8 elements that come together in a healthy homeschool ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool
Over the summer I read Little Men by Louisa May Alcott, as part of the Mentoring in the Classics e-course led by Oliver DeMille of Thomas Jefferson Education.
It wasn’t my first time reading Alcott, or even my first time writing about her work. But it was my first time reading this book from a homeschooling mama’s perspective.
And all I can say is WOW. In vibrant story form, this book absolutely nails the elements that create a thriving educational atmosphere.
Would you rather listen to this post?
If you haven’t read it, you absolutely must. (FYI: You can get all of Alcott’s work in Kindle format here for a steal of a deal!)
For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the story, let me quickly recap: At the end of Little Women, Jo March marries Professor Bhaer. Her stern Aunt Josephine passes away, leaving her luxurious, large home (AKA Plumfield) to Jo.
Jo and the Professor decide to turn the home into a school for boys. Eventually two girls end up living among the dozen boys as well, and Little Men is the account of their “home/school.”
The Bhaers’ thoughts on education and parenting don’t follow the norm. They concern themselves not only with their boys’ minds, but their hearts and souls as well.
In this post I’ve outlined eight elements Professor Bhaer and Mrs. Jo blended together in their home/school to create a place where children could live, learn, and heal.
For a modern-day snapshot, I’ve also included how my own family attempts (very imperfectly, mind you) to incorporate these same elements into our homeschool life.
8 elements that come together in a healthy homeschool
1. Character
“Boys at other schools probably learned more from books, but less of that better wisdom which makes good men. Latin, Greek, and mathematics were all very well, but in Professor Bhaer’s opinion, self knowledge, self-help, and self-control were more important, and he tried to teach them carefully.”
Jo and her husband defined “success” differently for each of the boys in their care (since each had differing abilities and backgrounds), but through their priorities as educators they clearly demonstrated that character was just as important as academics.
How we (imperfectly) model this in our family: We allow for a thorough Core Phase during the first eight (or more if necessary) years of life for our children.
2. Work & Service
“Every one scattered to his or her task, for each had some little daily duty, and was expected to perform it faithfully.”
Each child at Plumfield had required jobs (done without compensation, though they were encouraged to think of ways they could use their skills to earn extra money.) They were also inspired to use their gifts to benefit and bless others.
How we (imperfectly) model this in our family: My children (now 12, 11, and 10) have taken over the majority of the cleaning in our house, and we aim to live a mission-minded lifestyle at home, in our community, and the world.
3. Love of Learning
“Demi was never tired of reading and explaining his favorite books, and many a pleasant hour did they spend in the old willow, revelling over Robinson Crusoe, Arabian Nights, Edgeworth’s Tales, and the other dear immortal stories that will delight children for centuries to come.”
The Bhaers worked hard to create an atmosphere that inspired their boys to learn and love it. They pointed out both the usefulness of learning AND the beauty of it. Through their own passions for study, reading, and writing, they modeled love of learning themselves.
How we (imperfectly) model this in our family: We have centered our homeschool around stories, believing that kids who fall in love with books and the world turn into kids who love learning and love the world!
4. Structure AND Freedom
“A word from Father Bhaer could at any time produce a lull, and the lads had learned that liberty must not be abused. So, in spite of many dark predictions, the school flourished, and manners and morals were insinuated, without the pupils exactly knowing how it was done.”
Plumfield was not a free for all–boys running wild and somehow learning in spite of the chaos. They had structured time set aside for lessons each day, lessons individually designed with each child’s phase of learning, age, and life goals in mind. This structure was balanced with plenty of freedom and time to follow their own interests.
How we (imperfectly) model this in our family: We structure time, not content during our homeschool days. This allows for order in our home (well, at least the kind of order you can have with three children under one roof!), while still allowing plenty of freedom for all of us to unfold into the unique individuals God made us to be.
5. Passion
“Nat found life getting easier and happier every day, and made such progress in his music lessons that his teacher forgave his slowness in some other things, knowing very well that where the heart is the mind works best.”
Mrs. Jo, as the boys called her, understood that the key to helping the children in her care learn was uncovering the individual strengths and passions within them. Kids get excited about learning what matters to them…and they usually learn more quickly that way as well!
How we (imperfectly) model this in our family: We create “compasses” every six months, so the kids can fill me in on their interests and what they can’t wait to learn more about. Then I can help them access the relevant resources to move toward their goals.
6. Relationships
“Love is a flower that grows in any soil, works its sweet miracles undaunted by autumn frost or winter snow, blooming fair and fragrant all the year, and blessing those who give and those who receive.”
