AnnMarie’s Educational Self-Assessment
My favorite quote…
“It is so obvious that the great good and the terrible evil in the world today are the sweet and the bitter fruits of the rearing of yesterday’s children. As we train a new generation, so will the world be in a few years. If you are worried about the future, then look to the upbringing of your children. Wisely did the writer of Proverbs declare, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). E. T. Sullivan once wrote these interesting words: “When God wants a great work done in the world or a great wrong righted, he goes about it in a very unusual way. He doesn’t stir up his earthquakes or send forth his thunderbolts. Instead, he has a helpless baby born, perhaps in a simple home and of some obscure mother. And then God puts the idea into the mother’s heart, and she puts it into the baby’s mind. And then God waits. The greatest forces in the world are not the earthquakes and the thunderbolts. The greatest forces in the world are babies.” And those babies, I should like to add, will become forces for good or ill, depending in large measure on how they are reared. The Lord, without equivocation, has declared, “I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth” (D&C 93:40). - President Gordon B Hinckley
Abstract…
My mission so far as I understand it is to help my children to discover and fulfill their mission in this life with passion, and to help others, help their children discover and be passionate about their missions.
Part 1: Topic Strengths
a) My educational topics that I have strength in are…
- Personal Development ( Everything “covey”)
- Self help
- Human nature (Motivation, personality trends, birth order)
- Health (Hormones and fertility, autoimmune disorders and heart failure, PPCM)
- Leadership in buisness(Learned lots but no application… yet)
- Infant care/Attachment parenting (including breastfeeding and childbirth)
- Early Childhood education (Montessori)
- Parenting
The most impactful classic books of my life so far…
· The Book of Mormon
· The Bible
· The Divine Center
· 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families by Steven Covey
· A Thomas Jefferson Education Home Companion by Oliver Demille, Rachel Demille and Diann Jeppson
· A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver Demille
· Parenting with Love and Logic by Jim Fay
· The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapmen
· The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapmen
· Drawing on the Powers of Heaven by Grant Von Harrison
· Arming your Children with the Gospel by R Wayne
· The Baby Book byDr Sears
· The Bradley Method
· Leadership Education by Oliver Demille
· Mindset by Carol Dweck
· Leadership and Self- Deception by The Arbinger Institute
· The Bonds that Make us Free
· The Ovulation Method of Birth Regulation
· Why Gender Matters by Doctor Sax
· The Leader in Me by Steven Covey
· Siblings Without Rivalry by Adele Faber
· The Birth Order book by Kevin Leman
· Little Men by Alcott
· Drive by Daniel Pink
· The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
· What Happy People Know
· The Color Code
· The work and the Glory series
· Managers of Their Homes by Steven and Teri Maxwell
· If Life were Easy it Wouldn’t be Hard by Sherry Dew
· The Doctor’s Heart Cure by Dr Sears
· The Sinatra Solution by Dr Sinatra
Parenting a house United by Nickoleen Peck
T The Leader in Me by Steven Covey
The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease
C) Educational Skills (Strengths)
- Love to learn (always want to read)
- Retain much (comprehension)
- Like to teach
- Passionate
- Creative
- Detail oriented
- Love to discuss and debate
- Organized
- Planner
- Musically inclined
Part 2: Weaknesses
A) In Educational topics…
-Spelling
- Math
- Chemistry
- Physics
- History
- Literature
- Biographies
B) In Educational Skills…
- Memorization (spelling, multiplication tables, dates etc)
- Slow to process information
- Hard time organizing thoughts (mind moves faster then pen)
- Sequencing events
- Audio processing (very visual)
- Procrastinator
- Easily overwhelemed
Part 3
Top 10 Critical Choices I’ve made in my life…
1) To embrace gospel of Jesus Christ.
2) To marry my husband
3) To decide to be a mom
4) To stay at home with my children
5) To home school
6) To embrace TJEd
7) To support my husband in his endeavors
8) To look for a cure instead of focus on a disease
9) To embrace the law of attraction
10)To Forgive
11) To Love instead of make afraid
7 Pivotal moments in my Life…
1) When I was 16 years old I was sitting in on a discussion with one of my friends from school. I started to tell him about my experience with reading the Book of Mormon. As I told him I felt the truth of this book and I knew that I would have all the guidance I needed if I followed it’s teachings. It changed the direction of my life, and paved the way for all of the important decisions to come after that.
