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KateinIndy
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| Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 7:55pm | IP Logged
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I would really like to hear suggestions from those of you who combine aspects of CM, Waldorf and Montessori in any combination.
The living books focus is a given for us. We need to work on how to use narration much better. We want to use the Main Lesson concept from Waldorf and the focus there on nature, crafts, art etc. Montessori concepts seem like they would be a great help in getting the girls up to speed in Math esp. for the younger and language arts - grammar, spelling etc.
The girls are 10 and 11 and this is our first year of homeschooling.
I could really use your thoughts and ideas from your much greater experience here.
Thank you,
Kate
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mooreboyz
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| Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 10:21pm | IP Logged
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I have been incorporating montessori for the past 2 years with my other hsing work. I still use workbooks (singapore) for math, but I use Montessori materials when introducing something new so they can fully understand what's going on. I also totally do mont. with my 1 and 4 year old because...started them at the get go last year with it. I make a concious effort to make practical life type work part of our day with all the children for all sorts of reasons, but esp. with the younger two to help build upon their hand/finger muscles as well as their need for real work at this age.
This past summer I started learning more about Waldorf and especially like the literature they suggest for each stage of life. I started using this with my boys this year having each reading literature that follows the needs of their "age". For example, my 11 year old is reading lots of bios of great people and my 9 year old is reading lots of norse/greek mythology. And they LOVE IT!!!! I was so happy to see their excitement in reading these. Here is a link to learn more:
waldorf
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Jackie
7 boys - 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17 years
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Sarah M
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| Posted: Nov 05 2008 at 11:48am | IP Logged
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Well, my kids are much younger than yours, but here's how we integrate these different philosophies:
CM: living books, narration, nature study, free afternoons
Waldorf: high quality art supplies, main lesson blocks (we *usually* keep at a project/activity for awhile rather than the short lessons CM advocated- not always, but often), use of fairy tales, knitting, recorder playing
Montessori: we use Child-Size Masterpieces for art appreciation (rather than the CM picture study method), I have a whole lotta stuff printed from the freebies on Montessori for Everyone that I pull out from time to time, and my children attend Atrium (Catechesis of the Good Sheperd)
We are also a bit unschoolish in that we are *very* relaxed about schedules and when things get done (most of what we do gets done as the mood strikes- which can be both good and bad).
Hope that helps!
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mooreboyz
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| Posted: Nov 05 2008 at 12:31pm | IP Logged
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I also started doing a subject each afternoon rather than a little each day. So, on Tuesdays we focus on Science and Geography, Thursday on Hisstory and Geometry...I try to give some balance each day. Also, I always had a hard time finding time for fine arts and so this year we have "fine arts and fun fridays". We do composer study, play instruments together, study an artist and do an accompaning project, we copy and read poetry, we play games, we also may do some montessori type math/ LA if they need any extra practice. It's a very fun day and doesn't feel schoolish at all. You may want to look into the Montessori Great Lessons. They are very interesting esp. for the ages you have and there is so much you can expand on from them. Last year I dedicated a complete week exclusively to lesson 1 and another a few months later on lesson 2. I set it up like a "camp" you would send your kids to like space camp...with stations, experiments, video areas, and reading nooks. This year I'm doing it differently, but for the first year this was lots of fun.
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Jackie
7 boys - 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17 years
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Marcia
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| Posted: Nov 05 2008 at 4:34pm | IP Logged
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My kids are 9, 6, 4 and 1. I could almost ditto Sarah!
CM: living books and loads of books ILL, instant narration from youngest first with oldest adding more, nature study usually daily, I am using the Thomas Jefferson Education list for the oldest daughter. We take visits to the local Nature Center...some classes there. Visits to a local Wildlife preserve monthly.
Waldorf: high quality art supplies, knitting and sewing, recorder playing and violin lessons for all (Suzuki)
Montessori: Atrium for oldest three (Catechesis of the Good Sheperd, Right Start Math, loads of Math manipulatives from Montessori sources,
If a child finds an interest in something we take a long rabbit trail. We also follow Story of the World with two other families to have a monthly gathering to do some of the activities. (this year we are on Volume 3).
Every month we either go to a nursing home or visit a shut-in we know. (would that be CM or Montessori outings?) We are working through the TJEd lists of running a house-being able to cook a meal for the whole family, bake a pie, etc.
We might be a little dab of the and a dot of that kind of learning.
