Homeschooling is becoming an increasingly popular choice for parents who want to take an active role in their children’s education. But the thought of teaching can often be daunting for parents. This might be partly because of all the different homeschooling styles to research choose, and try out.
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A Variety of Homeschooling Styles to Consider
How to teach and when to teach is a common question that can become a stress factor for many parents. There’s also a whole web of fear too that can set a prospective homeschool family on a path of doubt and despair. Today, I will not be diving much into those fears. However, I do want to discuss the common question of how to teach. And since there are a variety of homeschooling teaching styles, I will begin with a brief overview of some of the more common ones.
- The Traditional/Structured approach resembles a traditional classroom setting. There is a pre-set curriculum, with the parent-teacher leading the lessons and assigning homework.
- The Unschooling/Child-Led Learning approach emphasizes the child’s interests and natural curiosity. The parent-teacher is more of a facilitator, providing resources and guidance as the child explores various topics.
- The Charlotte Mason approach focuses on the idea of living books, hands-on learning, nature study, and narration. (Children summarize what they’ve learned through writing and oral speech. Living books are books that are engaging, thought-provoking, and rich in ideas.
- The Montessori approach encourages hands-on learning and self-directed exploration. Children work with specially designed materials that allow them to explore concepts and skills at their own pace.
- The Classical approach focuses on the liberal arts, with an emphasis on history, literature, and language using grammar, logic, and rhetoric. Through the learning process, they master skills that enable effective communication.
One More in the List that Everyone is Talking About
We did not mention one teaching method above. However, it is rapidly gaining increasing amount of popularity amongst homeschooling teaching styles.
It is the Discovery-Based Learning method.
Discovery-Based Learning is an approach to teaching that is becoming more common in higher-level public schools. In recent years, has been picking up recognition in homeschool circles.
Discovery-Based Learning is also the primary teaching methodology of Preschool Homeroom. Preschool Homeroom has adopted it in the development of its curriculum, particularly in math and science.
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What is Discovery-Based Learning
The philosophy of Discovery-Based Learning centers on the idea that children learn best when they actively engage in the learning process and discover things for themselves.
Discovery-Based Learning has various benefits. Some of these include promoting a more personalized learning experience, autonomy in exploration and discovery, and offering real-world application and experience through the learning process.
Today, I am going to explore the benefits of Discovery-Based teaching for young children learning at home. I will share six key long-term benefits of Discovery-Based Learning. If you want some tips and tricks for implementing Discovery-Based Learning in your homeschool, check out this blog with three learning activities you can do with your young children at home. Be prepared to explore Discovery-Based Learning as a homeschooling teaching style.
Let’s get started with the first benefit of Discovery-Based Learning
Discovery-Based Learning Enhances Problem-Solving Skills
One of the major benefits of discovery-based learning is that it enhances problem-solving skills in children. Allowing children to explore enables them to make observations that help them determine what works and what doesn’t. Further exploration allows children to discover reasons why something might work or not. These observations equip children to strategize and determine the best changes to solve the problems they encounter.
Teaching children using a Discovery-Based approach significantly enhances their problem-solving ability. Discovery-Based Learning empowers them to learn how to solve problems on their own. This also in turn leads to increased confidence and independence.
Discovery-Based Learning Promotes High Levels of Math Development
Discover-Based teaching also promotes high levels of math development among children, even as early as preschool. For example, a preschooler’s number sense and math skills are a predictor of math achievements later in life.
Children taught math using a Discovery-Based approach tend to have greater gains in math skills. This is largely due to the hands-on, interactive nature of Discovery-Based Learning. These help them develop a deeper understanding of the mathematical concepts they were learning.
Discovery-Based Learned Increases Decision-Making Skills
The Discovery-Based method increases decision-making skills in children too. I know this doesn’t seem like that much of a big deal. Good, solid decision-making in life seems to be learned through a combination of making bad decisions, gaining life experience, and achieving maturity. Doesn’t it?
Well, maybe. But maybe not!
Side Note
I’ve seen it firsthand. In my mid-life, I have seen others around me make increasingly poor decisions regarding their careers, their finances, and their loved ones. My family also did not teach me good decision-making skills. As a result, I have suffered from my own decisions at times. I’m saying all this from a place of realization that not everyone learns to make solidly good decisions in life.
That is why this is so crucial when it comes to teaching our young ones.
