Waldorf Homeschooling

Author : The Homeschool Mom

Link to Article

Year : 2020

What is it?

The Waldorf homeschooling method is a liberal arts education system popularised by Rudolf Steiner in Europe in the late 19th early 20th century.

• Subjects are not separated, but intertwined
• Education covers body, mind and spirit
• Textbooks are only used at an older age, and even then sparingly
• Early education is focused on experiences and activities, over mental learning (below 7 years)
• Practical, activity based and sensory focused
• Lots of songs, games and poems, but limited exposure to television, mainstream music etc
• Middle years are focused on discovery (7-14 years)
• Self paced and self directed
• Art, creation and imagination are at the centre of all activities
• And later years are focused on finding one’s place in the world (above 14 years)
• More academically focused
• Key ideas of ethical action and social responsibility

Beyond Curriculum

• The availability of a lot of material and curriculum plans is useful. But the idea of homeschooling goes beyond that. Putting a fixed curriculum aside allows students to follow a passion, study different subjects at different grade levels, cover backlogs, develop a research mindset etc. There is no shortage of materials like books, hands-on activities and the internet at large to stray beyond the curriculum.
• Live a learning lifestyle, over and above a fixed set of concepts which must be covered in order.
• Playing with and self discovery of nature and the outdoor world is mentally and emotionally beneficial. Children should be allowed to self-discover how to play with and learn from nature. The simple rule of less is more, allows them to interact with the outside world and develop their imaginations.
• Self-directed reading of fiction is a great way to build curiosity, imagination and vocabulary. Mythological books (epics) and fantasy books as well as everything in the pre-teen genre is a great starting point to build a reading habit.
• Traditions and festivals can help one learn about the world, history and human nature. It is a fun and routine way of making learning and other activities interesting. Martinmas is a classic tradition followed in Waldorf schools. But other traditions can be borrowed or created too.
• Indulging in practical real-world science can help develop a better understanding of the subject, and an appreciation for what goes into it. Participating in “citizen science” activities has the added benefit of contributing to and being a part of major scientific work. zooniverse

Transition to Homeschooling

• Transitioning from school to homeschooling can be difficult on many fronts. That doesn’t necessarily mean it is not the right choice. There are resources and communities that should be leveraged to understand the challenges and navigate them in a way which works for the child and parents in question.
• Establishing some routines, rhythms and rituals helps by freeing up one’s mind space from the mundane, to focus on tougher challenges. It helps establish a rhythm, so that each day is easier to navigate. But it is important to allow these routines to evolve and allow some flexibility, so that it is a guide, and not a prison.

Making it Work

• Education is a long drawn process, which doesn’t immediately match up to big dreams. It should be sustainable by design, intentionally simple and slow, with reasonable expectations.
• Authentic engagement and learning is centred around following one’s curiosity. It is important to be able to simplify one’s life, identify your natural rhythm and then pursue new and interesting things. Within this rhythm, building a discipline and ability to deep dive matters.
• Creativity can’t be taught, but the right kind of exposure can help it blossom. Provide open ended learning opportunities, in artistic and creative spaces. Make sure to mentor rather than teach, especially in places where there are no strictly right answers.