Patti's Homeschool Mentoring

TJEd Inspired Mom School 2nd, 4th and 5th Thursday’s of Each Month September through January 2011-2012 Schedule

TJEd Inspired Mom School

Leadership Education

2^nd, 4^th and 5^th Thursday’s of Each Month

September through January Schedule

 

Our motto's... Classics as Mentors, Inspire not Require....

Read it, think it, write it, discuss it and present it, then you own it!  

2^nd Thursday Schedule:

12-12:45: Arrive with full bellies.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

1-2pm: Love of Learners & Core: Classic Book Read Aloud Circle & Charlotte Mason Language Arts using GEO Book.  With Ms. Patti

1-2pm: Scholars: Shakespeare, Taming of the Shrew & Latin Study Groups with Ms. Miranda _____________________________________________________________________________________

2:00-2:15 Break

2:15-3:30: Love of Learners: GEO Bee Study Group with Ms. Kelly

2:15-3:30: Core Group: Circle Time & Movement with Ms. Patti

2:15-3:30: Scholars: Art; Clay Wheel Work with Ms. Jessica.  Bring your wheels!

_____________________________________________________________________________________

3:30-4:30: All Students: Snack; See List _____________________________________________________________________________________

4:30-5:30: Love of Learners & Core: Geo Bee Inspired, Handwork Circle; Knitting, Felting World Map, Lap Books,  Clay & Lego World Maps with Ms. Patti,  Ms. Miranda, Ms. Jessica & Ms. Kelly.  See supply list.  We’re going to set up stations with the different activities, and have one adult Mentor at each station. 

4:30-5:30: Scholars: US Government: Classic Read Aloud & Colloquium, The Law by, Bastiat with Mr. Jerry.  Students will need their Common Books each week and if they’d like to follow along with the read aloud, a copy of the book.   www. http://bastiat.org/en/the_law.html

_____________________________________________________________________________________

 5:30-6pm Everyone, Clean Up. 

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 4^th Thursday Schedule:

12-12:45: Arrive with full bellies.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

1-2pm: Love of Learners & Core: Classic Book Read Aloud Circle & Charlotte Mason Language Arts using GEO Book.  With Ms. Patti

1-2pm: Scholars: Shakespeare, Taming of the Shrew & Latin Study Groups with Ms. Miranda _____________________________________________________________________________________

2-2:15 All Students: Break

2:15-3:30: Love of Learners:  Art; Clay Wheel Work with Ms. Jessica.  Bring your wheels!

2:15-3:30: Core Group: Circle Time & Movement with Ms. Patti

2:15-3:30: Scholars: Fine Art with Ms. Miranda.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

3:30-4:30: All Students: Snack; See List _____________________________________________________________________________________

4:30-5:30: Love of Learners & Core: Geo Bee Handwork Circle; Knitting, Felting World Map, Lap Books, Clay & Lego World Maps with Ms. Patti,  Ms. Miranda, Ms. Jessica & Ms. Kelly.   See supply list.  We’re going to set up stations with the different activities, and have one adult Mentor at each station. 

4:30-5:30: Scholars: US Government: Classic Read Aloud & Colloquium, The Law by, Bastiat with Mr. Jerry.  Students will need their Common Books.  www. http://bastiat.org/en/the_law.html

_____________________________________________________________________________________

 5:30-6pm Everyone, Clean Up. 

_____________________________________________________________________________________

5^th Thursday’s through January

Thursday 9/29

12-12:45: Arrive with full bellies. _____________________________________________________________________________________

1-2pm: Love of Learners & Core: Classic Poetry, Book Read Aloud Circle & Charlotte Mason Language Arts using GEO Book.  With Ms. Patti

1-2pm: Scholars: Classic Poetry & Latin Study Groups with Ms. Miranda _____________________________________________________________________________________

2-2:30 All Students: Break

3:30-5:30 Core, Love of Learners & Scholars: A TJEd Mentor Workshop:

 Cooking and Health Workshop with Integrative Health Coach, Miranda B. Norris

www. http://mirandasartofliving.squarespace.com/

This event is open to the public.

