A good article on homeschooling using the Eclectic approach can be found here: http://www.homeschoolnewslink.com/homeschool/newsletters/vol1iss2/eclectic.shtml as well as many other interesting articles.

Eclectic homeschooling

The “third” approach to homeschooling, after the two extreme opposites of parent-centered on the right and child-centered unschooling, on the left, is the eclectic approach. In fact, most homeschoolers fit somewhere between the two extremes, leaning toward whatever methods work best for their family. Those who don't adhere to a particular philosophy or style but select what appears to be the best in various methods are often considered “eclectic.” The term comes from the Greek word “eklektos,” which originally meant the chosen. Alexander the Great's “chosen” (eklekti) inner circle of generals and advisors was of such a mix of backgrounds—Mongolian, Arab, Persian, Athenian, Macedonian, African, and so forth—that “eclectic” came to mean any widely-varied mix.

Eclectic homeschoolers take their educational information from widely-varied materials. Eclectic homeschooling families often follow a “patchwork” curriculum, and their teaching schedules may be more innovative and flexible than are those of families who follow either a strict parental or unschooling approach. There is very little an eclectic homeschooling family would not utilize in its learning life. Imagine using a series of travel brochures and maps to teach geography! Or better yet, imagine using actual travel to various locales as the background for a series of geography lessons. An eclectic family believes in teaching academics, but rather than using only books, they like to put a twist on the process, making learning much more interesting.

If an eclectic homeschool family purchased a curriculum-in-a-box, before long they would replace, supplement, or fine-tune some element to suit their exact needs. Perhaps they buy a math book here, borrow a history book there, order a grammar book that caught their fancy at a curriculum fair, and dust off a handwriting book they found in grandmother's attic—you get the picture. Eclectic families are not haphazard, however. They use grandmother's penmanship book because it is the right tool for the right job. The operative word for an eclectic family is “confidence.” If you don't have confidence in your ability to assemble a curriculum from diverse materials and sources, eclecticism will not work for you. In fact, always second-guessing whether you are using the “right” book or program would drive you crazy.

But unless you have already plotted a course you're happy with, the eclectic approach is by far the most interesting way of homeschooling—if you can muster the confidence to do it.

It combines the conservatism of teaching academic subjects with the freedom of taking advantage of anything and everything as a learning resource. So many wonderful resources are available to homeschoolers that you need not restrict yourself to any one choice. M.L