Homeschool Philosophies Quiz

homeschool-philosophies-quiz

Try out our brand new Homeschool Philosophies quiz!  This version has a few philosophies that we revised to give you more accurate results.  We’ve also added in two new philosophies.

Find out how you score with Charlotte Mason Education, Classical Education, Montessori, Project-Based Learning, Reggio-Inspired Learning, Thomas Jefferson Education, Traditional Education, a Unit Studies Approach, an Unschooling Approach, and Waldorf Education.

Share your results in the comments.  Did anything surprise you?  Do you think it is accurate?

To see the previous version, click here.

Great books from history and literature should be used in place of textbooks.

Topical studies are a great way to learn.

Child-led learning is important.

Living books, projects, and activities are preferable to textbooks, workbooks, and worksheets.

Children should design their own curriculum.

Children should have long periods of uninterrupted time for child-led study.

Lessons that can be used with multiple ages and grades are best.

I prefer to purchase grade-level curriculum packages that are planned out for me.

Natural life experiences are where learning truly happens.

The parent's role is to help the child pursue his/her goals and interests.

Instruction should be language-based with little use of screens.

Incorporating many different subjects into one study is preferable.

Creative play should be emphasized in early childhood with no formal learning before age 7.

The parent's role is to inspire the child to learn rather than require him to learn.

Living books are a great tool for learning.

It is important to cultivate wisdom and virtue in our homeschool.

Social responsibility, empathy, creativity, and free thinking are important in my children's education.

Learning should be based on a child's interests.

Learning ideas are more important than memorizing facts.

Parents should model a love for learning, a love for work, a curious nature, and read a lot.

Learning to write clearly and use elegant language is important.

Children will learn when they are ready.

Education should include practical activities like household chores or handcrafts.

Children should redo work until it is excellent.

Education should be driven by a child's interests.

Exploring ideas from great thinkers is important.

Parents should study and read while the child studies and reads.

Learning is best done in larger blocks of time.

Short lessons with focused attention are better than big chunks of time.

Avoiding screens for children who are elementary age or younger is important.

Tests and grades should be given in elementary or middle school.

It is better to study a wide variety of subjects than to focus mainly on reading, writing, and math.

Our learning environment looks like a mini-classroom.

Tests and grades may hinder learning.

Children learn well in multi-age groups.

Topical studies help children make connections between subjects.

Children should spend lots of time outside.

Adults should search out answers together with the child rather than give answers.

Being able to transition into a public or private school classroom is important.

Expression through art and music is important in my homeschool.

A parent's role is to act less like a teacher and more like a mentor to help their children learn.

I want to use curriculum similar to what is used in public or private schools.

The child's learning area needs to be organized and aesthetically pleasing.

Children learn best by doing their own investigations in the world.

Projects are an excellent way to engage in deep, complex learning.

Great works of literature, art, history, and philosophy are important to study.

The parent's role is to facilitate the child's education and not to teach.

Art, music, gardening, and foreign language are important subjects.

Making things is an important part of learning.

Learning is best done in a clutter-free environment filled with natural light.

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294 thoughts on “Homeschool Philosophies Quiz

  1. Score for Charlotte Mason: 16
    Score for Classical Education: 5
    Score for Montessori Education: 8
    Score for Project-Based Learning: 14
    Score for Reggio-Inspired:19
    Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: 4
    Score for Traditional Education: 13
    Score for Unit Studies Approach: 17
    Score for Unschooling Approach: 8
    Score for Waldorf Education: 13

    Now to learn what all these mean….

  2. Charlotte Mason 14
    Classical Education 14
    Unschooling Approach 15
    We have used Abeka through 8th grade. I find it interesting that Unschooling Approach is highest, as I am leaning toward a change. Thank you for this resource. I will continue my research.

