Sale at A Little Garden Flower ends November 30!

I really enjoyed our Grade 1 year with them last year.  If you are waiting for a deal on their curriculum please stop by before the end of November.  The guides are awesome.  They give you something to do everyday.  You get all the stories and instructions you need in a very easy to use format.  I love their curriculum!  Their prices are amazing for all that you get.  With a few simple supplies you can be up and running or um...homeschooling for a new year in no time flat.  Plus, you will find more time in your day for reading library books, playing outside, crafting or homeschooling the older children.

The sale is 15% off everything in the store.

How our Year is going so far....October 2010.

I realize now that we have not participated in the weekly updates at The Well Trained Mind Forums.  I think we are just so busy this year.  We are doing pretty well and getting school work done.  But, organization in some areas is really lacking.  So, how about a nice what we did in October post...

The Warrior is in Grade 2 this year....

He is working through Oak Meadow 2 for most of his curriculum.  I am really happy I finally purchased this for one of my students.  I am thrilled with this curriculum and could really kick myself for not using it sooner.  It is flexible and yet concrete.  I don't think you need the extras I have included.  But, my student needs extra work in Phonics and Math.  We through in some Science Kits because I knew he would be jealous of his brothers kits.  We tried to do kits together last year and it wasn't as much fun.  He was really happy to get his own this year.  

He is using Hooked on Phonics to work on his reading skills.  He is still struggling, but there is some promise to learning to read on his own this year.  We just need to be consistent.  

He is working on Math U See Alpha because I just don't see OM math to be a good fit yet. 

He has finished up The Magic School Bus Human Body Kit.   

 

And, will be starting The Stepping into Science Kit soon.

The Peacemaker is in Grade 5 this year...

He is still in a more classical style.  I think I might move towards Oak Meadow for his for the next year, though.  I think it would fit better.  But, I just couldn't fit him into a grade for this year, plus he really wanted to finish up The Story of the World with is older brother.  

He is doing Teaching Textbooks 4 for Math.

First Language Lessons 3, Writing with Ease 2, and Italics Handwriting Book C for Language Arts.

He is studying Chemistry this year with The Elements by McHenry, plus a whole lot of kits we got from Home Science Tools.  

The Prophet is in Grade 8 this year...

We are a bit nervous about the upcoming start of High School.  I am trying not to push him to hard. I am trying to be a good homeschooling mom and realize I need to meet him where he is.  He isn't behind.  He is right where he needs to be and that is why we homeschool.  

He is working on Teaching Textbooks 6, Jump-In Writing Program, Italics Handwriting, The Elements by McHenry, Story of the World 4.

Autumn Favorites

Well, I know for most people it is already officially Autumn.  Our family tries to gradually allow Autumn to arrive.  We are Summer people!  But, this year we will try to embrace Washington Autumn.  We will try to patiently put up with her mood swings and warm teases.  We will laugh when we live the grocery store and get soaked to our bones.





Here is our nature table or rather shelf.  It gradually gathers things until we realize it is ready for a change.  I thought if we are going to say good bye to Summer we should clean it up a bit.  I spent some time on a chalkboard "drawing".  Well, rather it is just a poem. A drawing will wait.



The poem I am using was a direct inspiration from Magic Onions.  I loved her nature table.  I really should think a bit more about ours.

A very sweet rhyme for circle time from Seasons of Joy.

Gluten Free Mommy's Pumpkin Enchiladas which I always remember come Autumn. My youngest son loves these.  He requested them for his birthday last year.  They are wonderful with black beans for the vegetarians

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I have been desperately praying and seeking new Rhythm.  Every-time I think I have it down something happens and blows it all up.  I was all prepared for this new school year and I found out I was pregnant.  I am not as sick as last time.  But, I am just so tired.  Smoosh that together with the crazy destruction of a one year old and well our year is not off to the start I had hoped for.  

Watercolor Painting

I recently went through all the photos. It looks like we have quite the back up of downloads =). What can I say? It was a fun school year.


These are the painting supplies we purchased. Paints are from Paper Scissors Stone. Paper and brushes from Dick Blick. We mixed the paint about half and half with water in baby food jars.


I used some ideas from A Little Garden Flower You Tube videos.


On my list for the upcoming year, is Painting with Children. I hope this might give me some help in actually planning some painting lessons. I'm not looking at being too formal. But, I do need a little help in that area.

Prepositions, Waldorf Chalkboard

DSC08500
Originally uploaded by OakBlossoms

Here is the chalkboard we purchase from Paper, Scissors, Stone. I'm not sure how prepositions are introduced in the typical Waldorf school. But, this is how we are doing it in our school. It just so happens that both older boys are hitting prepositions at the same time in their curriculum. One is using Winston Grammar and the other is using First Language Lessons 3. We are doing just a few at a time until we learn them all. I'm not all that talented, so I'll do my best with the fancy chalkboard.

