1. How Do I Find Out More About Homeschooling?
The first place to start is the Internet. Ann Zeise’s
rather cluttered and frantic website is quite helpful if you don’t allow
yourself to get lost on it!
www.homeschooling.gomilpitas.com
After that, I strongly recommend that you track down and join your state-wide
secular homeschooling organization. This is your lifeline for navigating state
requirements, meeting flesh and blood homeschooled children, finding out which
local museums and such are friendly to homeschoolers… and much more.
The degree of organization and accessibility of such groups varies enormously
from state to state. Here in Wisconsin, our group is called the Wisconsin
Parents Association and not only publishes a very useful book giving the basics
of homeschooling information and outlining the legal requirements in our state,
but also acts as a watchdog on all legislation in Madison which could erode our
rights as parents and homeschoolers.
Obviously, if you are outside the US, you’ll need to find equivalent groups in
your country or area.
Next…. A few books to read. I highly recommend anything written by Raymond and
Dorothy Moore, ex-public school teachers turned homeschooling advocates way back
in the ‘80s when homeschooling was very new. Now deceased, their wonderful work
is carried on by the Moore Foundation which publishes books and also research on
the neurological development of children. Their findings point consistently to
the “better late than early” approach favored by Waldorf – and even more
strongly favored by us here at Christopherus! The Moore’s research points to
about 9 as an optimal time to teach writing and reading – our work also confirms
that many children, especially boys, are not ready to do much if any writing or
reading before this. Interestingly enough, our observations also point to the
fact that if pushed early, 9 is about the age when many children (again,
especially boys) stop reading and writing with any interest and start to become
known as “not interested in reading.”
Caffi Cohen and Mary Griffith have also written a number of interesting
homeschooling books from an unschoolers perspective. And of course, everyone
needs to read at least one book by that Grandaddy of the unschooling movement,
John Holt, if they have any notion to homeschool!
Then, to help you orientate yourself between unschooling and Waldorf (especially
if you come from an attachment parenting background), you might like to listen
to our audio download on Waldorf and Unschooling which
explains the significant philosophical and practical differences between these
two approaches.
2. How Do I Find Out More About Waldorf Education?
Go to our Resources page and
start following links and reading! See also our page,
Waldorf 101.
3. How Do I Find Out More About Waldorf Homeschooling?
You’re in the right place! Christopherus Homeschool
Resources is one of the main Waldorf homeschooling resources in the world! Have
a good look round our website – by reading our blog entries on numerous aspects
of Waldorf parenting and education; by reading our
articles and following links to other websites;
by carefully perusing our publications pages and
pages devoted to subjects like Early Years and
High School Years, you’ll be able to get a good
feel for the ins and outs of Waldorf homeschooling.
Do sign up for our free monthly e-mail newsletter, The Homeschool Journey:
you’ll be able to keep up with the latest news about publications and
conferences and be notified about any interesting blog entries, articles,
additions to the website, etc.
You might also like to consider joining our subscription
discussion group, Waldorf at
Home. This is an excellent place to learn about Waldorf education,
parenting and homeschooling from other parents, both newbies and old hands. I
also devote considerable time to the group, answering members questions, leading
study topics and generally enjoying the friendly comradely there! Ours is a very
supportive group, with discussions ranging from in depth studies on aspects of
child development , parenting, homemaking and education to casual chat.
4. Should I do Waldorf Teacher Training if I intend to Waldorf Homeschool?
All Waldorf teacher training courses are designed for
teachers in the classroom and the pedagogy and methodology is for those who need
to work with groups of children. At home one needs an entirely different set of
skills – or the ability to translate the classroom experience into the home
setting. The dynamics of standing before a group of 24 children of one age is
entirely different than the interaction between a parent and one or two children
sat round the dining room table!
As part of our consulting work, we have spent considerable time and energy
untangling and de-stressing Waldorf teachers who are trying to bring their
knowledge to the home situation! We have also had, on many occasions, to
encourage and support homeschooling parents who have joined normal Waldorf
Teacher Training courses and who have found what was taught to be overwhelming
and of little use in their homes.
One of the main features of all our materials, whether individual books or the
full curriculum, is that all are full of advice on how to take from the Waldorf
curriculum and adapt to the home situation. Whether one is talking about
imitation, the temperaments, recall and the three day rhythm, or creating main
lesson books, at home we must do things rather differently than at school!
Christopherus is firmly rooted in the work of
Rudolf Steiner, his ideas on the development of the whole human being – and
thus we work with the Waldorf curriculum and pedagogy. But there are many places
we differ significantly because of our experience and knowledge of homeschooling
– and, perhaps, of the changing needs of children of the new millennium.
Please Note: Whilst we do not think that teacher training is a good idea for
homeschooling parents, we heartily recommend that parents avail themselves of
workshops and lectures offered by Waldorf teachers or others who can help teach
skills, broaden knowledge and help a parent on her own road to self development
and healthy parenting.
5. How Does Christopherus Differ From What is Offered
in Waldorf Schools?
