55 Ingredients
For some reason our wireless network access went down yesterday so I couldn’t blog. Now I am on my husband’s computer in his study so I am feeling a little awkward because I hardly ever use it, but he’s got cable!
Anyway, I am continuing my study of a Thomas Jefferson Education. I am very impressed by it. I love how practical and simple it is! The De Milles list 55 ingredients for a successful TJE homeschool. They are wonderful! So down to earth and so based on a family learning process as opposed to a school-like learning process a la A Latin Centered Curriculum or the like. Family is front and center! So here is my very cursory review of the 55 ingredients (cursory because I don’t have much time to write!):
#1 Sundays – these days set the tone for the whole week and involve having a family meeting which the De Milles call the FEC (Family Excutive Committee meeting.) This would work great for us because we already do this in a very informal way. We always go out for breakfast after Mass on Sunday mornings and we usually wind up talking about the coming week.
#2 Weeks – I love this! Only plan for a week! None of this typing up a detailed plan complete with page numbers for the whole year. Week by week so you can really focus on what is important for each child and the whole family for that week. Makes such good sense!
#3 Mornings – the morning sets the tone for the day. Have a good routine so that everybody knows what’s expected and things run smoothly.
#4 Kidschool – I love this too! The mom has a little teaching session where she addresses something that has been inspiring her or something she noticed the children need. It could be anything from a little math lesson, to a poem, etc. I think I already arrived here with my On the Fridge idea!
#5 The Bean Counter Game – Whenever anyone in the family does something admirable a bean get moved from one jar to another. When the second jar is full the whole family celebrates with some fun activity. This creates an atmosphere of the family pulling together to help everybody be good! This encourages the kids to accomplish stuff like times tables, spelling, good grooming, obedience, etc.
#6 The Six Month Purge – every 6 months declutter!
#7 The Six Month “No” – every 6 months re-evaluate how many outside activities the family is involved in. Is it stressing everyone out? Cut back if necessary.
#8 The Six Month Inventory – Think and brainstorm over each child. What do they need, how to fulfill those needs, etc. Write a page on each child. Brilliant idea!
#9 The Annual Project – each year have the whole family be involved in some kind of project. The De Milles like to put on theater productions or throw fancy balls. Everybody gets in on the action in some way.
#10 The Annual Break – Take two months, say one at Christmas and one in the summer, to not deliberately focus on education. This allows time for catching up.
#11 Afternoons – This is when the parent sets an example for the children by pursuing her/his own education and duties: reading, making a meal for a sick neighbor, planning a family event, etc.
#12 Evenings – I just love this one because it is so biblical! Evenings are for inspiration! The Jews see each day as starting at sundown. What you do in the evening can determine what the next day will be like. So use the evenings for family time; read alouds, watching a classic movie, playing games together, taking walks etc. Activities that bond and inspire.
#13 Winters – winters are for stories. This is when you can snuggle down and really read and study.
#14 Summers – things move outside more. Less reading more outdoor stuff and family projects.
#15 The weekly club – this ensures your child can meet with his peers and follow his interests. Things like Scouts, sports etc.
#16 The Binder – This is a commonplace book
#17 The Fieldtrip – self-explanatory!
#18 The Library Trip
#19 The Bookshelf – make sure all these living books are easily accessible to the children. Make their place in the home prominent.
#20 The Closet – keeps lots of arts and crafts stuff on hand and easily accessible.
#21 The Family Room – this should be about family and not TV or video games. Alas our house is set up like the typical American home with a big TV at the focal point of the room.
#22 The Entertainment Room – this is where the TV belongs a room that is separate and only for certain times or occasions. My home falls down in the regard, see #21!
#23 The Donation Box – Put in a good location where the family can easily discard something to go to donations. Helps keep things tidy and they know they are giving to those less fortunate.
#24 The Storage Box – have a place where the family can put things to go into storage so clutter isn’t sitting around the house all the time.
#25 The Weekly Lesson – This is only for Love of Learning phase kids and Scholar Phase. These kids often get involved in things that require practice, ie martial arts, piano, dance, etc. They need to get into good habits in this regard.
#26 The Safety Kids Class – the De Milles love this program by Janeen Brady. I am not sure what it is!
#27 The Mom School – This basically grew out of homeschooling co-ops. If a child needs lessons in a particular field, get another mom to teach it! Or sign the child up for appopriate homeschool classes as the need/opportunity avails itself.
#28 The Computer – the De Milles emphasize that the computer is for adults. They definitely are not into computers as much as my computer crazy family is!
#29 The Kitchen Table – Meals are for oral exams! Talk about what the kids have been learning. Ask them questions, guage how much understanding they are achieving. All this can be done pleasantly over sharing a meal.
#30 The Cleaning Time – Basically have a family tidying time several times a day. Some chores get assigned during the FEC to children old enough to carry them out well. Hand out more responsibility as the the student gets older but be aware that the Scholar Phase means needing much more time for studies, so narrow it to a few vital chores and then the others pick up the other stuff.
I am out of time! I’ll be back soon to finish up the list.
Cheerio!
