8 Great Smarts for Homeschoolers: A Guide to Teaching Based on Your Child's Unique Strengths

Kids don’t just learn one way . . . and that matters a lot for homeschool parents.

One of the benefits of a home education is a curriculum designed to fit each student. But that means knowing how your child learns. Not every child receives knowledge the same way. It’s up to the teacher to figure out the best way to reach each one.

Based on the 8 Smarts identified by Kathy Koch—word, logic, picture, music, body, nature, people, and self—8 Great Smarts for Homeschooling Families tailors these ideas to the unique setting of the home classroom. Tina Hollenbeck, a leader in the home education community, applies the 8 Smarts to each division of a complete curriculum:

• Math
• Language Arts
• Science
• Social Studies
• Religious Education
• Fine Arts
• Electives

Yet when it comes down to it, the real benefit of homeschooling is personal relationships. Hollenbeck concludes by showing that when parents know their kids’ multiple intelligences—and when kids understand their family members in turn—it leads to a healthy homeschool dynamic. So don’t try to teach in the dark. Know your kid’s smarts, then watch them start engaging with their world in fresh ways.

TINA HOLLENBECK is a Jesus-follower, wife, mother, and homeschool advocate. She and her husband educated each of their children at home from birth through high school graduation. Tina owns The Homeschool Resource Roadmap, a free database that describes thousands of homeschool-oriented learning options. She also mentors homeschooling parents, aiming to help them see that they are designed and equipped for the task.