The Tyranny of the Main Lesson Book

Posted by Donna Simmons

One characteristic of Waldorf education is its focus on the creation of main lesson books throughout all 12 grades. Every day, in every grade, during the first 2 hours of the morning, each class is focused on its current main…

Five Things Every Waldorf Homeschooler Should Stop and Consider…

Posted by Donna Simmons

I think there must be times in every homeschooler’s life when she (or he) wishes that she could just put the children on the couch and freeze them there for a year or two while she catches up, re-groups, consolidates…

The Goal of Waldorf Education

Posted by Donna Simmons

One of the most important and attractive elements of the Waldorf curriculum is the way children are led through an exploration of subject matter in an ever-deepening way. In accordance with her stage of development , the child experiences the world…

Keep Calm and Homeschool On

Posted by Donna Simmons

by guest contributor Barbara Benson Guidelines for homeschooling multiple ages of children One of the most frequently asked consulting questions I receive is how to homeschool multiple ages of children and keep one’s sanity! It is a challenge and I…

Working Moms and Homeschooling

Posted by Donna Simmons

by guest contributor Barbara Benson In truth, every mom is a working mom. The job of taking care of a family is a large one. For those of us who add on paid employment, either outside the home or at…

Transitioning from School to Homeschooling

Posted by Donna Simmons

By guest contributor Barbara Benson Taking your child out of public school or a private school in order to homeschool is a major life decision for the family. In my experience as a consultant, this decision can often occur in…

A Midwinter Evaluation of Your Homeschooling

Posted by Donna Simmons

January or early February is a good time of year for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere to take stock of where we are with our homeschooling. Here are a few suggestions to keep your homeschooling rhythm on track:…

Managing Multiple Main Lessons

Posted by Donna Simmons

By guest contributor Barbara Benson It takes organization, dedication and some flexibility to homeschool multiple children. The simple fact is that you are not going to be able to follow each syllabus thoroughly with each child. As a parent of…

Transitioning to High School

Posted by Donna Simmons

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…

Role of Non-Teaching Spouse

Posted by Donna Simmons

by guest contributor Barbara Benson Many couples that do Waldorf inspired homeschooling share similar values on education and adopting a Waldorf inspired rhythm to homeschooling. There are times, however, when one person “discovers” Waldorf and is determined to augment it…