Project Scholar vs Scholar

What is the difference between a project scholar and a scholar?  How will the classes be taught differently?

Project Scholar - Typically aged 13 to 15. Learning study skills and how to study for longer periods of time. Parents should follow through with project scholars DAILY and then move to WEEKLY. Project scholar classes will emphasize study skills. Students will learn thing such as: outlining, note-taking, report-writing, managing time for large projects, etc. Students will need to read and write plenty as well as prepare projects and presenatations.

Scholar - Typically ages 14-17. Students study 8-12 hours a day, 5-6 days a week, on their own because they want to. Parents do follow through periodically by reading papers, book reports, and attending presentations, etc as well as helping students plan and keep on track as needed. Scholar classes will help students continue to improve their rhetoric, thinking and calculating skills through reading, writing papers, and studying at home.

How to decide which class:

1.  Ask mentor from last year their opinion

2.  Reading skills - scholar books are typically more difficult and more reading is assigned.

3. Study skills - scholars are studying more on their own and have more developed study skills.  Scholars don't have to be perfect at it yet, but they have vision of where they are going. 

4. Writing Skills - scholars are comfortable writing essays

A summary of the phases from "Scholar Phase, Mentoring the Thomas Jefferson Model When It's Time for Them, Not You!" by Dr. Oliver DeMille

The "Scholar" phase, for ages twelve to about sixteen, has four levels. First, the "Practice Scholar," usually between eleven and thirteen years of age, is just working his way into the phase. He may go back and forth between "Love of Learning" and "Scholar", but he is still expected to spend about five hours per day for four to six hours per week in reading and discussion.

The second level of the "Scholar" phase is the "Project Scholar" for thirteen- to fifteen-year olds. A student chooses to move into this level with a written agreement of responsibilities and benefits established between him and his mentor, recommended to be his father. Daily reports are turned into the mentor until the student becomes responsible enough to accomplish his work without daily supervision.

Next is the "Self-Directed Scholar" for students who are fourteen- to seventeen-years old. At this point students are expected to study eight to twelve hours per day, five to six days per week, and ten to twelve months per year. Instead of daily reports, the student shows progress through written papers, book reports, and recitals. The mentor's role is to inspire and coach the student and to meet with him formally once per month.

The final phase is the "Mentored Scholar" in which the fifteen- to twenty-year old wishes to move out on his own into the world. The author strongly encourages that the student avoid the "conveyor belt" education at colleges and universities by continuing to self-educate with the help of a mentor.