If relationships break down, learning isn’t possible. Mrs. Jo and the Professor paid attention, not just to the marks on their boys’ academic assignments, but also the marks on their hearts. They sought to provide the time, space, and unconditional love needed for their children to heal from hurts or trauma.
How we (imperfectly) model this in our family: Learning my kids’ love languages has been a huge help in improving our relationships, especially as we edge nearer the transition of adolescence. We’ve made it a goal to put relationships first in our home as much as possible.
7. Time in Nature
“At three o’clock the entire family turned out to walk, for all the active young bodies must have exercise; and in these walks the active young minds were taught to see and love the providence of God in the beautiful miracles which Nature was working before their eyes.”
I’m probably biased since I live in the New England countryside that served as the setting for Plumfield, but I loved reading how nature played a central role in the boys’ educations. They cared for pets, climbed trees, had individual garden plots to cultivate, and roamed free-range during much of their free time.
How we (imperfectly) model this in our family: I love that our current home on five acres offers many of these same benefits to my little people! But whether you’re in the city or country, enjoy what you do have access to when it comes to the natural world, and try to educate according to the seasons.
8. Spirit
“‘We are all parts of the beautiful garden, and may have rich harvests for our Master if we love Him enough,’ said Father Bhaer.”
Mrs. Jo and her husband knew there was little point in educating children’s minds if you never address their spirits. They directly and indirectly pointed their charges back to the One who could help them through both daily struggles and important life decisions.
How we (imperfectly) model this in our family: Our faith as followers of Jesus wasn’t our family’s main motivation to homeschool, but it certainly permeates everything we do. Day in and day out we have hundreds of opportunities to seek God’s grace, wisdom, love, and forgiveness.
So when homeschool discouragement slaps you in the face, when overwhelm pushes its mile-long to-do list in your direction, come back to these core foundations:
- Character,
- Work & Service,
- Love of Learning,
- Structure & Freedom,
- Passion,
- Relationships,
- Time in Nature,
- Spirit.
Are you making imperfect progress in putting these eight elements together in your homeschool? If so, you’ve got this covered!
Take a mental visit to Plumfield through Little Men, and remind yourself you have all you need right under your roof for a healthy homeschool.
Do you see these elements in your home/school? Is there one in particular that needs to be made a priority for this season?
Originally posted on September 28, 2015.
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I had never heard of Little Men before. I think I’ll put it on my wish list! I love the break down of elements they instilled in the boys and your correlation of your own family doing them. As a newbie to the homeschool community (oldest is 5) I really appreciate your guidance. Thanks!
Oh my goodness, Chelsey. What a joy awaits you if you haven’t discovered this book yet!! You’re so welcome.
How have I not read “Little Men”??? Do you know how much I loved “Little Women”? Loved this article, it’s perfect! 🙂 Thanks for sharing. I’m going to pass it onto my homeschooling group.
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Thanks for passing it along, Olivia. And if you loved LW, you’ll definitely enjoy the sequel!
I love this! And can’t wait to read Little Men! All these elements coming together, my
being able to be there for the “aha!” moment, whether it be understanding a grammar rule, a character’s journey in a story, or an understanding of faith, is what I love about most homeschooling. Lovely post.
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That should say what I love most…still drinking the coffee;)
Erin’s latest post: Miss Rumphius – an Inaugural Post
Thanks, Erin. And yes, not missing a thing is such an amazing benefit to homeschooling!
I grew up LOVING Little Women. By far my favorite book from childhood, but I don’t recall reading Little Men. So I’ll just have to go read both! I love this approach and I think you’ve just changed my approach to school this year. Thank you! Also, where is that beautiful copy of Little Men from?? I love to have beautiful books on my shelf (that are also to read)!
Yes, Ashley, read both while you’re at it! And that copy is from the Illustrated Junior Library edition, now out of print. But you might find a copy on eBay if you’re lucky!! I love the editions from that series; they’re gorgeous!
Thank you! This puts into words my thoughts and my ideal for our homeschool. I have struggled this year to find our groove and get stressed that we are not meeting standards (we have a lot of negativity towards our choice to homeschool) but I love coming to your website to get some encouragement. This article fits perfect to what I was thinking about this weekend.
I’m so blessed to hear that this is confirming the same thoughts you had, Tami. Sometimes we just need to hear another voice in agreement to remind us that listening to our own intuition is really the best way!
I think that Little Men was probably the book that, when I was a child myself, most shaped my vision of how I’d raise my own children when I grew up. I’m a lot more fallible than Jo and her husband, but I strive to create the kind of atmosphere that Louisa May Alcott modeled. I love that I’m not alone on this!