We firmly believe that trying to create a little Waldorf
school at home does not work. Christopherus materials are for homeschoolers
first and foremost. We feel passionately that homeschooling is the best option
for many children – that Waldorf education is wonderful but that not all Waldorf
schools work for all children. Or are an option for financial or logistical
reasons. We are the only Waldorf curriculum providers with the unique
distinction of being grounded in anthroposophy, in practical teaching in Waldorf
schools (and being taught as a student!), and in the experience of
homeschooling our sons for most of their lives. Our passion is for helping
parents create nurturing homes, the foundation for healthy human relationships
and thus healthy communities.
We feel we have succeeded in creating resources that are firmly rooted in the
Waldorf tradition – in the curriculum, teaching methods and thus
anthroposophical understanding of the human being. Rudolf Steiner spoke many
times of three necessary conditions for becoming a Waldorf teacher – to have an
understanding of the developing human being based in anthroposophy; to have an
understanding of the individual children that stand before him or her; and to be
willing to work on one’s own path of self development.
Our materials are flexible, inspiring and doable. We set out plans and
progressions based on the Waldorf curriculum – we explain to parents why such
and such is done and then, critically, we help parents understand how they might
approach that subject at home. We are always mindful of the reality of homelife
– the ill child, the crying baby, the toddler who wants to have her own main
lesson book, and we provide ideas to work with and embrace such features of
family life and be able to homeschool with them – not despite them.
We encourage parents to experiment and find what works for them – to penetrate
the Waldorf curriculum and pedagogy and then to change and adapt as best fits
their family’s needs. Some parents will go on to study anthroposophy and find a
relationship to it – others have no interest in anthroposophy but feel that
Waldorf suits their children. Either approach works equally well with
Christopherus materials.
A further distinction to Christopherus is that we offer both full curriculum AND
individual books which a parent who wishes to “do her own thing” or is more of
an eclectic homeschooler will find useful. See "But I Don't
Want a Curriculum?" - the DIY Approach to Waldorf Homeschooling.
6. I am Christian/Muslim/Pagan/Jewish – Is Waldorf
and/or Christopherus Compatible with My Religion?
The short answer is Yes - probably! We encourage all those
who use our materials to adapt them to their own needs and this applies to any
religious/spiritual content as much as anything else. Whilst we cannot be all
things to all people, we do make an effort to be inclusive of different
traditions: see, for example, our consciously multi-cultural
Saints and Heroes book.
I have a couple of articles on the Homeschool Journey blog
that you might find useful:
Another useful article is this one by master Waldorf
teacher, William Ward: “Is
Waldorf Christian?”
And here is what K from the UK has to say:
"I find Christopherus resources to compliment the
rhythms and motions intrinsic to my faith. Donna supports the spiritual work of
'being' with one's children, and whilst the anthroposophical elements of the
curriculum are not entirely congruent with Muslim beliefs of eternity, the
emphasis on rhythm and consciousness is in keeping with Islam's honouring of the
roles of both Mother and teacher. There is a Muslim tradition that the first
seven years should be for play, the next seven for teaching, and then to follow:
be with one's children as friends. The academic rigours of the later Waldorf
years are strengthened by the early foundations of play and imagination. Every
culture can be revived by a return to oral tradition, and each one of us can
benefit from the mindfulness and creativity that Donna expresses. When I go to
her resources I never fail to find acceptance and support for the balance we
have to find in our lives and a renewal of the wonderful joy in homeschooling."
7. My Child Went to Public School – He’s a Year Out of
Sync with Your Curriculum – What Should I Do?
Generally speaking, if the child is in kindergarten or 1st
grade, one shouldn’t hesitate to do another kindergarten year or repeat 1st
grade. Waldorf education is not just about acquisition of skills or a series of
set outcomes – it is about the health and integrity of the developing human
being. And the entire curriculum is based on the real developmental changes that
occur at each year – thus if your child is a year off, the curriculum will never
quite meet her at her stage of development and thus she might not benefit as
deeply from her experience with Waldorf.
Thus a child who already knows her alphabet or can read but is only 6 ½ or 7
years old should still be starting as a 1st grader. Waldorf is about educating
the whole child – her emotional, physical and spiritual development are no less
important than her intellectual development. The curriculum is carefully crafted
to speak to the journey that each human soul takes on its path – and skills such
as being able to add or read are just one tiny part. Indeed, it might also be
that a child who has acquired such skills early needs to be slowed down. She
might need to focus more on play, puppetry, drawing, painting, and handwork to
support her motor and neurological development and to ensure that her thinking
capacities are creative and flexible and not merely linear.
And because the Waldorf curriculum truly does speak to the needs of the child,
the child who already knows her alphabet is never bored or frustrated by hearing
the first grade stories which introduce the archetypal sounds and symbols which
unlock the mystery of written language. No child this young should know the
meaning of the word “bored” – life should still be full of wonder and
exploration, each day a joyful adventure. Unfortunately, early learning
experiences, peer pressure, the media or a stressful early life can create
children who are “bored” or even cynical. If your child already knows how to be
bored, you have a lot of work cut out for you to help her rediscover the awe of
everyday life! But in the end it will be worth it as you help her heal and
reconnect to the joy of discovery.
