Thomas Jefferson Homeschool refers to a homeschooling approach or program inspired by the educational philosophy of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States. Jefferson valued education highly and believed in the importance of an informed citizenry for the republic’s success. His educational ideals emphasized a broad liberal arts education, critical thinking, and self-directed learning.

This educational approach focuses on helping children find their true calling. It’s much more of a lifestyle than a method or curriculum. 

Blocked into different phases, Thomas Jefferson-inspired curriculum might focus on the following principles:

Classical Education: Emphasizing the study of classical languages (like Latin or Greek), literature, history, and philosophy, which were central to Jefferson’s education.

Self-Directed Learning: Encouraging students to take initiative in their education, much like Jefferson advocated for self-governance and individual responsibility.

Civic Education: Teaching students about the principles of democracy, the Constitution, and the importance of civic engagement.

Broad Knowledge Base: Providing a well-rounded education that includes sciences, mathematics, and the arts, reflecting Jefferson’s wide-ranging interests and knowledge.

Moral and Ethical Education: Incorporating teachings on character, ethics, and moral reasoning, which were important to Jefferson’s vision of an educated citizenry.

Thomas Jefferson Phases

• During the Foundational Phase, children from birth to age 8 learn about morals, family values, relationships, and responsibilities. In the second part of this stage, kids from ages 8 through 12 focus on interest-led learning, projects, and reading classic literature to foster a love of learning.
• The Educational Phase is when 12 to 18-year-olds study the classics and work with mentors to refine their skills. The second part of this phase is 18-24 years old, where young adults deepen their knowledge base with a mentor-guided program.
• Finally, the Application Phase occurs during adulthood (or when your prefrontal cortex finishes developing!), where the student continues to self-educate. Once they reach middle age, they utilize their skills as leaders and mentor future generations.

Some families or homeschooling groups might adopt this name to signal their alignment with these educational principles. If a specific program or curriculum is named “Thomas Jefferson Homeschool,” it could be more structured around these ideas.