Oak Meadow

We are using the Oak Meadow curriculum for First Grade. It is a Waldorf-based curriculum (please see previous post). I chose this curriculum because it seemed to pick up where C. had left off at kindergarten last year. (She attended a small, private school that was nature-based and only introduced the uppercase alphabet in kindy.) It also is very clear that it is presenting the material in an imaginative way rather than an intellectual way. And I love the way that the arts are an integral part of what we do.

Here is what we think so far:

1. The fairytales - There are some familiar stories and some that are new to us. At the beginning of the year, we used these stories to learn the lowercase alphabet, trying to learn one or two letters a week. Both children enjoyed hearing these stories at night and again in the morning. My only complaint about the stories would be that they tend to use archaic language and sentence structure for no discernible purpose, and that some of the themes tend to have the "brave night rescuing the damsel in distress". In Waldorf thinking, these archetypes are purposeful in that they present the fundamental issues of life in a symbolic form.  Personally, I have found it is possible to tell stories that achieve the same goal while showing both girls and boys as strong, capable, and confident beings.

2. Painting -  Painting "Waldorf" style at this age basically consists of wet-on-wet watercolor painting using only the primary colors of red, yellow, and blue. The Goethe color wheel is very important in Waldorf thinking as is the actual experience of painting itself. My kids were bored of it after the first lesson. I'm just glad I didn't spring for the Stockmar paints. (Recommended Waldorf *supplies* can be very expensive.) We have been doing a lot of painting and experimenting with color, but definitely more freestyle than Waldorf-style.

3. Beeswax and crayons - I did buy sheets of colored beeswax, and I had purchased Stockmar block crayons several years ago. The beeswax was wonderful for C., who had the patience to let it warm and was able to make small figures with it. G. was very frustrated because at 4 years old he just wasn't able to manipulate it. He was much happier working with clay. I like the beeswax because it feels and smells wonderful and can be reused over and over. And I highly recommend investing in beeswax crayons. The colors are brilliant, they are easy for young children to hold, they are great for shading and again, feel and smell wonderful. You'll never go back to Crayola!

4. Knitting- I love this idea. Love it. I was so excited to teach C. how to knit and how to learn myself. Well, apparently  I don't have the knitting gene because I just can't do it. I've tried finger knitting, I've bought books for kids, I've had my mother show me, my mom bought me a kid's knitting spool - all for nought, as I am a complete idiot when it comes to knitting. Bummer! At least I can sew so C. has done some simple sewing projects this year, including sewing sachets as Christmas gifts.

5. Math - The math portion of the curriculum did not work for us at all. The way it was presented was confusing to C. and, frankly, to me. Making up stories about math gnomes wasn't working for us and C. was bored by the math activities suggested. I understood that the goal was to reach the child's imagination, rather than a dry intellectual approach, but C. was ready for more than what I could come up with on my own and the ideas presented in the book. In December, I purchased a total math curriculum which so far has been more successful for us.

Science is not really presented at all, so I have supplemented with science kits and ideas from websites, et cetera. Science in Oak Meadow has to do with observing the natural world, which we do every day, but C. wanted to do "experiments."

Overall, I would say some aspects of Oak Meadow work for us, and some do not. It gives wonderful guidance through the Home Teacher's Process Manual and the Syllabus. It is not rigid and one can progress at one's own pace. I love the appeal to the child's imagination and the focus on the natural world and natural materials. The only reason the math and science did not work for us was that C. was bored and asking for more in these two particular areas.

Waldorf

Years ago, when C. was a baby, I started researching schools for her. I knew I did not want to send my children to public schools for various reasons (to be discussed in another post), but I didn't know exactly what I was searching for. I stumbled upon a website that had something to do with Waldorf education, I don't remember exactly what it was. I started researching and became more and more excited, as it seemed this was the perfect fit for me. It addressed all of my concerns about public school. The emphasis on integrated learning, a natural environment free from the noise of tv and computer games, the arts being incorporated into the curriculum...all of this appealed to me immediately. For those of you not familiar with Waldorf, here is some info.

I loved the soothing colors, the gentle music, the beeswax and wood, the organic wool and silk, the emphasis on creative play, open-ended playthings. As I looked around our apartment, I saw it filled with hideous plastic crap, beeping and staring at me with garish colors and toxic chemicals. I finally had found people who understood what I was thinking and feeling - who had created the environment I wanted to create in my home. I wasn't crazy after all!

Later that year we moved out to the country and I found myself more able to create this environment, although I never was able to achieve my vision. Barbies somehow appeared in our home, along with Baby Einstein and Sesame Street. I felt like a failure. I didn't have the perfect Waldorf home. I was a sell-out, another family sucked into the world of child consumerism. 

I discovered two Waldorf schools near our home. One, about an hour away, in Keene, NH had a lovely early childhood playgroup that we began to attend. C. loved it and fit right in. The crafts were soothing - felting balls, coloring with beeswax crayons, surrounded by wooden blocks. Eating snack (millet rolls and water) with glasses and proper plates, singing songs, feeding chickens, walking in nature, listening to stories...it appealed to both of us and influenced us in a positive way. I was so happy not to be dumping glitter on paper plates or gluing macaroni to a napkin. This was exactly what I thought Waldorf would be.

