Yes, this is where I am these days. Planning away, dreaming and thinking. And de-cluttering my house.
I saw a post recently on Marsha Johnson’s list regarding doing Waldorf homeschooling with a First and Third Grader;I think one of the responses was something along the lines of try doing the Main Lesson for the First Grader first thing and make the traditional Middle Lesson for the Third Grader. I thought that was interesting.
I am trying this rhythm ( below) this year for my Third Grader and Kindergartner. Essentially I used my Word program to make a table with two columns with the older children’s names in it because even if one child is working with me on something there has to be something going on for the other child. Does that make sense? I cannot leave my Kindergartner to wander about and have nothing planned whilst I am working with my older child, and vice versa. Or if they are playing or doing something on their own, when that runs out and they need something to do, I have to have something ready to go!
So, the general flow of the day and my chart looks a bit like this:
| Third Grader | Kindergartner | |
| Main Lesson
(one to one and a half hours) |
Days One through Four here
Movement last 10 minutes or so |
Activities to do during Main Lesson, Days One through Four
Movement with Third Grader last ten minutes or so |
| Kindergarten Story
(15 minutes or so) |
What will Third Grader be doing during this time? Listening to the Kindergartner story or working independently? | Days 1-3, story, puppet shows Day 3 of last week of story
Day 4 Wet on Wet painting and Bible story |
| Lesson A (half hour) | 10 minutes Movement
plus whatever I put here – math or grammar practice, form drawing, music etc. |
10 Minutes Movement with Third Grader
Ideas for Creative Play here |
| Practical Work (half hour) | We can do this together, but I am also thinking: What can my child do around the house to help today that would be specific to a nine-year-old? | DAY ONE-Craft DAY TWO Gardening; DAY THREE Housecleaning; Day four baking |
| Lesson B
(half hour or so) |
Days 1-2
Day four out of house |
Days 1-2 Art
Day three Music Day four out of house |
| Lesson C (this would be after lunch)
(forty five minutes) |
Hands – cooking, painting, modeling, handwork, etc.
Some of this will be done together; Crafts and festival preparation we will do together |
Six Year Old Projects |
| Directed Movement
anywhere from 15 minutes to an afternoon adventure) |
The length of time is approximate, there will be rest breaks and snacks and lunch and quiet time in there….I am not saying this is how YOU should do things, this is just what I am experimenting with. LOL. If you are wondering where the whole lessons A, B, C, originated from, I actually liked the lessons A,B,C that Christopherus Third Grade had, and I only have two children to work with, so I thought I would give it a go. As usual, I am taking some things from some pre-created curriculum and creating some blocks myself and melding it all as I see fit.
This is the big idea though: the more children you have, the more you will have to integrate lessons and not have things be so separate. There are some of you who read this blog who have five or more children,and I am sure you can attest to this! Your Waldorf homeschool will not look like a Waldorf School with everyone having a separate Main Lesson, and that is okay! Home has so many advantages, and family is first and foremost.
I am also making lots of plans revolving around the liturgical year; these traditions are precious and dear and another excellent reason we homeschool, so sometimes things will be pared down to a Main Lesson and maybe one other thing involving crafts or cooking or putting on a play for that particular festival.
I hope this stimulates some ideas for you all, I hope some of you will share on your own blogs what your planning looks like to help other mothers. We are all here to help each other and learn.
Many blessings,
Carrie
The Parenting Passageway 