers here is an excellent website for you to check out: Homeschool Legal Defense Association. 

The legal side of homeschooling can seem intimidating, especially in certain states. However, *homeschool associations and other groups work hard to keep our freedoms to educate our children at home. You can also find support groups specifically for your state on Facebook. Parent’s share a plethora of information to help other parents navigate this area of homeschooling.

Gain Confidence

Homeschooling can seem difficult when beginning. Through research and making oneself knowledgeable there is a level of confidence that can be achieved before day one of teaching your child at home. Being informed by various methods, practices and styles I have adapted our homeschool to fit into every season of our life. And I know I will be ready for the inevitable new seasons that come our way as my children grow. You can be confident too!

If there are any terms that sparked your interest please let me know in the comments if you hope to blend it into your homeschool. Or if there are any that I missed please leave it in the comments with a brief description so that others may benefit from it as well. 

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