For the past few years that we have been focusing on implementing the Leadership Education method for homeschooling I was always a little concerned in the back of my mind about if the kids would really learn. Would they really do it largely on their own without me pushing them. Math in particular is one area that most homeschooling parents feel is lacking in the Leadership Education method. The majority of books on the list are literature.
A couple years ago I decided to completely get off the conveyor belt and truly embrace all of the 8 Keys of Great Teaching. Math was an area that I did not see my kids working at very much. I would mention it once in awhile, commenting about how important math skills are and pointing out times in our daily lives where I was using math skills. For a long time it seemed that they could really care less.
Several months ago I saw that Marly was working on her Math-U-See books every day. Pretty soon she is telling me she is ready for the final exam on the Delta level. Five months later she is finished with Epsilon (October 2009). This week she completed the Zeta books and is starting on Pre-Algebra. In a little over a year she has completed 3 years of math studies. I am now noticing Christian start to work on his math every day. He is taking less time on each lesson and picking up the pace. He completed Delta last week and is now working on Epsilon.So what happened?
I believe that giving them the freedom they needed to devote themselves to what was most pressing to them has actually made them study harder in whatever area they are studying at the time. Now, math has suddenly become more important. They feel a need to study math. And, because I am not standing over them, pushing my idea of what they need, they are naturally drawn towards what they know they need for their future.
P.S. Check out this book The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook which also has similar stories to my own. This book is not TJED or Leadership Education based, but has a similar philosophy.
What a great a success story! It's so nice to hear these things! Good job to the mom! : )
ReplyDeleteIt took a while, but I can clearly see that if I trust the process, it really does work! Now if we can get science in there too they will be well-rounded.
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome! I have been thinking about homeschoolilng my daughter (she is 4). I have read most of the TJED book and I am starting to read "Early Years" a Charlotte Mason book. And I have actually been doing kindergarden acitivities from www.lesonpathways.com. She seems to really love it. I still don't get how the TJED works (it sounds like you have it figured out), but I have been reading classics to my children lately and they love it.
ReplyDeleteI just discovered this blog by hopping around a bit. I homeschool a passle of little ones and I'm trying to truly embrace the TJED philosophy in our home, but I am constantly fighting the panic comes from waiting. My oldest is 10 and hates all things academic . . . but am I right about that? We've been reading fairy tales as a family and she recently picked up a library book about medieval Europe all on her own.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this story about how waiting and inspiring really does work--those of us who are just starting out really need these bits of encouragement.
I'll be back again.