Christopherus Homeschool Resources
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Donna Simmons' curriculum materials are so clear and accessible.

I often recommend them, both as a starting point for new parents who are just beginning to study Waldorf Ed., and to more seasoned homeschoolers looking for curriculum ideas. Donna's words are like an offer of a reassuring hand, to make me feel: 'I can do it' and to help me relax and know that my instincts are right.

She deeply understands developmental readiness, and her encouraging words have often helped me to observe my child with a fresh perspective, and to relax, knowing that I don't need to push the learning process ... Having Donna's books to refer to is like having a wry and witty best friend, just an arm's length away, ready to share her wisdom and encouragement.

Thea Bodger,
homeschooler and Waldorf early years teacher

We received our books this morning. They are absolutely fantastic.

We feel blessed to have come across your website under Waldorf homeschooling. Have always wanted to incorporate Steiner into our lives, but had no access to the school itself and found some Steiner books over my head/ hard to read. Everything in the books I have skimmed through rings so true and feels so right. They incorporate humor and give me all the ideas and info that I have been seeking in this technocratic world! Thank you so very much for these books.

Anneke and Craig

I just wanted to say how much I appreciate your work.

I'm finding the whole homeschool thing very challenging, and one downfall of all this waldorf stuff for me is that I now have such high standards of how I want things to be. When things get hard, and I yell at the children, act like a child myself and totally lose it,(which is daily) I come back to your books, your audios and this forum [Waldorf at Home]. And now, as I read the books, I can sort of hear your voice and your intonations. I really like your sense of humour, and combination of common sense and yet strong opinions. Anyway, I just wanted you to know. Thank you.

Carla
Australia

Thank you SO much for your follow-up!

I did receive both the order and the audio download. I was so impressed with each and every item that I ordered and am anxious to listen to the audio download. In fact, I am going to use the Christopherus Curriculum with my daughter! What I have read, so far, answers a multitude of questions and fills so many gaps that I am experiencing with [another homeschool] curriculum.

Many, many thanks for providing such creative, thoughtful, fulfilling and practical ways to connect and teach my daughter! These resources truly exceed my expectations! (I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the schedule provided with each block, as well as the blocks, themselves.) THANK YOU!
Sincerely,

Jennifer Moore

You make homeschooling do-able.

Reflecting back on all the wonderful Christopherus works that I own, Joyful Movement, the overview, the nature book, form drawing, the Kindergarten book, the drawing book, several of your second grade materials (animal legends and the math book), and now Living Language, I just wanted to send another big thank you to Donna and the entire Christopherus gang.

Two years ago we started our homeschooling journey with Enki and I was overwhelmed! I loved the story materials, but the guidance was very lacking. Without Donna's materials I would have never figured out how to use the wonderful Enki stories. (and I'm a self-educated, intelligent gal! I just didn't have the time to wade through all those binders and binders of resources and read through the vast amount of theory. And I lacked the teaching experience to be able to turn all that theory into something useable and do-able).

I find Donna's take on Waldorf, homeschooling, and unschooling echoes my own very closely, and so I find comfort in her practical, down-to-earth guidance. She has helped me to be able to navigate our own course on our homeschooling journey. I just want to make sure she knows how much I appreciate these materials, and the heart and soul that she and her entire family have poured into them. Thank you so very much.

Chris
Ohio, USA

I just placed an order.

I was trying to get along without ordering Saints and Heroes and 2nd Grade Mathematics, using the many other resources that I have, but I was realizing that I was missing your voice, conciseness and direction. I constantly struggle with the balance of unschooling and getting in the Waldorf framework. Your books make me feel like I can check off certain Waldorf principles balancing it with our natural family rhythms and my interests.

Ellen

I found Christopherus a couple of weeks ago and it has been such a blessing.

I think I read nearly every word on your website in the first few days! I've listened to several of your audio downloads. Your voice is so calming and reassuring, to say nothing of the helpful content.

All I can say is that I feel inspired and empowered, in a word, nurtured, in my role as a mother and as a woman. I felt myself exhale. I hadn't realized I was holding my breath! It was like 'oh my god, somebody out there gets me. Somebody out there knows what I'm trying to do better than I do and she's done it, AND she's willing to share her insight and wisdom!'

Thank you! Thank you!
Most sincerely,

Areatha

I can't tell you what your work has meant in my life, and I can't imagine my life without the many gifts of Christopherus.

The Overview, especially, has been my guide since the day I first held it in my hands, and although we drift off to this and that, it's the backbone of what I do here at the Egan Family Homeschool. How can I ever thank you?

