Posted in The Principle Approach: A Summary
You're absolutely right! The Principle Approach as well as the guide, "The Noah Plan", are definitely about not being bound to a curriculum. Well, after reading the summaries on the principles, it certainly sounds like a curriculum, doesn't it?As I'm learning "The Principle Approach", I try to remember that if I do not understand anything else, I must realize that my goal is to personally learn the principles and then, as the Lord leads, pass that along to my children. He knows me and He knows my children. He can best lead me on how to pass on His godly principles.
This idea was put very eloquently by the writers of "The Noah Plan" (Foundation for American Education). I happened to be reading the following one morning in the newer grade level lesson plans for Kindergarten for my youngest ds. In the introductory pages I ran across a wonderful explanation of how "The Principle Approach", "The Noah Plan", and curriculum all relate to each other. Here's the quote...
"THE IDEAL: The Principle Approach was practiced in classrooms and home schools before The Noah Plan for decades. The Principle Approach can be taught directly using the "red books", the Webster's 1828 Dictionary, the Bible, and a good library. The ideal is that every individual teacher develops the specific curriculum for his/her own setting.
THE POTENTIAL: The Noah Plan offers a complete kindergarten through twelfth grade curriculum [guide] as it is employed in the demonstration school. The nature of the Principle Approach dictates that The Noah Plan or any other model of the Prinicple Approach curriculum be an offering, not a mandate. The teacher should select from it or use it as a guide from which to design an individual program for his/her class or family. The teacher who begins with The Noah Plan gets a 'jump-start' in the Principle Approach for immediate help, which, over time, will give way to the teacher's own research and writing as he/she internalizes the methodology and is inspired to go beyond The Noah Plan. The potential is for the user to become a master teacher." [The Noah Plan Lessons Kindergarten, 2003, pg. xi]
I believe this is what freedom in education is all about.
Staying faithful,
Karen
PS: If you feel intrigued and feel the Lord is possibly leading you in this direction, please go to "The Principle Approach: Self-Directed Study" under "Categories"; and, hopefully, you will find more information to lead you on this incredible journey that the Lord is directing you in. May He bless you richly.
