Category Archives: Homeschooling

My Little One Is Being Lost In The Shuffle!

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Many of us have an Early Grades child (ie, Grades One – Two-Three) child we are providing Main Lessons for in Waldorf homeschooling, but also have a Kindergarten-aged child to consider as well.  The number one complaint I hear is that “my (three to six year old) child is just tormenting us during our attempt to do a Main Lesson for the older child”.  I understand! 

Here are some things to kick around and see if any of it helps:

1. Consider doing your Kindergarten work first – ie, Kindergarten Circle, Kindergarten Story, a response to the story if needed.

2. Consider where you are putting practical work in – is that happening or has your routine of Tuesday as Baking Day, Wednesday as Crafts Day, etc, that you had with your older one completely flown out the window now?  Sometimes using the earlier part of the morning to do that and then coming to the Main Lesson for the older child does the trick.

3.  Are you starting your day with physical activity?  I know sometimes it is hard, because once you get out and walk and ride bikes and such and come back in and regroup it seems the whole morning is gone, but perhaps some variation of this will work for you and your family.

4.  Can your older child be flexible?  Can you do something at naptime?  Can you take a day and go hiking during the week and make up that Main Lesson on the weekend at all when Dad is around to help with the Kindergarten-aged child?  The weekend idea may not work well with a three-day rhythm, but might work well for something such as Form Drawing once a week or wet on wet watercolor painting where you need a more meditative quality.

5.  Can you home school outside?

6.  What sensory experiences can you set up inside?  Can you have an indoor sandbox, can you build a fort for the little one to play in, can you have a sensory table inside, can your little one play in the sink, etc?

7.  Could anyone be a mother’s helper for two days a week so you can get more concentrated work done?  Is there an elderly neighbor who would love to garden with your child during the week at one point or bake?  Is  your spouse’s job flexible enough at all to portion out part of homeschooling your Kindergarten-aged child to him or her?

For those of you who have been there and done that, what has worked for you?

I think the most important thing to remember is that homeschooling is about family first, it is also about flexibility and enjoying some of the advantages of homeschooling has to offer – like being outside during nice fall weather!  🙂

Most of all, remember that even the Early Grades are still little (First and Second), Third should be a lot of hands-on work perhaps even more than Main Lesson Book and perhaps we should take a hint from our friends Raymond and Dorothy Moore that late is better than early.  Oral storytelling can assist the whole family, plays and puppet shows and the academic pieces will come..

Looking forward to hearing YOUR ideas on this one,

Carrie

Waldorf 101: Waldorf “Preschool”

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Faithful readers of this blog will probably know  what I am going to say:  there is no Waldorf preschool. Waldorf Kindergarten used to start after age 4, and now the age has dropped to age 3 with “Morning Garden” classes for toddlers to age 3 in many schools.   I have a strong dislike of where the Waldorf schools are headed in terms of taking younger and younger children out of the home.  Waldorf Kindergartens work to emulate a loving home, and this is something that we obviously can work on at home for far less cost and for far more personal development than perhaps would occur if our child was at Waldorf school.  Having your children with you 24/7 forces your own spiritual growth!  Ask any homeschooling mother!

So, if we are thinking about “preschool” we are thinking about the ages before age 4, or perhaps I would even argue before the age of 5 or 6.  I think in the home environment really we need to do “Waldorf Kindergarten” around the five-year-old year and the six-year-old year.  These are the ages for increased attention, increased ability to do artistic and creative work in a focused fashion.  It is just a thought; I know some will disagree.

Here are a few things to work on in the years before starting Waldorf Kindergarten in your home:

  • Work on your own ability to nurture and enfold your child into life on Earth.
  • Establish a rhythm for your child, your family, your life.  If you are still struggling with rhythm when you hit homeschooling for the grades, it will be difficult to focus on teaching.  Remember though, rhythm is not a schedule but a flow.
  • Establish health of your child through protection of the 12 senses, use of warmth, establishing rhythm.
  • Repetition!  It is what little people need!
  • Play, singing, interaction
  • Including your child in household chores
  • Outside and sensory experiences
  • Fostering the imagination through oral storytelling

If you need more information regarding the very Early Years, try the Waldorf Baby tag and Rhythm tags.  If you need more information regarding Waldorf Kindergarten, please try that tag.

