How To Do Waldorf Homeschooling For Free #1

Updated: 3/19/19:  Since this post gets thousands of hits every year, I've updated resources to include places which help you blend ages.    You CAN blend ages so you don't need one level/grade for each of your kids.  

Yep, that's right, you can pretty much do Waldorf homeschool for free in the beginning by following some easy steps.

First, Waldorf is not like other homeschool curriculum.  You may be attracted to the wood toys, pretty play cloths and wool BUT  that is not homeschooling using Waldorf.  That is some of the What but not the Why.  With Waldorf you will have to learn a new way of learning that is probably very, very different than the way you were taught.  It involves a pedagogy that has children learning topics at certain times based on their developmental needs. All the Waldorf curriculums out there are based on lectures by Rudolf Steiner which you can get free.   You can even download audios of them so you can be learning in the car while the kids are singing songs :)

So what are the steps?

1.  Figure out how your day should go with times of high energy and then times of low energy.  Alternate these times through out your day and post it on the wall so you have it to glance at.  Keep your food & sleeping as the touchstones of the day always doing those at regular times.  If you need ideas on what that looks like look at my rhythm tab for ideas...only ideas...your day will probably be different.  Now make a list of all the things you need to do weekly and then monthly and write it all on a calendar.

2.  Download The Kingdom of Childhood book - Start with this book because it's pretty much most of what you'll need to understand how Waldorf works and more importantly WHY it works the way it does.  You can read this over a week and then let it rest.  There are other titles with teaching in the title and I recommend them for another time once you've got yourself going.

3.  Download The Kingdom of Childhood audio - you need this for when you're learning to knit and would like to listen to something while your hands are busy. ;)

4. You need only ONE good craft book which you can get from Inter Library Loan (ILL)  I recommend All Year Round or Child's Seasonal Treasury.

5.  Get a curriculum chart.  Here's a free compact one from Jamie York Press.  While you're there you might as look at all the free stuff he has for your children. DON'T get lost over there looking, just get what you need.

6.  Now that you've read The Kingdom of Childhood, have the curriculum chart and have your craft book, you need to plan out your first 2 blocks (units) and include 1 craft (handwork) project a week for you (if kids under 7) and with the kids (if over 7).   Do easy handwork not monumental projects that have you learning and trying to teach at the same time.  Learn things like knitting first and THEN bring it to your child.   It can be as simple as baking at first!  If you get lost I recommend joining Waldorf Homeschooling Yahoo  The Child Is The Curriculum group and then asking questions.  It's a VERY friendly group and well moderated by Anne over at The Child Is The Curriculum Instagram. Post what you need then get on with your life and come back later in the day and you'll probably have your answer.  Another great place for units is an old, old group on Yahoo called Waldorf Education Resources by Marsha Johnson. You may have to wait a bit to join since it's old but the files section is a GOLDMINE for units!  And last but not least is Over In The Meadow for resources.  

7.  Start Listening to Waldorf Essentials' Chat's with Lauri.  It fills in a lot of gaps about curriculum and how to do it at home.  

Please don't get hung up on:  Circle Time, handwork, festivals, toys, painting, etc. that keeps you from actually DOING the block you've written out.  We'll get to this stuff on the next post.   Don't go surfing the net for ideas by looking at blogs, Pinterest, and all the other things that FEEL like you're homeschooling when in fact, you're not.  Go about your housework and include your kids.  Yes, it will take a lot longer but they are learning while you're getting the housework done.  Limit your outings to only 1 a week.  You'll be amazed at what you can do when you are not going here, there & everywhere....and you'll save gas! Bonus!