Bring Snacks to Share

5:30-6pm Everyone, Clean Up

*There are no 5^th Thursday’s in October & November.

**Thursday 12/29, No TJEd Winter Break

Notes: We decided to break up the Love of Learning Study Groups, focusing on the GEO Bee for the first semester and Science after Winter Break.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

 Supply List:

Art, Clay Wheel Work.  We’re purchasing about $120.00 worth of supplies.   

Shakespeare Study: The Taming of the Shrew books were $2.50 each.

Handwork Circle:  We’re purchasing Muslin to make our Tapestry World Maps, Felt and embroidery needles.  Estimated cost $50.00.    

We’re over-estimating the cost to be around $175.00

Aslo, we’re asking each family to bring in as many Legos as they can afford.  We are going to attempt to create a world & US map.  You can purchase boxes on e-bay, nothing fancy-just the basics.  Sorry, they won’t be returned but will be well loved and used by your kids at my house. 

We have 14 families @ $12.50 per family. 

I will pre-pay for all of the supplies.  You can pay in full when we get started or pay it out weekly.  Just let me know what is best for you. 

_____________________________________________________________________

 Weekly Snack List:

This is a food a list of what families will bring each week.  If you are not going to be here, please let me know so I can supply your item.  If you haven’t told me what you are bringing please e-mail me today.  We could use some more fruit, someone to do plates and cups and a healthy, sweetened by nature (honey, agave, and maple or rice syrup) cookie, brownie, cake etc…

Patti –Lemonade & Fill in for absent families.

Jessica- Apples and Mellon

Kim- x2 Baby Carrots & Veggie Dish

Marta -Raw Dish

Kelli S. – x 2 Cheese

Kelly O.- Whole Grain Crackers

Miranda- Hard Boiled Eggs & something

Magali -Hummus Dip

Christie-x2 Veggie Chips

Heather –Celery and Peanut Butter

Sheryl-Nuts

Melissa ?

Sarah B.-?

Christine?

Michelle?

_____________________________________________________________________

Our TJEd Inspired Mom School has openings in the Scholar Study Group (Middle & High School).  

Our Love of Learning and Core Study Groups are full (Elementary & Pre-K).  

A Testimonial from Miranda, A Mom I Have Worked With and Who's Children Attend My Co-ops...

"Patti empowers the children to find their own answers, often allowing their own wonder to lead them and, unknown to the children, finding ways to facilitate each child's discoveries through doing, seeking, conversing, playing, working andbeing exposed to great mentors. 

This community of children often come away with knowing that wasn't really taught, but was felt, experienced, lived, and internalized in a way rote learning can never imitate. Then they are encouraged to mentor others into the same kind of experience, bringing their own talents to the process. 

It's totally magical and a wondrous thing so see kids allowed to work and grow in her organic and well informed learning environment.”

~Miranda B. Norris, Homeschool Mom of Three and Owner of :   http://mirandasartofliving.squarespace.com/

A Testimonial from Michele A MOM of Four That Have Mentored and Who's Children I Have Worked With...

Dear Patti,

     I cannot convey to you with enough enthusiasm the

positive impact you have had on me and my children's lives through

participating in your TJED program. Your leadership, mentoring and love for all

of my children has made me a better mom, teacher and mentor. 

     The way you have nurtured and educated each of my

four children and myself has added so much more richness to our home school

time at home. I am not worried about pounding facts anymore but, instead, am

letting them experience the joy of learning. You have showed me that every

corner has not only a life experience but also a learning experience. My

children have also benefited from your love of teaching by embracing new

experiences without fear. They forge ahead now just to see what will happen

versus being afraid of making a mistake.

     The result of being part of your program for over two years is apparent in the

love and excitement my children have shown for "typical" boring material like the

Laws of Motion, Inertia, knitting, felting and especially art and literature. Your style

of teaching has grown my children and allowed them the down time to enjoy the world

around them.

     I think what my daughter stated (my other three boys agreed with her) as we were

driving to your house after a four month hiatus from your Thursday Coop says it all. She said,

"Mommy, I feel like we are going home."   Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Sincerely,

Michele, SW FLorida

 

Ms. Patti's Love of Learning, Community Home School Has Openings!