  3. Score for Charlotte Mason: 14
    Score for Classical Education: 13
    Score for Montessori Education: 11
    Score for Project-Based Learning: 9
    Score for Reggio-Inspired:12
    Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: 14
    Score for Traditional Education: 3
    Score for Unit Studies Approach: 6
    Score for Unschooling Approach: 11
    Score for Waldorf Education: 23

  4. Score for Charlotte Mason: 9
    Score for Classical Education: 11
    Score for Montessori Education: 3
    Score for Project-Based Learning: 6
    Score for Reggio-Inspired:12
    Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: 12
    Score for Traditional Education: 6
    Score for Unit Studies Approach: 6
    Score for Unschooling Approach: 0
    Score for Waldorf Education: 6

  5. Score for Charlotte Mason: 21
    Score for Classical Education: 18
    Score for Montessori Education: 16
    Score for Project-Based Learning: 21
    Score for Reggio-Inspired:19
    Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: 19
    Score for Traditional Education: 5
    Score for Unit Studies Approach: 8
    Score for Unschooling Approach: 16
    Score for Waldorf Education: 12

  6. Unschooling and Charlotte Mason were my high ones by quite a bit. I have one son in college and the other is a jr in high school. My husband gave me grief at times because we weren’t doing “enough” school/learning. Well, just because it doesn’t look like school doesn’t mean there’s no learning going on. They are doing fine, even without the structure. They know how to think for themselves.

  7. These are my results not sure what any truly are but it’s what I got

    Score for Charlotte Mason: 3
    Score for Classical Education: 6
    Score for Montessori Education: 16
    Score for Project-Based Learning: 11
    Score for Reggio-Inspired:11
    Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: 10
    Score for Traditional Education: 9
    Score for Unit Studies Approach: 10
    Score for Unschooling Approach: 9
    Score for Waldorf Education: 14

  8. My top 3 scores are:-

    Score for Charlotte Mason: 18
    Score for Reggio-Inspired:18
    Score for Traditional Education: 21

    But I feel you missed a very Important point in the quiz, “ Do you want Faith /Religion based study?”
    Because I am looking for a non religious one.

  9. So I think there is a reason we started homeschooling lol traditional education got a -14 😳🤣 my tops are unit studies and unschooling scoring the same and then Charlotte mason and Montessori close together. Which does not surprise me at all. We end up being eclectic in our approach. This will be our 11th year homeschooling.

    Score for Charlotte Mason: 11
    Score for Classical Education: 3
    Score for Montessori Education: 12
    Score for Project-Based Learning: 9
    Score for Reggio-Inspired:8
    Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: -4
    Score for Traditional Education: -14
    Score for Unit Studies Approach: 17
    Score for Unschooling Approach: 17
    Score for Waldorf Education: 5

  10. Mine were:
    Score for Charlotte Mason: 25
    Score for Classical Education: 0
    Score for Montessori Education: 9
    Score for Project-Based Learning: 13
    Score for Reggio-Inspired:11
    Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: 0
    Score for Traditional Education: -5
    Score for Unit Studies Approach: 5
    Score for Unschooling Approach: 23
    Score for Waldorf Education: 5

    We are Unschooling this year and I agree with my results.

  11. So looking at the scores below I am as confused as ever…lol… I know structure is indeed what my child needs I also want the creativity and the freedom in areas like Montessori. He is bored quickly and is easily addicted to screen time and other items Guess I am going to have to go individually and look these up for a deeper understanding through out the summer to make a real decision was hoping this would give me the cut and dried answer.
    Score for Charlotte Mason: 12
    Score for Classical Education: 9
    Score for Montessori Education: 9
    Score for Project-Based Learning: 3
    Score for Reggio-Inspired:12
    Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: 9
    Score for Traditional Education: 15
    Score for Unit Studies Approach: 15
    Score for Unschooling Approach: 6
    Score for Waldorf Education: 6

  12. This is our first year and my grand girl is in 6th Grade heading for 7th Grade. I am not familiar with some of these styles and will be busy learning about these. We scored high in Thomas Jefferson, Charlotte Mason and Montessori. Is anyone here familiar with Thomas Jefferson style? I’d appreciate any feedback. Thanks!
    Score for Charlotte Mason: 19
    Score for Classical Education: 12
    Score for Montessori Education: 19
    Score for Project-Based Learning: 11
    Score for Reggio-Inspired:15
    Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: 23
    Score for Traditional Education: -3
    Score for Unit Studies Approach: 12
    Score for Unschooling Approach: 13
    Score for Waldorf Education: 10

  13. Score for Charlotte Mason: 17
    Score for Classical Education: 14
    Score for Montessori Education: 8
    Score for Project-Based Learning: 5
    Score for Reggio-Inspired:11
    Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: 6
    Score for Traditional Education: -5
    Score for Unit Studies Approach: 3
    Score for Unschooling Approach: 12
    Score for Waldorf Education: 6

