tjed solo
We just moved to small town Texas which is not filled with tjeders...or even people who want to read shakespeare (that I have found anyway).
how can I help inspire my daughter (12) when she sees no teens around her in scholar phase...I try and do read considerably. i am working on writing and math.
I'm trying to get a girls group together to discuss books, but the books keep changing to be simpler and simpler...
I also need the discussion and haven't been able to find it locally...what would you do?
Texas TJEd offerings
I am in Texas too! You have gotten some great replies to your question. I just wanted to add that there are some great TJEd things in the works here in Texas. We are registering right now for a LEMI training in Texas (to be held either in DFW area or Austin) July 19-21st. I am so excited about this training. There is also the first ever TJEd forum to be held in Texas June 2nd in Round Rock. I am in Fort Worth area, and I am in the process of starting a commonwealth school here in the fall. I don't know where you are located, but I would love to have you come out to any of these things even if you don't live close and maybe we can help each other. We have lived here 3 yrs and knew no one who did TJEd until recently. One mom who is helping me start the commonwealth school wasn't familiar with TJEd but she loved the idea of the LEMI scholar projects and the philosophy, so she has started reading the TJEd books and she is totally on fire about the ideas now. Sometimes we have to find the right people and share it with them. Good luck to you!
Our Texas commonwealth school
I forgot to include our website in case you want to take a look: www.txcommonwealthteens.wordpress.com
Hope to hear from you!
Alysia
UR Not Alone
I can SO relate to this post as we recently relocated to a small town in south/east texas with our 12yod and 8yos to be House Parents at a Children's Home. Please share a bit about how your journey unfolded. Thank You!!
Beginning TJED with an older teen
We have a 15 yos (he will be 16 on Thanksgiving). I'm sure he is between Core and Love of Learning phases right now.
Everything I have read on TJED has been great, but has not really been very helpful for beginning with an older teen.
We have been homeschooling for 19 years and have already graduated our two daughters. They are both voracious readers and very self motivated. We always had what I would call a "very relaxed Charlotte Mason-y kind of unschooling" sort of school. =0) It worked great with the girls. Not so great so far with the boy.
Are there any books, articles, etc. any of you would recommend that could perhaps give me a "jumpstart" for ideas with our son?
I've considered simply reading one classic a week with him and doing everything out of that one book (copywork, discussion, etc.). You know, keep it very simple. What do you all think?
He is VERY involved in MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) and either takes or teaches 4-5 days a week.
Any help at all from others that have been here would be so greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much.
God bless,
Jeri
You are her inspiration
Hi. I think that you are the best inspiration your daughter can have. I believe that children learn how to become adults by being around adults. If you wanted to learn carpentry you wouldn't hang around plumbers all day. :-) So if there aren't other children her age, that's okay. She can learn by watching you. If you are actively learning and growing, she will learn how to do that too.
Once you are settled in from moving, you will probably be able to find some other folks who are at least homeschooling, if not following the TJED philosophy. What part of Texas are you in? Maybe we're neighbors. :-) There is a locator on this website, and you might be able to find some TJEDers fairly close to you.
Also, a lot depends on whether your daughter is introverted (drawing energy and "recharging" alone) or extroverted (drawing energy and "recharging" by being around others). If she is introverted, she won't need as much interaction, and you can probably provide her with plenty by going to the library and church, and places like that. If she is extroverted she will need more interaction with other children. So finding or even starting a local homeschool group might be something you want to consider.
Where we live, they have a homeschool PE program at some of the YMCAs. That is an excellent place to start. If your Y doesn't have one, perhaps they would be willing to start one. Perhaps the local children's librarian would be willing to consider some activities or programs for homeschoolers.
Texas is FULL of interesting things! One of the things we enjoy most is going to other small towns and seeing all the interesting and historical things there. We like to check out museums. Many small towns have their own museums, and you'd be amazed at how fascinating they are. Plus, in those tiny museums you will find that the curator has plenty of time to talk with you. Usually these are older folks, and they know plenty of local history and are willing to share it. You guys will have a ball getting to know people and local history.