Less is more in the Waldorf Home.  Please remember the differences between the Waldorf Home with a six-year-old versus a three-year old.  There should be a difference!

Love,

Carrie

Waldorf 101: Circle Time

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Circle Time is absolutely the heart of the Waldorf Kindergarten in a Waldorf school setting.  At home, it sometimes is successful and sometimes not.  Many families have increased success with just choosing verses that go with transitions of the day, such as verses to accompany brushing of teeth, getting dressed, etc or verses and fingerplays that go along with things in nature that one can pull out on nature walks and during outside time.

One thing that I would encourage is doing a lot of singing in the presence of your children – singing whilst you do dishes or cook for example.  This, to me, is something that happens outside of the regular Circle Time or verses and fingerplays.

If one wants to try to put together a Circle Time,  remember  it can be difficult with only one child!  However, here are some suggestions:

1.  Circle Times usually are held for a whole month (or sometimes even longer with elements that are added or taken away).  A Circle almost always reflects the season, but can also include elements of festivals or can include a story as told in a Circle Time.

2.  Within a Circle one usually considers slow and fast movements, quiet and loud, gross motor movements versus movement of just the hands, balance.

3.  A Circle can include elements of counting in rhyme and movement.

4.  The Circle is typically so well-known by the end of the month that the child can say parts of it with you!

Here are some on-line examples of active circles:

This is noted as more of a “movement journey” rather than a strict Circle Time with indications for children with certain challenges:  http://www.waldorflibrary.org/Journal_Articles/GW55blanning2.pdf

A Summer Circle:  http://www.waldorflibrary.org/Journal_Articles/gw4615.pdf

A Winter Movement Journey:  http://www.waldorflibrary.org/Journal_Articles/GW5004.pdf

When I do a Circle Time within my home, I either use a “pre-made” Circle out of “Let Us Form A Ring” or “Movement Journeys and Circle Adventures.”  Sometimes I do make up my own Circle Times, but I also can read music, which is a huge help in putting together Circle Times.  The Wynstones Books have been a large help to me in that regard, but again, the songs will not mean much if one cannot read music!  Your voice is the most wonderful thing for Circle Time, some teachers also bring in pentatonic flute or kinderlyre for part of the Circle.

Sometimes I find the Circle Times that I have put together myself are the biggest success because they speak so to my children.  You could make a circle about knights for Michaelmas and the month of September, an insect circle for Summer or whatever speaks most to your child.  One thing I would like to try is to write my own circle from scratch; I think that would be a fun adventure to pick a theme and write verses and music for my pennywhistle to go with it!

Hope that helps answer some questions regarding Circle Time.

Peace,

Carrie

Waldorf 101: Main Lesson Books, Block Teaching, and The Three Day Rhythm

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NOTE:  This is NOT for Kindergarten aged children!  This is for children in the grades, who should be seven for most of Grade One, eight for most of Grade Two, etc.

Kindergarten aged children (traditionally ages 3-6 at a Waldorf school, at home perhaps ages 5 and 6) do not follow three day rhythms, nor block teaching, nor have Main Lesson Books.  They follow a strong rhythm, a story that changes once a month, singing and verses and practical work.

Main Lesson Books: These are stapled or spiral bound blank books.  One Main Lesson Book is for each block  (see below) or for a certain subject throughout the whole year.  For example, you may have one Main Lesson Book for October’s Language Arts block on Aesop’s Fables in Second Grade or perhaps you have a Nature Main Lesson book where you draw the same tree once a month on the first day of the month.

Where to find them:  Through A Little Garden Flower http://www.alittlegardenflower.com/store/  , through Paper Scissor Stone http://waldorfsupplies.com/   or through here:  http://www.raand.com/supplies-waldorf-schools.html

Block Teaching: In Waldorf Education, we teach a Main Lesson on a focal subject for 3-6 weeks.  Many home educators work with one month time frames for ease.  A typical school year may include 3-4 Language Arts Blocks, 3 Math Blocks, 2 Science Blocks, perhaps Form Drawing as a block or two.

