Phases of Learning-TJed

Through the different research I have done, it seems like the TJed (Thomas Jefferson Education) will be the best fit for my family.  My husband and I have always been passionate about how much you can learn from reading the classics.  Since TJed is centered around this idea, it just seems like it will work for us.  The problem is that I don't have any idea how to implement it!

In one of my previous posts, I gave a little review on the Thomas Jefferson Education.  It gave a good overview, but nothing concrete.  I was a bit discouraged that it didn't have more information in it.  I joined the TJed group on Facebook to learn more, and discovered that there was a book that went further in depth.  I finally decided to buy The Phases of Learning knowing that I would probably want to reread it quite a few times.  I settled on the Kindle edition so that I could read it on my tablet in bed.

Right now I am about 20 percent through with the book, and I feel even more clueless than when I started!  I am trying to locate families in Ohio that use this approach, so that I can see firsthand how they do it in their families.  I am more of a visual learner, so this would help me.

Anyway, there are a lot of things discussed that I wasn't expecting.  I didn't expect to be told to do a purge every 6 months.  It makes sense, but it seems odd to be in this book.  I started it today.  I can't do much because of the contractions happening, but I had my son help me go through his toys.  I do feel better about the majority of his toys going elsewhere.  It will help me so much!  I can see how this can be an important step.

I also wasn't expecting to be told to "just say no".  They encourage mothers to make a list every six months of everything they do.  Then cross half of it off.  This helps them not be so frustrated.  Right now I am not doing much, so it doesn't apply to me.  I can see how it can apply to many mothers out there.

In fact, I started reading a second book today called The Burnout Cure.  It was a book that I bought a few months ago, but never started to read.  It is geared towards LDS women, but can be applied to any religion.  It is supposed to help women understand how to avoid the burnout we all experience, and therefore help us with depression/anxiety issues.  Since I suffer with depression, I wanted to read the book.  As it turns out, it will fit in perfectly with what I read with the Phases of Learning.  She basically said that same thing in the introduction.  We need to start saying no.

I hope that the two books will fit well together.  If they don't, that is ok too.  I often have multiple books going at a time.  In any case, I hope the further I read into the Phases of Learning will bring more clarity to me.  I want TJed to work, but I don't want to be frustrated.  If I think it will be frustrating, I will just move to a different approach.

If you apply TJed philosophy in your homeschool, feel free to contact me!  I would love any insight!

A Thomas Jefferson Education

As part of my research phase to find the right fit for my family, I checked A Thomas Jefferson Education out of the library.  This book is behind the TJed movement.  It focuses on using the classics to educate your children, and yourself, just like Thomas Jefferson did.  

I was very pleased with how this book was written.  It was very positive, and easy to read.  It is a book that I will probably read many times.  It is a book that I recommend everyone read because we all can learn from it.  Reading/learning from the classics really resonates with my husband and I.  We will end up implementing a lot of the concepts in our lifestyle.   

There wasn't a lot of guidance in how someone should approach implementing the ideas, but that is where the website and discussion boards become useful.  There are plenty of forums to help you with ideas, and lots of book lists.  I am a little unsure of how the math would be taught, but I guess that will come as we go.  

Here are a few of the quotes that I really liked from the book:

"Teaching, not education, should be our focus because great teaching inspires students to educate themselves." -Oliver DeMille

I believe this quote to be quite powerful.  I have had some great inspiring teachers (oddly enough they were literature teachers) that have left a lasting impression with me.  These teachers are the ones that kindled my love of learning.  

"If the purpose is to train leaders, it's important not to force the young person through their learning experiences.  Force in learning kills the spirit, dampens the passion and destroys the zest and life learning.  Force trains followers, not leaders."  -Oliver DeMille

I believe that everyone has had an experience where they are forced to learn something.  It doesn't foster a love of learning, and it kills it.  There are other avenues to try if something doesn't work.  One should never be forced to learn something.  Granter, there are times when things have to be learned, but it should never be forced.  

"Question, probe, ponder, think, discuss, write, apply."  -Oliver DeMille 

A lot of the TJed philosophy deals with the idea of mentoring.  This is what this last quote refers to.  I like the way the process here is just laid out.  

"To achieve truly excellent education, keep it simple:  Read, Write, do Projects and Discuss."  -Oliver DeMille

I like this quote because it makes me remember that education does not need to be complicated.  I think people think that it needs to be a complicated curriculum in order to educate a child.  Yet that just isn't the case.  There are many different approaches to gaining an education.  This philosophy will help to create leaders and thinkers.  It's also important to remember that learning never ceases.  Just because you are done with school doesn't mean you are done learning.