Hello Families,   

I'm starting my "Love of Learning", Community Home School again this fall and I have two  openings for ages 5 through 13, with a total of eight kids participating.

 I would also consider a pre-school age child who is ready to be a part of a group. Our Community Homeschool school is a Classical Liberal Arts learning environment, inspired by the TJEd philosophy, aka: Leadership Education.  We'll use resouces and techniques from, Waldorf, Montessori, Charlotte Mason and Classical approaches. We'll also sprinkle in field trips and some fun local  learning activities during our afternoons together.

 

On the Learning Agenda:

Math using Professor and Real Life Math: http://www.profb.com/Home.aspx,

Life of Fred for upper Math: http://lifeoffredmath.com/lof2.php

Charolette Mason Language Arts:  http://simplycharlottemason.com/books/hearing-and-reading-telling-and-writing-a-charlotte-mason-language-arts-handbook/

First Language Lessons: http://cathyduffyreviews.com/grammar-composition/first-language-lessons.htm 

Sequential Spelling: http://cathyduffyreviews.com/spelling-vocabulary/sequential-spelling.htm  

Powerglide Spanish, Mon @ 12:30 with Ms. Astrid:  http://www.amazon.com/review/R1M5X9T8AA0D8G/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R1M5X9T8AA0D8G

Inspired by, Classical Conversations History, US Geography and Music Memory Work with Ms. Michele and Ms. Patti: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co6CJdROEQE&feature=related 

Competiting in the National GEO Bee,  with Ms. Patti  http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee/

KidsTek Lego Learning, Wed @ 4pm: http://kidsteklearning.com/ ,

Science with Ms. Patti &  Online with Ms. Aura  @ http://www.sciencelearningspace.com/ 

 Soft Art & Waldorf Handwork, Fri @3:30pm with Ms. Allie & Ms. Patti:  http://mommychick.typepad.com/handwork_tv/ 
 "Patti empowers the children to find their own answers, often allowing their own wonder to lead them and, unknown to the children, finding ways to facilitate each child's discoveries through doing, seeking, conversing, playing, working and being exposed to great mentors. 

This community of children often come away with knowing that wasn't really taught, but was felt, experienced, lived, and internalized in a way rote learning can never imitate. Then they are encouraged to mentor others into the same kind of experience, bringing their own talents to the process. 

It's totally magical and a wondrous thing so see kids allowed to work and grow in her organic and well informed learning environment.”

~~Miranda B. Norris, Homeschool mom of three and owner of Miranda's Art of Living:   http://mirandasartofliving.squarespace.com/

 *Please note, the curriculum and resources we use will depend on the make up of the group.  I will be more than happy to take a look at, and possibly incorporate, any favorites your family has.  

 "I spend my days in the company of classic books and children, mine and other people's; In a wholesome, full of real life skills, artistic, hands on, imaginative, literature based, life learning environment. I am blessed everyday to see the light in children's eyes as they embrace the tools used for discovering their world .   This is probably the most soulful work in the world and it brings me much joy, even after 20 years of doing it!"  ~~patti

  Starting September 7th, 2011 

We'll meet Mon, Wed and Fri, Noon until 5:30pm at my home on Marco Island. 

**Parents are welcome to stay, help or drop off every day, one day or sometimes.  

This is a good opportunity to see "homeschooling" in action for those of you just starting out!    

 I'll be happy to accommodate those parents picking up their children on the way home from work with a later or earlier pick up time if needed. 

 For those families coming from Naples, we're starting a car pool to make the drive easier. With a north and south Naples pick up stop.  

 Our schedule will follow the public school calendar.

 

Tuesday's and Thursday's the students are welcome to join me in my other community co-op's.     

 About Tuesday's & Thursday's:

 Tuesday's we run an Organic Food Buying Club out of my home and the students will participate in running the club.  This is a unique and wonderful opportunity to get hands on life skills such as,  introduction to business, management. purchasing, real life math,  food preparation, nutrition, health and cooking.    

