The Teaching Method Debate

People debate over which teaching methods are the best, just as they debate over the correct approach to teaching subjects, such as reading.

In regards to reading instruction, some educators recommend rote learning and spelling lists; while others suggest a "Whole Language" approach where children focus on the elements of the story as opposed to segmented parts of grammar.

When I first started teaching, my education mentor taught me not to correct my students' spelling and grammar.

During this time, the "Whole Language" approach was very popular.

Ten years later, the popular teaching method theory of "Whole Language" swung like a pendulum to the far opposite side, and while teaching, my supervisor handed me three, thick, three-ring binders of grammar and sentence structure assessments to photocopy and distribute once a week to my 90 middle school students.

Veteran teachers often take note of the cyclic nature of teaching theories and methods. Experts in the field of academia rarely introduce a brand new concept. Rather an older, already existing concept is modified, restructured, and presented in a new way.

As a result, many educators, like myself, having observed the educational pendulum swing back and forth, base our teaching strategies on the past history of our students' academic successes, and adapt our teaching approach to match the elements of our classroom environment, taking into account socioeconomic conditions, language barriers, special educational needs, behavioral concerns, and home life.

Homeschool parents, in a similar fashion, familiarize themselves with various homeschooling teaching methods, adapt and modify as needs dictate, and evaluate the learning environment, considering the emotional, behavioral, nutritional, special educational, and spiritual needs of the child.

Naturally, each parent teaching in the home develops a unique, individualized approach to delivering information. No two homeschools are alike. Likewise, no two classrooms in the public sector are the same.

The homeschool arena is divided into different sects of teaching methods, much like the traditional schools are classified into subgroups, such as secular private schools, Christian public schools, charter schools, Montessori, and traditional public schools.

As long as their continues to be divided sectors, people will continue to debate. The good news is the multiple types of teaching strategies and methods allows the homeschooling family a wide variety of choices to fit their needs.

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