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Sincerely,
Russell Keppner
TJEd.org Administrator
I am new to the TJERefers generally to the concepts presented in the book A Thomas Jefferson Education, written by Dr. Oliver DeMille. We also have an Introduction to Thomas Jefferson Education available elsewhere on this site. way of teaching. With most things I have just always done what I've known. Both my husband and I worked, and I continued to work after our first was born. That was just the way you did things- both parents worked. A friend asked if I ever thought about staying home and the thought stayed with me. After much discussion and prayer, we decided that would be the right thing to do. So now for the first time I am a homemaker. We now have two girls, 2 1/2 and 3 months. Again, a friend who home schools her children and follows the TGE way of teaching, was talking to me about it. With much prayer this too seemed right. But what a challenge! I know it's my responsibility to my children to give them the best chance- but I am worried that I would be an inadequate teacher. For one my spelling is horrible! Just last August I started reading the books suggested, before that I hardly ever read.
My biggest concern is having my 2 1/2 year old just hang around me all day till she's 8...I just worry about the things she should be learning but isn't. Are there any ideas of things to do with her? We read, bake, do puzzles, and this summer we are going to have a garden- but what other things should she be doing to make this worthwhile? Is there any books or activity suggestions out there?? I am just a little over whelmed (this also being my first time at home) and need a little guidance. I'm so new to all of this!
Preschool!
I loved having my kids all young at the same time!
I, too have used and loved "Slow and Steady Get me Ready"
Another go-to favorite of mine is "A Joyful Mother of Children" by Linda Eyre and Teaching Children Joy by the same author.
And I will tell you http://www.brownielocks.com/month2.html has brought me so much FUN with the kids. We celebrate random holidays throughout the year like "National Pancake Week" with a different kind of pancakes each morning, and National Park Week where we choose a different park in our town every day to play. It's a great site to get you thinking at least.
I think back on that time with younger children as the time to just HAVE FUN and not worry about the "learning" aspect of it (which we all have done and still do at times!!). Make the FUN the LEARNING without the pressure. With older kids now (ages 2-10) I am having to re-learn this aspect of teaching, raising, homeschooling, and enjoying my children because I got so hung up on the pressures of the outside world for a little while!
And KUDOS to you for making the step to stay home with your children. Though it's not the easiest job at times, it is the job with the most rewards!! :-)
Teaching Children Responsibility
My mother had _Teaching Children Responsibility_, and while she didn't use it all the time, the concepts in it she did use repeatedly. The Eyre's are very encouraging.
_Five In A Row_ and _Before Five In A Row_ are two early learning book-based activity plans. I haven't used them, but I have looked at the lists of books they use. The books recommended are really good. They are planned to be one book a week, with activities each day to go with the book. I don't recommend holding small children to a set schedule that way, but the ideas for things to do with your daughter may help.
I understand some
When my older children were little I found this book at a yardsale and loved it. It's called _Slow and Steady, Get Me Ready_, by June Oberlander. It talks about specifically about what Mom can do to help a small child learn; it gives concrete examples and reasons for doing things this way. It has a large font and cheerful illustrations. I could read one page at a time and do one thing a day. It helped me a lot. However, its biggest value was in teaching me how to include my child in whatever I was doing at the time, not in following the activities in any particular order. It could be used as a rigid curriculum; don't! Take the concepts, like "make cookies with your child and use words to describe the texture, taste, smell, of the dough", and use them whenever you're doing something with your child.
Another book that has meant a lot to me is _Survival Handbook for Preschool Mothers_ by Helen Wheeler Smith. It is an older book, available used on Amazon. It is a short, to-the-point, encouraging and enlightening book. It is easy to read and made me feel like I can do this!
There are two or three small books by Ella May Miller that helped me, too. The ones I remember are: _A Woman In Her Home_ and _Happiness Is Homemaking_. These have been very encouraging and have helped me get back to a proper perspective.
Parenting is the hardest, most rewarding job on the planet, and it doesn't come with any vacations or income. In fact, you have to pay to maintain the children. But you said you had prayed over the decision to stay home, and you prayed over the decision to go with TJED. Remember, remember often, how you felt when you prayed about it. There will be problems and accidents and sometimes you will get really frustrated and blow your top. But a new day comes; forgive yourself, forgive your children, and try again. Remember to apologize, so your children will learn that saying you're sorry is okay to do. And be yourself. If you don't like something about yourself, work on it, but don't beat yourself up about it.
In my core classic it says, "I am a child of God." You have potential. You can do this, and you will have the help you need.
Thank you
I really appreciated your book suggestions- I'll have to look into them. I'm always looking for books that can help you do things better. I never thought to talk about the texture and taste of cookies. What a great idea! I guess it's things like this that we just take advantage of knowing, and I need to learn how to vocalize those things to her. I am grateful for all of your suggestions. I also believe that we are all sons and daughters of heavenly parents. I know the divine role we hold as mothers and the sacred responsibility we have to teach our children. So I want to do the best I can.
Need Guidance
I have seven and been homeschooling since the 1980s and I have seven children. I put together a list of 15 suggestions you could do with your child. Believe me, you will not have time to do it all, all the time. Often you will want to just linger and enjoy.
http://donnasjourney.moorhouseacademy.org/?p=2205
Thank you for all of the
Thank you for all of the suggestions- I'll have to print them out and post them somewhere where I can reference them often. I really liked the journal idea! I read my scriptures, but I need to work on reading them with her. Thanks again!