Second Grade Speech and Poetry

Posted by Donna Simmons

The following is an excerpt from our Christopherus Second Grade Syllabus, from the language arts section. I am very proud of our curriculum materials but I have to say that I am especially proud of the language arts section of all our…

Devising a Schedule that Works

Posted by Donna Simmons

One of the things that I take great pains to emphasize throughout our Christopherus publications is advise on how to teach and how to organize one’s lessons. Drawing from my background as a Waldorf teacher and homeschooling mother, I try…

Trusting the Child?

Posted by Donna Simmons

In my recent blog where I wrote about our middle grades curriculum, I referred to Waldorf Unschooling. What follows is from a discussion on our (now closed 2014) discussion forum where a member asked a question she entitled "Waldorf vs…

Musings on School Readiness and Older Children

Posted by Donna Simmons

It’s that time of year again…parents agonizing about whether their six year old should start first grade or stay in kindergarten….Such a big decision. Steiner’s entire picture of the development of the human being rests on an understanding of the seven…

Drowning in Dialogue

Posted by Donna Simmons

Just the other day I was in our local co-op (center of life here in our small Midwest town – especially now when there are two feet of snow on the ground) bobbing about doing my shopping when I became…

Curative Education: A Review

Posted by Donna Simmons

Here is a review written by Carrie Dentler, enthusiastic Waldorf at Home forum moderator. Carrie, as a pediatric intensive care therapist, has an on-going interest in the health bringing basis of Waldorf education, including that focused specifically on children with…

Follow Up to Teens and Texting

Posted by Donna Simmons

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 Peace of Mary

Posted by Donna Simmons

This year for the first time I was able to participate in the celebration of Epiphany at my Church (The Christian Community – the Church inspired by the work of Rudolf Steiner). I was privileged to participate in the most…

A Job for Samuel

Posted by Donna Simmons

Sometimes it can be so easy for parents of young children to forget how simple it actually is to keep them engaged and pleasant to be with. During Advent I was at my Church helping before the Advent spiral. Some…

Imagination and Discipline

Posted by Donna Simmons

by Donna Simmons Today I had an opportunity to remember how one needs to develop one’s own imagination so as to deal creatively with a potential discipline problem with young children. What happened was both typical and easily dealt with…