Homeschooling Glossary

An educational approach emphasizing living books, nature study, short lessons, narration, and habit formation, developed by British educator Charlotte Mason.

An educational model based on the trivium—grammar, logic, and rhetoric—emphasizing language-focused learning and the study of great works of Western civilization.

A group of homeschooling families who collaborate to share teaching responsibilities, resources, and social activities.

Legal requirements mandating that children within specified age ranges receive formal education, whether through public school, private school, or homeschooling.

The complete set of courses, lessons, and academic content used to educate students, which in homeschooling is often selected or designed by the parent.

An approach where the child's interests and passions guide curriculum selection and learning activities, fostering intrinsic motivation.

The adjustment period after a child leaves traditional school during which the family transitions away from institutional mindsets and habits.

A program that allows high school students, including homeschoolers, to take college courses and earn both high school and college credit simultaneously.

A flexible approach that combines materials and methods from multiple educational philosophies to create a personalized learning plan.

An educational practice in which parents or guardians provide instruction to their children at home rather than sending them to a public or private school.

The Home School Legal Defense Association, a U.S. organization that provides legal advocacy, resources, and support for homeschooling families.

A customized plan outlining specific educational goals and accommodations for a student with special needs, sometimes adapted for homeschool settings.

Well-written, narrative-style books by passionate authors, used as an alternative to textbooks in the Charlotte Mason approach.

An educational approach developed by Maria Montessori that emphasizes child-led learning, hands-on materials, a prepared environment, and mixed-age groupings.

A Charlotte Mason technique where students retell what they have learned in their own words, serving as a comprehension and retention tool.

An evaluation method that uses a compiled collection of student work samples to demonstrate learning progress over time.

The practice of maintaining documentation of a homeschooled student's academic work, attendance, and progress, often required by state regulations.

A curriculum document that outlines the topics to be taught and the order in which they are presented throughout an academic year.

The process by which children learn to interact with others and develop social skills, a frequently discussed topic in debates about homeschooling.

Uniform assessments administered under consistent conditions to measure student achievement, sometimes required of homeschooled students by state law.

The three foundational stages of classical education: grammar (knowledge), logic (understanding), and rhetoric (wisdom and expression).

A private school that provides administrative oversight and record-keeping services for homeschooling families to satisfy legal requirements.

An integrated approach to learning in which multiple academic subjects are connected through a single central theme or topic.

A child-directed educational philosophy in which learning is driven by the student's natural curiosity and interests rather than a prescribed curriculum.

An educational philosophy founded by Rudolf Steiner that emphasizes imagination, creativity, artistic expression, and a rhythmic daily structure.