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Elizabeth
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edited 
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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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donnalynn
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Elizabeth -
I'll get back to this after the board reopens - it's actually a very good question for me to think about!
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msclavel
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I am eager to learn about this too.
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teachingmyown
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Me, too!!!
My 10 yr old ds is still a puzzle to me.  Looking for some good ideas.
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Tina P.
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Listening with both ears, here!
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Willa
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I'm bumping this up because I am interested in knowing more, too.
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marihalojen
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Have you seen the sample lessons for Middle School at Live Education?
The Art of the Short Story with Charcoal Drawing for 8th grade has me salivating...
vs.
The two sample lessons for 8th grade English at Oak Meadow (pdf pages 21-24)
(I think I'm recalling that Oak Meadow is Waldorf inspired, correct?)
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donnalynn
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Waldorf middle school - hmmm.
Personally - I think I hit a "Waldorf Wall" by 5th grade with my oldest - that is the point where I felt like I really could not keep up with the curriculum on my own especially with having younger children and most especially with two high energy boys.
But I feel that by 5th grade, the Waldorf curriculum and what I have found in the Classical curriculum start to come together.
Here is a quote from Steiner -
"The Austrian Classical schools were model institutions. Their curriculum was indeed the very best imaginable if only people would admit it."
And Karl Stockmeyer says - "Steiner thought it very important that the pupils of the Waldorf schools should be given the opportunity to learn ancient languages and that at least some classical scholars should emerge from among them. This becomes especially evident when reading the answer which he gave to the teacher who had remarked upon the poor attendance at classics lessons:
'Even if you have only one pupil, if there is only one, he must be taught. It can't be helped it must be done.'"
(these excerpts were taken from "Rudolf Steiner's Curriculum for Waldorf Schools" by Karl Stockmeyer.
But I don't know that this happening in any Waldorf schools today - rather I think it has been abandoned almost completely due to some of Steiner's comments about a Classical education being unnecessary for a "general social education". Most Waldorf teachers will tell you "Latin is a dead language". Steiner did say that too, but it seems obvious to me that he had a great respect for a classical education.
Basically I think once I hit 5th grade - I use the Waldorf curriculum more as a guide for a general scope and sequence -
But there are also many other smaller tidbits that have made an impact on me. But maybe these would be better looked into by subject? As I go through my planning I'll try to throw out the little bits that I think are uniquely Waldorf.
I do feel that with my oldest (going into eight grade) that imposing any kind of curriculum just doesn't work - there are strengths and then there are weaknesses to be addressed. There are her personal interests that have emerged and need to be supported and then there are those things that just need to be done - like writing!!
Not sure if this has been at all helpful - but I wanted to put down some beginning thoughts.
But I do think that as the children get older there is a different "feel" to the curriculum because children do leave that world of early childhood - they pass through the "golden age" and become Adolescents!! This is very much new territory for me.
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donnalynn
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donnalynn
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Elizabeth
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I have found the overview of the lower school and the high school at the Washington Waldorf School to be really, really interesting. I printed it and played with it and thought it to death last summer. And then I ordered Oak Meadow 8th grade and abandoned that. And then I ended up just doing my own thing...
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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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Elizabeth
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donnalynn wrote:
But there are also many other smaller tidbits that have made an impact on me. But maybe these would be better looked into by subject? As I go through my planning I'll try to throw out the little bits that I think are uniquely Waldorf.
I do feel that with my oldest (going into eight grade) that imposing any kind of curriculum just doesn't work - there are strengths and then there are weaknesses to be addressed. There are her personal interests that have emerged and need to be supported and then there are those things that just need to be done - like writing!!
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I think this kind of sharing would be very helpful Donna. And I totally agree about tailoring to the child. Thanks for getting this started. I look forward to seeing it all unfold as you plan.
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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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missionfamily
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I am loving this discussion. I find it so helpful to see how embracing this philosophy plays itself out with different families and different age groups.
Donnalynn, I'm excited about the thought of "growing into" a Waldorf-inspired classical education after experiencing a playful, imaginative, meaningful early education. It is exactly what I would wish for my kids.
Please let's keep talking about this. It would be great to look at individual subjects and how we infuse them with what's best inspire them with Waldorf methods.
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msclavel
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Donna, thank you! This is exactly what I need right now. I have 2 girls headed into 7th and 8th grade and I feel like I'm floundering a bit trying to craft an educational plan for them. Waldorf had been very good for us this year and I am eager to talk about how we all can tailor this to work in our homes. In some ways I feel like I'm getting to know my oldest daughters all over again as they grow into young women. I love who they are and who they're becoming! And I want their education to mirror "what makes them tick" if that makes any sense.
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Tina P.