    I know a lot of my more strict, or regimental scores here are because I have a husband and children who want to see progress and structure. They are not indicative of what I personally think is best for learning. I intentionally filled out my test according to what I’m having to do now, with a little mix of what I strongly believe, just to see what it came out as. Not as bad as I thought, but not nearly what I thought it would be. Ah well, learning will happen regardless, even if its not as free spirited as I’d like. 🙂

  14. Score for Charlotte Mason: 3
    Score for Classical Education: 9
    Score for Montessori Education: 8
    Score for Project-Based Learning: 6
    Score for Reggio-Inspired:6
    Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: 3
    Score for Traditional Education: 0
    Score for Unit Studies Approach: 12
    Score for Unschooling Approach: 6
    Score for Waldorf Education: 5

    I have no idea what any of these mean but at least now I know what to start researching!

  15. The following are my results.
    Score for Charlotte Mason: 18
    Score for Classical Education: 19
    Score for Montessori Education: 21
    Score for Project-Based Learning: 21
    Score for Reggio-Inspired:21
    Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: 4
    Score for Traditional Education: 5
    Score for Unit Studies Approach: 25
    Score for Unschooling Approach: 23
    Score for Waldorf Education: 12
    The highest are the unschooling and unit studies (thematic approach arre the highest. I believe that learning is experimental and experiential therefore I believe in learning anywhere, anytime with the resources available whatever they may be. I also love the Montessori and Project Based approach. The use of the senses and learning by doing are my favourite and use them wherever possible. Thanks for the quiz.

  16. Score for Charlotte Mason: 25
    Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: 25
    Score for Classical Education: 23
    Score for Montessori Education: 23
    Score for Project-Based Learning: 20
    Score for Reggio-Inspired:20
    Score for Unschooling Approach: 20

    Those are my top 3 and while I am not that familiar with Thomas Jefferson Ed and Reggio Inspired learning, the other principles is a good fit to what we’re trying to working on at the moment. I’d love to do some more research to explore these learning principles.

    Thanks for this quiz. Really helpful 🙂

  17. Charlotte Mason 17, Montessori 16 (which I currently use), and Classical 15. We tend to follow the child and do a lot of practical life skills. I never heard of Charlotte Mason or Classical. Unschooling and Reggio were tied for 4th at 14.

    I’ve never heard of most of these, actually.

  18. Classical, Montessori, Unschooling scored highest, significantly higher than any others. I would say this proves how truly eclectic our studies really have become over the course of my 22 years as a home educator, with each of these philosophies being so different from one another. I have to admit I was a little sad that Charlotte Mason did not rank highest for me because I truly admire her philosophy of education. But it is refreshing to think how well-rounded we are in our approach to developing the whole child.

  19. charlotte mason/unit studies/montessori

    My 2 biggest gripes for traditional school was the calendar (August 1 through Memorial Day weekend) and the absolute mess they teach in a public school. Now that we are homeschooling with an extremely popular curriculum my biggest gripe is the work load! They are in 2nd & 3rd…I don’t want to sit at the table with them for 8 hours or 6 or even 4 hours. Let’s get up, move around, put the pencils down and DO SOMETHING. It’s funny how my idea of education is shifting as they get older. We are going to have fun exploring this world of homeschool…and education, together.

  20. Score for Charlotte Mason: 12
    Score for Classical Education: 12
    Score for Montessori Education: 9
    Score for Project-Based Learning: 6
    Score for Reggio-Inspired:6
    Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: 6
    Score for Traditional Education: 9
    Score for Unit Studies Approach: 12
    Score for Unschooling Approach: 3
    Score for Waldorf Education: 9

    I have two 7-year-olds right now. I wonder if these results may change as they get older.

  21. Score for Charlotte Mason: 17
    Score for Classical Education: 17
    Score for Montessori Education: 9
    Score for Project-Based Learning: 9
    Score for Reggio-Inspired:15
    Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: 13
    Score for Traditional Education: -4
    Score for Unit Studies Approach: 17
    Score for Unschooling Approach: 17
    Score for Waldorf Education: 5

  22. Score for Charlotte Mason: 16
    Score for Classical Education: 18
    Score for Montessori Education: 12
    Score for Project-Based Learning: 11
    Score for Reggio-Inspired:14
    Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: 6
    Score for Traditional Education: 6
    Score for Unit Studies Approach: 19
    Score for Unschooling Approach: 16
    Score for Waldorf Education: 9

    I feel like the 4 that scored the highest for me are on very different ends of the homeschool spectrum 😅

  23. TOP 3:
    Score for Reggio-Inspired:19
    Score for Charlotte Mason: 17 & Score for Project-Based Learning: 17

  24. I have tutored for more than 40 years a truly believe that children learn differently. What you do with one child may not work for another. I have tutored from first grade reading to college-level science, math, law, English, economics, history, etc. I structure what I teach and how I teach in on an individual student’s need and way of learning. This is one great advantage of not being in a regular classroom.

