Homeschool World Forum

[Amybass]

Is anyone using the Thomas Jefferson Education method? I am very curious about using it and would love to hear some experiences. Thanks, Amy
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[StellarStory]

[CaithO]

Isn't it basically the same as unschooling? Sorry, not familiar with it!
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[bittersweet]

http://www.curriculumconnection.net/thomasjeffeducation.htm
From reading this blurb it sounds a little more invovled than unschooling, which is basicly "wind them up and let them go". This approach appears to be literature based, and focusses on the classics-not necessarily books of the child's choosing. It requires in depth discussion of the materials covered, which may happen in an unschooling environment, but is surely not required.

This sounds very similar to what we do in our home. I have literature lists form which I choose the books that I read to the children. They also choose their own, of course. We don't discuss them at length, but we should. I think I may read up a bit more and implement some of these strategies into our homeschool as my little ones get older.

[gregos]

Thanks for the link!, definitely a classics ased system, something I am strongly leaning to.

[janaleigh]

[mrshannigan]

A Thomas Jefferson education is about sharing quality literature with your children and discussing it, and writing about it. There's a lot of debating about the characters, the situations, their decisions, what would have been different if X, how could Someone have X?

Unschooling is not simply winding them up and letting them go. I'm afraid you're missing out on some fascinating family stories and amazing insights into the nature of learning if that's what you think.

Unschooling and Thomas Jefferson are very complimentary, with the exception that the Thomas Jefferson method has book lists and the simple fact is that ANY book, television or even video game, discussed and debated with an older and wiser person, can help a child (and the adult) learn. The Thomas Jefferson method would not mesh with unschooling for a child who didn't enjoy reading. Parents and children must be reading the same books in TJed.

So- unschooling CAN contain elements of TJed, as long as none of it is forced or coerced.

The "wind them up & let them go" really bothered me, sorry. I might have written the EXACT same thing 15 years ago, before we dove deeper into unschooling, it certainly was my first impression. I've learned so much, though and we are totally hardcore unschoolers here now.

Instead of "wind them up and let them go" it's more like "share their passions and enthusiasm, exploring the world together." It's joyful, refreshing, REAL LIFE, authentic living, and the only thing "winding them up" is their own preferences, talents, passions and desires.

An unschooling mom's job is to facilitate, chauffer, listen, discuss, share information, learn new things, explore her own interests, and help the child find the resources they need to delve further into their passions. I absolutely love it:)

TJED- puts into words what we already DO with our children. I have a house full of daughters, we talk, debate and discuss constantly. Movies, books, song lyrics... My daughter who loves to write tends to write essays and literature reviews and comparisons, she's 12. My 16 yr old prefers to draw and talk. Her writing tends to be more song lyrics and poetry.

Anyway- off topic, sorry. I hope that cleared up a little TJed Questions and some unschooling questions, have a fantastic weekend
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I have six daughters and I work from home as a freelance writer My oldest will be 16 and we've never sent any of them to school.