I listened to the therapeutic talk yesterday and it was so interesting, and then, at the end, you said a sentence that knocked me off my feet and made me remember why I chose Waldorf and why it's healing "powers" are so important in this day and age. My youngest daughter is "gifted" (whatever that means) and is nowhere near appropriately incarnated into her body. That's what happens when you let in-laws and "experts" and fear lead you astray from what you know is truth. Thank goodness for your voice of reason Donna. You help me in more ways than I can ever express.

And as to the Overview, when I'm feeling a little overwhelmed I often just flop it open and pick a phrase or sentence that will inspire me in that moment. This trick has *never* failed me. Never.

As you know, I love to buy your books - for myself, as gifts, and for any reason I can think of! I will continue to support Christopherus this way as long as I can. I couldn't do it without you.

Penny

I'm absolutely thrilled with the books that I've purchased from you!

We are into our Language Arts block, and Madison, my six year old, is loving every minute of the Prince's adventure with the Wise Woman. I am too. This is the most creative and fun way to learn! Maddie asked me today on her way down the hall......."Mom how does a "j" go again?"......and then before she turned the corner.....in the most satisfied voice she said, " never mind, I know, ....like the jester."

My husband is in school full time right now, and very busy with his studies. Maddie can't wait to show him, when he comes home, her latest pictures in her main lesson book. She's so proud of what she's learned and of her artwork.

It feels so rewarding to watch her shine like this. As I've shared with you before, we are new to the Waldorf approach, and I am continually grateful that we've found it, and you. What a difference your books have brought to our home. We love circle time so much more now that we've been using the Joyful Movement book. My two year old son and four year old daughter join in singing and clapping.
Many, many thanks for all your hard work!

Mary G.











 

  Third Grade Package
Third Grade Package

 

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A fully integrated year with a hands-on and practical orientation.

Third Grade Package includes: Please note that the following books which are available separately and as part of the First Grade Curriculum, remain essential components of third grade: The Christopherus Third Grade Curriculum

Our third grade curriculum is a carefully woven whole, with the main theme of 'practical work' appearing again and again. The hands-on approach this year emphasizes practical construction projects, gardening, cooking, and making and doing in every aspect of the curriculum. Practical math centers on measurement and math instruction occurs not only in specific math main lessons and practice lessons, but during cooking, weather, farming and building lessons.

A Native American theme also runs through the year, with two 4 week main lessons devoted to gaining an experience of the lives of Peoples of the Desert, Woodlands, Rice, Rain and Mist, Ice and Snow, Swamps and Plains. Building projects, a Three Sisters Garden, cooking, crafts and handwork throughout the year tie the Native American and practical work themes together.

As always, our curriculum is designed to give step-by-step instruction with a clear progression of the year's lessons whilst also remaining flexible and open to meeting the needs of widely different children.

Aside from full and clear lessons, stories, crafts and other ideas for all main lessons, we provide instructions, advice and stories for lessons in music, form drawing, handwork, movement, painting, cooking, modeling and crafts. We give advice on how to include health and safety and other lessons to meet legal requirements one might have.

Our curriculum is packed with realistic advice so you can make this year work! Our Practical Considerations include: a full schedule not only of main lessons but of all other lessons and advice on how to adjust the schedule and pacing of subjects to meet your needs; an in-depth look at the Nine Year Change; how the Waldorf curriculum meets the developmental stage and what parents can do to support this; advice, tips and strategies for teaching; meeting legal requirements.

As any Waldorf-inspired curriculum is, by definition, utterly holistic, it can be misleading to split main lessons into categories such as 'language arts' or 'science'. The Native American blocks, for instance, can be easily considered to meet requirements for language arts, science, social studies, art and more!

Our assumption this year, as in past years, is that you still have a 4 day week. This will change next year. We give the following main lessons which add up to a 34 week year – this gives you enough leeway to schedule in an extra week for this or that block; to add in a weeks' camping trip or similar; and to generally ensure that life breathes and is not too hectic!

Here is an outline of our Third Grade Curriculum:

Language Arts: The Language Arts section of the Third Grade Syllabus discusses skill areas such as reading, writing, grammar, spelling and vocabulary and then gives ideas on how to work with these skill areas throughout the curriculum. There is also ample discussion and advice on telling and reading stories; handwriting and the pros and cons of cursive (script); and poetry as well as lists of readers and 3rd grade read-aloud books.
  • Old Testament Stories - one 6 week block
  • Stories of Wonder - one 3 week block
  • Native Americans - two 4 week blocks
Math:
  • review - one block
  • time and money - one block
  • measurement - one block
  • consolidation and moving forward - one block
Science: Science this year centers on an experiential, phenomena-based study of the weather where you live. Gardening as well as gaining an understanding of the way Native Americans traditionally lived in harmony with the environment are also science subjects in the 3rd grade curriculum.
  • weather - 3 one week blocks

Practical Projects:

  • gardening and farming - one 3 week block
  • making various indoor and outdoor building projects - one 4 week block
Painting, Drawing & Modeling: Painting, drawing and modeling appear throughout the year and there are plenty of step-by-step instructions and specific ideas for you to do with your child. Full handwork and crafts curricula are also included.