The chalkboard is nice. It's a good size and lightweight. I took this picture with a flash and I can really see the lines where we erased on it. I did have the boys go over with a piece of chalk first to prime it. But, maybe we should have went over it again.

I used the Mercurius chalk from Paper, Scissors, Stone. It's amazing and soft and vibrant.

Waldorf Homeschooling

I've had several people ask to see samples of A Little Garden Flower.  I just found out they are offering a sample pdf so you can see what they have to offer.

Teaching the Alphabet Waldorf Inspired

So, I've read about Waldorf for many years.  I wanted to try Oak Meadow with my oldest in Grade 1.  That is actually in one of my first posts way back when.  But, I never did.

So without regrets and perfectionism we are will work through the alphabet equipped with stories from A Journey through Waldorf Homeschooling Grade 1, crayons, paper, and our imaginations.  He has already a half a years practice with letter, writing, and some reading instruction.  So, what you will see here isn't typical or wonderfully artistic.  But, it's inspired...and remember it's our journey.

Here are some more resources I dug up about Waldorf Inspired Alphabet learning and teaching.  If you have anything to share let me know and I'll add it.

Here is Elisabeth working on her main lesson book.
Artemis Moon shares how to make your own Waldorf inspired wall cards.
Road to Joy shares how she made the Alphabet hers.
Sara @ Teaching from the heart.

Why Waldorf?

I got a comment about Waldorf.  I thought I would throw out a few helpful links for anyone interested.  You can always check out my cloud label in the sidebar.  There is a waldorf tag.  Just click that and you will probably find some further links.

Why Waldorf Works is a site from the Association of Waldorf Schools North America.

A Little Garden Flower & Waldorf Essentials is where I've purchased my curriculum.

Bob and Nancy's Bookshop is probably the most popular Waldorf Bookstore.

Paper Scissors Stone is a supplier of Waldorf goods.

Form Drawing

I've been interested in form drawing for awhile.  I have been hesitant because I felt like there was some secret knowledge.  I'm just starting with my Grade 1 son. We are doing forms as they introduced in A Journey through Waldorf Homeschooling Grade 1. I think it will be some good practice.  He has already been doing some basic letter writing.  So, he played with some of the ones we did.  But, honestly I will not stop because I can't do it "right".  We enjoyed the process and I think that is what matters to us.

Here is a slideshow from Millennialchild.
Curriculum and more information from Barbara Dewey and Christopherus.
Some lovely examples at Nature Nest.
A Youtube video from A Little Garden Flower. And, the DVD set.
A form drawing lesson on a chalkboard at Flickr.  (Check out the entire set of chalkboard drawings.  They are gorgeous and I'm not quite there yet=))

Weather Tree

Our Grade 1 student has been studying weather.  We have read a ton of books from the library.  Last month we printed a weather chart from Enchanted Learning.  I really wanted to get this weather chart.  But, sometimes homemade just hits the spot.  The little guy decided to just do this month on his tree.  That gives him plenty of room.  I think next year we will branch out (ha ha ha) and do a years worth at once.  I wanted to share a few more links on weather trees here and here is a easy verse to sing in the mornings or while you are coloring in that leaf.




I'm not sure where the idea originated from, but Rockin- Granola said it was described in All Year Round.  

Moving towards Waldorf

We really are moving towards Waldorf.  I have purchased a Grade 1 curriculum and doing some work with my youngest son.  But, I've been reading and studying and moving towards Waldorf.  I'm not going to go crazy and drop everything we are doing now.  Partly because it would be a lot of work with the VA program we belong to.  I don't want to rewrite all their goals for the year.  So, I hope you enjoy some of the changes you see here.  


I hope it helps others who feel like maybe it's too late for their family or because they are Christians or because their income level is too low.  Those are the reasons I have fought over the years.  But, honestly something has changed and opened for us.  I think that change was our little girl.  But, it's blossoming into so much more.


Some of my favorite Waldorf Inspirations currently are:
The Online Waldorf Library  This site is amazing.  There is an unlimited amount of information to completely overwhelm you =)
These youtube videos from A Little Garden Flower were the kick in the pants I needed to get going.   
Waldorfmama has a lot of eye candy to devour.  Just like any candy, you could get downright sick if you thought you needed to run out right now and make the perfect Waldorf home.  Enjoy the beauty.  See what posts you are more attracted to.  Make a wishlist for upcoming birthdays.  I love her daughter's bedroom.  I've been wanting to change our colors since I was sick during my pregnancy.  I spent way too much time in there.  I've been looking everywhere and her pics really resonated with me.  

First Waldorf Stars

First Waldorf Stars
Originally uploaded by OakBlossoms

Here is a pic of our first stars. They were quite fun. I wasn't sure if E would enjoy making them or not. But, he actually did quite well with the folding. It's always nice to see him sit still and accomplish something beautiful.

Waldorf Inspiration

Here are some beautiful chalkboard drawings, as well as much, much more beauty from a waldorf school.  Hope it brings some beauty and inspiration to your upcoming week.