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Nov 05 2008 at 10:07pm | IP Logged
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Kate -
First, let me say that I think you are seeing in these three philosophies what is meaningful and appealing to many of us as we home educate - that they communicate beauty so gently and so artfully in a way that is universal. I have found the blending of these seamless and natural in my home. I think this can be attributed to many factors, but mostly because I believe that truth and beauty are universal in a way that transcends a label of a philosophy. What is perhaps the unifying draw for me is that all of these are really child-led - not to say that I am eliminated in the equation, but more that I am a partner in the learning. I may facilitate, I may offer, I may encourage, but I try so hard not to press.
If this is your first year of homeschooling, I would caution you to choose one philosophy to read and immerse yourself in for a while. Pray about it. Jot down some ideas for implementing it into your home. Each of these philosophies "translates" a little differently into individual homes. Be gentle on yourself as you work through the learning curves of each of these and don't be afraid to tweak something to fit your family better.
Charlotte Mason holds a special place in my heart, she just speaks my language. The use of living books in our home is really the foundation. I put a great deal of thought over the summer into the "what" will be studied over the coming year and then I build living books around that study - for every age I have. I plan out my booklist and try to coordinate studies when possible, for example we are studying ancient history this year. That means we are also digging into some Covenant Theology and Salvation History in Religion, and Paleontology for Science. I build baskets of books around themes and refresh them periodically to reflect different studies. Narrations offer wonderful opportunities for reflecting on reading and often result in wonderfully fun rabbit trails.
Maria Montessori is another dear friend of mine (obviously not in real life). Her respect for the child and emphasis on observing the child has led me to become a gentler, quieter, more attentive mother. I love how her activities offer to the child a path from the concrete to the abstract through the use of a material. I use some Montessori methods with all of my children. It would be hard to pick a favorite...the golden beads and math presentations are certainly one, we love geography studies, and all of our science studies are bolstered by 3 part cards and Montessori methods. I set out trays of activities on our shelves and the children are offered a period of Montessori Choice time where they choose an activity daily. I refresh the shelves monthly.
I enjoy offering lovely, natural materials for creative expression.
Nature Study is one of those subjects that refreshes and invigorates us as a family. We may begin by reading a living book and resolve to set out to find that butterfly or bat or Michaelmas daisy we read about. After walking and collecting treasures, the children may create something lovely from their treasures or they may create something in their nature sketch book from a treasured moment of their walk. We almost always read more after the walk.
I too, have enjoyed placing a Fine Arts Friday in my days this year. We spend all of our focus on the Arts on Fridays - studying music and composers, pieces of art and different mediums of art expression, reading Shakespeare and fairy tales, playing instruments, creating masterpieces of our own choosing (usually focused on the liturgical year in some way).
Has this answered your question in any way, Kate? Whatever you decide, focus on learning and implementing one new thing at a time. Allow for a learning curve, and don't be afraid to tweak or ditch if something isn't working for your family. 
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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KateinIndy
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| Posted: Nov 07 2008 at 2:58pm | IP Logged
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Thank you all so much for sharing your thoughts on combining CM, Waldorf and Montessori. I was beginning to worry that advancing age was getting me to the point where I couldn't pick a concept and stick with it! Only joking a little here. Your thoughts and suggestions have made me feel a great deal more comfortable.
I have been doing reading and research. It is like breathing for us librarian types. In fact all of my children including the 20 somethings who are out on their own have always complained that Mom looks up way too much and has too many ideas. I started with CM and continued with Montessori and Waldorf. As I continued to read I realized I didn't want to let go of one idea to totally focus on another. I wanted to be able to weave together threads of all of them. You have all given me the joy of knowing that it can be done!
I was so glad to hear your mentions of Fine Arts type Fridays. I had been thinking of doing just that very thing and again you give me encouragement and courage.
Since this is our first year I ended up using Sonlight's 1 and 2 combo with lots of good titles and a focus on an overview of World History. I went in with intentions of sticking to it word for word but I'm drifting esp. as I continue researching and learning.
Any suggestions on how to transition using Sonlight into more CM, Waldorf, Montessori? Are there any reading lists you find yourselves using the most?
Thank you again. I hope your Autumn is as beautiful as ours has been here in Indiana.
Kate
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Nov 12 2008 at 12:35pm | IP Logged
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KateinIndy wrote:
Any suggestions on how to transition using Sonlight into more CM, Waldorf, Montessori? Are there any reading lists you find yourselves using the most?
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Kate - there are some good ideas over here - Montessori (or other) elementary history.
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Combining CM, Waldorf and Montessori