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donnalynn wrote:
I do feel that with my oldest (going into eight grade) that imposing any kind of curriculum just doesn't work - there are strengths and then there are weaknesses to be addressed.
Not sure if this has been at all helpful - but I wanted to put down some beginning thoughts.
But I do think that as the children get older there is a different "feel" to the curriculum because children do leave that world of early childhood - they pass through the "golden age" and become Adolescents!! This is very much new territory for me. |
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Very helpful. Thanks, Donnalynn.
I think this is what gives me pause about jumping into MODG in 8th grade with both feet. There are all these wonderful curriculums out there, suited to *some* kids. Or even some parts of each curriculum are suited to *my* kids. I just can't get over the fact that you can't fit a child to a curriculum. It reminds me of the torture I put my seamstress through to make my wedding dress.  I chose the sleeves from this dress, the waist from that dress, the front from a third dress, and a neckline and bustle based on what I had in mind. I hope this doesn't mean I'm going to torture my kids with curriculum-hopping!
And school *does* have a different feel with older kids. The expectations rise. My oldest is resisting putting forth the extra effort. I know I'm not expecting more than they can handle because my next two *don't* resist, though the expectations are similar (I tailor for my third, since he's only 10). We were so happy and carefree a few years ago. Now, we're looking toward college and more responsibility.
Elizabeth, you have a few older kids. How did you steer them through this time?
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Maria B.
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I am following this with real interest. I have found with the older children (8th grade and above) that "in the end" the plan has to be concrete, spelled out for them and me. Otherwise, enough serious studing/learning doesn't happen. Then again, that could have a lot to do with the learning style of my kids. I would love to find a way to make it work, but so far have not. This thread is starting me thinking again ....
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Elizabeth
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Tina P. wrote:
| Elizabeth, you have a few older kids. How did you steer them through this time? |
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Very differently for each child, so far. I blogged about it here. Michael was very, very visual. His early years were heavily influenced by my own teaching/observing experiences in a Waldorf school in college and more so by a professor whom I adored who had her kids in the school. But it wasn't intentional and I didn't call it Waldorf. It was just that I'd spent so much time with her and her kids (I was a nanny during my college years) that I naturally did what she did. And she was way into literature based unit studies and lots of Waldorf inspired art experiences. It was the right mix for me. Michael and I learn very similarly and I was happy with my eclectic mix of peaceful rhythms. As Christian approached school age, I was more influenced by homeschooling circles and resources available. We did KONOS in a co-op until I was so exhausted that I gratefully sunk into Charlotte Mason. And there we stayed as Michael approached high school. I explained his high school in the blog post. And Christian and Patrick are sort of worked out in my brain (they're in the post, too). Sorry, I don't have the energy to write it all again here.
But my next two, who will be 4th and 6th grade, have thrived on Serendipity-plus this year. I've got my eye on MODG American History, but I want to infuse it with the good Waldorf things from this year. Does that make sense?
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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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Tina P.
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Elizabeth wrote:
| And then I ordered Oak Meadow 8th grade and abandoned that. And then I ended up just doing my own thing... |
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What made you abandon Oak Meadow? Did you try using just parts of the syllabus? Or did you feel you had to use it all? Can you share with us what you did on your own?
Sometimes, I must admit, I get slightly jealous of those families that choose a curriculum and make it fit. They seem so ... settled. There are no decisions or rethinkings that need to be done. Or maybe I'm looking at those families in a very simplistic way ...
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Sarah M
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Tina P. wrote:
| I just can't get over the fact that you can't fit a child to a curriculum. It reminds me of the torture I put my seamstress through to make my wedding dress. |
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Elizabeth
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Tina P. wrote:
Elizabeth wrote:
| And then I ordered Oak Meadow 8th grade and abandoned that. And then I ended up just doing my own thing... |
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What made you abandon Oak Meadow? Did you try using just parts of the syllabus? Or did you feel you had to use it all? Can you share with us what you did on your own?
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Tina, I'm too sick to contribute much here. I didn't feel like OM 8 was very Waldorf at all and it lacked the literature that I've loved using at that age so, there just wasn't much left worth keeping. I wrote an extensive plan of study for Michael in 8th grade. I hate to pass the buck here, but there's a thread here. It's not available for sale any more but that at least gives you a list of books. We did a lot of narration and discussion of the materials. It's not very Waldorf at all. Michael also took an art class (both studio and art history).
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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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Tina P.
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OK, this question is for anyone but Elizabeth (put your feet up and relax, E!). Sorry about cross-posting and asking more of you than you were ready to answer.
My oldest is very much an auditory learner. After that, it's kinesthetic. We've been to an optometrist. Alex has 20/10 vision. So that's not his issue. He just processes better using these other senses. Is Waldorf multli-sensory friendly? It seems they're big into art which my son ... isn't. I apologize for being so ignorant of this method ...
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