starting with second grade?

[Robyn]

Hi there - I am new here and right now my son has currently just started with first grade at our local Waldorf school. Next year we are planning on moving to an area where there is no Waldorf school, so I am most likely going to try going with the homeschool route. I have been doing research as to the different curriculums and I do believe we will most likely get the Christopherus one (and might get the Living Education as well). My question is that since he is doing first grade here in school, should I just start with the 2nd grade stuff.....do you recommend me getting the first grade stuff as well (namely the first grade syllabus)? I'm trying to start getting some of the stuff now so that I can read through it and prepare myself for the future. Would it be sufficient enough if I just get the Waldorf curriculum overview and then just get all the recommended stuff for 2nd grade or would I be missing something vital from the first grade syllabus?

[Donna]

Hi Robyn,

I think you'll do finr with the Curriculum Overview and perhaps Joyful Movement for now - you can alsways play some of the games from Joyful Movement with him on weekends and there is some parenting advice in there you might be interested in.

What your son will be doing in school this year will be somewhat different that what is in the Syllabus and might confuse more than help (school is always very different from home and each Waldorf school and teacher works differently). Each year's curriculum, starting with the new second grade curriculum, will have "bridging stories" and ideas so that someone who did not use our materials the year before can easily transfer over to them.

One other book you might consider is our form drawing book. You won't need it next year as all form drawing lessons will be included in the new second grade curriculum, but you might like to work with form drawing yourself, as part of your own inner preparation and self development work this year. Form drawing is for everyone - and it is an amazing way to learn a lot about not only one's child, but about one's self.

[Robyn]

Thank you Donna, for your reply. I have gone ahead and ordered those books that you recommended and look forward to their arrival :)