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marco-Island-Organics-Buying-Club/116273551783526 

 On Thursday's we host our TJEd MoM School which is going into it's fifth year! 

We meet on the 2nd,  4th and 5th (if applicalble) Thursday of each month.  

The students in our Love of Learning, Community Home School are welcome to participate in our Classical Liberal Arts & Life Skills, TJEd inspired study groups on Thursday's.    

 See: www.TJEd.org to learn more about the TJEd Philosophy and Patti's Homeschooling Blog to see one of our Thursday's in action:

http://homeschoolmentoring.typepad.com/pattis-homeschool-mentor/mommy-school/ 

**The families participating in my Love of Learning Community Home School are setting up a rotating babysitting schedule for the 1st and 3rd Thusday' of each month to accomidate those parents who are working and are in need of child care.      

To learn more about me and my background, my educational and child development philosophy and our TJEd Mom School, stop by my Blog and Facebook page  where you can read my bio's.  You'll also see photos of our Love of Learning, Community Home School in action!                                                                                                                   

 Go to: Patti's Homeschool Mentoring Blog:  

 http://homeschoolmentoring.typepad.com/pattis-homeschool-mentor/mommy-school/

 Patti's Homeschool Mentoring Facebook page with photos with comments,  you'll have to click on "see all photos" at the top right hand side to see the entire collection of albums:   http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pattis-homeschool-Mentoring/151966768152952?ref=sgm  

 

All participating families are required to read: Leadership Education: The Phases of Learning http://www.tjed.org/purchase/ebooks.  With particular attention paid to the Love of Learning phase.  This will give you a feel for how we will spend our afternoons learning together.  

I also request that each family participate in a daily classical book family read in their home and that TV and sugar be extremely limited, thereby enhancing your child's academic journey!      

 Contact me to receive my background information, testimonials and references or to discuss curriculum and your child's needs.  

 If you know of a family that might be interested, please feel free to forward this e-mail.  

~~:-)p

 Dear Patti,

     I cannot convey to you with enough enthusiasm the positive impact you have had on me and my children's lives through participating in your TJED program. Your leadership, mentoring and love for all of my children has made me a better mom, teacher and mentor.

     The way you have nurtured and educated each of my four children and myself has added so much more richness to our home school time at home. I am not worried about pounding facts anymore but, instead, am letting them experience the joy of learning. You have showed me that every

corner has not only a life experience but also a learning experience. My children have also benefited from your love of teaching by embracing new experiences without fear. They forge ahead now just to see what will happen versus being afraid of making a mistake.

     The result of being part of your program for over two years is apparent in the love and excitement my children have shown for "typical" boring material like the Laws of Motion, Inertia, knitting, felting and especially art and literature. Your style of teaching has grown my children and allowed them the down time to enjoy the world around them.

     I think what my daughter stated (my other three boys agreed with her) as we were driving to your house after a four month hiatus from your Thursday Coop says it all. She said,

"Mommy, I feel like we are going home."   Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Sincerely,

Michele B. Homeschooling Mom 

Kindergarten question: What subjects do you cover with them on a normal day. What curriculum do you prefer at this age?

Handwork and Family Read... we are knitting while reading

Kindergarten is what we call the Core Phase, and focusing on character development is key!  Lots of family work & real life lessons, surrounded by a love of learning, modeled by elders and the great classic books, the best mentors through the ages!  After 20 years of studying education & alternative education, with one grown child who had early academics (teach your baby to read program, college prep elementary school, etc...) and now, a teen who had delayed academics with a Waldorf inspired beginning and an intention on honoring natures phases of development since then; 

  I am able to say without a doubt that academics should not be the focus of a home school at this age!   Simple Homeschool has a good article explaining the phases: http://simplehomeschool.net/the-4-phases-of-learning-in-leadership-education/ 

Young mind at work

 

  Also see:  Leadership Education: The Phases of Learning for in depth description of child development phases.  www.TJEd.org. 

  We are not in a hurry around here, I have seen with my own eyes, in different kinds of families, that even children who are unschooled, who never learn what is traditionally taught in elementary school, pick it up in a short period of time when it is developmentally appropriate. 

