What is 4L?
Commonwealth?
Commonwealth is a fancy way of saying co-op, but its also a traditional English term for a community founded for the common good. It has sometimes been synonymous with republic.
These meanings make it the perfect designation for what we are. As you read more about us we think you’ll see why.
Four Ls?
LEARNERS. LEADERS. LIBERTY. LIGHT.
See the 4 Ls? 4L is about educating and inspiring lifelong learners and leaders who can bring the light of truth into the world. We desire to raise people of integrity and virtue who have the strength to speak up and lead out when others sit down and follow.
Over the last couple of years we’ve seen how fragile liberty and freedom are, and feel more convicted than ever that the fate of the future depends on how well we can help our children to understand and value these things, and know how to think and speak for themselves.
What we do
We are a community, co-op and drop-off for homeschooling families with children in 5th-12th grade (& their siblings) in South Orange County.
LOCATION:
This year we will meet at a home in Modjeska Canyon
SCHEDULE:
In 2022-23′ we’ll meet
Wednesdays from 9-2:30.
15 weeks/semester from Sep-May
morning round-up:
Round-up is an optional way for you to start your 4L day. We recite the pledge of allegiance, share enduring truths and inspiring thoughts and celebrate and uplift one another.
COST:
Registration is $30/individual or $80 for 3+ children. Whole day tuition is about $100/semester/child (max per family $300) or $70 for a half-day. 4L is not a for-profit business. Click the button below for more details.
ORGANIZATION:
We have a leadership team, a board, and a set of bylaws. We expect families to honor their commitments to the community. If you’re interested, please fill out the enrollment form. You’ll be contacted to see if 4L is a good fit for your family.
Philosophy
We believe in children. They have an innate desire to learn, discover, grow and succeed. They are unique and each has a special mission and tremendous potential.
We believe in parents. They know and love their children best and are capable of being their best teachers.
We believe in families. They are the foundation stone of strong societies.
We believe in the power of nature, classics, mentoring, and utilizing multiple modalities to reach and engage all kinds of learners.
We believe in holistic education. Both educating the whole child: mind, heart, spirit and body; and bringing different subjects together as they naturally touch each other. History, science, the arts, language and math are all interconnected.
We believe in the concept of multiple intelligences. human diversity and variety is a strength. Everybody learns differently and everybody has something valuable to bring to the world.
We believe in enduring principles, truth and values.
We believe that the study of human character and history is essential to empathy, progression and freedom.
We believe in the founding principles of America.
Like the founders of our nation, we believe in God.
We believe in liberty and unalienable rights.
Check out a couple of the philosophies and resources we use below:
By 5th grade peer interaction and working with others becomes essential for many children. More structured ways of building knowledge and skills naturally evolve from more play-based learning. This is the time when students and families benefit most from community support and other mentors for their children. Though this is the focus of 4L, we welcome all younger siblings of these students as well because we know homeschooling usually means the family sticks together.
LEARNERS
“FLAMES”
5TH-7TH GRADES
Our students learn in dynamic, “hands-on” and enriching ways with simulations, group projects, games, activities and more! We help students gain valuable knowledge for their minds, but we also seek to inspire and nurture their hearts and spirits, and cultivate in them virtue and wisdom. We use multi-modal learning because we know that children are individuals with multiple intelligences and learning styles. We understand that though these students are growing up, they are still children who need to move, ask questions, explore, touch and create.
LEADERS
“TORCHBEARERS”
8th-12th grades
4L is Leadership Education. Through quality and classic literature, Socratic discussion, speech and debate, mock trials, and persuasive writing our scholars develop critical thinking skills that will help them discern truth throughout their lives. Our students are inspired to take ownership over their own education while working with a team of mentors and peers to support and encourage them. They are presented with opportunities for growth and transformation through engaging and challenging material and assignments where they learn to express and articulate their thoughts both orally and in writing. We’re working towards the deep learning and character of great leaders.
