Through various modes of integration and expression, holistic homeschooling education aims to instill a love of learning in students. The term "holistic" refers to the notion that the sum of all educational components and components cannot be quantified or explained. Rather than that, the system as a whole determines how the individual pieces behave. The connections the student makes with others and with the environment, the natural world, and the inherent values in everything they encounter are cherished. A strong emphasis is placed on experiential learning, which entails using all of one's senses. As a result, the arts (music, painting, etc.) are almost always highlighted in the various methods/curricula associated with this approach.
This educational approach is exemplified by the Montessori method, HomeSchoolToGo, Waldorf Education, Quaker Schools, and Democratic Schools. To help you understand this approach better, I've discussed some of the specific curriculum or programs that would fall under this approach. As you can see, this strategy is applied in various ways. Certain programs are based on mysticism, new age philosophy, or overt spiritual or religious overtones. While other programs do not place a high premium on spirituality, they are still considered holistic homeschooling. Thus, while a holistic approach to homeschooling does not always imply a spiritual one, it does not preclude one.
As a side note, holistic homeschooling is NOT the same as unschooling. Would you kindly read up on unschooling to better understand the difference between these two approaches? Unschooling has always been viewed as a delight-driven process where the student selects the subject matter to study. While some holistic homeschooling programs, such as Montessori incorporate elements of delight, they also include a strong guiding or director component. Students have some freedom and opportunity to discover and learn more about what interests them, but this is typically in a structured and planned environment. A critical distinction between unschooling and holistic homeschooling is the learning environment.
Montessori Technique
"The Montessori method is an educational approach centered on the child developed through the research and experiences of Itacenteredysician and educator Maria Montessori (1870–1952)." It developed primarily due to Dr. Montessori's 1907 discovery of "the child's true normal nature" while observing young children given freedom in an environment prepared with materials conducive to their self-directed learning activity. The method's objective is to replicate this experimental observation of children to restore, sustain, and support their true natural state of being.
Montessori Method Includes:
When using the Montessori Method, the teacher must view the child as possessing inherent natural guidance for their perfect self-directed development. Thus, the teacher's role is to monitor the environment and remove obstacles to this natural development. The teacher's observational role may include experimental interactions with children, commonly referred to as "lessons," to resolve misbehavior or demonstrate how to use the various self-teaching materials available in the environment for free use by the children.
Age Perception in Montessori Method:
The Montessori Method is primarily used with young children due to the infant's unique instincts and sensitivity to environmental conditions (2–6). However, it is occasionally conducted with elementary school-aged children (6–12 years old), infants and toddlers, and middle and high school students. When applying this method to children, schools have varying interpretations, practical applications, and philosophical underpinnings. While the name "Montessori" is well-known, it is not a registered trademark used by multiple organizations.
If you've ever visited a Montessori school, you've probably noticed the children's use of beautiful wooden educational stations and unique manipulatives. Individuals can purchase the manipulatives and set up stations in their homes, similar to how schools do. It would operate similarly in a holistic homeschooling environment in a public or private preschool environment.
ENKI Education
Enki Education is a Global Cultures Curriculum that integrates the arts into all academic subjects. The homeschool curriculum incorporates a variety of diverse elements to support ENKI's fundamental premise: the central task of education, whether in the classroom or at home, is to integrate the body, heart, and mind of each child. As a result, academic excellence, self-confidence, and competence are promoted.
WALDORF EDUCATION
Waldorf Education, also known as the Steiner Method, is based on the educational philosophy of Austrian philosopher and anthroposophist Rudolph Steiner. Interdisciplinary education combines elements of practical, artistic, and conceptual learning. This method emphasizes the value of creativity, critical thinking, and analysis. The Waldorf process provides a developmentally appropriate, balanced approach to education that integrates the arts and academics for children in preschool through twelfth grade. It develops a child's sense of truth, beauty, and goodness and acts as a buffer against violence, alienation, and cynicism. Education aims to instill a lifelong love of learning in each student while also fully developing their unique abilities.