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Connections
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| Posted: May 13 2011 at 11:29am | IP Logged
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I was recently listening to some talks on the Thomas Jefferson Leadership Education model (TJEd) and was struck by the assertion that, if you teach kids right from wrong, work and play alongside them and then allow them to love learning (by spending several years inspiring them with your example and the environment and letting them dabble in learning that interests them), they will naturally move into a love of studying phase in their teen years and will pursue their mission in life with vigor and dedication.
One of the main ingredients of this model is that you do not require any learning. No x pages of math per day, no writing requirements, etc.
I so want to believe that this would happen naturally but I am not yet convinced.
What about the fact that we are fallen creatures and we require discipline and good habits? Does a good work ethic via chores translate into discipline of the mind? What about the mind as a muscle that must be exercised?
Anyone here have experience to share that proves or disproves this approach?
Your thoughts (even without experiences) are also welcome.
Thanks,
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Sharyn
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| Posted: May 13 2011 at 5:11pm | IP Logged
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Connections wrote:
| I was recently listening to some talks on the Thomas Jefferson Leadership Education model (TJEd) and was struck by the assertion that, if you teach kids right from wrong, work and play alongside them and then allow them to love learning (by spending several years inspiring them with your example |
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Here's an interesting letter by St.John Bosco you might be interested in, An exhortation to educators
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Sharyn
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| Posted: May 13 2011 at 6:43pm | IP Logged
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Connections wrote:
One of the main ingredients of this model is that you do not require any learning. No x pages of math per day, no writing requirements, etc.
I so want to believe that this would happen naturally but I am not yet convinced.
What about the fact that we are fallen creatures and we require discipline and good habits? Does a good work ethic via chores translate into discipline of the mind? What about the mind as a muscle that must be exercised? |
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I've only just started reading in this area. I've read a very small amount about a TJEd but am most of the way through Gatto's Weapons's of Mass Instruction and part of the way through the Moore's The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook. So no experience as such but some initial opinions.
The first thing that strikes me is that none of these people are Catholic and so to be on the look out for those idea's that do not agree with a Catholic understanding of things. I will be doing more research to be able to work out in my mind the things I need to retain as a Catholic and those things that I have learned from my schooling which are perhaps things I need to unlearn to give my children a better whole education.
The Moore's book so far seems pretty much in the direction I have been heading. Formal structured reading, phonics, writing, handwriting, spelling, grammar, and mathematics lessons (though nothing burdensome or dreary in nature, very hands on style learning where possible), and what seems to me a quite CM approach to everything else, although as a whole their method seems quite CM to me. You might find their book worth a read. What I am getting from them is to be more relaxed. To be sensitive to my child's development and not feel a need to rush them into anything because it's the 'level' they should be at at their age. They suggest a balance between study, work, and service. They also recommend short lessons and plenty of play.
I haven't found myself agreeing entirely with Gatto. And am I reading it wrong? But I get the feeling that he probably doesn't have much affection for the Catholic Church. Unless I have missed something I have to echo your sentiments... how will they aquire discipline? Virtue?
My overall thoughts... I do believe home is the best place for children to grow and learn. Our society has made this very difficult to achieve. I think the school model of learning has much about it that is not designed to help a child fufil their potential. I think the 3 R's need to be structured and that while much can be done to make learning suitable and enjoyable for a child there is no getting away from the fact that they need to learn to do many things that they may not like.
I think home is a child's training ground where they learn the skills for their lives. They learn about loving and forgiving others, that work is everyone's task, that we live to serve others.
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Sharyn
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| Posted: May 13 2011 at 6:52pm | IP Logged
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Connections wrote:
Does a good work ethic via chores translate into discipline of the mind? What about the mind as a muscle that must be exercised?
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I do think a child who has achieved a good work ethic would be very self disciplined.
Children will exercise their minds in a way that astonishes if they are provided with rich resources for their investigation and discovery.
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: May 13 2011 at 7:01pm | IP Logged
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As far as using your mind. I can tell you for a fact that when I was in school if *I* wanted to learn something I would hunt up all sorts of resources and spend HOURS researching and figuring things out.. sometimes even taking notes (and I hated to have to write things out). If it was something for school that was required but didn't particularly interest me (and much was required that was just because, not because the topic is one you need to know) and I'd do the absolute least amount of work I could get away with without impacting my grade too much. (I was never driven to get all A's, a B was perfectly fine)
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G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Sharyn
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| Posted: May 13 2011 at 7:09pm | IP Logged
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Connections wrote:
| I ... was struck by the assertion that, if you teach kids right from wrong, work and play alongside them and then allow them to love learning (by spending several years inspiring them with your example |
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I never realised that when I started out on my vocation of marriage how this vocation would lead to my need to transform myself by God's grace. Funny that isn't it. It's not til many years down the track that you realise what God's plan in marriage for you really is. Or at least not for me any way. Teaching my kids right from wrong, inspiring them with my example... to be an example is no small thing.... that means to take seriously journeying down the path that leads to Christ.
