The beauty of Waldorf education is that it meets the child where he is developmentally. The synergy of Waldorf teaching methods and child development is discussed wonderfully in an article by Dr Reggie Melrose called ‘Waldorf from a Neuroscientific Perspective‘. The Morning circle is a great example of how Waldorf meets the young child where […]
Handwork is a fundamental part of the Waldorf curriculum from kindergarten through the grades and high school. It’s so good for children to learn how to make beautiful and useful things with their hands. So how do we teach handwork at home? I have a broad definition of handwork
I was a Waldorf classroom teacher for many years, starting out as a kindergarten assistant, then a subject teacher, and finally taking on four different grades classes, with whom I journeyed for varying lengths of time. The part of the day I loved best was story time. A hush would fall o
When we discovered the warm and inviting classroom of Lisa and Nathaniel Santa Cruz, we instantly fell in love. Wondergarten is a Waldorf-inspired in-home preschool that seeks to enrich the lives of children with goodness & beauty. At Bella Luna Toys, one of our missions has always been to share the beauty of Waldorf education. The rare glimpse into the classroom that Lisa & Nathaniel share each day on Instagram does just that, and in such a lovely way. Let's take a journey through their day! Morning Playtime When children first arrive at Wondergarten, they have the option of playing with a variety of natural toys, play dough, beeswax crayons, blocks, books, and other essential Waldorf toys. According to Lisa, “Morning playtime is an essential part of our program, as it provides children with the opportunity to develop their imaginations, relationships, and problem-solving skills through creative, free play.” After a morning of playtime, the children transition by cleaning up and preparing for the daily ritual of circle time by singing Ring around the Rosie. Circle Time In Waldorf schools, circle time is a special time to celebrate the season with stories, songs, and creative movement. Each school puts their own spin on this special time and at Wondergarten, they add piano and guitar and dancing as they introduce their story of the week. After this joyful movement and song, the children transition to lesson time. Lesson Time The main lesson of the day typically fits one of three rotating activities; life skills, baking, or creative arts. According to Lisa, “lesson time and the development of life skills help children feel a sense of belonging, responsibility, and accomplishment as they contribute to various life-based activities.” From baking bread to wet on wet painting, each activity is directly tied to the season and helps foster community. Snack Time After cleaning up together and preparing the table, the children gather for snack time, which according to Lisa “is a delicious and nourishing part of our day.” As they eat, Nathaniel’s “Gnomes of Wondergarten” stories are told aloud, accompanied by engaging visuals and puppetry. As children finish their snacks, they wash and dry their dishes, put them back on the shelf, and get ready to go outside. Outdoor Playtime “Outdoor playtime is a highlight of our day, and we spend at least an hour outside each day, rain or shine, to build resilient bodies and a strong connection to the natural world.” Once outside, children play and work in the garden, run and play in the field, create muddy and treasure-filled concoctions in the mud kitchen, and love “collecting buckets of water and dumping them into ditches they've dug in the playscape to create lakes and rivers.” Wondergarten has even created a track where children can ride trikes “in little caravans, playing out stories of trains and fire trucks.” After a full day of play, nourishing food, fresh air, and gentle learning parents pick up their children from outside, and the day comes to a close. We are so glad to see Wondergarten open up their beautiful enviornment to share more about Waldorf education with the public. It is a beautifully peaceful way for children to learn and grow. To see more, follow Wondergarten on Instagram @wondergarten_earlychildhood or visit their website here: Wondergarten.net At Bella Luna Toys, we love to share the wonder of Waldorf education and how it can be incorporated into play. We are so thrilled to watch Wondergarten flourish and share their knowledge of Waldorf learning with a wide audience. Follow along as we share more on Instagram @bellalunatoys and don't forget to share your play and childhood magic using the hashtag #bellalunatoys.
Chalk art in the Waldorf curriculum is a medium for extending the storytelling that is happening. It is a medium for enlivening the curriculum through pictures.