We are excited to share this curriculum with you! Donna's lifelong experience with Waldorf education plus her experience of working on farms and in gardening make this an especially rich year's curriculum. We hope you and your child enjoy using it as much as we did in creating it!

We invite all people wishing to work with the Christopherus Curriculum packages to consider purchasing either or both our Waldorf Curriculum Overview for Homeschoolers and From Nature Stories to Natural Science. These books will considerably broaden and enrich the homeschool parent's way of bringing Waldorf to one's homeschool.

Read Third Grade Curriculum Testimonials

Read our Publications Age Guide for additional publications for Third Grade

Further information about the Christopherus Curriculum

Order the complete package for Christopherus Third Grade below.

If you already have one or more of the components and do not require the full package you may order the components individually.


Item# Item Name Our Price Qty Add
CHR1003 Third Grade Package
$360.00
XXX-1003 Third Grade Components - Order Individually Below:
$0.00
CHR0021 Third Grade Syllabus
$340.00
CHR0019-1003 Old Testament Stories - Manual And Storybook
$36.00
Check the items you wish to purchase, then click

  Additional Recommendations... (also read our Publications Age Guide for more recommendations)

Drawing With Your Four To Eleven Year Old Joyful Movement Third Grade Audio Learning About The World Through Modeling
$23.00
$26.00
$14.00
$24.00
Drawing with your Four to Eleven Year Old Joyful Movement - A Resource for Nurturing Balance, Movement and the Senses Third Grade Audio Learning About the World Through Modeling (Arthur Auer)


5 of 5
| Total Reviews: 4

  Customer Testimonial
 
I Am So Happy I Have Found Donna's Work June 22, 2011
  From: Alex Gorman from Charlottesville, VA, USA  
I am so happy I have found Donna's work. Right now I'm using the Christopherus 3rd Grade Curriculum with my 9 year-old. I first used her texts during the 2nd grade and our home began to flourish (yes home, not just homeschooling). I have consulted with Donna and used her books and am delighted that the same person I talk to on the phone is the same compassionate, funny and wise voice I read in the books.

My experience has been that if something I read in one of her books raises a question in my mind, I undoubtedly find the answer in the next paragraph or on a subsequent page. If I want to know the least bit of information just to move ahead with the day's lesson I can find it...if I want to go layers deep in the same issue I can find that, too. She is so deeply knowledgeable about Waldorf education and what sets her apart, to me, is her ability to help me bring it home in a way that brings the best of both Waldorf and homeschooling. It is very rich, indeed. I believe Donna has found her voice and her niche. I am so happy for her...and me!

Alex Gorman
Charlottesville, VA   USA


  Customer Testimonial
 
Your Materials Are Beautifully Done, Practical June 22, 2011
  From: Kim from San Francisco, CA, USA  
Your third grade curriculum is wonderful. I was initially considering just using the shelf full of resources I accumulated after third with my daughter. But I'm so glad I purchased your materials. They're beautifully done, practical, and accessible.

The only thing I tend to ignore are the suggested breaks. I get going and want to keep at it, but then find out we naturally slow down our pace and need that time off. I'm going to build in those times to rest and do other things from now on.

Kim
San Francisco, CA   USA


  Customer Testimonial
 
All Of Your Manuals Have Become Blessed Advisers June 22, 2011
  From: Lynn from Connecticut, USA  
It was with great joy that I received your Third Grade Curriculum last week. An even greater joy was mine when I finished reading it! My husband and I feel tremendously blessed that you "guide" us on our homeschool journey. All of your manuals (well at least those we have yet purchased!) have become blessed advisers.

Thank you kindly for your brilliant work! May you have a lovely summer in your garden. I would have liked to have sent you a sweat pea from ours, but they are just so fragile,

With sincerest regards,

Lynn
Connecticut   USA


  Customer Testimonial
 
3rd Grade Curriculum Is Amazing June 22, 2011
  From: Mollie from New Jersey, USA  
I've just finished reading the 3rd grade curriculum you so promptly sent us. It is absolutely amazing. It is so well laid out, easy to follow and enjoyable to read. I can hardly wait to start next year!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for a job well done.

Mollie
New Jersey   USA



Browse for more books and audios in the same categories as this item:

THE CHRISTOPHERUS CURRICULUM
THE CHRISTOPHERUS CURRICULUM > 3rd Grade
PUBLICATIONS AGE GUIDE
PUBLICATIONS AGE GUIDE > LOWER GRADES
 


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