2) A few days after meeting my husband for the first time I said a prayer. The prayer was over a completely different subject but as I prayed my mind was filled with this man’s name and face. Even though I didn’t even know him I knew he was going to be my husband. In that moment I knew that personal revelation was real and that if I listened and stayed worthy it would guide me for the rest of my life.
3) The moments after and during the delivery of each one of my children have been life altering. I chose to deliver my babies drug free so that I could experience the whole thing. At first I thought labor was something to be endured. The more pain the better the sacrifice. I focused on the pain and worried that I wasn’t doing enough if I didn’t feel any of it. After these births I’d feel the spirit and think… the Lord knows I am so much more capable than what I think I am. My confidence would increase as I thought, if I can do that I can do anything!! As my confidence grew I started to let go of the fear. I realized that birth was not something to be endured but enjoyed. I learned to let go physically and emotionally. I reality I could have been very afraid as I had just been told that I had a type of pregnancy induced heart failure but I chose to have a wonderful experience. When contractions came I chose to relax instead of to fight. I spent the time in anticipation, laughing smiling and snuggling. I had no pain!!! Amazing the difference in the births. All because of each moments choice to attract a wonderful experience. If only I could apply these principles to all of my life’s situations!!
4) The moment I realized my life was in jeopardy due to a type of heart failure was a very eye opening moment for me. You realize all that you love when it is threatened to be taken away. I felt as though every day was a gift. Every time I picked up my baby or read to my older children I just loved it. I didn’t think about what I had to do, I just thought I am so thankful that I get to do this. I felt like I had the perspective of a 90 year old thinking about what they wished they had done with their lives. I realized that no matter what my health was like I wanted to spend every moment with my babies. Time sped up for me and I understood that my children were growing up so fast. I took nothing for granted. I was very afraid at the time, but in hindsight now that I’m completely cured it was the best gift. It was one of the moments that led me to bring my children home, to take responsibility for my life and to find TJed.
5) The moment that I was cured happened long before I got my test results back. After spending many months in tears and in fear I was inspired in a moment of pure hope. Instead of focusing on my disease and researching my diagnosis as I had done for almost a year I changed the wording on my search engine to include “cure”. I had faith that the universe knew how to cure me. I asked and I received. Through that very search I was able to find a specialist who understood my rare condition very well and by following his recommendations I was cured within the month.
6) There was a moment while I was reading “A Thomas Jefferson Home Companion” where I realized that there were other mothers out there like me and that all I needed to do was seek them out and I could be mentored by them. I knew I had lots to learn and I would not let anything get in my way!
7) The other moments in my life a made up of a thousand little moments observing my husband and Mother- in-Love handle problems and relationships. I’ve watched them motivate with love instead of fear, and build up instead of tear down. They see the world as a wonderful place and their hearts are always filled with gratitude.
Educational Objectives for the next 2 years…
· Biographies of forefathers (Adams, Washington, Jefferson, Franklin)
· Early American History/Historical documents (Declaration, Constitution)
· Read entire Core Series
· Get into Literature
· Biographies of Mathematicians and Scientists
· Memorize math facts
· Learn Spanish
Professional Objectives
· Teach a class about building a family to the community (maybe library)
· Inspire other moms about their calling of Motherhood (Teach MOPS)
· Keep up on Family blog to use as a tool to help inspire others
Personal and Family Objectives…
· Get up earlier in the morn/go to bed earlier at night (personal and family)
· Be more consistent with scripture study daily(personal and family)
· Look for more opportunities to serve
· Get in personal study time every week day
Classics I need to Read…
· John Adams
· Les Meserables
· The Read Aloud Handbook
· The PH miracle
· Little house on the Prairie Series
· Count of Monty Christo
· The Horse Whisperer
· Thomas Jefferson
· 5000 year leap
· George Washington
· Benjamin Franklin
· Principle Centered Leadership (Covey)
· Liberated Parents Liberated Children
· PH diet
My Favorite quotes from the Scriptures…
77And I give unto you a commandment that you shall ateach one another the bdoctrine of the kingdom. 78Teach ye diligently and my agrace shall attend you, that you may be binstructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand; 79Of things both in aheaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which mustbshortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the cnations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a dknowledge also of countries and of kingdoms— 80That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to amagnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and thebmission with which I have commissioned you. (D&C 88:77-80) aDraw bnear unto me and I will draw near unto you; cseek me diligently and ye shall dfind me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. (D&C 88:63)
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
1 Nephi 3:7 I awill go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no bcommandments unto the children of men, save he shall cprepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
My Personal Study Plan
I think that I’m on my way to being consistent with my personal study plan by following the daily spread sheets I created a last month. I’ve structured time not content and have scheduled about 20mins every weekday for my own personal study time which is right before bed. I have organized a room in the basement to be my own personal space to keep all of my study materials. I’ve also been bringing my books with me where ever I go and I also downloaded all of my talk tapes to my phone so that I can listen to them while I drive or do dishes etc. My husband and I go over these spread sheets at our weekly meeting which helps me to be accountable. A little bit per day is all that this season can afford, but I’m surprised how it’s all added up already!
