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
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 Monthly Mentor Lecture
6pm Family Book Read Colloquium
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