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Elizabeth
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I looked through those...
He's a bit esoteric for me. And I couldn't glean enough to make it worthwhile. Keep looking, though, Genevieve. Clearly, you have a gift for finding the good in this!
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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lapazfarm
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So, am I picking up about main lesson blocks that they are similar to a unit-study, where one subject is the focus for a long period, but it is looked at in many different ways?
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Kim F
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Theresa this is my understanding of a MLBlock.
<<I've become more sensitive when my children needs a transition to quiet activities and vice versa. It isn't schedule or even pegged. It's more organic >>
This is what I have always considered responsive parenting. Maria Montessori would call it observation of the child. It isn't important to whom we accredit the idea but that we are connecting, that we quiet ourselves enough that we can sense readiness, tension, ennui, fatigue. That is the thread that runs through all these appealing methods imo.
Kim
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lapazfarm
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Excellent, Kim. I get it. I also think that we can find this idea of natural rhythms and letting the child's interest levels lead in many forms (Waldorf, Montessori, unschooling, unit-studies) and I agree that naming it isn't nearly as important as owning it.It is a very appealing concept.
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Genevieve
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Kim F wrote:
Theresa this is my understanding of a MLBlock.
<<I've become more sensitive when my children needs a transition to quiet activities and vice versa. It isn't schedule or even pegged. It's more organic >>
This is what I have always considered responsive parenting. Maria Montessori would call it observation of the child. It isn't important to whom we accredit the idea but that we are connecting, that we quiet ourselves enough that we can sense readiness, tension, ennui, fatigue. That is the thread that runs through all these appealing methods imo.
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Yes! Yes! As I read through different educational/parenting philosophies, I find that I'm always attracted to similar ideas - gentleness, responsiveness, reverence, flexibility & beauty. They may all call it by a different name but essentally the concept is the same. It's like looking at a tree in different light in the morning, afternoon and evening. The tree is the same but the light highlights different aspects of the tree. It's enlightening to read about different applications and focus when it stems from the same ideal.
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Bookswithtea
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I need something in my hand and I can highlight and take on the back porch in the sun while I watch the kids play. I can only read blogs and web sites for so long before the medium ruins my inspiration, kwim?
I'd rather read something on Waldorf written for homeschoolers than I would something intended for teachers in classrooms.
Is there one book could I start with that would inspire me, but also give me some practical ideas for somewhere to start? I am hesitant to jump into anything with 2 feet. I tend to get overwhelmed by my lack of know-how and quickly discouraged when I do that.
We are having a good schoolyear...the first in a long time, as I am realizing I've been burned out and living in survival mode for quite awhile. We are doing unit studies, my girls are asking for extra history.  We are doing narrations and one is making a FHC notebook. My girls are starting to get the idea of personalizing notebooks and we are beginning our first lapbook ever today (yes, I'm slow to catch on to new ideas). I'm particularly interested in focusing on adding more rhythm in our day and in adding some handcrafts, but I will admit I am *terrified* of the handcraft concept, as it is soooooooo foreign to me!
Where do I start?
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SusanJ
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I'm with Books! I read this whole thread last night and followed dozens of link and read several blogs. This approach really seems like an answer to prayer. I've been wanting something for my 3yo ds. He is such a sensitive, patient, imaginative, bright child and has physical disabilities. He doesn't need a curriculum, exactly, just something to allow this wonderful time of his life to flourish. I kept thinking, "He needs a rhythm and lots of art . . ."
I'm thinking about the Donna Simmons kindergarten book but it is a bit pricey. I've read a couple of great reviews. Any other rave reviews? Cautions? Alternate suggestions if I just wanted to get one book?
Thanks! And thank you for this thread and everything that inspired it--especially your recent blog posts, Elizabeth.
Susan
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Elizabeth
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I would go with Donna's kindergarten book if all your children are under 8. Otherwise, I'd get her Curriculum Overview if you want just one book to highlight and bookmark and get a feel for the deal.I started with the K and the first grade and found myself wanting the Overview to put it all together. Here's the link. It's more expensive than the kindy book so that's not much help. Interestingly, I rarely see Donna Simmons' stuff in the used market (and I'm a frequenter of all the used Waldorf curriculum lists and eBay). I think that's a good sign, though it leaves us with few buying options.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Kim F
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Books, I would start by adding a 'circle time' to kick off your day. Begin with a morning offering, a song, a poem, and some movement. Work in storytelling to your day. Nature walks. Collect your finds on a seasonal table. The Oak Meadow HOme Teaching Process Manual gives a concise overview of Waldorf standbys complete with basic instructions (and basic philosophy) to incorporate those into your school. If you are already doing unit studies and don't want a new curriculum this would be enough imo.
