“Peppermint Stick” (PSLC) is more than just a selection of curriculum resources – it is actually also a unique methodology, a style or approach to education with some specific characteristics!
All of our products in our shop are previewed and selected with our general approach to education in mind instead of being a business selling any options. All of the products that we design and publish fit our approach/style too, of course!
While there are various ways to teach the “school subjects”, we think that the “Peppermint Stick” style is a great balance that includes the best aspects of some of the other styles plus our own flavour to that combination!
Other Links for Related Info:
If you want to see our Statement of Faith, please click here.
For Our Biblical Philosophy of Education statement, please click here.
For people who want to know about our style and how/why that relates to Canadian Ministry of Education standards, you can find some of my comments here.
(The Canadian Centre for Home Education also describes the more well-known approaches/styles of homeschooling. A “Peppermint Stick” style is less-known thus it is not described there.)
Our Online Shop (catalogue descriptions)
and “Lists” (see the menu on the top of the page for these)
Background
I will try to explain what our difference is with the “other styles” here and “why” in a nutshell, while still hopefully being clear enough about the humility I truly feel is still a major part of the curriculum that, with my various skills, background, and giftedness, I happen to be led to develop. The honour and glory for what I do for my workdays belongs to God alone Who has brought me into this business and enabled me to do what I’ve been doing. While there are definitely moments and weeks of stretching and personal growth with some challenges, much of PSLC has been lots of fun with practical usefulness.
And I know that I’m to share these ideas with others, to present a different option out there that works really well.
I want you to know that I truly respect people who choose to teach in a method that I might not think is best or might even totally groan over. Disagreeing with a method or promoting a new method that we find better or wider reaching in effectiveness is not the same as disrespect.
I personally buy or have purchased from many businesses at home school conferences or by mail over the years. I have a lot of respect for others who write and design resources and I am NOT the only one who can make things that are refreshing to use. While I sometimes resell products that I like, I don’t ,and can’t, sell all of the things I like, so please do not interpret our product lists as a “she doesn’t sell it so that means she doesn’t recommend it”. While that is obviously the truth in some cases, it is not the reason for some other things.
Flexible
I also want to assure you that our curriculum is very flexible to the extent that families from a variety of approaches/styles do enjoy using our materials and can adjust them to fit well with their other choices!
For example –
- You could quite easily use a PSLC resource in a traditional setting or as a book that is strewn in an unschooling environment.
- C.M. (“Charlotte Mason”) fans love the gentle approach to a number of our subjects and those struggling with literacy in the C.M. method can be very happy with our reading methods while continuing C.M. for other subject areas.
- Other customers love the flexibility of our style and incorporate our materials into their eclectic lifestyle.
- “Traditional” families also like the flexibility and the inclusion of hands-on, home-centered fun activities.
Comparison Charts
I have a variety of people in my audience – anywhere from those who just want a brief answer to those who would love a deep philosophical discourse.
But most of you want some sort of answers on comparing our style with “the others”. So…here is what I’ve done:
The “Simple” Chart
To keep things simple and “shorter” to read for my very busy audience, I have a simple and somewhat blunt and to-the-point CHART that you can download (for free) below to compare us with these common styles:
- Unschooling
- Eclectic/Relaxed
- Traditional (Christian)
- Unit Study
- Charlotte Mason
- Classical Education
- Traditional-Gov’t/Public (designed for a classroom originally)
- Literature-Based.
Please note that this chart is in a pdf format so that you can also print it out, tape it together, to read it better. Comparison Chart 1
Also, I wrote a blog post relating to the “self-discovery method” here: “Balance is Needed”.
The Chart Comparing Other Hands-On Methods
We have a stronger hands-on approach than some methods. And we are somewhat sensitive towards those teaching with “special needs”. For these reasons, I have also compared us with the Montessori and Waldorf approaches here in another chart (also in pdf format): Comparison Chart 2
The Detailed Comparison with CM
We have been often compared to the Charlotte Mason Style because of our gentle approach to learning that children can naturally enjoy. But we would strongly disagree with some of her philosophy relating to spiritual matters, how to teach, what to teach, etc..
She had some good ideas. What people might not think of is that many of her ideas were not unique to her. Other people shared some of the same ideas without being a “follower” of her. Ideas such as spending more time outdoors, nature studies, family closeness, keeping a notebook of copied notes and own drawings – these are all ideas which were common among many teachers and parents of her day, before and since.
What makes the C.M. style different is its foundational philosophies which are different from traditional or other styles.
I felt that this particular style required more explanation than the simpler chart above on why we really aren’t just another slant based on the Charlotte Mason philosophy like so many other small homeschool curriculum designers.
So for more in-depth information about a comparison between PSLC and the C.M. approach, please click here (also in pdf format): Detailed Comparison with CM
And for Christian parents who have the time and desire to read on a deeper level about some doctrinal/theological concerns found within the Christian Education approaches and trends, including Classical and Charlotte Mason philosophies, please go to the links found on Our Biblical Philosophy of Education page.
The Minimalist Homeschooling Style/Approach
For people who have interest in knowing more about “Minimalist Homeschooling”, I’ve blogged about this here instead of adding it to the charts above.
To find out more about our “Peppermint Stick” approach to education, you can also read the stuff under “Our Twist” (see menu bar) as things relate to a particular subject area, our catalogue descriptions in our product listings, etc..
And of course, you can try using our curriculum to grasp how it works!
Our customers come from various styles – some just for a subject, others for a full year set of resources or more!
A comment we have received over and over from our customers is that yes, not only is our curriculum very doable, it is also very unique and refreshing to the normal stuff that most people know about!