Kindergarten question

[Cherian]

My youngest will be 6 next fall, and I plan to start K with him at home, we're considering your book for K, but I'm wondering how in depth it is, and how much I'll have to come up with on my own. For example, a friend of mine uses Live Ed, but says I probably wouldn't like it because there's a lot of parent work to put together the lesson, materials to gather, etc. I guess I'm lazy but I prefer a curric. that kind of lays it out for me and I can just follow the assignments with my kids for the most part, and go on with the rest of the day. Any suggestions?

Cherian

[Donna]

Dear Cherian,

Well, then I'm not sure you're going to like my kindergarten book!:) Comparing it to Live Ed's kindergarten matterial, you can see mine is a lot smaller. This is because it most definitely isn't a curriculum.

I don't believe that kindergarten children should have a curriculum - it is anathema to what is trying to be done in a Waldorf kindergarten. And since the Waldorf kindergarten is based on the healthy home, then the focus at home should be - well, on the home, not a school form!

My book, Kindergarten with Your 3 to 6 Year Old is about living with your little ones, making the homelife the healthy focus of what you do and bringing elements from kindergarten in as appropriate. It's about why certain things are done in a Waldorf kindergarten and how you can do these things at home - but in a home focused way that doesn't try to create a little school situation in the home.

I recommend that people get both the kindergarten book and Joyful Movement for a full picture of laying a healthy foundation in these critical early years. I address the senses, whole body movement, handwork and crafts, rhythms of the day, toys and play and the media - and much more!

Back to Live Ed, while I do recommend their materials for those who really cannot do without a day to day plan (although as you say, there is a lot of teacher prep - it couldn't be otherwise or else Rainbow and Bruce would not be true to what they are trying to do - to help parents have an experience of what it is like - even on a small way - to be a Waldorf teacher. - now, whether that is appropriate in the home setting - well, that's another topic!) I do not recommend their kindergarten curriculum. Compared to their grades curric, it is poorly thrown together, based almost entirely on "borrowed" material and well - not very satisfactory at all.

[Cherian]

I am not looking for "school work" kind of stuff, I guess my question was more along the lines of, "Do you give suggestions for a""circle time verses"", etc. I have never been to a Waldorf school, we live in a remote area, and I am slowly learning about Waldorf as I can through Interlibrary loan (which takes forever!) I do have the book Earthways for seasonal activities, We bake and cook a lot, and I try to draw him in to my everyday activities, We actually try to do a little circle time for our "Main lesson" We sit on the floor, ring a chime, light a candle and say a verse, then do fingerplays, seasonal songs, songs from church, (especially those with movement), and read a few stories, then we close with a verse. We do a lot of handwork, just because I'm crafty and he works alongside me. My oldest (ds9) does most of these things with us, when he's not working on his own schoolwork or reading. I guess I'm looking for suggestions on what to do with them, is this Waldorfy enough? :o I'm still learning, and guess I want suggestions and guidelines to help me in the day to day stuff.

Thanks! Cherian

[Donna]

Oh yes, there are definite suggestions - verses, ideas for activities, stories, advice on how to tell stories etc etc. And also clear suggestions for schedules and how to make it all work.

And if you get Joyful Movement at the same time (which I highly recommend) you'll not only have a wealth of verses, finger plays and songs, you'll have material which should last you up into your child's ninth year!

[Margot]

I guess I'm looking for suggestions on what to do with them, is this Waldorfy enough? :o
Thanks! Cherian[/QUOTE]

First of all: "Waldorfy enough"?

We don't have to be "Waldorfy enough." LOL

Chuckling aside (big smile), Donna's books (Kindy book and Joyful Movement) are both great for ideas!

I also like the Wynstones series (ie, "Winter" for tons TONS of ideas for songs, circles, verses)

Warmly,
Margot Worthy in Washington State

[elizamars]

Hi Cherian -

I think you will find Donna's book an invaluable resource. It is not a curriculum because for Kindy, especially at home, you don't NEED a curriculum, you certainly don't need anything I would call a lesson plan. You need inspiration and guidance for how to live your life at home with your children in the most wholesome, fulfilling way possible. That is what Donna's book will help you to do.

Peace,

Lisa Marshall

[lovingmothering]

This what Donna's stuff does for me!
Relax into wherever you are and be inspired to build on it in a *realistic* way. I don't think anything could be more important than that.

khadijah

[Donna]

First - thank you to those who posted such kind words about my kindergarten book. I do want to remind people that if they go to the now closed Waldorf_at_home yahoo group they can, if they are members, access the archives (and you can still join it - it's just closed to posts since I started this Forum). In the archives you will find a lot about my materials as well as other materials. You can search "Christopherus" "Joyful Movement", "Curriculum Overview" and others for my stuff; and then "Live Ed", "Path of Discovery" or "POD" for Eric Fairman's materials. Those are the things I recommend. Then theree's "Enki", "Alan Whitehead" (also goes under "Golden Beetle" and "Spiritual Sylabus") and "Oak Meadow". I also wrote a blog entry on Oak Meadow - you can go to the homepage of the Christopherus web site to find that.

Ha ha ha Margot! My fingers go on auto-pilot when I type that name - very unanthroposophical of me!:D