You can find oodles of sample Main Lesson Book entries here: http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%2 2Waldorf+school%22+art
http://www.waldorfhomeschoolers.com/dayinkindie.htm this last link runs through a Waldorf kindergarten teacher's day. It was enlightening to me! This most clearly mirrored my own routine, which I had been slightly guilty about.
Kim
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JenniferS
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Books and Susan, I am so glad you asked. I was thinking the same thing. We need a rhythm to our day, also. I want our learning to be more active, but I am overwhelmed with the thought. I know my nine year old son really needs something different than what we are doing. I've fallen into the workbook rut that I desperately need to get out of. We need a rhythm before baby comes in February.
Thank you for the link, Elizabeth. I can't really afford any books right now, but my birthday is comig up, and my mother loves to purchase educational things for us!!!! 
Jen
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JenniferS
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Kim,
I was posting at the same time as you, and I missed your post. Thank you for your links and suggestions, too.
Jen
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Mary G
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Hey y'all, I just found this site, Informed Family which has lots of interesting books, articles, and cd's that might help as it too is geared to Waldorf at home.
They're sponsoring a conference, Whole Parent, Whole Family which will be in Colorado at the end of October -- I'm not sure if I'll make it up there, but some of the courses sound really wonderful. The handouts/tapes from the conference might be an option too!
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Kim F
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<<I am overwhelmed with the thought. I know my nine year old son really needs something different than what we are doing. >>
The whole purpose behind Waldorf schooling is that it is therapeutic. Therefore I would not allow yourself to be stressed by these prospects. They are meant to soothe and enable your children to thrive. Becoming overwhelmed would be counter to this ideal.
Instead of replacing, could you rework a bit? Try doing the same things at roughly the same times each day. Get a book of folk songs and hymns and try to learn one each week. Instead of using printables and recordings try to make your own pages and sing yourselves even if it is less than perfect to you. There is a different effect on everyone - slower, calmer, more organic as Gen says.
This isn't about doing more, it is about doing everything more purposely, intentionally; doing it all slower and more focused. You don't need new curriculum. You just need a new way of looking at your day, your academic goals, and how you measure success in both.
Donna would stress that while Waldorf begins gently it does value academic excellence in upper grades. The idea is that these gentle beginnings best foster that success down the road.
Kim
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JenniferS
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Kim,
Thank you. I think that just the idea of change(even small change),for me, is difficult. Now, I know where my ds gets sit. LOL! But what we are doing is not working well for him, and for the littles. We've needed something different. We'll start slow,like you have mentioned, adding our own touches to things.
Jen
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Rebecca
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JennGM wrote:
Rebecca, I've been pondering your posts all evening (and even in my dreams last night I was discussing them with you  ). I know you have in the recent past incorporated Montessori in the home, not necessarily in entirety. Maybe this would be another thread, but I'm wondering how much of Montesori are you keeping and retaining? Methods, philosophy, materials? Are you keeping some things side-by-side? Do you find Waldorf and Montessori can flow together with your own tweaks? Are you easily able to merge the two? Because this is "Real Learning" in action, I'm just wondering your path to this point. |
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Jenn, this past spring came with some challenges that encouraged me to downscale my Montessori materials. While my love for Montessori remains, I cannot keep a room full of materials and trays any longer. Logistically, we needed the space and financially, I could not duplicate a Montessori classroom in my home. Many of my materials were homemade but I had also purchased quite a bit over the years from various suppliers. After a certain point, one cannot continue in Montessori with older children without spending a lot of time or money in more materials. I do still have my pouring trays and other activities for the littles to use when they are interested but I do not set aside times to present new things anymore.
I am not pure Montessori or pure Waldorf. I think Montessori and Waldorf both respect the child but in differing ways. Waldorf encourages the child to be surrounded by beauty, to grow in love of work (handcrafts) but also encourages them to use their imaginations as well. Montessori has a great respect for the child, for order and while believing the child should be grounded in reality before introducing imaginative play. I have always encouraged imaginative play and my kids do a lot of it, costumes, reading of books where animals wear clothes (I would never give up my Beatrix Potter! :) , etc.
