Mentor Program
“The mother is qualified,” says Pestalozzi, “and qualified by the Creator Himself, to become the principal agent in the development of her child; … and what is demanded of her is—a thinking love … God has given to thy child all the faculties of our nature, but the grand point remains undecided—how shall this heart, this head, these hands, be employed? To whose service shall they be dedicated? A question the answer to which involves a futurity of happiness or misery to a life so dear to thee. Maternal love is the first agent in education.”
Ambleside’s Living Education—at Home
Ambleside® Schools and Homeschools are known throughout the world as life-giving communities. True to the philosophy of Charlotte Mason and refined through the education of tens of thousands of students, our schools give children the relationships and ideas they need to thrive. Ambleside students grow into kind, curious, mature adults who keep on learning.
Ambleside’s Homeschool Mentoring Programme helps home educators cultivate the natural love of knowledge already present in their children. This work is twice blessed blessing both the parent and the children. Our homeschool teachers grow with their children as they instruct in life-long habits, read many worthy books and pursue the rich ideas of beauty, goodness, and truth.
If you desire this training for the worthy work of teaching, read more about us below or visit our Education & Training page.
What Our Program Provides
We provide ongoing, personal support to our home educators and access to our thoughtful, generous, expert-designed curriculum.
Each year, you’ll benefit from thirty hour-long calls with your mentor. During these weekly calls, your mentor will encourage you, help you with any concerns you have, and answer your questions. They will help you with creating or adjusting your schedule, choosing which subjects to teach, training your children, ordering books and materials, and with difficult subjects. They can also challenge you and provide additional training.
Once a month, you are invited to a call or video seminar, designed to increase your peace, confidence, and skill as an educator. You’ll watch teaching demonstrations and hear about topics such as pacing v. not pacing, encouraging emotional maturity, principles of habit-building, tips for efficient lesson-planning, cultivating joy, and many other practical skills.
You’ll also meet with your mentor to choose Ambleside curriculum that fits with your children’s grade levels, reading and comprehension abilities, and other factors in your homeschool. Our beautiful curriculum is a tasteful, life-giving feast of mind-to-mind learning.
The Investment of an Ambleside Living Education
While we appreciate the many affordable, easy homeschooling options available in the world today, Ambleside’s unique model is based on relationships. Our ongoing training and support are what set us apart. More than a list of books, a learning kit, or a suggested timetable, our program is about the adventure and pursuit of excellent teaching. Our mentors work with you in real time, listening to your personal concerns, needs, and questions and celebrating your accomplishments with you.
Besides the time for weekly training with their mentor, our teachers often set aside lesson-planning time each week. Your mentor will help you know what and when to plan, so that your children will have all they need to understand and enjoy their learning.
At roughly half the cost of tuition for one child at a local Ambleside school, our Mentoring Programme fee covers all the children in your homeschool. If you are seeking the quality and depth of an Ambleside living education, our mentoring programme is a cost-effective option.
If you believe that Ambleside is right for you, you’ll need to contact us and commit to attending one or more of our training events, preferably before you begin the school year. Many people say they find our training events to be life-changing, especially when observing the work of trained teachers. You will find more information about our training on our Education and Training page.
Are you ready to grow in the work of education that will change you and your family? Please contact us today for more information to start your application. We look forward to meeting you!
Jurisdiction
Parents hold all schooling records and are the primary educators and are solely responsible for fulfilling all legal schooling requirements. Ambleside Southern Africa serves as a consultant only.
For more information please email us at admin@amblesideschools.org.za and we will be in touch to discuss the benefits to you and your children.