Below is a very blurry picture of my attempt to stay focused on our rythym during the week. It is very basic, but it helps me remember what I would like to accomplish each day. This week we have not been on our rythym and next week we are very excitted that my parents are coming to visit - so The first week of March we will really get back into our flow. I do try to make sure that we are having a story each week. That is one very important element to me. On Monday's I introduce our letters for the week and the we spend the rest of the week talking about them.
Just a simple setting for our candle before we have storytime. I have been playing the recorder at the start of story and it is a great way to signal storytime without using words.Ryan has also been playing the recorder during storytime when I give him the signal. It is a great way to keep him involved.
This week Our story is Hans and the Wonderful Flower. Our letters are F and M. Below is a drawing my husband did after the story for the letter F.
Below is my chalkboard drawing of the Mountain(M) Hans has to climb and the Flower (F) he sees on the way.
Sage did a great job drawing the same scene. Ryan was not to interested that day in drawing. After we finished the boys went off on a letter scavenger hunt to find things around the house that started with the letter M and F. They both enjoyed that game! It was nice to see my almost 13 year old helping his brother out.
Here are a few drawings from last week lessons of the letters P,Q and R.
I found these letter verses from the Waldorf School Online. Ryan and I ended up "hunting" for a Panther,a Quail and a Rabbit around the house. Although we do not pratice writting our letters all the time(that will come in the fall), I will find these letters when Ryan does his "work".
3 comments:
Very beautiful pictures! I am about to ask you way too many questions here, so I apologize ahead of time ; ) I think your younger son and my oldest son are about the same age, so I really enjoy seeing you do, what I am looking to learn more about in regards to Waldorf Education. I checked out Waldorf school online and really liked the videos, and information. Are you a member? If so, do members receive additional lesson ideas by doing so?
In this blog entry are you reading a story that coincides with a certain letter and then drawing the letter/picture as a visual tool alone, or does your son write/draw the letters as well? Are you introducing letters/numbers earlier than "typical Waldorf" or is this the way it starts with pictures for his age? I have no idea!? My kids are at the age where I am just getting acquainted with how and when these teaching techniques are to be done. Thanks!! What a beautiful way to learn!
Hi Nicole - I do not mind the questions. I am not a member of the Waldorf school online. I did buy one month though. I have spent so much this year on curric guides that I had to be selective of what else I do this year. I do believe thought that she gives you lessons each month to follow.
In a traditional Waldorf school the letters are not taught until 1st grade(around age7). While I understand why they do this, I felt at 5 my son was ready to be introduced to the letters and numbers. I love the Waldorf method of introducing the letters in a picture. Yes, usually there is a story that goes with the letters - This helps the child visualize the letter. For example I read the story of the Golden Goose to my son and then we drew a G to look like a goose. Now when he sees that letter, he may not always remember what it is. If I mention that it looks like the Golden Goose - he then is able to remember that it is a G.
Also in Waldorf the letters are introduced with ryhmes to develop the phonics of the letter.
Of course it depends on your child if he is ready for this or not. Having only one child homeschooled,and not having a sibling with him to play during the day, I needed to have a little more structure for our day. Of course If he was not ready for it, I would of stopped. He thinks it is fun to go to "school". We still do our baking,watercolor painting, and other Waldorf Kindergarten Pedagogy in addition to "academics".
I started at first telling the stories, but then just drawing parts of the story for him. Now we have added the letters as well as the drawings of the story. I do not have him write them in a main lesson book yet. It is like drawing pictures right now, when we do the letters.
I also think it is a beautiful way to learn! I enjoy the artistic side of it - Ive never been one for straight academics and workbooks!
I hoped that helps!
I truly appreciate your response to my questions. We too have a rhythm to our days typical of Waldorf Kindergarten. My son has shown interest in letters and reading and in doing a little bit "more". I have practiced writing letters with him, and at this time it feels too academic. I think part of what draws me to Waldorf education is the way it waits for the child to be ready. I practice attachment parenting and have always done everything child led, in terms of their readiness to do or not do things. I can appreciate unschooling for those reasons as well. There are so many beautiful aspects that speak to my children and I within the Waldorf approach, and I appreciate your Waldorf inspired ideas on drawing and seeing the letters. Remembering letters from a story and drawing feels like a more age appropriate and beautiful place to start, which we will now incorporate into our story time. I am finding our rhythm as they grow and what works for us. Ah, The beauty of home school!!
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