Which number do you see? This set is ideal for introducing numbers in the first class! The large cards allow children to learn numbers in a creative imaginative, symbolic and meaningful way. These "Hidden numbers" cards can be printed recto verso in order to have the image on the front and the beautiful poetry on the back. The children can guess the hidden number observing the image. They can read the image on many levels (counting elements, listening to the poetry, finding numbers in shape and geometry); each child sees something different and when this happens is really magical! The "Hidden numbers" document can be printed in A3 format. The resolution and quality of the drawing are high (were originally made on A3 paper). Ideal to hang in the classroom after guessing, drawing and number writing. The small cards (8,5x11cm) can be introduced in a second moment to exercise and memorize the numbers and symbols. For example the children pick a card and have to say the number and show it with their fingers as fast as possible. This material is made by a Waldorf teacher with lots of love, first for the pupils, now for you. In proceeding to the command you will have: -two pdf documents that group the digit posters (to be printed in A3, A2, or A4 size) - numbers 1 to 9 -one pdf document that includes the small cards (to be printed in A4 size and cut them out) - numbers 1 to 10 You can then directly access the documents by following these steps: 1. Log in to your Etsy account. 2. Click on “You” (top right) 3. Choose “Purchases and reviews” 4. Find the order. Click on “Download Files” (to the right of the order) 5. The file will go to your “Downloads” folder Please leave me a comment if you are interested in buying the finished cards and how big would you like to have them. Thank you! Note on authors copyright: this material cannot be copied or disseminated I also offer support and advice about planning a Steiner - Waldorf curriculum at home or in small school realities :) please contact me if you need. www.amaeducation.one
Now that 8th grade graduation is behind me, I’m starting to get all geared up for 1st grade. I’ve got just 3 weeks before my family and I head off for our big summer trip, so I’m wasting no time getting going on my summer prep. Years ago a former colleague of mine put together […]
Complete April Lesson PLans PDF - Waldorf Enrichment Members Read more about crafts, thistle, henna, clouds, ripple and fairies.
We are beginning to move full swing into the holiday season and I have been planning the two weeks we will all be at home. With some down time I thought it would be a great chance to plan a few activities with my little ones, and since I do love all things Waldorf, I
When we talk about teaching kindergarten, what we really mean is supporting your child’s healthy development in the early years. Your job is to create the environment for him to thrive. Here’s how to do that!
Waldorf is a holistic educational model that strives to teach the whole child... head, heart, and soul. It's appealing and exciting, but can also feel overwhelming! Kirtsee Raki explains how you too can gift your children a Waldorf-inspired education.
Handwork is a fundamental part of the Waldorf curriculum from kindergarten through the grades and high school. It’s so good for children to learn how to make beautiful and useful things with their hands. So how do we teach handwork at home? I have a broad definition of handwork
With all the different educational options available to parents today, it can be difficult to pick the right one for your child. This article will provide parents with information about the main different types of
Learn the reason behind losing patience with toddlers, how to break the cycle of being impatient with kids. When you keep losing your temper with toddlers.
Waldorf education, sometimes also known as Steiner education was introduced in the 20th century by Austrian Rudolf Steiner. It's aim is to educate the whole…
I am a Waldorf homeschooling mother, just like YOU! This was a block I made up for First Grade (a January block) and thought it may give some of you inspiration for working science in with all the…
In the first grade, the child still feels connected to the world of fairy tales with their inherent archetypes of good, evil, kindness, humility, rewards, punishments and transformation. Those who have been good and kind or have been transformed, live happily ever after. The seven-year-old child, is nurtured within these images - finding that all is right with the world, in the end. These stories are also interweaved into another tale, one of four children from four corners of the world that hav
Waldorf books and waldorf homeschool curriculum for those that would like to add some Waldorf education into their home. I love these waldorf books
Anleitung für ein einfaches Rollmäppchen zum Wickeln - ideal für die Waldorfschule oder zu Hause
Are you looking for resources for Waldorf homeschooling? This extensive list includes curriculum, supplies, organizations, and favorite book titles. A comprehensive list of over 50 resources put together by Jean, a mother of three and longtime Waldorf homeschooler.
