There are many different styles of educating children at home. If you're homeschooling your child or considering it, no one other than yourself can say what style you should adopt. If you're unsure what your homeschooling "style" is, don't worry; you'll have time to figure it out.
Unschooling
What is unschooling, anyway? Typically, unschooling parents give their children control over what they do with their days, control over their learning, and even control over their schedule—sometimes down to what they eat, when they sleep and when they bathe. The children are encouraged to do what comes naturally to them. There are different levels of this lifestyle. Many unschooling parents have guidelines, but some do not. There are no subjects or classes unless the student wants them. The philosophy is this: Children will learn to read when they want to read about different topics. None of it is forced. They learn what they wish to, out of their own curiosity and at their own pace. It's just, in a word, unstructured.
Traditional homeschooling
With the use of curriculums, textbooks, quizzes, testing, and grading, this learning style brings the classroom to your home. There is a focus on achievement, and it's very structured. Record-keeping and grading are significant factors.
Unit studies
This style explores subjects for more extended periods, as the studies are more in-depth. It's a hands-on approach and is popular with families that have more than one grade level. A unit study can involve more than one subject; for instance, the unit spelling words will coincide with the animals being studied, and the children will learn about the areas in which the animals live. We have personally used this learning method and enjoyed it. Also, research has shown that children using unit studies retain 45% more than when using other approaches.
Relaxed homeschooling
These parents focus on the needs and goals of the child and only use materials when they feel they are needed. They only teach what they think is necessary for their child to know, typically in a non-traditional and hands-on manner. However, they may not fully trust that their child will learn everything they need to in a self-directed way, as unschooling parents do. This is not unschooling; it’s just a relaxed lifestyle that draws learning from natural experiences. Some relaxed homeschoolers call themselves "partial unschoolers," as they offer their children as much freedom as possible to engage in their own interests.
Computer-based
There are many online programs for parents who want a curriculum already in place with step-by-step guidelines and computer-based quizzes, tests, and record-keeping.
Eclectic
This is a little bit of everything. It's a combination of styles and techniques. This is what we are currently using. We use computers and learn how to use software programs and do reports with them. Although I did teach Ben cursive and still require it, he does not like writing with a pen or pencil. So when he needs a break from the pencil, he'll ask to "write" on the computer instead. That works for me. We also incorporate unit studies. Last year we did a study of Milton Hershey. That was history, geography (as we learned a lot about Hershey, PA), and science (the science behind making chocolate).
We do a little traditional schooling as well. I don't do a lot of testing with Ben, but it's important to me that he knows the definitions of a variety of words and how to spell them. I give him a weekly spelling/vocabulary word list. At the end of the week, I ask him to spell and define the words. Also, because we like our Mondays and Fridays to be more relaxed, we work harder on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. We love the flexibility that homeschooling offers us.
There are even more styles of homeschooling out there; these are just some of the most popular. You will figure out what works best for you and your family, and only you can say. You don't have to know before you start. Just start! It's a work in progress that will take on a life of its own. It will change and ebb and flow. There will be tears and significant accomplishments. More than likely, your child's style, personality, strengths, and weaknesses will be the guide for that. The most important thing to remember is that you are together, and there's no better place to be.