 Our teen is in love with learning, and is self directed in her intense studies, and at 14 she has caught up and in some subjects has passed her peers academically who are in a classroom type home school.  

 So our unintentional (big life lesson) experiment with these two different types of education, taught us much about walking a different learning path, with confidence that the end outcome will be what we really want!  

 Beginning with the end in mind: I want a whole child, who's seven intelligences (whole brain) have been developed, so she can overcome any obstacle and is self reliant in all areas of life, and not just specialized to perform academically or for a job.  I want her heart & soul to guide her so that she knows instantly right from wrong, good from evil, and can see through propaganda, to what is true.

 I want her core foundation to be based on service!  The missing link in most traditional education settings and the foundation to all future self directed, scholarly learning.  Already,  we see honoring the phases of learning and development is  bringing her much inner peace & joy! 

Family Work!

  Here is Dr. Raymond Moore's site and an article titled: Delayed Academics: Key to Preventing Learning Problems

http://www.excellenceineducation.com/better_late_than_early.php

 

 

A Waldorf Inspired- Core Phase Learning Playroom 

 

Favorite Kindergarten Curriculum's to use loosely and based on the child's interest:

 Waldorf Inspired, Oak Meadow: http://www.oakmeadow.com/ 

Literature Based: 5 In a Row: http://fiarhq.com/fiveinarow.info/index.html

Charlotte Mason Classical Liberal Arts: http://www.amblesideonline.org/

 

Our TJEd Mommy School aka: KidSchool or Home School Co-op in Action!

 

"In short, something truly amazing is happening. It is happening quietly, usually in small groups in unconnected neighborhoods. It is uncoordinated and mostly unorganized. Yet I believe it will shape the 21st Century. In the year 2100, it may well stand out as one of the most important trends of the century. It is quiet, it is spreading, and it is real: Mothers are seeing a need and filling it—themselves." ~~Rachel DeMille

Every Thursday we host a Mommy School

(home school co-op) in our home.

This blog post was inspired by the joy and fellowship

found inside our weekly gatherings,

and by the following essay, which goes right to the heart of the matter: 

What Homeschoolers Want Most:  http://www.tjed.org/2010/12/homeschoolers-want/

We have seventeen families participating in our Mommy School, and the children are separated into three groups: Scholar & Transition to Scholar (high-school age) Love of Learners (elementary through middle school ages) and Core (six and under). 

The common thread of our SW Florida TJEd inspired Mommy School, is that each family values, on some level, A Classical Liberal Arts Education and that we honor the Phases of Learning as described in the book:

Leadership Education: The Phases of Learning 

by, Oliver and Rachel DeMille.

The Phases are:  

Core, Love of Learning, Scholar, Depth, Mission, & Impact

for a quick understanding of the Phases: http://www.tjed.org/?s=phases+of+learning 

Love this photo... Mommy School in Action! The key to a successful Mommy School is to have mentors that have a passion for what they are inspiring!  

***********

"Mom Schools meet according to the needs of the students, and most Mom Schools tend to focus on one or a few areas of expertise. A network of such schools in an area provides a much deeper academic offering than the traditional co-ops. I call them Mom Schools because of the hundred or so I know, only a few are initiated by Dad. But in many of them Dad is partially or very closely involved." ~Rachel DeMille, A Thomas Jefferson Home Companion

Our teens are a mixed phase crowd: We have a couple Scholars and the rest are in Transition or Practice Scholar Phase. On this day, they met for their Deeper Thinking Study Group where they rotate through reading Shakespeare's A Comedy of Errors and discussing it. They practice and play a Latin game, are discussing the book The One Minute Philosopher and from time to time play Chess. This group is Mentored by one our moms.

 

Meet Ms. Miranda http://mirandasartofliving.squarespace.com/ 

She is our Deeper Thinking Study Group Mentor, Art Teacher and our resident Health Coach. She is the mother of three children , all of whom attend on Thursday.  Miranda plays a big role in our Mommy School where she alternates from Study Group Mentor to Cooking and Nutrition Class Instructor, I can pretty much throw her into any group and she pops the learning!  Today she filled in for our Art Teacher and facilitated the Scholar's Graphic Novel, Art Class.  

