Your Child and Tests

Posted by Gabriel2

The Christopherus curriculum definitely includes tests–but the right tests, given in the right way at the right time. Listen here for a discussion of this topic plus what to do if tests are required where you live. Here is the…

Why do Calligraphy?

Posted by Christopherus

by Barbara Benson Sometime early in my homeschooling, a Waldorf resource mentioned doing calligraphy in 6th and continuing through 8th as both an art form and a lovely embellishment for main lesson books, particularly in history. Over the years, I…

A Mathematics Main Lesson: Geometry in Man and Nature (7th and 8th)

Posted by Christopherus

By Barbara Benson The  primary reference text recommended in A Rough Guide for Seventh Grade  is Mathematics Around Us. The primary text for Eighth Grade is Mathematics  in Nature, Space and Time. These are both great books with wonderful illustrations….

A Freshman to Senior Timeline for High School Homeschoolers interested in College

Posted by Christopherus

by Barbara Benson, mother of 5 children, all homeschooled with Christopherus and other materials through high school I realize that there are few of you homeschoolers that are currently teaching high school, but since it is very much on my…

Transitioning to High School

Posted by Christopherus

The following was written by Barbara Benson, mother of 5 children, all homeschooled with Christopherus and other materials through high school. The Waldorf inspired curriculum at Christopherus is largely focused on grades 1-8, those years when a homeschooling parent is…

Organic Chemistry in 8th Grade

Posted by Christopherus

As a Waldorf homeschooling teacher, I have finally reached that milestone of completing my last 8th grade main lesson. My youngest daughter will still continue to homeschool for high school, but I definitely have that feeling that I have ended…

Communication Blackout

Posted by Christopherus

By Donna Simmons My sons have left home. They are now 18 and 20 and live in England, which is where they were born.  They are tall, strong, articulate young men, deeply concerned with the inequalities and tensions of our…

Children and Social Networking

Posted by Christopherus

At the bottom of this piece is an article that all of you who have children heading toward an awareness of social networking – or those who are involved with this already – might need to read. The article is…

What is the Fate of the Next Generation?

Posted by Christopherus

Here's a sobering article from the New York Times about our new generation of tech and media junkies. Why is this so surprising to so many people? I suppose the faint silver glimmer in this very dark cloud is that…

Hiking the Appalachian Trail

Posted by Christopherus

The following is from my neighbor, Sheila Sherwin, who, to my great admiration, began her homeschooling journey with her son by hiking the Appalachian Trail with him and another 11 year old boy (both boys were 12 by the time…

Follow Up to Teens and Texting

Posted by Christopherus

Thank you to all who responded to my earlier blog on Teens and Texting. I think this is a huge topic – one which I will return to again and again. And if you haven’t responded to my original blog…

The Child and the Community

Posted by Christopherus

Here is an article by Christopherus forum moderator, workshop presenter and consultant Barbara Benson about her experience as a homeschooler encouraging her older children to expand their horizons into the larger community, something that anyone homeschooling older children must do. While over…

Teens and Texting

Posted by Christopherus

Beware! My goodness – how those innocent looking little machines can take over one's life! This is a plea for parents to think very, very carefully before getting their teenager a cell phone. As for those parents contemplating getting one…

Empathy and Adolescents

Posted by Christopherus

The following is an excerpt from the magnificent book Loving the Stranger: Studies in Adolescence, Empathy and the Human Heart edited by Michael Luxford. This book comes out of the work of the Camphill Communities (curative communties where people of…

A Home For Teens

Posted by Christopherus

Having started a conversation her on my blog about the importance of being at home with ones little children (see Early Years Rant), I am now going to throw a another gauntlet down: this one has to do with teens…

8th Grade World History

Posted by Christopherus

A couple of months ago I got a phone call from the 8th grade teacher at our local Waldorf school – she was exhausted (as most th grade Waldorf teachers are) and was there any way I could come and…

Homeschool High School

Posted by Christopherus

Well, Gabriel, my 14 year old, decided to return home. He spent a semester and a little bit at the vaguely Waldorf high school where I was teaching and has had enough. He has come home. So now both my…

High School World History

Posted by Christopherus

Today I finished a three week main lesson at the Waldorf-flavored high school where I teach part time. It was a class with the juniors and we spent three weeks galloping through the centuries from the Fall of Rome to…

Handwork and Crafts with Older Children

Posted by Christopherus

It seems that everywhere one looks there are wonderful on-line stores and home businesses selling all manner of lovely craft items for children – young children. I can’t think why, but there is a distinct lack of craft kits and…

Books for Teens

Posted by Christopherus

The following is a list of books for teens – as the holidays approach people might be thinking about what books to get for their teenage sons or daughters. This is a difficult age to buy books for – just…

Last Year At Home

Posted by Christopherus

I can’t believe school only started two weeks ago! I feel like it’s all I think, breath and do – and that it is Life. How could it only be two weeks old?! Of course, by school, I not only mean…

Friendly Teens

Posted by Christopherus

It always amazes me – and saddens me – when I hear about or read about parents who have no idea who their teens are, who cannot communicate with them or who are at a loss as to how to…

Working Together

Posted by Christopherus

My son Gabriel and I have been busy these past few weeks creating a new unit study publication for sale – this one is on the Middle Ages and follows on from the Roman History unit study we already have….

Maturation of Thought

Posted by Christopherus

One of the exciting things about teaching at the Waldorf high school here in town is the opportunity to work with mixed age classes and to observe the differences between the students not only as individuals, but as young people…

Keeping One Step Ahead

Posted by Christopherus

This article first appeared in the Homeschool Journey newsletter, April 2005 One of the new and exciting challenges of living in town (as opposed to our former life on our farm) is the phenomena of friends. It seems obvious and…

Extending Play

Posted by Christopherus

This article first appeared in the Homeschool Journey newsletter, February 2004 Some of the most joyful moments I have  had as a homeschooling mom have come during our occasional ‘Boy Days’, days when my sons invite their friends over, en…