Waldorf
[email protected]
I'll always remember the feeling my dh and I had after the first Waldorf information meetng we attended. It was a feeling difficult to describe--incredibly compelling. Our oldest daughter attended a Waldorf school through the 7th grade (skipping 6th to try homeschooling) and the youngest through the 2nd grade. Our school had a lot of political stuff going on (as all organizations do), but as soon as the door on the classroom closed, all that was separate from the children. The teachers/administrators, etc., almost without exception, had tremendous respect and love for the children. It was unbelievable how much TIME they all took from their own lives--I think the school just became their lives.
The kindergarten, though, was the best experience. It was somewhat like living in a fairy tale or at least living in an atmosphere that corresponded with the feelings of a very young child. Both my children--especially the oldest, who had more time there, appreciate that they were able to experience it.
My "best of all worlds" wish, though, would have been to have had the kindergarten experience followed by a few hours of the week at the school with the same people (a class, working on a play, doing some handwork...). Every day, five days a week, is too much time away from the family, even at a Waldorf school.
Susan
The kindergarten, though, was the best experience. It was somewhat like living in a fairy tale or at least living in an atmosphere that corresponded with the feelings of a very young child. Both my children--especially the oldest, who had more time there, appreciate that they were able to experience it.
My "best of all worlds" wish, though, would have been to have had the kindergarten experience followed by a few hours of the week at the school with the same people (a class, working on a play, doing some handwork...). Every day, five days a week, is too much time away from the family, even at a Waldorf school.
Susan
Mara Winders
I'm interested in learning about the Waldorf philosophy. What
books/websites are generally recommended? Would it be worth a long trip
to visit a Waldorf school to see what it looks like? We don't have any
alternative schools in the my area, but I could go to a major TX city if
it would be worth it (just to look and visit).
I understand that Oak Meadow is kind of a modified Waldorf cirriculum.
Are there any others?
Mara
books/websites are generally recommended? Would it be worth a long trip
to visit a Waldorf school to see what it looks like? We don't have any
alternative schools in the my area, but I could go to a major TX city if
it would be worth it (just to look and visit).
I understand that Oak Meadow is kind of a modified Waldorf cirriculum.
Are there any others?
Mara
Beth Burnham
My "best of all worlds" wish, though, would have been to have had the
kindergarten experience followed by a few hours of the week at the school
with the same people (a class, working on a play, doing some handwork...).
Every day, five days a week, is too much time away from the family, even at
a Waldorf school.
Yes Susan, that would be great if there could be a waldorf kindergarten
style drop in resource center with curriculum and classes for parents the
way the Christian Homeschoolers up here have one. If hs families could go as
they needed and wanted rather than the time and expense of a 5 day
situation. Also I would imagine having to share your child with one other
adult for all those years can be somewhat difficult and emotional at times.
Though it definately beats the current ps system esp. if you like the
teacher and they do love your child! What is your oldest doing now?
Beth
kindergarten experience followed by a few hours of the week at the school
with the same people (a class, working on a play, doing some handwork...).
Every day, five days a week, is too much time away from the family, even at
a Waldorf school.
Yes Susan, that would be great if there could be a waldorf kindergarten
style drop in resource center with curriculum and classes for parents the
way the Christian Homeschoolers up here have one. If hs families could go as
they needed and wanted rather than the time and expense of a 5 day
situation. Also I would imagine having to share your child with one other
adult for all those years can be somewhat difficult and emotional at times.
Though it definately beats the current ps system esp. if you like the
teacher and they do love your child! What is your oldest doing now?
Beth
[email protected]
<<Susan I think you have me mixed up with Mara.>>
Sorry, Beth...and Mara!
<<I remember the first grade Waldorf
teacher having to take my daughter for a long walk..
..That is amazing though that her teacher would do this for her...>>
I did find the teachers amazing a lot of the time. Their dedication was spiritual--it certainly wasn't because they were making any kind of money!
Susan
Sorry, Beth...and Mara!
<<I remember the first grade Waldorf
teacher having to take my daughter for a long walk..
..That is amazing though that her teacher would do this for her...>>
I did find the teachers amazing a lot of the time. Their dedication was spiritual--it certainly wasn't because they were making any kind of money!
Susan
[email protected]
In a message dated 9/1/2000 6:10:20 PM Central Daylight Time,
valeries@... writes:
structured. But I know a fair number of families who profess to be
unschoolers but talk of using Waldorf or Oak Meadow or have their kids in
Waldorf playgroups. Unschooling and Waldorf seem to be at opposite ends. Am
I missing something?
Carron
valeries@... writes:
> PS Does this have anything to do with the Waldorf belief of startingI have a question about Waldorf. As I understand it, Waldorf is pretty
> reading/writing?
structured. But I know a fair number of families who profess to be
unschoolers but talk of using Waldorf or Oak Meadow or have their kids in
Waldorf playgroups. Unschooling and Waldorf seem to be at opposite ends. Am
I missing something?