 With sketch books in hand, the students worked on understanding the format of a story board. 

From time to time, if we don't have a mom or dad who can Mentor a class, or study group, we go outside our family circle and hire someone. We all pitch in to pay for that person.

Ms. Vivian Hadding is a local artist and home school mom, we hired. 
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1441553613

 

My husband is a part of our Mommy School, he works from our home and stops early on Thursdays to Mentor an American History Study Group, a topic he has much passion for!

Yes, they meet in our bedroom... by the end of a Thursday every room in the house has been used!

Mr. Jerry reads to the students, followed by a lively discussion.  

 Their learning is mostly conversational.

 

Keeping the learning simple and effective!  They read, narrate back, write essay's on the topic, discuss and from time to time present and/or debate in this group.

******

The Call of Community

"Many home schooling parents intrinsically know that their children need a community of other home schoolers.  A community of like-minded people.  A community of people who "get" them."  

"When we decided to start home schooling we really didn't know that it would make our children different somehow.  We wanted something different for our children, but we did not equate that if we offered something different, it would actually make them different."

The New Commonwealth School pg: 16

 

This is our Love of Learning Science Study Group. It is Mentored by Ms. Michelle one of our moms. She has two children attending on Thursday.  You'll see a big age span amongst the participants, as our Core Phase (pre-K ages) usually join in during Science.

Each mom in the group brings with them their unique talents and passions. Ms. Michelle has two children that she is homeschooling, five altogether, and works from home as an editor.  

Every week, Michelle, along with her passion for learning,

brings science to life with fun experiment demonstrations for our

Love of Learning- Liberty Kids and our Core Phase- Acorn home schooler's.

Look at the faces of our littlest participants... so curious! :-)   The lessons are short and sweet and the little children leave when they have seen or done enough.

 

Some of our kids love to present what they have learned (public speaking and additional learning practice) some don't, they have the choice. This is my grand niece, she is a few weeks shy of turning five and has been coming to my Mommy School since she was in diapers. She LOVES playing at school, and eats up everything we have to offer on Thursday's!

Creating Lap Books (hand made, authored by each student, personalized science text book). Each week after the experiment, we create a page in our books. Then we have the opportunity to read what we have learned. At the end of the semester,  we take our books home, to be placed on our shelves, so we can visit with them and continue our learning over and over again.

***** 

 Our TJEd Mommy School does not replace in home education, but is set up to accentuate what the students are already learning in their home schools.  We come together, parents and children, and decide what we want to learn in a group setting, then we look to our families in attendance, or the outside community for a Mentor, someone who would study the subject for fun is best!  

The study groups enable us to bring the learning to life in different, and at times, more effective ways. We get inspired by the people who have passions for what they are Mentoring, and the inspiration is contagious!  It  encourages everyone to help, we are challenged by other points of view, and we (children and adults) get to inspire the others around us.  

We base each study group, as much as possible, from a classic book.  We keep our lessons simple, mostly conversational, and relevant to the students life, and try to avoid Conveyor Belt educational patterns.    We break up the day with movement, the older kids take a walk, the younger ones play outside, as well as inside and, we eat together, each family brings a healthy snack to share.   

The Mommy School gives the children practice at growing up in a community with their primary role models or trusted adults close by, who can redirect and inspire good character development as needed.  

 The parents get much needed support and company in their home schooling endeavors!

 

We call the kids in the Love of Learning Phase-Liberty Kids at our Mommy School.

This is a Liberty Kids- Classic Book Language Arts- Learning Circle and is Mentored by Ms. Patti (that's been my nickname for twenty years now!)  Both pre-K and elementary ages sit through the reading and discuss it with us. I follow the Charlotte Mason philosophy, with a bunch of Waldorf methods sprinkled in, to bring the books to life. 

We read a classic book, discuss it, pull vocabulary words from the days reading and use and define them. From time to time, we take the words and create a story using them.

