In homeschooling, choosing the right educational approach for our children is crucial. Two popular methods are Mastery Learning and Spiral Learning. Here’s a quick overview of each approach!
Mastery Learning
Description: Mastery Learning focuses on fully understanding a single topic before moving on, ensuring that students have a solid grasp of foundational concepts (Bloom, 1956).
Pros:
- Builds Confidence: Fosters a sense of accomplishment as students master each topic.
- Reduces Overwhelm: Minimizes feelings of being overwhelmed by concentrating on one concept at a time.
- Strong Foundation: Ensures students develop a comprehensive understanding of essential skills.
Cons:
- Time-Consuming: May take longer to cover the entire curriculum, which could be challenging if there’s a need to progress quickly (Guskey, 2010).
- Potential for Boredom: Students may lose interest if they spend too long on a single topic without variation.
- Less Exposure: May limit exposure to a broader range of topics, which can be important for well-rounded learning (Block & Anderson, 1975).
Spiral Learning
Description: Spiral Learning introduces a variety of topics and revisits them in cycles with increasing complexity, reinforcing concepts through repeated exposure (Bruner, 1960).
Pros:
- Enhances Retention: Regular revisiting of concepts helps reinforce memory and understanding.
- Promotes Connections: Allows students to see how different topics interrelate over time, which can deepen their overall understanding.
- Dynamic Learning Environment: Keeps learning fresh and engaging by incorporating diverse subjects.
Cons:
- Surface-Level Understanding: Students may not achieve the same depth of understanding as with a mastery approach, leading to gaps in knowledge.
- Possible Confusion: Frequent changes in focus can confuse some learners who benefit from a more linear progression.
- Inconsistent Reinforcement: If concepts are not revisited often enough, students may struggle to retain information (Caine & Caine, 1997).
My Homeschool Approach
In our homeschool, I lean toward using both approaches, adapting as needed based on each child’s learning style. We’ve found that both methods can be effective in different ways!
Examples of Curriculum Approaches
- The Good and the Beautiful
- Approach: Spiral
- Description: Covers language arts with a spiral method, revisiting key skills over time with increasing depth, aiding in long-term retention.
- Alpha Phonics
- Approach: Mastery
- Description: Focuses deeply on one sound or blend at a time, ensuring a strong foundation in reading through mastery.
- Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
- Approach: Mastery
- Description: Employs a step-by-step phonics method, emphasizing mastery of each lesson before progression, promoting reading fluency.
- Math with Confidence
- Approach: Combined (Mastery with Spiral Review)
- Description: Primarily mastery-focused with gentle spiral reviews, ensuring each concept is mastered while regularly revisiting previous topics.
- Brave Writer
- Approach: Combined (Mastery and Spiral)
- Description: Blends mastery in individual writing skills with creative projects, including spiral revisits for reinforcement. This program is flexible, promoting creative freedom alongside skill development.
Which Learning Method is Suitable for ADHD?
When it comes to children with ADHD, learning preferences can vary significantly. Mastery Learning often proves beneficial for many with ADHD, as it allows for deep engagement with a single topic, fostering confidence and reducing overwhelm (Guskey, 2010). This approach helps students build a strong foundation without the pressure of moving on before they feel ready.
However, for some children, like my oldest, a combination of both Mastery and Spiral Learning may be more effective. This hybrid approach keeps the learning experience dynamic and engaging, providing the variety needed to maintain interest while still allowing for the depth that can lead to thorough understanding. By integrating both methods, we can cater to her need for stimulation and incorporate brain breaks, ensuring she grasps essential concepts before progressing, especially since she can get bored sometimes.
My Own Learning Style
Personally, I tend to prefer a mastery approach for myself, diving deep into one topic until I feel confident before moving on. This method allows me to thoroughly understand subjects without feeling rushed.
What about you? Which approach works best in your home?
More will be added soon, in shaa Allah.
References
Caine, R. N., & Caine, G. (1997). Education on the Brain: The New Science of Teaching and Learning.
Bloom, B.S. (1956). Taxonomy of Educational Objectives: The Classification of Educational Goals.
Guskey, T. R. (2010). Formative Assessment: The Key to Effective Instruction. Educational Leadership, 68(5), 38-43.
Block, J. H., & Anderson, L. W. (1975). Mastery Learning: Theory and Practice.
Bruner, J. S. (1960). The Process of Education.
