Homeschool Definitions for Beginners

Welcome to Making Everyday Magic! My name is Shanna, and if you are new here, we are a homeschooling family of four entering our eighth year of homeschooling for the 2024-2025 school year. Today, I am excited to share with you something I wish I had when I started homeschooling—a comprehensive list of homeschool definitions for beginners. This resource is designed to help you navigate the often confusing terminology of homeschooling.

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Why I Am Sharing

When I first began homeschooling, I often felt overwhelmed by the various terms and concepts unique to this educational path. I’ve compiled a list of almost 60 essential terms that every homeschooling beginner should know. These definitions will help you understand the different aspects of homeschooling and make informed decisions for your family’s educational journey.

 

Homeschool Definitions

FULL LIST CAN BE FOUND IN PDF HERE

 

Homeschooling

Homeschool:
A method of education where children are taught at home by their parents or tutors instead of attending a traditional public or private school. It allows for personalized learning tailored to the child’s needs and pace.

Virtual School:
An online learning platform that provides courses and educational resources for students to complete their education remotely. It can be part of a homeschool program or an alternative to traditional schooling.

Distance-Based School:
A type of education where students learn remotely through correspondence, online courses, or video conferencing, often with limited or no physical presence in a traditional classroom.

Charter School:
A publicly funded independent school established by a charter or contract. These schools have more flexibility in their operations and curricula compared to traditional public schools and can cater to homeschool students seeking specific programs.

Public School:
A school funded by the government, free for students to attend. Public schools follow state-mandated curricula and are available to all children within the district.

Private School:
A school funded by tuition payments and private sources rather than the government. Private schools have the freedom to create their own curricula and can offer specialized programs for homeschool students.

Umbrella School:
An institution that provides support, resources, and sometimes accreditation to homeschooling families. Umbrella schools help ensure compliance with state laws and offer record-keeping and reporting services.

World School:
An approach to education where learning is based on travel, cultural experiences, and global interactions. World schooling families use the world as their classroom, often combining travel with homeschooling.

Accredited:
A status granted to an educational institution or program that meets certain standards of quality and rigor set by an accrediting organization. Accredited programs ensure that the education provided is recognized and respected.

Unaccredited:
A status of an educational institution or program that has not been evaluated or does not meet the standards set by an accrediting organization. Unaccredited programs may not have the same recognition or transferability as accredited ones.

Homeschool Pod:
A small group of families who join together to educate their children collectively. Homeschool pods can share resources, hire tutors, and provide social interaction among students.

Hybrid Model:
An educational approach that combines traditional classroom experiences with remote or online learning. This model can be used by homeschoolers to supplement their at-home education with external classes.

University Model:
A style of schooling where students attend classes part-time and complete assignments independently at home. This model mimics a college schedule and can be used in both private schools and homeschool settings.

 

 

Association:
An organization or group that provides support, resources, and advocacy for homeschooling families. Associations often offer networking opportunities, legislative updates, and homeschooling events.

Co-op (Cooperative):
A group of homeschooling families who come together to share teaching responsibilities, resources, and expertise. Co-ops can offer classes, activities, and social opportunities for students.

Dual Enrollment:
A program that allows high school students to enroll in college courses and earn credit simultaneously for both high school and college. Dual enrollment programs enable homeschool students to earn college credits while completing their high school education.

 

Learning Styles

Visual Learner:
A student who learns best through visual aids such as charts, diagrams, and videos. Visual learners benefit from seeing information presented in a graphical or spatial format.

Auditory Learner:
A student who learns best through hearing and listening. Auditory learners prefer information presented through lectures, discussions, and spoken explanations.

Kinesthetic Learner:
A student who learns best through hands-on experiences and physical activities. Kinesthetic learners benefit from actively manipulating objects or engaging in movement while learning.

Play-Based Learning:
An educational approach where children learn through play and exploration rather than formal instruction. Play-based learning emphasizes hands-on experiences and encourages creativity and problem-solving skills.

Secular:
Education that is non-religious and does not include religious instruction or influence in its curriculum or activities.

Non-Secular:
Education that includes religious instruction or is influenced by religious beliefs and teachings.

Worldview:
A comprehensive framework of beliefs and values through which an individual or group interprets and interacts with the world. Worldview influences how educational content is selected and presented in homeschooling.

Faith-Based:
An educational approach that integrates religious beliefs and teachings into the curriculum and instructional methods.

Child-Led Learning:
An educational approach where the child’s interests, passions, and pace guide the learning process. Child-led learning allows for flexibility and tailoring of education to meet individual needs.

Parent-Led Learning:
An educational approach where parents take the primary role in planning, directing, and facilitating their child’s education at home.

Game School:
An educational approach that uses games, gamification, and game-based learning principles to engage students in learning academic content and skills.

Deschooling:
A period of adjustment and transition for a child or family leaving traditional schooling to homeschool. Deschooling allows time to adapt to new routines, interests, and learning styles.

Unschooling:
An educational philosophy where children pursue learning based on their interests and curiosity rather than following a structured curriculum or formal lessons.

Waldorf:
An educational philosophy that emphasizes holistic development, creativity, and hands-on learning experiences. Waldorf education often integrates arts, movement, and practical activities into the curriculum.