Maybe I need to read more of the Thomas Jefferson Education posts and resources, if they are fitting with this vision of raising children. Thanks for going through the list and illustrating how it works in your own life! It’s given me food for thought on a rainy Monday.
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So glad that it provided good food for thought, Erin. And yes, if this speaks to you it’s worth taking a closer peek at TJEd. They are offering one of their trainings free to Simple Homeschool readers here: http://www.tjed.org/7-keys-simple-homeschool/
It’s a wonderful introduction!
When I was a kid, we read aloud Jo’s Boys, which I think is a follow-up to Little Men? Anyway, I now realize that I need to read both, just for the great insights to apply to our own school.
Right, Kessie, Jo’s Boys is the third part of the trilogy. I’m reading that one now and it’s every bit as wonderful as the others (with plenty of insights like you’re mentioning.)
I haven’t read Little Men in forever. I’ll have to go reread it now. For us, the biggest thing is remembering to put relationships first; it makes a huge difference in everything else.
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Yes, Steph – relationships = the key to it all continuing to work. And yet it can be so easy to let them slide in the rush to “do.”
I shared on FB with this message “I adore the messages Jamie shares at simplehomeschool.net. You don’t have to be homeschooling your kids to see the value in this article. Inspiring words, lovely images. It’s worth a quick scan or a deep read. Either way, enjoy!” It’s all true. Thanks, Jamie!
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Thanks so much, Kassandra!
“Little Men” was my favorite book when I was a kid and because of it, I always wanted all sons. Instead, the good Lord sent me 5 daughters. Go figure. I like this perspective of pulling homeschooling ideals out of it – that hadn’t occurred to me. Off to find a copy of the book to read again!
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Love the way God likes to surprise us like that! Enjoy the reading, treen!
I love this! I read many of Louisa May Alcott’s books as a child, but did not read Little Men until this past year. It’s such a beautiful book, and one which I appreciate now so much more as a mother to young boys. Thank you for pulling out these lessons. I am going to pin them for future inspiration. 🙂
One of my favorite books by Louisa May Alcott is An Old Fashioned Girl. I read it over and over as a child, and multiple times as an adult as well. Are you familiar with this book?
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I have definitely seen Old Fashioned Girl, but have never read it myself! I will have to add it to my list!
I love this! I loved Little Woman and just this past weekend I found a beautiful vintage copy of Little Men for my son when he gets a little older. I really love and am drawn to this more broad and holistic view of a child’s education. Thank you for sharing this!
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Ooh, vintage copies are the best!
Love this post – thank you! Last August I discovered and listened to the audiobook of Little Men . It was just the encouragement and reminder I needed before we added school back in to our family routine, after a summer break. This year my re-spark for homeschool came from reading Jane of Lantern Hill.
Oh my goodness, L.M. Montgomery. What a genius!
i home preschool my 2-1/2 year old, and I really like a few things you pointed out! I have formulated a new concept in my head called co-schooling where parents decide themselves to teach their children character, work ethic, respect, and other positive traits that teachers simply can’t emphasize to each student individually. Your blog fits my concept to a t! If parents don’t teach their children right, the world will twaCh our children wrong.
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I recently had to put my girls back in school for personal reasons and I miss homeschooling them SO much! I cannot put into words how much I LOVE this article. I am off to buy and read this book right now because even though we may not be able to homeschool at this point in our lives, I still want to incorporate as many of the above ways as possible in my daughters’ lives. Thank you Jamie!!!
Oh yes, Daksina, you would still be able to incorporate all of them into your lives and create an atmosphere of intentional education. Enjoy the fabulous read!
I read Little Women for the first time in 6th grade, and it became one of my favorite books. I’ve never read Little Men, though. Thank you for reminding me about this book. I’m going to the library today and will be looking for it there! What an inspiration!
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I love the the idea of defining success differently for each child. In my heart I know this is how I feel my kids education should be, but it is far to easy to get distracted from that in the daily crazy of life. I so appreciate your gentle encouragement that always help bring me back to what is really important.
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What a fun post, thank you! One of my favorite books. I think it’s lots of fun stuff children could do, before electronics. Reminds me I haven’t read this in a few years, so I want to do that again.
This was just so beautiful, simple once you get in the groove of those elements. Very inspiring, as usual 🙂
“Thunder Turtles!” Easily my favorite Alcott book 🙂 never thought of it for homeschooling – but I never really thought about homeschooling until recently either. I’ll have to revisit it and gain a new perspective on teaching. Good call 🙂