I recently become acquainted with more people doing the Thomas Jefferson Education Model. So I revisited the book, and skipped to the Home Companion book. FINALLY, my questions were answered. I had a hard time putting it together with reading just the first book, but the "how to" for me was in the third book, which I just opened last week.
I was pleased to see that I actually already do a lot of the things mentioned, because I feel it is a lot of a classical education, and similar, yet different, from "The Well-Trained Mind". Yay me!
I was also soaking in the "how to's" of home management. Yes!
So, with all these great ideas and realistic ways for me to actually APPLY some home management skills, I was super excited.
The one implemented today: I made a "chore" chart, but not a typical one. I made "in" and "out" pockets. The chores were "tickets". And we have a "child of the day". So, the "child of the day" gets to say all the prayers (no more bickering over whose turn it is), sit wherever they want to in the van, get to choose the first chores, be the first to practice piano, etc. There are "A" chores and "B" chores, but you have to have 4. 2 "Bs" = 4 "As". When the chore is finished you place it in the "out" pocket.
My kids LOVED this. Rebecca actually did ALL her school work, cleaned her room and morning chores, did her "pocket" chores, and was bathed and ready for bed before anyone else so she got free time!
Jon always does what I tell him, or what I expect of him. He just goes with the flow. And he did his chores.
Savannah will still need to get the hang of it.
But it was soo nice to have help!
We also re-visited nightly book reading. We are consistent on the reading part, but not nightly reading. I've read how what you do in the evening hours really prepares everyone for the next day's activities. So we are going to try to do that more. Interestingly, we are all going to bed earlier (at least tonight, which is why I had time to blog).
The next thing I want to implement better and more often, are to actually have our anticipated, talked about parent/child interviews every week. We will also start a "mentor meeting" once a month with each child, give them a planner and teach them how to keep track of their lessons.
There are so many more things mentioned. I can tell that our family will run a LOT more smoothly as we implement more of the ideas in the TJ Ed Home Companion book.
One thing (maybe 3) at a time. Developing habits.
I was pleased to see that I actually already do a lot of the things mentioned, because I feel it is a lot of a classical education, and similar, yet different, from "The Well-Trained Mind". Yay me!
I was also soaking in the "how to's" of home management. Yes!
So, with all these great ideas and realistic ways for me to actually APPLY some home management skills, I was super excited.
The one implemented today: I made a "chore" chart, but not a typical one. I made "in" and "out" pockets. The chores were "tickets". And we have a "child of the day". So, the "child of the day" gets to say all the prayers (no more bickering over whose turn it is), sit wherever they want to in the van, get to choose the first chores, be the first to practice piano, etc. There are "A" chores and "B" chores, but you have to have 4. 2 "Bs" = 4 "As". When the chore is finished you place it in the "out" pocket.
My kids LOVED this. Rebecca actually did ALL her school work, cleaned her room and morning chores, did her "pocket" chores, and was bathed and ready for bed before anyone else so she got free time!
Jon always does what I tell him, or what I expect of him. He just goes with the flow. And he did his chores.
Savannah will still need to get the hang of it.
But it was soo nice to have help!
We also re-visited nightly book reading. We are consistent on the reading part, but not nightly reading. I've read how what you do in the evening hours really prepares everyone for the next day's activities. So we are going to try to do that more. Interestingly, we are all going to bed earlier (at least tonight, which is why I had time to blog).
The next thing I want to implement better and more often, are to actually have our anticipated, talked about parent/child interviews every week. We will also start a "mentor meeting" once a month with each child, give them a planner and teach them how to keep track of their lessons.
There are so many more things mentioned. I can tell that our family will run a LOT more smoothly as we implement more of the ideas in the TJ Ed Home Companion book.
One thing (maybe 3) at a time. Developing habits.
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