Our Waldorf Homeschool Journey

Hi Everyone

I’ve received a number of emails asking about our daily rhythym. And I’ve had to think about it because it’s become so automatic now, that it kind of just happens.

One thing I’ve definitely noticed is that I teach according to the seasons. In winter, we wake up later, we learn more intense subjects, like science and maths. We also tackled new languages. And school can go on for many hours. We also spend a lot of time on crafts, using wool and felt. Things that make us warm snuggled up next to the fire.

In spring we teach things like biology, the life cycle of animals insects and birds. Nature is so active in this time, that it is a joy to teach. We Homeschool out of the house on long walks and visits to the park. We’re also able to move the dining room/homeschool table outside into the garden. I find it easier to teach repetitive subjects in Spring, like maths time tables, as they can be done while we’re walking and swimming.

In Summer school is done according to the heat. Usually we swim first thing in the morning, and are then ready for our lessons by 8:15am. We do an hour/hour and a halfs lesson on any given subject, generally not reading or phonics, then we go and swim again, have a snack and do another short lesson. After lunch there is usually a quick swim, then a rest in our rooms, where we read and read and read. As the curtains slowly move in the usually slight breeze. Craft activities are done less, and gardening is done more. We care for the beds we planted in Spring and start harvesting. Now is the time cooking in the kitchen takes place and we teach weighing, measuring and all the other kitchen things.

And finally it’s Autumn, and those are heady days where again we learn about the life cycle of animals and bees, do they hibernate? What happens to them? We again are able to take long walks that were too hot and tiring in summer. We are able to do our lessons again outside and on our walks. We paint the colours we see. We collect leaves and make leaf snakes, which hang around the house throughout winter.

So yes it struck me again that I teach according to the seasons. We are not dictated to by our curriculum. We take our curriculum and we fit it to our lives. That’s one of the reasons why I love Homeschooling. It never feels like a chore and never needs to be forced. It happens without strain or stress. Shouldn’t all of our lives be like that?

Hope that answers all your rhythym questions!

Blessings as you Homeschool this Spring.

Susan

Filed under: Homeschool on September 5th, 2007