Three day rhythm

[Tracy in VT]

Donna,

Why does Christopherus use 2 2-day rhythms per week in its first grade curriculum instead of the 3 day rhythm most Waldorf teachers use? I find it difficult to prepare for two separate stories or tasks per week, and I often combine main lessons so it works out that I'm sort of using a three day rhythm, but it doesn't always work out so nicely. It would help me to understand why you wrote the curriculum this way.

Thanks

[Donna]

Hi Tracy,

I did so in recognition of the very different way one works at home than in school. In school a story will take 40 minutes to tell - at home the same story will take perhaps 15 or 20. The way the group absorbs and hold material, the way it is revisited with only a handful of children participating each morning.... all these things are so different at home!

The main reason for working with something over a period of days is to allow it to sleep - literally - in the child. I believe that overnight is sufficient in most cases. And by the way, don't ever think that all Waldorf teachers always do these things!! Not at all! Logistics in the classroom also change and develop!

One story per week could work - but you will find at the end of the year that there is no way you will have been able to cover all the material - remember that all my curriculum material through third grade assumes a 4 day week (at school it is obviously a 5 day week). I believe a "free day" of errands and play is far more important at this age!

The other thing is, Tracy, that there is a weaving of presentation which becomes more clear in second and third grade. In the Christopherus rhythm, the second story is presented at the end of the second day to sleep over night. If you have a 3 day rhythm, you'll still want to present that second story - but on the third day. So you'll still need to have 2 stories per week (or two installmentss of the story material in later grades).

I wonder if you are "over-preparing" - why not bring this to the first through third grade sub forum and we can go more into depth if you like!

[Tracy in VT]

I knew there had to be a reason. I'll see you in the first-third grade forum.