Delayed Academics or The Moore Formula
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The first book on homeschooling I purchased and read was The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook by Raymond and Dorothy Moore. I picked this book because I liked the idea of being successful in our homeschool, especially since I had people in our community openly wanting me to fail, and the fact that the authors had almost exactly the same names as a couple in our community who had made a big impression on my life. How could I go wrong with this book? I was not disappointed. I have gone back to this book again and again and have suggested it to others, even loaning it out to my homeschooling friends. Later, we were delighted to find a TV show by this very couple and their now grown daughter, giving great insight.
“[Homeschooling]...recipe for genius: More of family and less of school, more of parents and less of peers, more creative freedom and less formal lessons.” ― Raymond S. Moore, School Can Wait |
The Moore Formula, or Delayed Academics, believes formal education should be delayed until the child is mentally, physically, and emotionally ready. Until that time, children should be directed to develop good habits, helping with household chores and family projects, learning to serve others. This is not a unique idea. We are so used to following the Greek form of education and philosophy, that we have totally lost touch with the way God intended children to learn. This Hebrew method of discipleship is the way Jesus (Y’shua) was educated, and is the method He continued to use with His own disciples. Children taught with this method have strong family relationships, interact very well with others, and excel in academics. Unit studies and family projects teach these children a great deal of good ol’ common sense. They learn to think for themselves and live what they believe.
The idea is; not to push formal studies until the around age of 12. Some children are ready far sooner, even 3 or 4 years old, to learn to read and do basic mathematics. Some children need to be kept busy those first years, learning to think of others before themselves, working with their hands and learning actively. Setting some children at a desk is almost impossible without drugging them. We have one smart little boy who does all his lessons dancing or wiggling around! If I make him sit still (which is nearly impossible), he doesn't soak it in. As he is dancing and singing, he will absorb not only his own work, but that of what everyone else around him is learning as well! He learns twice as much!
Another great source encouraging this method is Jonathon Linvall’s Bold Christian Living Ministries. He has some very encouraging audio seminars.
All in all, the important thing to remember is to use what works best for your family and for each one of your children. If you have one child who works well with textbooks, great! Keep it up! Just keep in mind, when you hit that point where you and/or your child are burnt out, or just needing something fresh… It may be time to take a few weeks and do something different. Do a lapbook week, or spend time going to nearby museums, or take a week and read a great living book. Do something totally fun! Don’t let school become something your children don’t like. Keep things interesting and give them something to look forward to. My children think they don’t like ‘school’, but if they started to name off some of their favorite things to do… You'd realize how much I slip school into our fun time. On top of that, they love to serve others. They love to do special things for other people. They love to help. And… They love each other. What more could I ask for? Geniuses? Well, if that’s meant to be, great, otherwise… I’ll settle for lovable, literate, responsible citizens… IMHO… This world needs more…
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
The idea is; not to push formal studies until the around age of 12. Some children are ready far sooner, even 3 or 4 years old, to learn to read and do basic mathematics. Some children need to be kept busy those first years, learning to think of others before themselves, working with their hands and learning actively. Setting some children at a desk is almost impossible without drugging them. We have one smart little boy who does all his lessons dancing or wiggling around! If I make him sit still (which is nearly impossible), he doesn't soak it in. As he is dancing and singing, he will absorb not only his own work, but that of what everyone else around him is learning as well! He learns twice as much!
Another great source encouraging this method is Jonathon Linvall’s Bold Christian Living Ministries. He has some very encouraging audio seminars.
All in all, the important thing to remember is to use what works best for your family and for each one of your children. If you have one child who works well with textbooks, great! Keep it up! Just keep in mind, when you hit that point where you and/or your child are burnt out, or just needing something fresh… It may be time to take a few weeks and do something different. Do a lapbook week, or spend time going to nearby museums, or take a week and read a great living book. Do something totally fun! Don’t let school become something your children don’t like. Keep things interesting and give them something to look forward to. My children think they don’t like ‘school’, but if they started to name off some of their favorite things to do… You'd realize how much I slip school into our fun time. On top of that, they love to serve others. They love to do special things for other people. They love to help. And… They love each other. What more could I ask for? Geniuses? Well, if that’s meant to be, great, otherwise… I’ll settle for lovable, literate, responsible citizens… IMHO… This world needs more…
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