Here is an example of my own personal plan for Second Grade:

September – Form Drawing from Cherokee Trickster Tales for 2 weeks, Math for 2 weeks

October – Language Arts from Fables (this includes word families, spelling, vocabulary, handwriting, punctuation, grammar)

November – Math

December – Language Arts/Nature  from Saint Stories

January – Math

February – Language Arts from Saint Stories

March – Nature Block

April – Math Block

May – Form Drawing from Jataka Tales

June – Language Arts from Saint Stories

Separate from the Blocks include things such as foreign languages (usually two languages; we do Spanish and German); Handwork; Games; Music, Painting, Eurythmy, Form Drawing.  These are typically worked  in several times a week, and also sometimes within a Main Lesson as part of the three-day rhythm.  As the children becomes older, typically there is also extra lessons and practice for spelling and math.

Three-Day Rhythm:  Waldorf is the ONLY educational method to use sleep as a learning aid.  Typically it looks like this:

Monday – Perhaps practice something from last week, perhaps Form Drawing, TELL new story and let it rest

Tuesday – Hands on piece – re-visit story, pick out elements of story and work with poetry, crafts, painting, building, modeling, etc from story

Wednesday – Re-visit story, work on academic pieces such as grammar, writing summaries in Main Lesson Book, etc.  Tell new story if doing five days of school a week.  (If not, stop here and make Thursday a painting day or such with Fridays off).

Thursday – Re-visit story, hands-on pieces

Friday – Re-visit story, academic pieces

Hope this helps clarify a few basics of Waldorf Education for the grades.

Blessings,

Carrie

Waldorf 101: Setting Up Your Family For Homeschooling Success

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Many people are initially attracted to Waldorf due to the “gnomes and fairies” aspect (or repelled due to this!), the nature aspect, the emphasis on handwork….What would you say that these are the things to be least concerned with for making your home and your family a successful place for Waldorf homeschooling?

Please consider my list of things to think about in preparation for or in conjunction with Waldorf homeschooling:

1. Prepare your soul – do your own inner work to gain confidence for this journey.  If this is the right decision for your children, for your family, then this will carry you through the not-so peaceful days.

2.  Create your space – you do not need a lot of toys!  A Nature Basket, Table or Shelf would be nice, and a space to create art and have movement and tell stories.  A storage cabinet would be nice – I like the wardrobes from IKEA myself.  For Grades children, a table would be nice and you can never have enough blackboard space for a Grades child!

3.  Look at your rhythm in relation to sleep and meal times – when do you get up, when do you go to sleep, do your children have set rising times and asleep times?  When do you eat and how is food prepared and cleaned up?  How is the house cleaned?

4.  Look at your family culture – what do you all do together as a family?  What screen time goes on (computer, TV, otherwise) for ALL members of the household?

5.  Look at your outside time – does the family hike, farm, garden, do yard work, have animals to take care of?

6.   How does the home “feel”?  Loving, warm, joyous or tense and strained?  How do we model speaking to one another for our children, how do we show each other thoughtfulness, generosity, compassion, humor?

These things are much, much more important than having a bunch of wooden toys around your home!  Think about these questions, work with the answers, meditate on these thoughts and see what comes to you.

Love,

Carrie

Be The Beacon!

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An announcement from Melisa Nielsen:  http://waldorfjourney.typepad.com/a_journey_through_waldorf/2009/11/big-announcement-be-a-beacon.html

This is essentially a new program regarding inner work for mothers that will look through many spiritual traditions and look at the philosophical works of Steiner and others to help you, the mother, learn how to be a light for your family.

Here are the details from Melisa from the link above, please go and check it out:

“Monthly Membership includes:

  • Special access to newly recorded shows available only to those participating in the program.  These shows are meant to get you started on this journey and to get you thinking about what inner work means to you. These recordings include:
    • Welcome to “Be a Beacon”
    • Catalysts for Change
    • Personal Gurus
    • The Importance of Inner Work
    • How to Meditate
  • Bi weekly lessons and discussions delivered via private yahoo group
  • 2 monthly private live radio shows/interactive chats
  • Archives available for duration of membership
  • Planning and goal setting tools geared directly to Waldorf homeschooling
  • In depth inner work study covering many faith groups, including in depth Steiner and other modern inner work experts.

