We celebrated Halloween with our community of neighbors and children and parents from our Waldorf homeschool cooperative. A longstanding Halloween tradition in this community is to gather for a "Gross Foods Potluck". So people come bearing dishes with names like "Brains", "Maggots and Wood Chips", "Porcupines in a Blood Bath", and "Coconut Frog Eggs". But since this community really knows how to cook, it's really a collection of delicious, organic, whole food dishes. Our contribution was "Bunny in a Blender", which was Ella's brainchild. Ella had been excited for months to be a scary dragon, so I used my limited sewing skills to whip up her costume, and thankfully, at the last … [Read more...]
October Circle Time
October is one of my favorite months of the year, and it is a truly beautiful time in Northeast Missouri. When we arrived, almost a year ago, we were greeted by the peak fall foliage; it's such a treat to see the leaves move through this transition now. With so much happening outdoors, my emphasis on our kindergarten homeschooling experience this month is one of connecting with nature and its beauty and bounty. So we're processing apples, collecting native persimmons, eating autumn olives, taking walks in the woods to collect hickory nuts and acorns, delivering pumpkins to neighbors, and dyeing silk scarves with natural materials: black walnut, goldenrod, and pokeberry. This month, I'm … [Read more...]
September Circle Time
Our first day of school was on the late side this year, partly because of our Labor Day vacation, and partly because I just wanted to enjoy the last days of summer. I've been steadily planning and gathering resources both for our Waldorf-inspired homeschooling cooperative, and also for Kindergarten with Ella (and Preschool with Everett), and we officially began just before the Fall Equinox. Our first day of Kindergarten was really sweet, although I have to admit, the first 5 minutes were a total disaster. Everett was crying, Ella was pouting, and I tried to "keep calm and carry on." After a few songs we got back on track, and by the time I lit the story candle, we were all having a … [Read more...]
Guest Post: Raising Capable Children
Today's guest post is by Angi Schneider, of Schneiderpeeps.com. I have reviewed her eBook The Gardening Notebook here on Homestead Honey, and enjoy reading her posts about gardening, recipes, crafting, and more. Today she shares her perspective on a topic that is near and dear to my own heart - involving children in the work of the homestead. Welcome, Angi! **************** One of the things I love about visiting Homestead Honey is seeing how involved the children are in the homesteading process. As a mom of older children it’s really exciting to see young parents allowing and encouraging their children to be by their side as they go about their work. My own … [Read more...]
Waldorf Homeschool Planning Thoughts
Happy Friday! It is another gorgeous Missouri summer day. We have been so blessed by the weather this summer - days in the high 70's, clear skies. While I do wish for a bit more rain to fill our water catchment barrels, I am so grateful to be living outdoors in comfortable conditions. In fact, this morning, there was a bit of a chill in the air, and I found myself putting on long pants, wool socks, and a hat! A tiny hint of fall. And no matter how many years its been since I was last in school (not really all that long ago!), cool crisp fall-like weather always gets me thinking about school. This year, I will be doing kindergarten at home with Ella (and Everett gets to tag … [Read more...]
A Waldorf Homeschool Co-op End of Year Celebration
Last Friday, I mentioned in my last post, was the year's final meeting for our Waldorf Homeschooling group. Each Friday morning, we've shared songs, verses, stories, snacks, crafts, and outdoor adventures. The group has grown to a total of 10 children, ages 2 - 6, and we've held the space as a mixed-ages kindergarten. In celebration of the children's growth and efforts this year, we held a small, but lovely ceremony at the close of Friday's school. Actually, I should mention Friday's school adventure, because it is very unique. Our good friend Ethan, a parent of one of the students, has led occasional "Adventure Days" throughout the winter and spring. A former outdoor educator, he … [Read more...]
A Late Spring Waldorf Circle
Friday was our homeschool coop's final meeting for the school year. It has been such a wonderful experience for the adults, as well as for the children. There is so much I want to say about how we structure our group, how our school-creating process is evolving, and what we're visioning for the coming year, but I will get to each of those topics in turn. Today I would like to share the Circle that we have used this spring, and this week I will share our end of year ceremony. Each Friday morning, I led the ten children in song, movement, and verse for about 30 minutes. I gather my songs from the following sources: the wonderful CD "Come Follow Me," various Waldorf curricula such as … [Read more...]
Late Winter Waldorf Circle Songs
One of my favorite times of the week is Friday morning, when our little Waldorf homeschooling cooperative gathers together. Six parents and eight children crowd in a tiny living room to share songs, stories, snacks, and crafts. Our older children are 4-5 years old, and a few of us also have 2-3 year old children in tow. So, we're in essence creating a mixed ages kindergarten. It works remarkably well. The younger kids follow right along with their older siblings, with occasional breaks for cuddling or nursing. Each parent is responsible for a portion of the morning's activities, and I am generally the leader of the circle time, which consists of a few verses, some fingerplays, and lots … [Read more...]
Sewing together
Ella and I have embarked on a slightly more structured homeschooling journey this year. While I've always had a Waldorf-inspired home, with lots of song, outdoor time, natural materials, open ended creative play, and child involvement in homemaking, this year we've been making time to do more formal Waldorf "school" which usually involves circle time, a story, and crafting or handwork. Last week, I came home from the library with Amy Karol's book Bend the Rules Sewing, and flipped through the pages with Ella, who instantly wanted to create something. Napkins seemed like the easiest idea until I realized that the hem would provide a challenge to me (I am really quite new to sewing and … [Read more...]