Back to Discovery-Based Learning – The Best in Homeschooling Teaching Styles
Learning to process information and use that information to make sound, rational decisions as early as preschool gives children a head start for success in every facet of life. And good decisions affect us in our career choices, finances, family life, relationships, and everything in between.
Through the Discovery-Based approach to learning, children are better able to make decisions and solve problems independently. This is because Discovery-Based Learning allows children to explore and experiment with their wonderfully unique ideas in a safe and supportive environment. Through those explorations and experimentations, children can observe cause-and-effect relationships and watch natural consequences (good or not so good) occur.
Discovery-Based Learning increases Proficiency in Analyzing and Interpreting Data
Another huge benefit of Discovery-Based Learning is that it increases proficiency in analyzing and interpreting data independently later in life. This cognitive function is what we commonly call Information Processing.
When a parent/teacher guides her young ones through their observations, analysis, and interpretations of activities (such as the activities in Discovering STEM), it teaches them to analyze and interpret data. Providing children with more opportunities to practice this essential skill improves their proficiency in providing accurate interpretations and analysis.
When children learn through the hands-on, experiential nature of Discovery-Based Learning, they develop a higher level of cognitive critical thinking skills. They are better able to analyze and interpret data than those who learned through traditional teaching methods.
Much like decision-making, information processing is a skill that will serve children well. It will also foster their success throughout their adult lives.
Discovery-Based Learning Provides Opportunity for Valuable Career Experiences
It’s true! The Discovery-Based approach is one of the few homeschooling styles to provide experiences that prove valuable to children as they become adults, face career choices, and pursue their dreams. A report by the National Science Foundation shows that students who participated in Discovery-Based Learning in their secondary schooling were more likely to choose meaningful careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Discovery-Based methods engage children more actively in their learning. By encouraging them to experiment and discover independently, these methods tend to foster a greater level of passion for subjects and a deeper understanding of their applications in the real world.
Discovery-Based Learning Increases Knowledge Retention
Finally, Discovery-Based teaching methods are more likely to help children increase and retain their knowledge base as they get older.
Giving students opportunities to make connections between a variety of explored concepts helps them develop a deeper understanding of those concepts. Discovery-Based Learning fosters an environment where students make these connections because they explore concepts on their own terms, often with minimal instruction. This method allows students to make their own observations and share their thoughts independent of historical and textualized materials.
The Power of Discovery-Based Learning
Children who learn through discovery-based methods are better able to retain the knowledge they gain than those who learn through traditional methods. This is true across the board from public school settings to homeschooling teaching styles.
That is why Discovery-Based teaching is a powerful tool for homeschool parents looking to provide their young children with an engaging and effective learning experience. This approach enhances skills in problem-solving, math development, and decision-making. It also increases proficiency in analyzing and interpreting data independently. Discovery Learning offers experiences that prove valuable throughout their careers, and finally, it increases knowledge retention.
More Benefits to the Discovery-Based Learning
I have shared only a handful of reasons you should consider Discovery-Based Learning as one of your primary homeschooling styles. While I provided more in-depth explanations of the above six reasons, below you will find a list of several more benefits to Discovery-Based Learning.
- Active engagement: This occurs when students are involved in the learning process, which motivates and engages them to learn.
- Critical thinking: Discovery-based learning encourages students to think critically and develop problem-solving skills.
- Retention: When students discover knowledge for themselves, they are more likely to remember and retain that knowledge.
- Personalization: Discovery-based learning allows students to personalize their learning experience by choosing what they want to explore.
- Creativity: Discovery-based learning encourages creativity and innovation as students are free to explore different solutions to problems.
- Autonomy: Students become more autonomous and independent learners as they take control of their own learning.
- Curiosity: Discovery-based learning sparks curiosity and a desire to learn more, which can lead to a lifelong love of learning.
- Collaborative learning: Discovery-based learning can promote collaborative learning as students work together to explore and discover new knowledge.
- Flexibility: Discovery-based learning can be adapted to suit different learning styles and needs.
- Real-world application: Discovery-based learning can be applied to real-world problems, allowing students to see the practical application of their learning.
Final Thoughts on Discovery-Based Learning
By embracing Discovery-Based Learning in homeschooling, parents can help their children to develop a love of learning that will prove valuable throughout their lives and stay with them for the long haul.