Some of the monthly themes include: getting started right, relationships, balancing, knowing when to cut back and how, Steiner’s basic 6 in depth,  festivals and inner work meanings, exploring biography, mediation through Waldorf art and so much more.

When you join, you will also receive recommended reading and tools to get you started along with an invitation to join the private group.” – end of quote

THIS STARTS THIS THURSDAY, November 12th, 2009 so please do go and register if you are interested!

And please let Melisa know I sent you!

Blessings,

Carrie

Some Quick Thoughts on First Grade Knitting

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My daughter is not in first grade, but our knitting really stalled last year, so she just recently completed a sachet and a scarf under the guidance of a Waldorf handwork teacher who is teaching a grades handwork class for our Waldorf home school group.  I actually think perhaps our handwork stalled just for the reason that my child could start in this group this year and learn such wonderful things under such a fantastic handwork teacher!

  • However,  I  do think first and second grade knitting can be the same sorts of projects, so here are some things I have learned and observed and want to share with you regarding knitting:
  • Consider casting on for the first project yourself and letting the child just do the knit stitch first.  With other projects you can cast on part of it, and your child can do part of it.
  • Consider a small first project, and then a bigger project along with several smaller side projects that the child can work on when they are tired of working on said “big project”
  • Know how to fix common mistakes; it is important to be able to salvage your child’s work
  • Consider the social aspect of handwork and knitting; are there other children around that might like to learn to knit?  Part of knitting is the friendships that form for the children.
  • Do not underestimate the importance of the things leading up to  knitting: seeing sheep, washing and carding wool, seeing the carded wool turned into yarn, the dyeing of yarn, finger knitting chains,  making slip knots, making knitting needles. 
  • Know how to sew with yarn for your knitting projects.
  • Have your verses and songs at the ready for knitting! 

If you have a child in Kindergarten, you should be working on your knitting skills now so you can teach your child come First Grade!  If your child is in the grades, please consider learning how to knit as this is an important skill for your child to learn within the framework of the Waldorf curriculum.  If your child goes to school, please consider teaching knitting to your child and giving your child time to do knitting and other kinds of handwork after school or on weekends.  It is very important for boys and for girls!

Peace,

Carrie

More About Knitting and Other Handwork Within the Waldorf Curriculum

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Many of you are familiar with Steiner’s famous quote regarding “thinking as cosmic knitting”.  Indeed, knitting is an important part of the Waldorf Education experience.  However, handwork comes in many other ways within the curriculum both as a separate “class” in the grades but also as a skill within a Main Lesson at times as well.  

Perhaps seeing a scope and sequence of handwork within the grades through high school will spark some ideas for your own homeschool.

The book “Will-Developed Intelligence” outlines the following handwork emphasis for each grade:

Kindergarten (and yes, there will be a separate post on this coming up):  Handwork begins with outdoor play; with the gathering of natural materials and building, with modeling in sand and snow and mud; fingerplays; playing with bits of fairy wool; making simple toys.

Grade One:  Making slip knots and finger knitting, knitting:  casting on, knit stitch, casting off;   hand sewing of knitting projects as needed with yarn

Grade Two:  Knitting: casting on, knit stitch (and yes, I know some schools introduce purling here; some handwork teachers have discussed saving purling for Grade Three).  “Will Developed Intelligence” mentions starting crocheting in Grade Two, but I am truly unsure how common this is as I have heard about crocheting more in connection with Grade Three.

Grade Three:  Knitting, casting on, knit stitch and purl stitch; “Will-Developed Intelligence” mentions starting the year with simple sewing;  perhaps crocheting if that has not been introduced before

Grade Four: Cross stitch with mirror picture designs;

Grade Five:  Knitting with four needles:  socks are usually made; knitted stuffed animals may also be made; woodworking is generally taught from Grade Five through Grade Twelve.