    Score for Charlotte Mason: 3
    Score for Classical Education: 11
    Score for Montessori Education: 14
    Score for Project-Based Learning: 9
    Score for Reggio-Inspired:17
    Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: 0
    Score for Traditional Education: 0
    Score for Unit Studies Approach: 12
    Score for Unschooling Approach: 9
    Score for Waldorf Education: 3

  25. Score for Charlotte Mason: 21
    Score for Classical Education: 12
    Score for Montessori Education: 17
    Score for Project-Based Learning: 14
    Score for Reggio-Inspired:9
    Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: 6
    Score for Traditional Education: -23
    Score for Unit Studies Approach: 17
    Score for Unschooling Approach: 21
    Score for Waldorf Education: 0

    These results match well how I best learn personally. An adult now, I’m thankful I was homeschooled as a child. Though my parents were into more of a structured classroom at home type setting than I found useful or would use myself with my own children. I’m all for unschooling personally. And very glad I’ve never had anything to do with “traditional education” which if you look back further into history, is actually far from how anyone normally learned anything.

  26. I scored 15 unschooling, 10 montessori, 8 Reggio. I wish relaxed style and religious were in this. I believe myself to have a relaxed-eclectic religious style approach. Also, I believe different things for different ages, abilities, children, and learning levels.

    I had to be neutral on most questions because I was thinking, well, it depends on the child’s age, abilities, interests, my mood, my energy level, etc.

    I cannot say your quiz is bad, though. It is just hard to have questions that put anyone into a certain category.

  27. Charlotte Mason, Unit Studies, Project Based were the top 3. No other scores were close. I am considering homeschooling my 5th grader and have never done this before.

  28. My top 3 were Reggio-Inspired (19), Montessori Education (19) and Charlotte Mason (16). In that order. I’m not really sure what any of them are so now I have to go do some research to find out if the quiz was correct and what route I will end up doing. Thanks for the quiz.

  29. My top 3 were Reggio-Inspired, Montessori Education and Charlotte Mason. In that order. I’m not really sure what any of them are so now I have to go do some research to find out if the quiz was correct and what route I will end up doing. Thanks for the quiz.

  30. Score for Charlotte Mason: 21
    Score for Montessori Education: 14
    Score for Project-Based Learning: 16
    Score for Reggio-Inspired:15
    Score for Waldorf Education: 15

    This is pretty spot on.

  31. Tie between classical and unit studies, Charlotte Mason a relatively close second. I have…feelings about classical education as it is usually described, which is often quite different from both medieval education and Greco-Roman education (yes, they’re different), but we do incorporate some elements of all three of these, and mostly don’t incorporate elements of the philosophies that I scored low on. We are firmly in the eclectic camp; I was homeschooled myself and have Opinions.

    The major components of our homeschooling approach that are missing from this analysis: I would say we are more broadly literature-based, rather than classic literature-based. (Tomorrow’s classics are being published today, and sometimes yesterday’s classics have not aged particularly gracefully.) For skill-based or sequential subjects (math, grammar, etc) I strongly favor a mastery-based approach, and especially in the younger grades, I believe multisensory methods of any type are extremely important to help understand concepts concretely and then generalize them.

    I actually would love to see a quiz that plots out preferences on multiple sliding scales, instead of trying to directly match questions to philosophies: for instance, learning from a textbook vs a living book/literature vs experiences; teacher/parent-led vs student-led; reading/writing vs multisensory/project, and so on. The Myers-Briggs of curriculum, if you will. 🙂

  32. I feel like this is pretty accurate for my family.

    Score for Charlotte Mason: 8
    Score for Classical Education: 4
    Score for Montessori Education: 11
    Score for Project-Based Learning: 17
    Score for Reggio-Inspired:11
    Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: 3
    Score for Traditional Education: -13
    Score for Unit Studies Approach: 0
    Score for Unschooling Approach: 12
    Score for Waldorf Education: -1

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