I have been homeschooling for 13 years now and never realized I was really teaching this method without the curriculum. And this next year I will be teaching another kindergartner :) I enjoy watching you :)
That's great! We've been homeschooling for 13 years as well and I will be doing KG again next year. Isn't it enjoyable?! I'd love to know more of what you did with your children. -Hana
We are very into hands on activities, unit studies and for my littles it has always been all about living in the seasons and holidays. And lots of stories, art and pretend play as they grow. I just love it. We have 3 teenagers and 3 little ones. ❤️
Thanks again for the inspiration + accountability!!! I don't have any Waldorf homeschool friends here so you're really helping me to get back into it. Thank you!
I just want to make sure I understand this correctly. So when I purchase the book set ($420) and that just includes the books not any supplies correct? I’m really interested in the developmental book mostly.. I really wish you could buy that separately.
I really want to use oak meadow to homeschool my almost-kindergartener but I’m really afraid that he’s gonna fall behind his public school educated peers. I live in Southern California and I’m very new to homeschool. Do you supplement with other curricula, or do you feel like Oakmeadow is enough? Thank you!
Hi Janet! Welcome to homeschooling. You have a good question, especially if you intend to send your child to public school at some point in the near future. Oak Meadow is different from traditional curriculum for the first few years, then it evens out and aligns with the traditional curricula a bit more, in my opinion. As for Live Education, I feel it's very different all the way through 8th grade. If you are homeschooling for the long run, then you can go with anything. If you are homeschooling for the short term, I suggest something that's more similar to traditional school. If you are in Southern California, you have a lot of options. If you are in OC, you can check out CHEP or something similar. It is the county homeschooling option where they give you all the exact same books your child would get in the public school and you do public school at home. No falling behind! If you want to explore your own thing, go with a charter like Inspire, Sage Oak or Sky Mountain. They'll provide funding for you to buy your own curriculum. Want total freedom? Sign your own affidavit and homeschool independently. You can get more info on how to do that at the CHN website.
Thank you for sharing this. That was really helpful, my both daughters are in preschool age, and I'm considering to homeschool them for the next 2 years and see how it goes. One question though, Since you're muslim (and I don't know any muslim waldorf homeschooling ), what's waldorf education views on evolution? Do you teach this to your children? or do you tend to skip that part of it? What do you do? Thanks again, Barbi from Australia
Salam Barbi! I don't recall anywhere in the Waldorf curriculum that talks about evolution, but I only have K-8th grade curriculum, so it might be taught in high school. As a homeschooler we have flexibility in what and how we teach, so you can choose what to teach (within reason) and still fulfill state or school requirements. Even if it comes up, it can be taught as a theory, (which it still is ;) However, I should mention that at its core, the Waldorf philosophy contracts most major religions and religious beliefs, so that's something to be mindful of as you dig deeper into the philosophy. I take the what I love about the curriculum and philosophy and leave the rest behind. -Hana
I wish I had a more profound answer, but it was basically the first one I saw that I liked and thought was authentic. I started homeschooling in 2003, and I don't remember there being a lot of options. I think I knew of Oak Meadow, but I felt it wasn't as purely Waldorf, but a fine curriculum none the less and a great gateway into Waldorf education. I don't know very much about the other options, but I feel any curriculum you choose will have its highlights. I do know that the Live-Education curriculum is very near the philosophy, but not as user friendly as Oak Meadow. What are you leaning towards? -Hana
Pepper and Pine I'm leaning towards live education ..I'm really not looking for a spelled out day by day curriculum ..I've been homeschooling for twelve years and slowly learning and adding Waldorf inspired aspects to our life and homeschooling ..my dd#1 is turning thirteen I have two toddlers and I'm expecting in Feb.lol so designing it all in my own is becoming a bit difficult .. we homeschool very similar and so I love watching your videos ..I also pull fromCM ..the challenging part for me is that my eldest has delays and is diagnosed on the spectrum and I'm not seeing how to best pull from the curriculum to customize it ... some have advised to keep her on grade level but then pull from earlier grades for LA and Math and to just stick with the grade level stories .. but I see she has recently shown interest in a lot of the younger grade themes like fairy tales and fables .. I don't subscribe to the spiritual philosophies of Waldorf but do acknowledge the wisdom and knowledge that he Steiner shares with regard to handwork and the arts and movement being very therapeutic ..problem is most curriculum packages will not split up the packages lol.. so though I'm leaning towards live education I can't afford to upfront purchase three levels to be able to pull from ❤️😊
I'll reply more fully later, but when we first started homeschooling I was apprehensive about spiritual aspect of the curriculum. I also had a very limited budget for homeschooling (versus now where our charter gives us funding for material), so I asked if they (live-ed) could split the curriculum for me and they did so very reluctantly. I purchased books from three grades and they grouped it together like I was buying one grade. But, there isn't much spirituality in each subject as you might think. What grade are you looking to explore?