We also tried a playgroup at another local Waldorf school, which shall remain nameless. It was run by a woman who, frankly, creeped me out. She yelled at C. when C. touched some stuffed horses sitting on the windowsill because "those were her's and C. needed to respect her things." She was obsessed with lighting the candle at snack and chanting some bizarre Rudolph Steiner passage, and woe to the child who wanted to leave the table before she dismissed them, after chanting another odd passage and blowing out the candle. Mothers were required to sit around in a circle confiding how the big,bad world out there was so horrible and that living a complete Waldorf lifestyle was the only way to salvation. Needless to say, we didn't go back. The people there scared me, with a cultish lack of depth behind their eyes - I knew full well that every parent there was afraid to admit they watched American Idol or shopped at Target.

I still believed that Waldorf schools absolutely had the right philosophy about the early childhood years. Reading and writing are not introduced until Grade 1, and children attend kindergarten for two years, entering Grade 1 at about age 7. The work of childhood is play. I don't understand why parents are obsessed with their children learning their letters at age 3, or learning to write their names by age 4 or 5. What is the point of all this?

Young children should have huge blocks of time for creative play, unhindered by the intellectual focus of adults. They should be living in a fantasy world, where fairies dance on the lakes and trolls live in the forest. My children can play for hours as wizards and fairies with no need for me to direct their play. They don't need to be entertained, because they instinctively know how to play, without pressing a button or turning a switch. Not to say my children do not watch tv - they do,and too much for my liking. They have their Leap Pads and occasionally play games on the computer (think PBSkids.org). And yes, we have plastic toys. But generally speaking, I think we have incorporated some aspects of Waldorf into our lives, but just the fun parts:) And I no longer feel like a failure, because I don't want to dictate to my children what they can and cannot like, and I am not surrounded by "Waldorfites" - I just have to guide us in the direction I would like to be moving and hope for the best.

I chose a Waldorf-inspired curriculum for our first year of homeschooling called Oak Meadow. I'll review it in my next post, but for now I have to get the kids to stop playing and make their beds - wish me luck!

Grammy comes to the country

We were so happy to have a visit from Grammy the other day. It's not often she's able to make it up to the country, so it was a very special day. The kids brought out the games for some fun.

Somehow it was decided that it would be fun to play on the table!

This way it was easier to snuggle up to Grammy!

After all the fun at home, we all went to C.'s Irish stepdance class so that Grammy could see her in action. It was a wonderful day and we look forward to the next visit!

Carmella enjoyed sledding in the backyard while George, of course, was swinging!

I'm meelllllllttttttttiiiiiiiiinnnnnggg!

Well, it was 60 degrees in January here in the Monadnock region, and even though we were out all day enjoying a bit of sledding in the backyard, our poor snowman was not very happy.

New Year's Day

I suppose it is completely appropriate that I started off 2008 by cleaning puke up everywhere in my house. Poor G. caught the stomach bug with a vengeance and hasn't learned the fine art of rushing to the toilet. Funny how the bodily secretions of your own children, even the nasty stinky ones, rarely bother you. (Poor C. though, was quite queasy witnessing several of the bigger hurls)

Why think that the New Year should start off with a clean house, a lovely brunch, witty conversation and a good novel? No, that would be too cruel - the reality would creep in at some point. Better to be swept up in chaos, laundry, dirty dishes, an upset tummy, and an inordinate amount of vomit right from the start to be reminded of one's reality. 

Please don't get the impression that I am complaining or bemoaning my fate - I'm not! In fact, I was happy to take care of little G., and I am even happier he seems to be much better this morning. The life of a mother isn't always easy - we need the clouds and rain to remind us to be happy when the sun is shining and the roses are blooming.

The Year in Review

Here is my Top 10 list of 2007:

Best vacation: Texas y'all! Uncle Mark and Auntie Liz showed us a yee-hawin' good time and we loved every minute of it. Best of all, C. learned to swim!

Best summertime fun: Cape Cod at Grammy and Papa's house. Swimming in the ocean, swimming in the ocean, and more swimming in the ocean!

Best new Christmas tradition: The Living Nativity at the Lutheran Church - definitely something to look forward to every year.

Best Decision: Homeschooling! I feel so happy to be able to be doing something so meaningful - and relieved that it is going so well!

Best Fall memories: jumping in the leaves, going applepicking, making caramel apples

Best Thing of the Year for George: Preschool! George was nervous at first, but by the end of the first day he was so happy. He has made wonderful new friends and loves Christy, his wonderful teacher. He is learning so much and is so proud, especially about being able to write his name.

Best Thing of the Year for Carmella: She couldn't choose just one, so she chose learning to read and learning to swim. Huge accomplishments that will lead to so many more.

Best Thing I did for Myself: A vacation to see Sam in England. A 4-day respite from the daily grind, time completely for myself, time to see my best friend's beautiful city, her lovely home(s), and her glamourous friends. Brighton is absolutely fantastic, I highly recommend it to anyone going to England. 

Best Thing We have done as a Family: Finding a Church that we like (I'm not entirely convinced we will stay there but it is fine for now) and attending mass every week. Incorporating our faith into our daily lives is truly enriching our family life.

And the best thing about 2007: Being continually committed to each other, living a simple happy life, enjoying the little things, trying not to worry too much about the big things, loving, laughing, and growing together. Let's hope 2008 is just as wonderful!

How about you? What's in your Top Ten of 2007?