JUNIORS
“EMBERS, TINDERS, SPARKS, FLARES”
Preschool-4th grade
This is an as-needed program that will be added according to the number of younger siblings of our Flames and Torchbearer groups. Subjects covered range from History, art and literature, to science and nature, and aim to nurture children’s love of learning, nourish their imaginations, and spark their curiosity. In a fast-paced over-stimulated world, we are helping them slow down, observe creation, and listen: to music, poetry, literature and their own conscience.
PARENTS & MENTORS
LIFE-LONG LEARNERS & LEADERS
4L is a place for families. We mentor each other’s children and one another as we learn from and support each other on this joyful and challenging journey of parenting and homeschooling.
Being part of 4L as a parent means modeling the traits of learners and leaders ourselves. Parent meetings, seminars and trainings will be offered and some will be required.
We recommend getting and reading “Thomas Jefferson Education” over the summer. We find this philosophy empowering and enlightening.
Parent Presence
We need a certain number of parents to be present with the students every week.
For our 5th-7th grade students, our parents are the teachers! We call our teachers “mentors.” We will help and support you with training and resources so that you will be able to confidently provide an enriching and engaging educational experience for the students. We also want to take advantage of the talents, interests and skills that you have and collaborate within the scope of our vision.
For the 8th-12th grade classes, some of us parents have trained in the specific courses we offer. You won’t need to teach this age group, but we will need your help and support in other ways, perhaps during the learning day and perhaps not, depending on our needs and your availability.
for our “leaders” or “torchbearers”
8th-12th grades
our inspiration
Thomas Jefferson was spoken of as a walking library
A highly educated man from New England said of Jefferson, “When he spoke of law, I thought he was a lawyer; when he talked about mechanics, I was sure he was an engineer; when he got into medicine, it was evident that he was a physician; when he discussed theology, I was convinced that he must be a clergyman; when he talked of literature, I made up my mind that I had run against a college professor who knew everything.”
SCHOLAR PROJECTS
Scholar projects are designed to help students take responsibility for their own education and learn to read and think deeply. We use the power of positive peer pressure and incentives to help motivate students to fully engage in learning and accomplish challenging tasks. Being well-read is the foundation of a Thomas Jefferson Education.
Thomas Jefferson was a voracious reader and learner. He said, “I cannot live without books,” and he read them indeed as though his life depended on it. What was the result? A man of gentle spirit and wisdom who penned the document that changed the world forever with these words, “all men are created equal”; a man who understood the value of education in preserving freedom and one who advocated endlessly for a limited government that ensured individual and inalienable rights. We believe that this kind of education also offers children of today their best chance to make a positive and lasting impact on the world.
Our trained parent mentors will teach these Scholar projects. This year we offer Key of Liberty and Georgics. Depending on what your child needs these projects can fulfill Jr. High and High School requirements for English, American History, Government and Economics, as well as electives like Literature, Finance, Home Economics, and Life Skills. Unlike most classes at other learning centers, students at 4L will not be slammed with endless textbook readings, worksheets and lectures. Instead students will learn from classic novels, biographies, historical documents, discussions, simulations, and with peers in small classes.
Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s home that he designed. He was spoken of as a “walking library” because of depth and breadth of his knowledge.
what are scholar projects?
Leadership Education Mentoring Institutes has created these projects based on the Thomas Jefferson Education philosophy. Some LEMI courses listed below. This year we will be offering Key of Liberty in the morning and Georgics in the
afternoon. Learn more about these curricula below.
Scholar projects teach students to:
Think like a philosopher
Read like a lawyer
Write like an author
Speak like an orator
Compute like a mathematician &
Serve like a Statesman
AMERICAN HISTORY &
LITERATURE/ENGLISH
Understand & appreciate the foundation of liberty upon which America was built through projects, simulations, discussions and assignments like reading, writing, oral presentations, and memorization. CORE: AMERICAN HISTORY, ENGLISH,
GOVERNMENT
ELECTIVES: History, Literature
Learn why Shakespeare’s works endure as you explore human nature, literature, theater & history
Gain a greater appreciation for the sacrifices that have been made to secure & preserve America’s freedom.