Pepper and Pine hi I'm looking for kinder and possibly fourth or a mix bc she's at different levels ..they said they would customize the curriculum for her so that was nice ..have you supplemented with other Waldorf books or resources if so I'd love to know what you have found useful
Can i ask you something off topic? Can we keep our curriculum or do we have to return everything once we finish a grade? I understand every school is different but what is your experience? It will make me so sad if we have to give up our literature.
With our school and most charters I know of, you keep all the supplies for the duration of your enrollment. So even though my oldest has since left the school, we still have his supplies because I have other kids in the school. So I can keep everything until my youngest graduates, so I have several years, and by then, there's probably a lot I'll be relieved to return. If the materials are not in good condition, they might not want it back, so then you'll be able to keep it. All consumables are yours to keep, unless you withdraw from the school within the year of you buying them because they expect you will not have used it by then. So far that has been my experience. One time a book was lost from my material's list. The school wrote it off and never charged me. It seems they are pretty understanding about life happening while you homeschool! -Hana
Oh ok! Thanks! Well it seems they are pretty reasonable. My kids love reading their books over and over. Even after they are in a higher reading level they go back and read the old books.
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I absolutely love your enthusiasm...it jumps off the screen! I always feel like I learn something when I watch you!
What a beautiful comment :) That's so lovely to hear as my enthusiasm is always so well received :0
-Hana
I have been homeschooling for 13 years now and never realized I was really teaching this method without the curriculum. And this next year I will be teaching another kindergartner :) I enjoy watching you :)
That's great! We've been homeschooling for 13 years as well and I will be doing KG again next year. Isn't it enjoyable?! I'd love to know more of what you did with your children.
-Hana
We are very into hands on activities, unit studies and for my littles it has always been all about living in the seasons and holidays. And lots of stories, art and pretend play as they grow. I just love it. We have 3 teenagers and 3 little ones. ❤️
Thanks again for the inspiration + accountability!!! I don't have any Waldorf homeschool friends here so you're really helping me to get back into it. Thank you!
Hey Melody! I'm glad I can provide that gentle nudge ;) Let me know how your year goes :)
-Hana
Everything you share is so helpful. Thank you SO much!
Really love your helpful videos. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, Renee :)
I just want to make sure I understand this correctly. So when I purchase the book set ($420) and that just includes the books not any supplies correct? I’m really interested in the developmental book mostly.. I really wish you could buy that separately.
Is there anywhere to buy a handwork or handcraft curriculum? preferably buy the grade as I would like to incorporate it at home.
Umm Naila that's a good question. As far as I know there isn't a curriculum like that, but it's very much needed.
I really want to use oak meadow to homeschool my almost-kindergartener but I’m really afraid that he’s gonna fall behind his public school educated peers. I live in Southern California and I’m very new to homeschool. Do you supplement with other curricula, or do you feel like Oakmeadow is enough? Thank you!
By the way, I know you’re using Live education but Oakmeadow and Live are in many ways similar. Can you give your perspective with using Live? Thanks
Hi Janet! Welcome to homeschooling. You have a good question, especially if you intend to send your child to public school at some point in the near future. Oak Meadow is different from traditional curriculum for the first few years, then it evens out and aligns with the traditional curricula a bit more, in my opinion. As for Live Education, I feel it's very different all the way through 8th grade. If you are homeschooling for the long run, then you can go with anything. If you are homeschooling for the short term, I suggest something that's more similar to traditional school. If you are in Southern California, you have a lot of options. If you are in OC, you can check out CHEP or something similar. It is the county homeschooling option where they give you all the exact same books your child would get in the public school and you do public school at home. No falling behind! If you want to explore your own thing, go with a charter like Inspire, Sage Oak or Sky Mountain. They'll provide funding for you to buy your own curriculum. Want total freedom? Sign your own affidavit and homeschool independently. You can get more info on how to do that at the CHN website.
Pepper and Pine thank you so much. I love your videos. I’m in Burbank (LA county).