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Sharyn
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| Posted: May 13 2011 at 7:25pm | IP Logged
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JodieLyn wrote:
| As far as using your mind. I can tell you for a fact that when I was in school if *I* wanted to learn something I would hunt up all sorts of resources and spend HOURS researching and figuring things out.. sometimes even taking notes (and I hated to have to write things out). If it was something for school that was required but didn't particularly interest me (and much was required that was just because, not because the topic is one you need to know) and I'd do the absolute least amount of work I could get away with without impacting my grade too much. (I was never driven to get all A's, a B was perfectly fine) |
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I agree totally with Jodie Lyn. I was very much the same.
The learning which has most affected my life has been that which I have done on my own initiative. I can thank my aunt for the wonderful library she had from which I used to spend hours reading and learning from. The books I read at her house really changed my life. These were the sort of books many of us give our children access to as homeschoolers but which I may not have come into contact with if it hadn't been for my aunt.
That which I learnt myself I have remembered and has had a deep impact on me, but most of what I learnt at school was sadly unimpressionable and is mostly forgotten.
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: May 14 2011 at 3:29pm | IP Logged
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I do believe this works. The key to TJEd is the atmosphere of learning. You teach them all along. You "strew" plenty of resources from which they can choose. You "require" work at learning, but not what to learn. You work alongside them.
If your kids see you constantly learning, researching things that interest you, they will do the same. If you limit their access to time wasters, they will spend their time learning.
TJEd for Teens offers a booklist and tells the teens to read through the list three times. So, there is a blueprint for learning, a jumping off point. My kids are always looking something up and looking for more books to read.
I don't think that requiring math, or something else you believe is vital to their future, will sabotage that love of learning. It is how you present it. Tell them why you require some things. In a home with an atmosphere for learning, you will find that they will be pretty compliant when it is only a few, well-chosen requirements.
Just my $.02. We certainly haven't perfected TJEd, but it is my favorite philosophy of education.
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Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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margot helene
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Shameless plug:
Check out Suzie Andres's new book with contributions from many forum members:
A Little Way of Homeschooling
It's not strictly TJ education, but the ideas of creating an atmosphere and learning on own initiative are explored from a Catholic family perspective.
Margot
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Sharyn
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| Posted: May 18 2011 at 7:36pm | IP Logged
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margot helene wrote:
Shameless plug:
Check out Suzie Andres's new book with contributions from many forum members:
A Little Way of Homeschooling
It's not strictly TJ education, but the ideas of creating an atmosphere and learning on own initiative are explored from a Catholic family perspective.
Margot |
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Thanks Margot! That looks like it will be a great read. I've almost finnished the Moore's book now. One homeschoolers story was particularly helpful. I can't wait to read some more.
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Sharyn
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| Posted: May 18 2011 at 7:48pm | IP Logged
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Molly, I meant to ask, have you read many of the TJed books? If so which would you most recommend reading? Is one of them more of a how to? I'd like to have one read before my little fellow arrives 
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sunnyviewmom
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Just want to say that I think A Little Way of Homeschooling is wonderful! I have been so inspired by the many personal homeschooling stories! This is now one of my two favorite homeschooling books. Thanks Margot, Suzie and all the wonderful ladies who contributed to this special book!
Dana
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Jesus, Divine Mercy, We Trust In You
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Unscripted_mom
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Sharyn wrote:
Connections wrote:
| I ... was struck by the assertion that, if you teach kids right from wrong, work and play alongside them and then allow them to love learning (by spending several years inspiring them with your example |
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I never realised that when I started out on my vocation of marriage how this vocation would lead to my need to transform myself by God's grace. Funny that isn't it. It's not til many years down the track that you realise what God's plan in marriage for you really is. Or at least not for me any way. Teaching my kids right from wrong, inspiring them with my example... to be an example is no small thing.... that means to take seriously journeying down the path that leads to Christ. |
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So true! Looking back- i was quite liberal with my ideas about marriage and family- and trust me, most of my friends would've considered me a prude. While I am still very much a work in progress- I can tell you that I am 100 times closer to being the wife and mother that God called to me be. Heck, I didn't even consider being a wife & mother a vocation back then.
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: TJEd love of studying
