Its another Method Madness Monday!
This week we’re going to be looking at Waldorf curriculum for homeschoolers.
Waldorf Education is based on the work of Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner. Its premise is that the human being has three aspects: thinking, feeling and willing, and that education has to come from experiencing the world from all three aspects. Waldorf Education does not use textbooks. The children make their own based on their experiences.
Waldorf Education is a very popular choice among homeschoolers who prefer a looser aproach with their children. Although it is originally designed to be a school based education it is actually quite adaptable for homeschoolers. There is a lot of emphasis on rhythms and the seasons and seasonal holidays are celebrated as part of the education. For younger children there is a lot of free-play to allow them to learn by doing. As the children age the emphasis turns to the arts and the imagination. There are no set textbooks, instead the children create their own books as they learn which helps them understand the subjects on a deeper level. One large piece of common ground for homeschoolers is that in Waldorf Education the goal is to have a single teacheraccompany the class through their elementary school years. Always having the same teacher that stays with them, like the parent does, allows them to build bonds and to be connected with the person responcible for teaching them.
Here are some great links if you are interested in learning more:
Live Education
Waldorf Without Walls
Waldorf Homeschoolers
Next Monday I am planning on explaining unschooling.
homeschool, homeschooling, curriculum, Waldorf, Waldorf homeschooler, Waldorf Education, Method Madness Monday
March 12th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Thanks for this information. The homeschoolers I know don’t use curriculum, because they are unschoolers.
You might like the Education Forums about Unschooling & Homeschooling.
March 13th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Since Oak Meadow is very Waldorf-inspired especially in the earliest years, shouldn’t they be mentioned in your list?
Not everyone who homeschools with a Waldorf inspiration uses a boxed curriculum. There are some YahooGroups for those who are homeschooling with Waldorf methods that make their own curriculum up using various things including some that the actual Waldorf schools use.
I was very interested in the Waldorf method when my oldest was preschool aged.
I also have homeschooled my children since birth.
March 13th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Oh Thank you Christine! I cannot believe I forgot about Oak Meadow. I will have to do a part two and add in what I’ve forgotten.
March 14th, 2007 at 9:31 am
[...] A bit more Waldorf-ish March 14th, 2007 by Summer Minor Christine at The Thinking Mother left me a note to let me know that I missed some great parts of Waldorf in my Monday post. Not one to let things go half finished I’m going to try to add in the missing information here. Now, mind you that I’m not a Waldorf user so this isn’t my strong point. If anyone has some great links they would like added drop me a note and let me know. [...]
April 5th, 2007 at 9:05 am
[...] Rudolf Steiner School This school, which Jen attended until 9th grade, is the first ever Waldorf school in North America. The Waldorf method, which is also a popular homeschooling technique, focuses upon the child’s experience of the world. There is much emphasis upon natural rhythms in nature, as well as individual experience and social responsibility. At the age of 11, Jen joined the drama club at Rudolf Steiner and quickly blossomed. Despite warnings of the challenge that show business would bring, it was evident that Jen had found a passion. [...]
October 18th, 2007 at 8:50 am
[...] also fun to do with kids. Even young children can learn to knit. Some schools of thought, such as Waldorf, believe that handiwork like finger knitting is great for kids to do. And it’s pretty easy [...]