The Realaxed Teaching MethodThe Relaxed Teaching Method Overview: The name basically means the parent takes on a more "relaxed" approach to teaching. The other extreme of a relaxed homeschooler might be the traditional homeschooler sitting at a dining table with a dozen textbooks, a schedule, test, quizzes, and a grading scale. The word "relaxed" implies a parent harbors less stress and anxiety about teaching particular concepts in a particular manner and time frame, and instead values the child's ability to naturally learn on his or her own. In this regard, the "relaxed" parent resembles the "unschooling" parent.
Under this method, parents encourage a love for learning and provide both informal and formal teaching. Using a relaxed style, a parent would most likely have curriculum available of some sort to use as needed and the child would participate in tangible schoolwork, perhaps completing worksheets or a nature journal. Children are taught according to personality, which means lessons are adapted to fit the needs of the child. Generally speaking, most relaxed homeschooling families are not preparing children for college admission tests. Limited time is spent sitting and studying from books. The child pursues interests, ask questions, seeks answers, and processes information. The parents provide interesting materials and opportunities for learning. The main difference between "unschoolers" and "relaxed" teaching is in the relaxed method of teaching the parent introduces some curriculum and does some direct teaching, where in the unschooling method, parents rely almost entirely on the students' self-directed learning. The Relaxed Teaching Method may use a variety of curriculum and resources from several sources. |
Parents who use a Relaxed Method of teaching are sometimes placed in the same category as Eclectic or Unschooling. Of all of the homeschooling methods of teaching, this one has the least available amount of information and examples, and an overall "vague" definition. 