Method Reminder

I’m not a stickler for method.  I do not go on about how this method or that is the only way to homeschool.  I’m reading more about Thomas Jefferson Education and I’m surprised to see others blasting the method.  This blogger says he is pointing out how the statements made by the author are not correct, because if you are going to have an entire method based on certain principles they should be correct.

Here is the thing, no method or philosophy is guaranteed to produce the kind of results you want.  You pick some things to do with your children that you think will encourage them to be all they can be.  Offering the best education in the world does not mean the child will HAVE the best education in the world.  Much of it has to do with genetics, environment, and the willingness of the student to learn.

In the current climate of homeschooling, it is easier to say, “Oh, we are eclectic with our methods.” or “We do this and that– whatever works for our children,” than it is to have a curriculum, philosophy or method discussion.  Acquaintances get a cagey look in their eyes with furtive looks to other moms to see if they are listening.  It is a conversation to have in the privacy of your own home or during a quiet cup of tea.

It’s like talking politics or religion or sex.  I realize now it is the topic to either avoid or should be prefaced with, “What works for us is to…”  and ended with “this is just what is working lately.”  Because you know it is going to change as they grow.

However, I am noticing that Charlotte Mason methods are the way my sons learn best — short lessons, plenty of nature, living books, narration, hands-on discovery of the world.  Time and again it is proving to be true.  We tried that Monday class and while I liked the teacher and her environment, the method did not fit my child.  There was too much classroom time and textbook lecture.  I’m pretty sure there were not any short lessons or my son would have gone on and on about all they did outdoors or the hands-on projects they did indoors.  There is value in hard work, to be sure, but the methods we are using don’t *seem* like hard work.  I heard this teacher say several times, just in the short time I was in her classroom, “first we work, then we play.”

What happens if you have a method that mostly feels like play?  You look for “shining eyes” in your child and keep going or stop based on the interest in their faces, then building up to longer reading times.  What I saw was a rummy look in Hunter’s eyes when I picked him up from the class.  The classroom was stuffy and it was hard to breathe in there.  When he saw me, his eyes begged me to take him home.  His words were quiet and pleading.  When he couldn’t tell me much about the class, I knew it wasn’t right for him.

As a child, I loved sitting in my desk listening to the teacher’s every word.  I loved doing my work and earning those stars or stickers.  I thrived on it.  So please don’t think I am saying that classroom lecture/instruction is a bad thing.  It is not.  But then again, I didn’t know any different as a child, and neither does my son.  He is a Charlotte Mason kid like I was a classroom kid.

I’m interested to find out if Thomas Jefferson Education will also be a good fit for him.  There is a local TJed group meeting about 10 miles from our home.  They are doing several classes including one about American Heroes.  This term they are studying Davy Crockett from the Famous American series.   I spoke with the “mentor” of this group and it sounds like a good fit for Hunter.

Additionally, they will have Native American lesson which Kelly and Grama will present.  Grama is going to wear her Ojibwe jingle dress and bring her bead work, moccasins, drums and dolls.  Kelly will wear his buckskins and demonstrate a few skills which might include the bow drill, atlatl dart throwing, flintknapping or making knives with pine pitch glue.

My point is keep going until you find a method that works for you and your children. Keep going to find the right local groups that support your learners.

It is worth it.