Where i can find the waldorf currículum???
Thank you for sharing this. That was really helpful, my both daughters are in preschool age, and I'm considering to homeschool them for the next 2 years and see how it goes. One question though, Since you're muslim (and I don't know any muslim waldorf homeschooling ), what's waldorf education views on evolution? Do you teach this to your children? or do you tend to skip that part of it? What do you do? Thanks again, Barbi from Australia
Salam Barbi! I don't recall anywhere in the Waldorf curriculum that talks about evolution, but I only have K-8th grade curriculum, so it might be taught in high school. As a homeschooler we have flexibility in what and how we teach, so you can choose what to teach (within reason) and still fulfill state or school requirements. Even if it comes up, it can be taught as a theory, (which it still is ;) However, I should mention that at its core, the Waldorf philosophy contracts most major religions and religious beliefs, so that's something to be mindful of as you dig deeper into the philosophy. I take the what I love about the curriculum and philosophy and leave the rest behind.
-Hana
I would love to know what aspects of the curriculum stood out for you in choosing live education over the other options
I wish I had a more profound answer, but it was basically the first one I saw that I liked and thought was authentic. I started homeschooling in 2003, and I don't remember there being a lot of options. I think I knew of Oak Meadow, but I felt it wasn't as purely Waldorf, but a fine curriculum none the less and a great gateway into Waldorf education. I don't know very much about the other options, but I feel any curriculum you choose will have its highlights. I do know that the Live-Education curriculum is very near the philosophy, but not as user friendly as Oak Meadow.
What are you leaning towards?
-Hana
Pepper and Pine I'm leaning towards live education ..I'm really not looking for a spelled out day by day curriculum ..I've been homeschooling for twelve years and slowly learning and adding Waldorf inspired aspects to our life and homeschooling ..my dd#1 is turning thirteen I have two toddlers and I'm expecting in Feb.lol so designing it all in my own is becoming a bit difficult .. we homeschool very similar and so I love watching your videos ..I also pull fromCM ..the challenging part for me is that my eldest has delays and is diagnosed on the spectrum and I'm not seeing how to best pull from the curriculum to customize it ... some have advised to keep her on grade level but then pull from earlier grades for LA and Math and to just stick with the grade level stories .. but I see she has recently shown interest in a lot of the younger grade themes like fairy tales and fables .. I don't subscribe to the spiritual philosophies of Waldorf but do acknowledge the wisdom and knowledge that he Steiner shares with regard to handwork and the arts and movement being very therapeutic ..problem is most curriculum packages will not split up the packages lol.. so though I'm leaning towards live education I can't afford to upfront purchase three levels to be able to pull from ❤️😊
I'll reply more fully later, but when we first started homeschooling I was apprehensive about spiritual aspect of the curriculum. I also had a very limited budget for homeschooling (versus now where our charter gives us funding for material), so I asked if they (live-ed) could split the curriculum for me and they did so very reluctantly. I purchased books from three grades and they grouped it together like I was buying one grade. But, there isn't much spirituality in each subject as you might think. What grade are you looking to explore?
Pepper and Pine hi I'm looking for kinder and possibly fourth or a mix bc she's at different levels ..they said they would customize the curriculum for her so that was nice ..have you supplemented with other Waldorf books or resources if so I'd love to know what you have found useful
The only other resources I supplement with are the books we read along with our main lessons. I pick an assortment of books that complement our unit.
Can i ask you something off topic? Can we keep our curriculum or do we have to return everything once we finish a grade? I understand every school is different but what is your experience? It will make me so sad if we have to give up our literature.
With our school and most charters I know of, you keep all the supplies for the duration of your enrollment. So even though my oldest has since left the school, we still have his supplies because I have other kids in the school. So I can keep everything until my youngest graduates, so I have several years, and by then, there's probably a lot I'll be relieved to return. If the materials are not in good condition, they might not want it back, so then you'll be able to keep it. All consumables are yours to keep, unless you withdraw from the school within the year of you buying them because they expect you will not have used it by then. So far that has been my experience. One time a book was lost from my material's list. The school wrote it off and never charged me. It seems they are pretty understanding about life happening while you homeschool!
-Hana
Oh ok! Thanks! Well it seems they are pretty reasonable. My kids love reading their books over and over. Even after they are in a higher reading level they go back and read the old books.
Love! Love! Love!
I know, right!!
Ejem do you have time to clean , cook , plan lesson omg your super women