So, those of you who combine Waldorf and Classical methods...

[chrissymama]

Would you mind telling me about what you use?

 

So far, we have been a very Waldorf inspired family and there is so so much that I love about Waldorf. On the other hand, I have lately been feeling like I want to add some more Classical resources in for next year, particularly for my son who will be in third grade.

 

It's so funny because I haven't been to this forum in a while, but I came yesterday just to look around and saw a few threads about Waldorf! It must be a sign!

[....]

OK, I guess you could say that we loosely combine classical ed/Charlotte Mason and Waldorf lite...

 

Here's our line-up:

 

Oak Meadow (this is the Waldorf lite)- we're starting this in the fall

Sonlight Core 2 (this isn't as ominous as it sounds - like an hour a day)

Prima Latina

Writing with Ease

CLE LA

Megawords for one kid, BJU Spelling for the other

A Child's History of the World

Singapore Math for two kids, Horizons Math for the other

 

OK, so this is the first year that we're throwing Oak Meadow in the mix. Actually in the Middle School grades, I think OM looks a lot like classical ed and I will probably stop supplementing so much.

[StephanieF]

We are too although I'm still struggling with decisions. So far we have:

 

OM3

PR1/2

MOTL

DITHOR

Undecided about history, may use AS1 and/or Ambleside. Undecided about science, probably will use SL2, although OM may be enough. Ds will be 7 so I think for me the most important thing will be to get him writing

Stephanie

[momto2Cs]

I'm taking the advice of others for once... we'll be doing Oak Meadow (2nd & 4th grades) and adding in reading from AO - haven't decided which year yet! We may also continue reading from A Little History of the World (and additional literature) over the summer to explore some more of the flow of history.

 

I figure that OM 5th through 7th pretty much follow the WTM cycle, though they're "off" by a year, and we're planning on stretching OM 6 and 7 over 3 years (skipping OM 8).

 

We might add in Latin - am really not sure about this.

[helena]

I don't use Waldorf methods for academics, I use Waldorf books and materials for art, music, and play.

I use a mish mash of curriculum, including some stuff recommended in TWTM. But I had never read the book.

Now I'm reading it and I'm freaking out! I am so inspired.

 

I feel like my Montessori training gave me confidence and the proper skills to take control of the environment in my classroom. I run my classroom like a Montessori teacher. :D It also made the early years fairly stress free because I had already taught many children how to read, and how to understand early math concepts.

Waldorf brought the fantasy and imagination which Montessori lacks, and was like a bridge to CM. For us, all are rooted in a gentleness, all three of these methods pay homage to the natural world and our hunger to understand it. Whether it's the hand made wooden materials in the Montessori classroom, knitting by the fire in winter, or doing nature studies in our garden, they all feed our souls.

But this WTM book...is a whole new exciting layer. Now I want to feed the brain (not saying we haven't been doing this, we're pretty academic). I want to shake things up. My girls are starting 3rd & 6th grade next year, and I'm looking for a transition into something a little more... something. :tongue_smilie: I'm taking notes, and I expect to be able to define these changes I'm looking for very soon.

 

Some of the Waldorf products I've used and loved:

http://www.amazon.com/Stockmar-Modeling-Beeswax-Set-15/dp/B002VARMBW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1274378840&sr=8-3

http://www.amazon.com/Watercolor-Paints-Set-of-6/dp/B0013N16WY/ref=pd_sim_t_7

http://www.amazon.com/All-Year-Round-Lifeways-Druitt/dp/1869890477/ref=pd_sim_t_33

http://www.amazon.com/Feltcraft-Making-Dolls-Gifts-Toys/dp/0863151906/ref=pd_sim_b_61

http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Wool-Creative-Activities-Natural/dp/0863153135/ref=pd_sim_b_5

http://www.amazon.com/Wistyria-Editions-Roving-Autumn-WR-891/dp/B001C2DRNC/ref=pd_sim_k_2

http://www.amazon.com/Painting-Children-Brunhild-Muller/dp/0863153666

These books are awesome:

http://www.waldorfsupplies.com/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/psstone/store/agora.cgi?product=Lesson_Books_and_Paper

We still love this cd years later: http://www.imaginedition.com/french_books_music.htm, it kept their minds open to unfamiliar sounds and odd music. My kids have a slightly cynical sense of humor, stuff like this cd helps them stay balanced. Not sure if that makes sense :).

 

Some other things we do, have done, are going to do next year:

Math TT, Kumon, LOF

Lang Arts PLL, ILL, Phonetic Zoo, Cozy Grammar/Punctuation, reading lists & logs

Science unit studies, WP Sea & Sky, Private Eye, bird watching, gardening along with a journal

So. St. SOTW, WP S&S, map work, ancient history writing (IEW)

Arts Artistic Pursuits, piano, violin, choir, Vox Music Masters

Extras fencing, chess, and books, books, and more books on every and any subject.

[woolybear]

I am planning to use several programs and am working now to figure out just how without spending too many hours doing school

 

Older ds(will be 10):

Oak Meadow 3 (may switch into four sometime during the year)

Tapestry of Grace Year 2, Unit 1 (I haven't decided if we will go at half speed or even slower. Hence it may be unit 1 and 2 or just 1)

Ambleside Year 2

 

Oak Meadow looks pretty light still at Year 3. I really want it for core subjects and to establish the rhythm of using OM into our lives. I want to help ds work towards more independence with his school work this year. I am thinking we will do TOG mainly 1-2 days a week. Again, at this stage, TOG is not overwhelmingly intensive and I am slowing it down even more. Ambleside could be a full program alone, but I will have to feel my way through this to see just how much we can/should do.

 

I think Waldorf and Classical can be quite compatible and I like the balance of using different approaches.

[Aurelia]

I have been leaning more towards Waldorf because I really want to incorporate more art and music, since they have seemed to go on the back burner this year. I plan to combine Oak Meadow (1st grade) and selected books from Ambleside Online (year 1), like Fifty Famous Stories Retold and Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare. We will probably continue Story of the World as a read-aloud. I also plan to keep Writing With Ease, our phonics and math programs (because Ariel is already past most of what OM1 teaches in those areas), piano and Spanish.

[happyWImom]

This is what I think our plan is:

 

OM 2

Since OM 2 has an animal focus, WP Animal Habitats

SL 1&2 Core (not sticking strictly to it, but I've got all of the books, might as well use them)

Geography-Carmen/LovedtoDeath's Plans

Prima Latina

Piano lessons

 

(I think that's it)