Home Education Is Not the Same as Doing School at Home
Why educating at home is less about curriculum—and more about posture, freedom, and attention
On the first day of a new year, I find myself thinking about the messages I receive from parents who are quietly considering a different educational path for their children.
These messages come year-round, but they increase noticeably during summer and winter breaks on the public school calendar—moments when families have time to breathe, observe, and ask questions they’ve been holding for a while.
One question appears again and again, sometimes stated plainly, sometimes tucked between the lines:
What does it really mean to homeschool?
I want to begin by naming something important.
There is home education, also known as homeschooling. And then there is doing school at home.
There is home education, also known as homeschooling.
And then there is doing school at home.
These are not the same thing.
Neither is wrong. But they are fundamentally different. And understanding that difference can bring great clarity—and relief.
Doing School at Home
For many families, “homeschooling” begins with enrolling in a state-funded online program such as Connections Academy or K12.
These programs use the same curriculum found in the public school system. They are Common Core–aligned, fully online, and structured much like a traditional classroom—just relocated to the home. Students submit assignments digitally, and teachers grade their work. Parents have little to no input regarding academic rigor, content, or instructional philosophy.
This option often serves students who struggle in a traditional classroom environment and need a different setting to continue their education outside a school building.
I speak with many parents who are drawn to the idea of home education but worry they lack the skill or confidence to teach their own child. For some, enrolling in a public school–at-home program feels like a safer bridge.
Choosing this path is not a failure. It is not “less than.” And for many families, it is the right fit.
It simply was not the right fit for ours.
One of the primary reasons we chose to educate our children at home was to offer them an education that the public system—by its very design—could not.
Neither path is wrong. The question is not what looks best, but what fits your family.
What Home Education Is
At its core, home education is about parental autonomy over a child’s learning experience.
What that looks like varies by state. Each state has its own homeschooling regulations. Some require detailed reporting and approved curricula; others are largely hands-off. We live in a state that allows families significant freedom, and I’m deeply grateful for that. I also pay close attention to the weather—the policies and leadership that make that freedom possible.
Once a family decides to educate at home, the sheer number of educational philosophies can feel overwhelming. Structured methods. Child-led approaches. Everything in between.
This is where I gently remind parents:
There is no universal right way. Only what fits your family.
You may change methods mid-year. You may blend approaches. You may try something that doesn’t work and begin again.
That flexibility is not a weakness. It is one of the greatest gifts of home education.
The Many Paths Families Take
Families exploring home education will quickly encounter a wide range of methods, including:
Traditional curriculum
Classical education
Charlotte Mason
Montessori
Unit studies
Unschooling
Eclectic approaches
Project-based learning
Waldorf
Road schooling
World schooling
Game schooling
It can feel like too much.
So, take a breath.
Read. Observe. Pray, if that is your posture.
Choose something that feels aligned—and simply, begin.
Home education is not a destination. It is a journey.
Why We Chose Charlotte Mason
The philosophy that shaped our family most profoundly is the Charlotte Mason method.
I first encountered Charlotte Mason’s writings while I was in college. Reading her work felt like meeting a kindred spirit. Her understanding of children—how they grow, develop, and learn—aligned with the very reason I wanted to become an educator in the first place.
At the same time, I struggled with what I was being taught at the university level. Much of it conflicted with my instincts about children and learning. Miss Mason’s six volumes felt like fresh spring water to a thirsty soul.
Later, when I worked in both public and private school settings, I found myself quietly resisting the structure, the curriculum, and the environment. I did what I could to shape my classroom around Charlotte Mason’s principles—but it is nearly impossible to fully implement them within a rigid system that leaves little room for exploration or free thought.
Education is not something we begin at six and finish at graduation. It is meant to nourish the whole person—for life.
The Principles That Shaped Us
Charlotte Mason outlined twenty principles. I value all of them, but a few are deeply rooted in my heart.
Education is an atmosphere.
Children learn from the world around them. When they encounter real-world experiences, they are invited to explore, investigate, reflect, and grow in ways no worksheet can replicate.
Education is a life.
Learning does not begin at six and end with graduation. It is meant to nourish the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—throughout life.
Children are not blank slates or empty buckets. They already possess beautiful, living minds. When we expose them to a wide variety of subjects and teach them the habits of attention, listening, and observation, we help cultivate a love of learning that sustains itself.
Our Ongoing Journey
This is how we began our journey into home education.
It is not always easy.
It is sometimes chaotic.
And it is always beautiful in its own way.
The most beautiful part is that it is something we have created together. We do not live inside a rigid school structure. We learn from daily life. We follow curiosity. We take advantage of ordinary moments.
What works for our family will not work for every family—and that is not only okay, it is expected. Each family that steps away from systematic expectations can choose a path uniquely their own.
What works for our family will not work for every family—and that freedom is the beauty of home education.
Looking Ahead
This will be the first in a series of reflections on what it’s like to embrace home education—not as a trend or talking point, but as a way of life.
In future pieces, I’ll share more about:
what a day looks like in our home
how to stop doubting yourself as a homeschooling parent
common questions people ask—and how we’ve learned to answer them
If you are already on this journey, I hope you find something here that resonates.
If you are only considering it, I hope you’ll read this as one family’s experience—not a prescription, but an invitation to think slowly and choose wisely.
May you be given the clarity to choose what brings life to your home, the courage to trust that choice, and the grace to walk it slowly with your children.