Each week we take an emotional (preferably)  passage from the reading and copy it. The older kids (when they are ready), don't copy, instead, they listen and write what they hear. They check their own work for structure and punctuation, and correct any mistakes, conditioning them for Scholar- self directed learning.

We draw a picture about the story in our language arts lap book, on the same page as our copy work. Narration plays a big role in our circle, each week we start our gathering taking turns re-telling the story and insights learned. 

We also try and bring some of the books we read to life;  we may do handwork, for instance we made log cabins using wood carving tools when we read the Little House series, we cook, reenact and for the current book The Tale of Despereaux we are creating, out of clay, a diorama of the castle and the characters from the story.

When it is dry, it will be available to play with.

When we do the Language Arts exercises, some pre-k'ers stay, some go off and play. For those in the pre- writing stage- they draw a picture based on the story and dictate to a mom what it is, we write it for them while they watch. When they are ready, we take a word or two and have them trace the words, they also practice writing them underneath.

I always have other moms with me to help and to redirect any behavior issues.  

They are encourage to share their wisdom with the group too!

Example of a Language Arts Lap Book

A Waldorf Inspired Wood Working Hand-Work Circle, creating logs for log cabins.  All ages participate and if a child is not ready to use pocket knives and wood working tools, they let us know, and can watch or practice on soap with a plastic knife.  

When it is time to learn a new skill, we look first to the other kids in the house to Mentor!

For our Core Phase group, whom we call Acorns, I run a Waldorf inspired, short and sweet circle time. We read a classic book, do some singing, finger plays, and movement (YOGA). We do a little journaling, where we draw a picture and dictation, based on the story... the older ones practice copying my writing. We may do some handwork or Waldorf type art.

It is important that the learning activity be natural, so we avoid pre-fab, cookie cutter-popular pre-school and elementary school arts and crafts activities.

Instead, we turn to resources like, water color painting, conte, felt, wax, sewing, knitting, and clay.

The idea when working with Core Phase children is to keep the children moving,  up and down... Contraction (academics short and sweet) and then expansion (movement & play).

For more information on Waldorf inspired art and crafts: http://www.openwaldorf.com/art.html

Talk about passion! Cooking Class with Mentor and Health Coach Miranda a woman who loves what she does!!!  http://mirandasartofliving.squarespace.com/

And, what would a Mommy School be without that -all important-in the background- kind of support? Ms. Christie is that for me. We have been homeschooling  together for fourteen year. Her son and my daughter have grown up together.  She is my go to person!  With help from other moms, she runs the kitchen, sets up the food, does the clean up, helps with the children, and fills in wherever we need her.  

She keeps the space running and knows where everything is so she can acclimate a new family if I am busy and makes sure the kids put everything away in the right place.  

   

We try and host a Mentor Lecture for our Mommy School participants a few times a year. We invite leaders, and inspiring members of our community to come and speak.

This is a photo of Lawrence Reed, President of the Foundation for Economic Education with the children.  Larry has come two years in a row to speak to our families. http://fee.org/people/lawrence-w-reed/ 

The first year, he gave a talk entitled: My Favorite President, Grover Cleveland. The second year, he spoke about Adam Smith,Philosopher and the man considered the, "father of economics". The talk was based on Smith's classic book: The Wealth of Nations.

Parents and students attend the lectures. The parents are encouraged, and come prepared to model group discussions, and to inspire the students into the discussion if needed.

Life Skills practice is a part of our Mommy School. We used drills, saws and muscle to create an Earth Box Organic Garden.

Learning to grow food here in SW Florida has been a challenge.  We've had to overcome the sand problem.  Here is the fruit of our labor!

We are always asking, "who in our group is connected to whom in our community?"  One of our daddies is connected to the fire department.  One day they showed up right outside our front door for a "come to us",  kind of  field trip!  

*****

"The most exciting thing about Mom Schools may be that they promise not only a better education for the rising generation, but they are also educating the parent’s generation in neighborhood after neighborhood across the globe. It is inevitable that this will impact our freedoms, our prosperity, and our future." ~~Rachel DeMille www.TJEd.org

The beauty of multiple age learning is how the older students model for the younger ones! 

