Thomas Jefferson Education (TJEd)

TJEd was developed within an LDS (Mormon) context, and many of its practitioners are from LDS families. However, the educational principles — great books, mentor-based learning, developmental phases, parent modeling — are not inherently religious and are used by families of diverse faiths and no faith. The classics list includes works from many traditions. Some families find the LDS cultural emphasis off-putting; others use the method's principles while curating their own reading lists.

TJEd can be very affordable since the core resources are great books (available from libraries) and a parent's time. The introductory books by Oliver DeMille cost about $15 to $20 each. Face to Face seminars and conferences run $100 to $500 for families. Classics can be obtained free through Project Gutenberg, borrowed from libraries, or purchased used for very little. If you add structured math or writing instruction (which many TJEd families do), add $50 to $200. Total costs for most families range from $100 to $500 per year.

Many families use TJEd principles (developmental phases, inspire not require, parent modeling) as their overarching philosophy while supplementing with structured instruction from other methods. Common additions include Charlotte Mason narration and nature study, classical education's history cycles and logic training, structured math curriculum, and explicit writing instruction. The TJEd community sometimes discourages supplementation, arguing that trust in the process is essential, but in practice, most successful TJEd families provide at least some structured skill instruction alongside the classics-based approach.

The developmental phase approach can be beneficial for children who develop on a different timeline, since there is no pressure to meet grade-level benchmarks by a specific age. The emphasis on interest-driven learning during the Love of Learning phase aligns well with how many ADHD children learn best. However, children with learning differences often need explicit, structured instruction in specific skills (phonics for dyslexia, executive function support for ADHD) that the "inspire, not require" approach does not provide. Most families with children with learning differences who use TJEd principles supplement with targeted intervention in areas of need.

A student who has genuinely completed the Scholar phase — reading and discussing dozens of classic works across disciplines, writing analytical essays, and developing a personal mission — is exceptionally well-prepared for college-level work. The depth of reading and thinking in TJEd's Scholar phase exceeds most high school curricula. The concern is with students who have not fully entered the Scholar phase by college application time, which can happen if the "inspire, not require" principle results in extended Love of Learning phase without sufficient academic rigor. Families who want college preparation often add structured math, science, and writing instruction alongside TJEd's classics study.

TJEd is designed to begin at birth with the Core phase. The infant and toddler years emphasize warm family relationships, daily routines, exposure to music and literature through read-alouds, and plenty of outdoor play. The parent begins their own great books study as early as possible, since "You, not them" is the foundational principle. Families who discover TJEd later can transition at any age — the phases are based on developmental readiness, not chronological age, so a twelve-year-old who has never encountered great books begins in Love of Learning, not Scholar phase, regardless of age.