We like to visit libraries too. We usually do the Summer Reading Program with the public library. A couple of summers ago I printed out the schedule, and we went to programs all over the county! We enjoyed getting to visit the various libraries, getting to talk with the librarians, and poking around the various towns to see what was there. We had one of our best summers ever.
I think our children (we have 2) enjoy museums because my husband and I enjoy them so much. Same with libraries. Talking about this reminds me that lately we've just been running to the library and grabbing our reserved books, then leaving (though yesterday we did take our sketchbooks to the park across the street, and hung around there for a while). It's been a while since we've gone and just browsed, then sat down to enjoy looking at some books. So I'm going to plan to do that the next time we go!
Also, both my children love music. I am a musician and I have always enjoyed music with them. Neither of them really like sports (they like to play games with the neighbors, but no spectator stuff - though they LOVED watching the Olympics, even volleyball); my husband and I aren't sports fans. So I see that my children are definitely inspired by what they see in us. It makes me more keenly aware of my failings, and now I want to work on myself even more!
Anyway, I think if you just enjoy learning and living, and invite her along for the ride, she will find plenty of inspiration in you.
discuss online and set up groups in my town
I read classics and discuss with other people online. I also meet with homeschoolers in my town and talk about what they want to talk about. Two different purposes here: I need the social life and interaction, for myself and for my children--that's meeting with homeschoolers here, plus I insert comments about what we're studying and doing, as appropriate. I need to further my education, and truthfully I haven't found anyone who lives nearby who both has a more advanced classic education and who has time and energy to discuss. That's where discussing online comes in.
I have to point out that in my core classic it states that "whom God calls He qualifies"; the key is not to know already before starting. The key is being willing o start. After we start to take action, God steps in to help. A couple years ago I found two people willing to discuss classic books, and together we discovered a lot of common ground, learned a lot about each other and about the books we discussed. It was educational. Neither of these people were people I would have pegged as good for discussion, but they were willing and they came regularly. It was fantastic! Serious discussion with only one or two people beats lame or frivolous discussion with a larger group every time.
I wouldn't push too hard for a girls group. I'd read with her and discuss with her with those you can find who are willing to read the things she needs now, whether they're children or adults. If you dumb down the books too far, you defeat the purpose; if you're doing comparatively fluffy books, you're not going to get much education out of them, nor will you get many serious readers or discussions, it will become a waste of time and effort, people will stop coming or will stop using it for education -- it may become a purely social club instead (which is fine, if a social event is what you're after, but if not...).
What an exciting opportunity/challenge! *wink*
Britt,
This is where the rubber meets the road! When we moved here, there were a few people who had read TJEd, but there were no book groups or seminars, not to mention any TJEd organizations or New Commonwealth Schools. So we got to build what we needed. *grin*
I would start by finding ANY local (or even from a neighboring community) homeschoolers, get involved in their groups, and start talking about TJEd. Share a copy of any of the books or pamphlets you might have. The "Seven Keys of Great Teaching" CD is my favorite for first introducing people to TJEd principles.
Also, in your church, you could start a book group. Choose the books beforehand (classics, right?) and make it a fun night at your home with a potluck, etc. In fact, you could even choose the TJEd book as one to discuss. If you want to involve your daughter and find some girls for her to associate with, make it a mother-daughter group.
Other ideas include inviting friends over to see the TJEd DVD that's available combined with the TJEd book (Classic Books has this); starting a Liberty Girls-type group for your daughter and other girls; putting up announcements in the library for a classics discussion group. (Your local librarian may be able to help you advertise on a bulletin board at the library somewhere-- they love to help people get reading!) You could even hold an information meeting in your home about TJEd for other homeschoolers. (When I've done this, I've used the "7 Keys" CD as an outline guide for me.) Oh, and have you checked our "TJEd Family Finder" here at this website? You can see if there's anyone registered who may live near you...
These ideas may or may not work. Just keep trying new things. I know it's cliche, but "If you build it, they will come" is a true statement. It happened here, and it can happen where you live, too.
Oh, one last thing-- pray people to you! If you do all you can, God will make up the difference and send the support you and your daughter need. He knows how much you and your family need the friends. :-)
Hugs,
Rachel Keppner
"ASPIRE to INSPIRE before you EXPIRE!"