Discover the power of being reconnected to the earth & learning principles of community & self-reliance through projects, simulations, discussions and assignments like reading, writing and oral presentations. CORE: AMERICAN
HISTORY, ENGLISH, ECONOMICS
ELECTIVES: Home Economics, Business, Finance, Life Skills
Study leaders & their leadership skills & journey & be inspired to become a leader who can influence the world for good.
Acquire the valuable skill of learning HOW to think in a class that focuses on logic, science & math principles & the search for truth.
JUNIORS GROUP
For our “Learners” or “Flames” in 5-7th Grade,
(a similar program can be made if needed for any younger siblings: Embers, Tinders, Sparks, Flares in preK-4th)
A WELL-EDUCATED HEART
We believe in educating the whole child. We’re striving for a truly holistic education that nourishes not just their minds, but also their hearts and spirits. The status quo education tends to over-emphasize the importance of facts and figures, neglects to nurture a love of learning and beauty in children, often opts for binary rather than nuanced analysis, and may even produce “clever devils,” or children who know a lot but don’t develop wisdom, their own talents, or an understanding of how to apply and use that knowledge for good and noble purposes. At 4L we’re doing things differently.
Our parent mentors will guide students through history and literature via stories, science, music, art, and projects. They will learn to recognize and appreciate truth and beauty and understand human nature, character, and the cause and effect of actions. We believe that well-taught history and literature can help develop empathy in students by studying the lives and struggles of others. By examining the variety of human experiences, we learn to appreciate cultures, ideas and traditions that are different than our own.
Our classes are “hands-on” and multi-modal because we understand that children learn differently. Students are both met where they are and challenged to grow and achieve. Our courses are interactive and use literature and projects to engage students in ways that nurture their love of learning. Learn more about heart education below:
Morning
SOCIAL SKILLS:
In the morning we’ll learn social skills and history through the study of great leaders. We’ll cover things like cultural awareness, community building, anger management and effective communication. Through simulations, role-play and challenging games students will build friendships and have a great time while learning important skills such as teamwork, cooperation, conflict resolution, problem-solving and more.
HISTORY:
We’ll examine great leaders in American History who have used non-violent methods to make positive changes, and who exhibited leadership qualities such as integrity, courage and virtue. Students will examine the actions and philosophies of great leaders and be inspired to incorporate them into their own lives. They’ll learn valuable strategies for diffusing anger, confronting fear, and speaking out against injustice and tyranny.
Afternoon
SCIENCE & LITERATURE:
In the afternoon students will explore the history of science with a curriculum from Beautiful Feet. This course will spark their curiosity and desire to understand the world around them. They will read engaging biographies that tell the life stories of famous scientists like Archimedes, Galileo, Leonardo da Vinci, Marie Curie, George Washington Carver, Einstein, and others. AND they will enjoy engaging hands-on experiments that prove the scientists’ theories and test their discoveries.
ART & ART HISTORY:
Continuing with the study of history’s greats, students will explore Art with Meet the Masters. They’ll learn about the artists, their style and techniques, and the cultural influences and time period in which they lived. They will learn to appreciate and analyze fine art and they will learn art skills and create beautiful artwork of their own.
At 4L our Juniors students will not only be mentored by our parent mentors, but also by the “greats” throughout history. They will build social skills as well as improve and expand their English reading and writing abilities as they
study History through the lens of great leaders, Science by learning about the great scientists of the past to today, and art by studying the lives and art of great artists. Our co-op day helps you fulfill requirements for History
and ELA core subjects.
Think 4L is 4U?
Enroll here & you will be contacted for an interview to see if its a good fit.
4L Commonwealth 5th-12th grade
Juniors Group & Scholar Academy