Marcy Pett Homeschool Consulting

HOMESCHOOL APPROACHES

Identifying your main homeschool approach can help narrow down your curriculum choices and homeschool plans. Let's meet to uncover your teaching style, preferences for religious or secular curricula, and level of engagement, whether a more hands-on, time-intensive, comprehensive approach is best or a more eclectic and relaxed approach is best for you and your family.

School at Home:  This approach means you replicate the way public school is done traditionally, at home. This can mean using the same (or similar) curriculum materials as those used in traditional school, following a similar schedule, and placing an emphasis on structure. This approach may use the state’s cyber program to do learn what their peers are learning in school at home.

Eclectic: Mixing and Matching is the way to go for eclectic homeschoolers who seek out materials they believe are best for their children. This means you might take a textbook from one resource and combine that with a workbook from another, incorporate video learning, allow your child’s interests to lead the way for some subjects, and even create some of your own materials for other subjects creating a unique homeschool plan that works best for you and your child(ren). The Petts were Eclectic homeschoolers who choose to unschool science, do unit studies for history, did Khan Academy for math online, and did a more structured approach to reading, writing and literature. 

Unschooling: This approach is also referred to as self-directed or child-led learning and involves learning through life rather than traditional textbooks and lessons. Unschoolers often refer to the world as their classroom and allow their children’s interests to determine what they will learn. Parents will identify their child’s interests and provide resources, materials, books, and opportunities that help him learn from the world around him. This approach is great for travelers and kinesthetic learners.

Unit Studies: This approach usually focuses on one topic at a time but incorporates many different subjects under one umbrella. For example, if your child is interested in airplanes, you may create or buy a unit that incorporates history, science, math, art, grammar, and composition–all in the study of airplanes. You can also plan field trips that focus on this topic.

Classical: Classical homeschooling is a teacher-led approach that focuses on a combination of grammar, logic, and rhetoric. The grammar stage typically lasts up to the 8th grade and involves increasing knowledge and the memorization of facts. The logic stage extends from middle school to high school and focuses on abstract thinking, applying logic, and analysis. In high school, the focus becomes abstract thinking and the articulation and application of knowledge, especially through writing and verbal expression. Classical Conversations is the program for you! Note this approach is extremely time-intensive for parents as they are immersed and integrated into the program.

Charlotte Mason: The Charlotte Mason approach is literature-based and focuses on learning through real books rather than textbooks. If you choose this approach, your children learn from reading, listening to you read to them, and by having them use speech and writing about what they learned. This approach also incorporates nature walks, Bible study, and developing manners. Art and music are emphasized as well.

OUR METHODOLOGY OVERVIEW TO WORKING WITH YOU

We use a tried and true methodical, agile approach. We start by listening to understand your needs, goals, aspirations, and challenges during the initial consultation. We will deliver initial findings and recommendations for a way forward. If desired, we will then take a deeper dive by conducting an assessment and defining your roadmap together. Delivering any needed templates, and research, for you to implement. And then be here for when you need ongoing support throughout and as things change as you step through the educational years.

• Empathize & Define     

• Findings & Recommendations    

• Assessments, Roadmap Creation, Implementation & Test   

• Continuously Improve & Ongoing Support

FAQs

• Do you have your own online educational courses or are you available to teach my children for me?

No, unfortunately, my services and skills are in organization, strategic planning, and time management. I work as your partner alongside you to craft a program that you implement. I am here throughout the journey for continuous improvements and evolutions which happen as everyone learns and grows.

• Can I pay you hourly instead of purchasing a package after the initial consultation?

The way I work is by utilizing a project-based scope of work with defined deliverables. I would hate that if it takes me longer to research and/or produce you would need to pay my hourly rate. This is the best structure since you know exactly how much you will pay with no hidden fees and know exactly what you will get before you purchase.

• How long can I expect each package to take in duration?

Expect 8-12 weeks depending on your family's needs. Initial consultation is 1 hour, the research and planning can take a couple of weeks, and implementation a week or two. Then, I remain available for questions with two check-ins beyond that point to see how things are going and also discuss next steps.

• Can you help me find co-ops, hybrid schooling, and other homeschool groups for activities and community-building?

Yes! I will assist in researching available communities within your area and make some recommendations if we build that to be part of your package.