The slow approach in the first years of Waldorf education is designed precisely
so that
academic excellence is possible later – and not at the expense of the
child’s emotional, physical or spiritual health. So don’t worry about another
year of kindergarten or redoing 1st grade. The stories will help your child
deepen the knowledge he already has and the artistic and movement based learning
will help him ground what he has already learned. If you feel what you are doing
is right and do not approach your “extra year” with trepidation or insecurity,
then your child will be fine. We have met scores of homeschoolers grateful for
that extra or repeated year – we have never met any who regretted the decision.
However… this can be tricky with older children, especially if the child views
this change in grade as being “demoted” and thus shameful. In such a case you
could simply carry on with the grade level he is used to but actually use
material from an earlier grade which he has missed.
Or you could simply say that you are now doing things differently and that you
and he have missed many wonderful lessons – and thus need to take a break from
grades. Then eventually readjust the grade level of your child.
Another variation on this idea is to have a “pause year” for an older child.
This works especially well between 8th and 9th grade when you can simply say to
your child that he needs a year to catch his breath and focus both on his own
interests and features from the Waldorf curriculum. This is a year to
consolidate knowledge, to try new things and to catch up on anything missed or
skimped. However, it goes without saying that this will only work if the young
teen is completely on board – by this age homeschooling is no longer focused on
what you bring your child – it is a partnership.
Something to think about when deciding whether to take a pause year or repeat a
grade is this: will your child be better off going to college or into the
workforce at just over 17 or closer to 19?
Please visit our Early Years page for more on
first grade readiness.
8. I Have a Large Family – How Can I Do Waldorf at
Home?!
Compromise, compromise, compromise – and take a deep
breath! The rule of thumb is, I would say, that the larger your family, the more
you’ll have to let go and the less what you come up with might look like
Waldorf. By 4 children and beyond, I would say that the main focus would be on
the joyful realities of having a large family – and accepting that the family
dynamics themselves will be what carry and nurture many of the important lessons
your children need to learn.
For example, the 9 year change is an important hallmark in Waldorf education, a
time recognized for the first whisperings of separation of the child from his
parents, of growing independence and sense of self. These changes are met by the
Waldorf curriculum in a year that is largely focused on practical work (see our
third grade curriculum overview).
In the large family, this could be the year that the 9 year old takes on more
responsibility in the family – caring for pets, the yard, younger siblings….
Learning to cook an entire meal once or twice a week, learning practical and
helpful skills such as mending or putting up shelves or fixing toys – the
possibilities are endless. And the point is that such practical family arts are
exactly what is called for by the essence of the Waldorf curriculum.
There is just no way that you will be able to do 4, 5, 7 or more separate main
lessons for your children (even 3 is pushing it and parents of only 2 – like us
– also combine from time to time)! You will need to combine main lessons; rely
on older children to look after young ones and to occasionally teach them; focus
on the homelife as the vehicle for many of your lessons (cooking, cleaning, yard
work); not worry if one or more children hear the same stories over and over
again; and, in the end, trust that the constellation of your family will indeed
provide ample opportunities for the right and healthy lessons that each of your
children need.
Our suggestion is that you consider purchasing some of our basic books:
Kindergarten With Your 3 to 6 Year
Old; Joyful Movement;
Form Drawing; the
Curriculum Overview; Living Language; and
From Nature Stories to Natural Science. These
books are the ones that will help you understand the broad sweep of Waldorf
education and are full of practical advice to help you navigate bringing Waldorf
into your home.
Based on our consulting work with numerous large families
these following areas are the most important:
- Focus on healthy rhythms and a workable schedule
- Leave the home as little as possible
- Do not run things on the pace of your eldest children
- Minimize media exposure (including computer)
- Do what works!
9. Help! I'm Artistically-Challenged: Can I Still Do
Waldorf?
Yes you can! Rudolf Steiner never said that a Waldorf teacher must be an
artist - but he did insist that we teach artistically. Everyone has some
creative ability in there somewhere: an important part of one's self-development
as a parent and homeschool teacher may well be uncovering that creative impulse
and gently taking steps toward it.
And so we encourage parents to first find what they can do. Whether it's
baking a cake, arranging a vase of flowers, planting a garden or embroidering a
dish towel, everyone can do something! Focus on your abilities and interests
first and teach what you can to your child. And go from there.
Our drawing book could be one helpful step in taking this further. Have a
look at the Homeschoolers' Work section to
see what other parents and children have done. Our curriculum materials,
starting with second grade, give a lot of step-by-step instructions in drawing,
painting and modeling. Our First Grade
Syllabus currently has somewhat less - but do remember that first grade
painting and drawing are very simple, more about color, mood and gesture than
accuracy of figures.
Over the years, as you progress with our curriculum materials, we will offer
plenty of instruction and encouragement for you to share creative and artistic
forays with your child and to rekindle - or discover - artistic enthusiasm in
yourself!
For additional Getting Started advice see the following
entries from the Homeschool Journey blog:
And from our articles section:
See also The Christopherus Curriculum FAQ
and Waldorf 101
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