Literature-Based:
An educational approach that uses literature and books as the primary medium for teaching and learning across various subjects and topics.

Free School:
An alternative school where students have significant autonomy in choosing what and how they learn. Free schools often prioritize democratic decision-making and self-directed learning.

Eclectic:
An educational approach that combines various methods, philosophies, and resources from different educational theories and practices to create a personalized learning experience.

Montessori:
An educational approach developed by Maria Montessori that emphasizes independence, self-directed learning, and hands-on activities. Montessori education often uses specialized materials and environments to support learning.

Nature School:
An educational setting where learning primarily occurs outdoors in natural environments. Nature schools emphasize environmental education, hands-on exploration, and connection with the natural world.

Wilderness School:
An educational program that focuses on survival skills, outdoor adventures, and environmental stewardship. Wilderness schools often provide immersive experiences in remote natural settings.

Charlotte Mason:
An educational approach developed by Charlotte Mason that emphasizes living books, nature study, arts, and habit training to cultivate a well-rounded education.

Classical:
An educational approach based on the traditions of Western civilization’s classical education. Classical education emphasizes the study of classical languages, literature, history, and rhetoric.

School at Home:
An educational approach where parents replicate the structure and curriculum of traditional schools within the home environment. School at home often follows a structured schedule and uses textbooks and formal lessons.

 

Curriculum Styles

Mastery:
A curriculum approach where students master a topic or skill before moving on to the next level or concept. Mastery learning emphasizes depth of understanding and proficiency.

Spiral:
A curriculum approach where topics and concepts are revisited at increasing levels of complexity over time. Spiral learning aims to reinforce and deepen understanding through repeated exposure.

Outsource:
A strategy where parents delegate certain subjects or lessons to external tutors, online courses, co-ops, or specialized programs outside the home environment.

Portfolio:
A collection of a student’s work and achievements compiled over time to demonstrate progress, skills, and learning outcomes. Portfolios are often used for assessment and evaluation in homeschooling.

Project-Based:
A curriculum approach where learning occurs through the completion of extended, hands-on projects. Project-based learning encourages collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Funding:
Financial resources allocated to support homeschooling expenses, such as curriculum materials, resources, classes, and activities. Funding sources may include personal budgets, state funds, scholarships, or educational grants.

Morning Basket:
A homeschooling practice where students gather in the morning to engage in group activities, discussions, read-alouds, and enrichment studies together as a family.

Morning Menu:
Similar to the morning basket, this refers to a customizable selection of activities, readings, or subjects that students can choose from to start their day.

Scope and Sequence:
An outline or plan that defines the content and skills to be covered in a curriculum over a specified period. Scope refers to the content, while sequence refers to the order in which it is taught.

Open and Go:
Curriculum materials or resources that are ready-to-use without extensive preparation or planning by the parent or teacher. Open-and-go resources simplify the homeschooling process.

Copywork:
A practice where students copy passages or texts by hand to improve handwriting, grammar, punctuation, and language skills. Copywork can also reinforce spelling and literary appreciation.

Spine:
In curriculum terms, a “spine” refers to a central textbook or resource that provides the framework or core content for a subject. Other resources and activities are often aligned with the spine.

Unit Study:
An interdisciplinary approach where multiple subjects are integrated around a central theme or topic. Unit studies provide a holistic view and encourage connections across different areas of learning.

Lapbooking:
A hands-on learning approach where students create personalized, interactive mini-books or portfolios to showcase their knowledge and understanding of a specific topic or unit of study.

Notebooking:
An educational technique where students compile notes, reflections, illustrations, and other learning artifacts into personalized notebooks or journals.

 

 

Manipulatives:
Physical objects and materials used in hands-on learning activities to help students understand abstract concepts through concrete experience. Manipulatives can include blocks, counters, models, and other tools.

Core Subject:
The fundamental subjects considered essential for a well-rounded education, typically including mathematics, language arts (reading, writing, grammar), science, and social studies.

Dictation:
An exercise where students listen to a passage read aloud and then transcribe it accurately. Dictation helps improve spelling, grammar, punctuation, listening skills, and attention to detail.

Elective:
A non-core subject or course chosen by the student based on personal interests, career goals, or academic enrichment. Electives allow for customization and exploration in the homeschool curriculum.

Extracurricular:
Activities and programs outside the core academic subjects that supplement and enrich the homeschooling experience, such as sports, arts, music, clubs, and community service.

 

Conclusion

I hope you found this comprehensive guide to homeschool definitions for beginners both helpful and enlightening. Navigating the world of homeschooling can be overwhelming, especially when you’re just starting out, but understanding these key terms can make a significant difference in your journey.

Remember, homeschooling is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s about finding what works best for your family and tailoring the education to fit your child’s unique needs and learning styles. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to deepen your understanding, this list is here to support you.

If you have any questions or feel like I missed any important terms, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below or reach out to me on Instagram @makingeverydaymagic. Your insights and experiences are invaluable, and together we can build an even more comprehensive resource for homeschoolers everywhere.

Happy homeschooling, and remember to keep exploring, learning, and enjoying the journey!