Personally, I find that one of the added joys of creating a Mommy School in our home, is that my entire family has attended.

In this photo, my grand niece, my two nephews and the little guy is my grandson ♥♥♥♥

Our Mommy School on Thursday exhausts me, and some weeks I dread it... but always, I mean always, when it is over, and the last family leaves at 6pm,  I realize I am exhausted in a most soulful and very good way!  

I am blessed to be a part of each one of these families lives!

 Every one of them, adults and children, are here because they want to be, and they each bring their  positive energy, so full of inspiration for all of us!!! 

My daughter, niece, nephews and grandsons are equally blessed to have this wonderful community to grow up in!!! ♥

This Friday morning I woke to find this on my chalk board...

Warming my heart and creating  :-) BIG SMILES :-) 

((HUGS)) to whomever wrote it yesterday!

 ~~~:-)p

Why Home School Teens Need Learning Groups, Extended Community & Other Mentors

 
  
When high school- home schoolers reach the teen years they have a natural need for extended community! Our high schoolers have a tendency to become very lonely in the home school world because they are busy studying and expressing their individual interests, a wonderful -quite intentional thing, but at times a lonely life.

You see,  around puberty children experience an actual physiological change that metaphorically turns a light on in them and they need to develop friendships outside of the family that reinforce the culture in the home.

“They crave to be different “, says Keith Olsen author of Why Teenagers Act The Way They Do. But they also crave to see others in their age group who are into studying, theorizing, discussing and debating like they are. This is the time when they should be given the opportunity for extended community, a community beyond their own family that shares similar values and language. Our teens are looking for and need to see mirrors of themselves out in the world. The break from family is also essential to avoid co-dependence!

As parents of teenagers know, they just want, and need, to be with others, they have no choice- being in community is exactly what nature intends for our young adults during the high school years!

But unfortunately, our home school world and society at large doesn’t necessarily nurture this community based education and the life skills needed to grow into self reliant adults.  

Our Thomas Jefferson Education (TEd)  -Classical Liberal Arts Study Groups were created to fulfill this need! These groups are for teens who want to study, are self directed and who love to learn! It is a place for our teens to find and use other mentors who will inspire them by the sharing of their passions. It is for young adults who want to socialize with different and same ages. TJEd is a place where teens can discuss what is on their mind, where they can practice and challenge themselves without being criticized, where they can grow in their missions in a safe and wholesome environment.

We practice the following formula in our study groups:

Classics as Mentors... Inspire not Require....

Read it, think it, write it, discuss it and present it by teaching it, then you own it! 

Also, Do Hard Things for Long Periods of Time!

To learn more about TJEd go to

www.TJEdOnline.com

Read: Leadership Education and The Student Whisperer by Dr. Oliver DeMille

Stop by my Facebook Page at: Patti’s Homeschool Mentoring and join in on the conversation.

Here's a recent post (2010) on the local home schooling message boards announcing openings in our local TJEd KidSchool Scholar Phase (teen) Study Groups.

TJEd Thursday's has openings in the Transition to Scholar & Scholar Phases Study Groups

For teens ages 12 and up.

Preliminary TJEd KidSchool schedule for Love of Learners (ages 11 and under) and Transition to and Scholar Phase (ages 12 and up) Home Schoolers

For the 2010-2011 school year:

11am Math pre Algebra through Algebra 2 for ages 12 and up

with a possible literature based, finger play, movement circle time if there are younger kids in the house.

12 lunch

12:30pm group walk

1pm Logic and Reasoning ages 12 and up

1pm Classic Book/Language Arts for ages 11 and under

we'll finish Despereaux then pick back up with the Little House Series

2pm Art for all ages

3pm Constitutional/American History Study group ages 12 and up

3pm Possible Science/Geography/First Language Lessons/handwork or whatever the group is interested in for ages 11 and under

4pm Latin all ages we may have two separate groups.

4:30 Social/play time

Pot Luck Dinner
6pm Family Book Read Colloquium

6pm Monthly Mentor Lecture