Carron
Valerie
Dawn Falbe
--- In [email protected], Cararmst@a... wrote:
when I looked into it when Zak was 2... They wanted him to learn how
to wash glasses (yes real glass when he was 2) and when he smashed
one by dropping it on the concrete floor I realized it wasn't a good
place. I asked the question "why does he need to learn how to wash
glasses, we have a dishwasher and that's what he'll probably always
use?" The woman running the program glared at me and said "they need
to learn to do everything and we need to teach them"... Zak wanted to
play on the swings in only his diaper and in the sand... They wanted
him to sit in a circle and cut up fruit with a knife and sing
songs... LOL LOL LOL... I can't stop laughing now when I think back
on that experience and since then the friends that I've talked to
who've had a similar experience with their kids... Decided if he
wanted to cut up fruit with a knife (a) he'd be a lot older and (b)
I'd be there helping him not handing him the knife at 2 years old....
> In a message dated 9/1/2000 6:10:20 PM Central Daylight Time,starting
> valeries@w... writes:
>
> > PS Does this have anything to do with the Waldorf belief of
> > reading/writing?pretty
>
> I have a question about Waldorf. As I understand it, Waldorf is
> structured. But I know a fair number of families who profess to bekids in
> unschoolers but talk of using Waldorf or Oak Meadow or have their
> Waldorf playgroups. Unschooling and Waldorf seem to be at oppositeends. Am
> I missing something?Waldorf in Tucson is very granola and a place I immediately disliked
>
> Carron
when I looked into it when Zak was 2... They wanted him to learn how
to wash glasses (yes real glass when he was 2) and when he smashed
one by dropping it on the concrete floor I realized it wasn't a good
place. I asked the question "why does he need to learn how to wash
glasses, we have a dishwasher and that's what he'll probably always
use?" The woman running the program glared at me and said "they need
to learn to do everything and we need to teach them"... Zak wanted to
play on the swings in only his diaper and in the sand... They wanted
him to sit in a circle and cut up fruit with a knife and sing
songs... LOL LOL LOL... I can't stop laughing now when I think back
on that experience and since then the friends that I've talked to
who've had a similar experience with their kids... Decided if he
wanted to cut up fruit with a knife (a) he'd be a lot older and (b)
I'd be there helping him not handing him the knife at 2 years old....
Wendy Silver
Hi,
I am not an expert at Waldorf, but for a couple of years ago, that was
what I wanted for my children, and I read a few things, and I have
Oakmeadow's first grade curriculum. However, I have gotten to the point
where I still love some Waldorf ideas, and thougouly enjoyed a Waldorf
Conference last year, but I don't attempt to "teach" anything. I just don't
believe that people can teach anyone anything unless the learning person has
a desire for the information or maybe if they are somehow coerced into it,
like a Pavlov dog, and then, they are just going through the motions, but
missed out on the joy of discovery.
I still find the Oakmeadow books and supplies useful around the house, but
I don't follow any recipes for a happy, educated, well balanced child. I
notice that my children are extremely happy when I step out of their way,
and they keep extremely busy and are constantly learning. That doesn't mean
that I am not involved in what they are learning, because we do have lots of
things around that they may need help with, and quite often they want help,
a suggestion, or want to work together on something.
Also, I really believe in what I wrote above, but I must confess that
occasionally I get a little uptight with my older child, and question myself
about what we are doing, but it is just fear, concern whatever, but so far,
I've snapped out of it, and I remember that I have total confidence in her.
Also, sometimes I step back into teacher mode (I have a degree in
education), but my kids usually lose interested immediately when I act up,
and I usually end up doing whatever I decided to teach them myself.
Wendy
Wendy
I am not an expert at Waldorf, but for a couple of years ago, that was
what I wanted for my children, and I read a few things, and I have
Oakmeadow's first grade curriculum. However, I have gotten to the point
where I still love some Waldorf ideas, and thougouly enjoyed a Waldorf
Conference last year, but I don't attempt to "teach" anything. I just don't
believe that people can teach anyone anything unless the learning person has
a desire for the information or maybe if they are somehow coerced into it,
like a Pavlov dog, and then, they are just going through the motions, but
missed out on the joy of discovery.
I still find the Oakmeadow books and supplies useful around the house, but
I don't follow any recipes for a happy, educated, well balanced child. I
notice that my children are extremely happy when I step out of their way,
and they keep extremely busy and are constantly learning. That doesn't mean
that I am not involved in what they are learning, because we do have lots of
things around that they may need help with, and quite often they want help,
a suggestion, or want to work together on something.
Also, I really believe in what I wrote above, but I must confess that
occasionally I get a little uptight with my older child, and question myself
about what we are doing, but it is just fear, concern whatever, but so far,
I've snapped out of it, and I remember that I have total confidence in her.
Also, sometimes I step back into teacher mode (I have a degree in
education), but my kids usually lose interested immediately when I act up,
and I usually end up doing whatever I decided to teach them myself.
Wendy
Wendy