Grade Six:  Making a stuffed animal; making of dolls and puppets with experimentation in embroidery

Grade Seven: Make a garment to wear with hand sewing; the study of how embroidery enhances clothing; making of their own pattern; slippers may also be made

Grade Eight:  Use of a sewing machine; learn to use bought patterns; intricate braiding and belt making; sewing details on costumes and hats;

 High School

This is the sequence my local Waldorf High School uses:

Grade Nine:  Basketry, Blacksmithing, Ceramics, Quilting  (also drawing, painting, music for Fine Arts)

Grade Ten:  Ceramics, Jewelry Making, Spinning, Woodworking (also drawing, drama, sculpture) for Fine Arts)

Grade Eleven:  Bookbinding, quilting, veil painting, weaving (also photography, sculpture, for Fine Arts)

Grade Twelve:  Batik, Stained Glass making (also drama, film, oil painting, sculpture for Fine Arts)

Hope that helps put knitting into a context of handwork for all the grades.  Posts on handwork in the Kindergarten and observations for knitting in the Early Grades to come.

Peace,

Carrie

Coming To Waldorf Late

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This is a great post on the topic from Melisa Nielsen of A Little Garden Flower; you can listen to this series on her Gnome Home Radio Show and also see this blog post where she details exactly what you will need for the grade you are coming into:

http://waldorfjourney.typepad.com/a_journey_through_waldorf/2009/10/coming-to-waldorf-late-1.html

Several important things for people to realize when coming into Waldorf late:

A Grade One child should be seven for most of Grade One, a Grade Two child should be eight for most of Grade Two and etc.

The academic level of your child is important, but that is NOT how we pick grades within the Waldorf curriculum.  The curriculum speaks to the AGE of the child, not the academic level.  The academic level can be adjusted up or down, but the Grade One child needs fairy tales, the Grade Two child needs the fables and archetypal Saints and Heroes block (these are not taught within a religious context but an archetypal context to show the duality of man), etc.

Consider what lives within you.  There was a recent debate on Melisa’s list regarding whether or not Native American Tales belonged within Third Grade or Fourth Grade.  There has been debate as to whether Old Testament Stories should be solely within Third Grade or within both Third and Fourth Grade. (Donna Simmons ended up putting a block of Old Testament Stories in her Fourth Grade Curriculum and she outlines the reasons why here: http://christopherushomeschool.typepad.com/blog/2009/06/ot-stories-again.html). 

Consider how to make things your own.  Many folks celebrate the Jewish festivals in collaboration with their Third Grade Old Testament Stories (and remember, these stories are taught within an archetypal example of Man and Authority – something  a child going through the nine-year-old change will deeply connect with!) but you do not *have* to do this.  I actually am not certain this practice started until recently….  I personally have not decided if I am going to expand this way during our Third Grade Year or not, but the lucky thing with homeschooling is that we have the choice to decide! 

The point is,  though, that in general you will come to  trust  the curriculum and how it so beautifully meets the developmental needs of the child.  Read Steiner for yourself and make things your own, but also trust that the tales of each grade will meet your child no matter what academic level your child is. 

Many people come to Waldorf thinking it is outside nature time, all knitting and handwork, gnomes and fairies and protective bubbles; or they come to Waldorf late and think a fifth grader needs to hear fairy tales because they missed that!  No, we work with the child where they are…get to know the curriculum and what each grade has to offer to your child to optimize their development. 

Much love and many blessings,

Carrie

The Gnome Home Radio Show

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Here is a message from Melisa Nielsen regarding tomorrow’s radio show that may be of interest to those of you following the Inner Work posts on her blog:

“Just a reminder, tomorrow is a new show. 6am Mountain time. Our topic is
Developing the Will – we will talk about mom a bit and then work on some
ways to help with young ones. Get your questions ready – make sure you are
registered at blogtalkradio.com so you can participate in our live show
chat.
Blessings!!
—
From our home to yours…
Melisa & Erik Nielsen
Owners
A Little Garden Flower & Gnomes Home Radio
www.alittlegardenflower.com”

Love to all,

Carrie