Book Report: Self Leadership and the one Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard
I found this book to be very enlightening. More than anything I think it has helped me to take responsibility for my own leadership and helped me to realize where I am on the development continuum. I have realized how often I have been guilty of taking on the victim roll. As I’ve looked back on a lot of the things I’ve tried to master I can see the development continuum repeat itself over and over again in my life. In some areas I’ve gotten farther in the continuum then others. Of course as the book explains the times I got farther in the continuum were when I too got the right kind of support. This is especially true of my homeschool journey and more specifically my journey with the principles of TJed.
When I first heard about TJed it was at a homeschool conference, it sounded perfect!! I had been homeschooling for about 6 months and I felt like some things were missing. I knew in my heart that this was what I was looking for! The ideals where so important to the next generation they made me feel like my family and I could really help and make a difference. I thought to myself “how hard can this be? All we need to do is read old books!” I was in D1 of the development continuum, I had low competence and high commitment. I was so excited I told all of my friends about it and we got started right away! I found out very soon I had no idea what we were doing! My mind was filled with what I knew most which was the “conveyor belt” and so there was a constant battle going on in my mind. I was learning a lot about what didn’t work. No one else I knew was doing it and so I gave up. I decided it was too hard and purchased a curriculum for the next school year. I was now in D2 of the development continuum, low competence, low commitment.
Then I got sick and I got better by using the books first trick of being a self leader: Challenge Assumed Constraints. It boosted my confidence and I thought if it applied to that it could apply to anything. I started to think outside the box and asked myself what I really wanted for my family, even if it was unconventional. If I could ask for a cure and receive it I could ask for anything and still receive! The curriculum wasn’t working and I knew we were missing something! I read the “TJed Homeschool companion” again and I knew that that was what I wanted for my family!! I knew what I still needed to do to learn, I was in D3 of the development continuum, (moderate competence, variable commitment). The day I finished that book for the second time I told my husband I was going to meet the woman who wrote that book. We both laughed.
I went to another homeschool conference in Virginia and learned lots more about TJed. I talked to other moms and tried out some new things. I started to see some success and change in our home, but it was still hard! I knew it was the right thing for us but I needed some help. Then my sister-in-law sent me an email about a TJed retreat close to her home in St George Utah. It said that Diann Jeppson (one of the authors of “The TJed Homeschool Companion”)would be one of the speakers. I literally started jumping up and down! This was my opportunity for the extra support that I needed. Many things happened to prevent me from going to that retreat, but I told my husband “Nothing can keep me away!”
By this point I think I was using the books 2nd self leadership trick: Celebrate your points of power. I was using my knowledge, relationships and personal power to help me accomplish my goal.
That is how I found this group and it is helping me to realize my dreams and what I want for our family. It is also helping me realize all of the other goals I now have that are at the very beginning of the development continuum. I feel very committed to my goal of homeschooling using TJed principles, but I still don’t know that I would say my competence is high. I guess that means I’m between D3 and D4 (high competence, high commitement) right now. I’m getting a lot of support from this group which is self leadership trick #3… Collaborate for Success. I’m really excited about all of the things that I’m learning and I can feel myself getting closer to this goal through this trick.
I see this continuum all around me and I ‘m thankful for the book for opening my eyes to recognize it, so that I can get the support I need, based on where I am in the continuum as I seek to accomplish my various dreams!