This high quality handout has examples of Greek Patterns for your students use in the Art Room! I use this handout when I make paper mache Greek vases with my 4th graders, and with my Kindergarteners when we make Greek Temples. ...
This morning was one of our school’s most beautiful traditions and I’m so pleased to have played a part in it. In this ceremony our three kindergarten teachers come out the doors of the early childhood wing, holding the hands of the rising first graders. They hold hands, spiraling in and then out, singing together. […]
Today on the Moon Child Blog we are joined by guest poster, artist and Waldorf mother, Jacinthe from @littlehouse_happyfamily. We asked her to share a bit about how she creates a summer infused with Waldorf tradition and we're thrilled with what she had to say. Read about how she establishes a relaxed rythmn that guides her family through this season of exploration, learning and play! Settling Into A Summer Rhythm When the days grow longer, and the flowers start to bloom we feel a shift in our energy and mood. A need to be outside most of our days, to climb trees, run barefoot, make bubbles, search for fairies in the woods, eat breakfast with the birds and explore every stream. After Beltane we naturally ease into a slower and simpler rhythm that leaves more place for free play, nature exploration and crafts. We drift away from our lessons in favor of books about adventure and fairy tales, we follow every rabbit hole that we stumble upon. Anchor Moments Our summer rhythm that starts with the summer solstice is more about anchor moments during the day that allow for rest and connection and still leave place for spontaneity and whimsy. These moments that are important to us are the spine of our rhythm during every season, but they become even more important during the summer months when we spend a lot more time outside or away from home. We start and end our day reading aloud as a family and we get together for meals and teatime. A daily rhythm should be about fostering a natural flow and dependable moments for rest and togetherness. Make A Wish List At the beginning of the season, we make a simple list of recipes we would like to try, crafts we would love to make or subjects we want to dive deeper into. This list represents our interests as a family. It changes with the years and can take any form that fits your family’s wishes and needs. It helps to give purpose to how we spend our time but still nurtures the freedom that we treasure so much about summer days. Every week, we plan one recipe, one project, one craft, one field trip and one free day. but we’ll let our mood and the weather dictate when they happen. This year we want to learn to cook Italian, bake sourdough bread, brew sun tea and find our favorite cheesecake recipe; we want to do sun printing cards to gift during the year, suncatchers with our pressed flowers, carve animals out of soapstone and make walnut boats to race down the stream. We want to learn more about bees and honey, pond life and bird songs. We want to make paper airplanes and fly a kite; make smores and go camping. We also want to try different hikes in the parks near our home. We’ll build a fort in the backyard, watch a concert in the park and get gelato from our favorite spot. It doesn’t have to be big adventures, just make the most of those precious summer days! Thank you to our friend, Jacinthe for sharing the way her family settles into a summer rhythm. Follow Jacinthe on Instagram @littlehouse_happy family to see all about how her family practices Waldorf homeschooling throughout the year. We hope you all can find marvelous adventures over your summer break. Share them with us on Instagram @bellalunatoys and using the hashtag #bellalunatoys. Hope your day is full to the brim of sunshine!
This is a guest post written by Kim! I hope you enjoy all of her encouragement and insight as she details a typical homeschool day with her two little ones. Find out more about Kim below. With two boys, three and five, our days are usually full of a lot of energy, a lot of noise, and a whole lot o
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First grade is such a sweet, memorable year. It’s the bridge between the kindergarten and elementary years. Like the kindergarten child, the first grader still thrives on days full of play, connection, and rhythm. (For more on supporting these needs, see this post on How to Teach Kindergarten ). Yo
This is a guest post written by Barbara Dewey of Waldorf Without Walls in which she describes learning to read the Waldorf way.
Whether you are a strict follower of the Waldorf method or just inspired by it, here's where you can find Waldorf homeschool curriculum to suit your tastes.
Happy Monday! I’ve been having fun brainstorming about home improvements around our house and looking at lots of blogs and Pinterest boards for inspiration lately. I thought it would be fun …
