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Sincerely,
Russell Keppner
TJEdRefers generally to the concepts presented in the book A Thomas Jefferson Education, written by Dr. Oliver DeMille. We also have an Introduction to Thomas Jefferson Education available elsewhere on this site..org Administrator
We've never used any
We've never used any Sonlight, so I can't comment on that.
My oldest is 13, so soon will be high school age. She is somewhere between a practice and apprentice scholar. Having been in the local Commonwealth school has helped her a TON. If you aren't familiar with what a Commonwealth school is, I urge you to look at the LEMI website. Basically, it a low-cost school for anyone interested in obtaining a leadership education. They use and apply the principles of a TJEdRefers generally to the concepts presented in the book A Thomas Jefferson Education, written by Dr. Oliver DeMille. We also have an Introduction to Thomas Jefferson Education available elsewhere on this site.. The students are usually ages 12+ (though some 11 yr olds have been let in). The classes are leveled to the various stages of the scholar phase, from practice scholar to self directed scholar.
These classes, like I said, have been a great benefit to my daughter. This year, she is studying both Shakespeare and Keys of Liberty (American History). Last year, she took a semester of Scholar Skills, where they read great books and wrote papers on them with a mentor's feedback. They also had some geography in their studies.
The classes and assignments my DD has keeps her pretty busy, several hours a week per class. Everything else she does is of her own choosing. It is wonderful to see this process working. I love hearing her ideas on the papers she is writing for both classes.
I'm also pursuing my education, and have recently re-started the 5 Pillar certification program. Its something I've been working on for a few years, and I was actually half way through the second level. But, the program has been re-vamped, so I'm starting at the very beginning again. Its good for her (and my other two) to see me reading and then writing my own papers for the class. I love that I can share my papers with her and we can discuss my thoughts, like I do with her.
My eldest two are doing
My eldest two are doing Scholar Phase; for my children it looks a lot like a traditional high school curriculum, because it's what we know (dh and I both went to public school). But it's homeschool and it's TJEDRefers generally to the concepts presented in the book A Thomas Jefferson Education, written by Dr. Oliver DeMille. We also have an Introduction to Thomas Jefferson Education available elsewhere on this site., as far as we're able to do it.
My dh and I start by interviewing each of our children individually on a regular basis. It amounts to once every three months. In these interviews we express our love, we listen to our children's accounts of successes, failures, and what our children want to work on next. We tell our children what we see they need, and we discuss everything. Then together we make plans, based on what our children want to work on.
It's very important that the children choose what to work on. We as parents are to inspire, not require in academics. But our role in Scholar Phase is different in that by the time a child has tried a wide range of interests in Love of Learning, the child then knows where his interests are headed and is better prepared to stick to learning whatever it is.
Since you're just starting, you will want to teach your children that their education is their own and that besides helping them, you're furthering your education. They may not know what they want to study. You may need to give them space and time to explore for a bit, before they're ready to settle into any "high school" level work. Schedule a regular school time and make sure they can justify whatever activities they're doing; discuss what they want to do and hold them accountable for not wasting that time.
That conveyor belt is inviting, isn't it? My dh and I have to avoid bragging about our 15yodd who is a diligent soul, and avoid agonizing over our 17yods who is a cautious person (doesn't commit himself unnecessarily). We have a 13yods who adores the adjustable pliers and screwdrivers he got for Christmas, but who only this year started reading novels for fun (before that he only read instructions for assembling things, non-fiction, and Scout requirements, plus the scriptures when called upon to read aloud). He still doesn't write unless he has to. We're constantly trying to inspire, not require. I find myself wanting to inspire in every area my children are interested in, but it's impossible for me to maintain the family routines AND learn Russian AND Japanese AND sign language AND do my own readings for an online book discussion. I have to show that I'm interested and want to know how they're doing, but they've got to do the work.
Don't rush your child into Scholar phase, but if he's willing to hold himself accountable, don't hold him back. Just be ready to comfort him and prepare him to try again. It's work to hold your own nose to the grindstone!