The Eclectic Teaching Method

The Eclectic Teaching Method Overview

In the eclectic approach, parents borrow ideas from several different teaching methods and adapt the ideas to fit the ability of their children. People who choose the eclectic method look at a child's strengths and sometimes a child's learning style.

Parents mix and match curriculum from a wide range of resources to suit the child's needs and teacher's preference and use a general mix of both traditional and non-traditional teaching.

There is usually a flexible schedule and sometimes grading and testing. Some subjects are structured and others are unstructured. Often certain subjects that are important and/or interesting to the parent are covered more extensively than other subjects.

An example of a eclectic approach might look like this: The teacher uses a textbook for math, quality novels for reading, a workbook for spelling, a Classical Approach to history, library books for geography, kits and free exploration for science, and provides frequent time outdoors and field trips.

Generally, with an eclectic approach, a child receives basic instruction throughout the day, but no two eclectic teachers are the same. There is time allotted for free time and exploration,and parents hand select materials that work well with their children.

The resources for the Eclectic Teaching Method will vary and come from a spectrum of resources.

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The Home Education Magazine is a good resource for the eclectic teaching method.
My silly definition of an "eclectic" approach
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