I do think a person can easily be interested in Montessori and Waldorf at the same time. I can't map out how that would look but I am sure it is possible. I will tell you that I am spending a whole lot more time with my kids interacting now that my focus is not only on presenting materials and letting the kids work with them alone. It has been such a joy to reconnect with my children in this way, to spend time singing, painting, knitting and making little felt toys. My children seem more well rounded just from the handcrafts (and subsequent time with mom) alone.
Anyhow, Jenn, you can glean good from both philosophies. That is what I love about homeschooling, we can take what we like and run with it.
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JennGM
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Rebecca wrote:
I do think a person can easily be interested in Montessori and Waldorf at the same time. I can't map out how that would look but I am sure it is possible. I will tell you that I am spending a whole lot more time with my kids interacting now that my focus is not only on presenting materials and letting the kids work with them alone. It has been such a joy to reconnect with my children in this way, to spend time singing, painting, knitting and making little felt toys. My children seem more well rounded just from the handcrafts (and subsequent time with mom) alone.
Anyhow, Jenn, you can glean good from both philosophies. That is what I love about homeschooling, we can take what we like and run with it. |
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Thank you so much, Rebecca. I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions. I had a feeling you were incorporating aspects of both philosophies--thanks for letting me peek into your home learning environment. I can definitely see aspects working side-by-side.
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Wendy
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Excellent thread!  Thank you Kim, Rebecca, and Elizabeth for sharing how you're using Waldorf ideas with your dc. I think the ideas of a slower pace and more of a rhythm are what's so appealing to me. And my dc are going to love incorporating more music and hands-on art! I also think the concept of a main lesson is a winner, but for us it may need to be in the form of multi-age unit studies.
I've ordered some of Donna Simmons' books and two that Elizabeth and Lissa recommend -- All Year Round and a Child's Seasonal Treasury. Also, Donna Simmons has a great post - One Step at a Time - on her blog that is worth reading. I can't wait to try some of these ideas out! 
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teachingmyown
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If you could only buy one resource to really get the feel for Waldorf in the home and maybe start implementing things, which one would it be? I am particularly interested in the whole idea of rhythm and seasons.
Money is tight but I do have a birthday coming up in another month. And we all know what homeschooling moms spend their birthday money on..... homeschooling books!
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LisaR
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[QUOTE=teachingmyown] If you could only buy one resource to really get the feel for Waldorf in the home and maybe start implementing things, which one would it be? I am particularly interested in the whole idea of rhythm and seasons.
yes, that is what I am looking for as well. I remember I asked for a "top 5" though . Favorite Catalog/Website Resource too??
And... this might need to be in another post- but does anyone feel like Montessori is "performance orientated"?
I have two Catechesis of the Good Shepherd drop outs in my home. One reason they wanted to leave is that they absolutely balked at the notion of "recording" what they had worked on and filing it in their file. (getting the colored pencils out to do a tracing, etc)Everytime I observed it seemed like a certain personality would really go for that. My kids did not.
Would you say Waldorf is more oral??
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Kim F
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but does anyone feel like Montessori is "performance orientated"?
Would you say Waldorf is more oral??>.
Yes and no to both. I think a great deal of that is explained by a disconnect between idealogy and application. This would be why many Montessori training centers are not keen on the idea of self study and montessori homeschools. The method is misinterpreted and the emphasis is upon the materials. Originally the materials were a means to an end, not an end in and of themselves. Many folks like the 'stuff' but do not dig deeper and keep the ultimate goal of normalization in mind.
I would guess you could say the same about Waldorf. People tend to latch onto stories and songs and nature tables and forget that they too are a means to an end. In this case it is integrating the person so he can learn optimally. It has different names but normalization in the sense Montessori meant is really what they are after too.
Montessori and Waldorf embrace some polar opposite tactics to reach that common goal. Montessori stresses independent activity, which I concur with since ultimately all learning is an independent. We can facilitate learning, but the individual has to do the action of making knowledge their own.
Waldorf emphasizes relationship and a mediator. I concur with that as well. They stress oral storytelling and teacher as interpreter of information.
Both approaches use recording methods. Montessori kids keep booklets of work done. Waldorf kids make main lesson books.
Both Steiner and Montessori were focused on specific populations of children in need. A healthy homeschool is probably starting out in a different place and need not employ drastic measures. In other words you need not choose between oral storytelling and picture books or between independent work stations and group projects led by mom. There is a place for both.
Kim
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