The Homeschool Journey

New Discussion Forum

Early this November (2006) we decided to close our very successful yahoo discussion list and open a Forum instead. Several factors contributed to this decision, the main ones being that the day to day questions about Waldorf homeschooling were being amply met by a number of yahoo lists and I wanted something more. How could I find the right vehicle to share my expertise, to make a warm and friendly environment and to serve both newbies and older hands?

 

The answer came by setting up a Forum - and I am excited to report that it is exceeding my expectations! It is divided into a number of sub forums, ranging from Early Years to High School, from Personal Growth to the Waldorf Home. So far conversations have been spread quite evenly between those about the needs of older children and the needs of little ones. There is room for chat - we have swapped cranberry sauce recipes and people have the space to say hello and network with other parents.

 

We also have room for in-depth discussion - how do I find the strength to be a parent and a homeschooler? What might I do to renew myself as an individual and as a parent? There has been a level of openness and warmth shared that was not possible on the yahoo group and has brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion.

 

Another exciting feature of the Forum is that we are undertaking some study as well - and as the Forum is divided into sub forums, this can be done in one section (usually in the Waldorf Philosophy and Anthroposophy sub forum) off on its own so people can choose to get involved or not - and lurkers are warmly welcome! So far we have read one piece together. We read "The Art of Thinking: Helping Students Develop their Faculties of Thinking and Observations" by Craig Holdrege of the Nature Institute. Though not everyone on the list has older children, an article like this is relevant to everyone as it is about thinking - and about working with anthroposophical ideas on expanding the possibilities of thinking and observation.

 

One of the nice things about the Forum is that things don't date, don't get passed by - anyone who now chooses to join can read the article and the discussion we had - and can even choose to post and carry on the discussion! There's no particular reason to close it!

 

We will next look at a short piece on renewal of the teacher; then perhaps a series of verses and a discussion on dreams during the Holy Nights for those who connect with this time of year; then a longer study of Manfred Schmidt Brabant's Spiritual Task of the Homemaker (15% off the book from Bob & Nancy if you tell them you are joining our conversation); and then another article following that, this one by Michaela Gloeckler on "Education of the Will as the Wellspring of Morality."

 

So I hope you will join us! One of the other reasons I set this Forum up is because I cannot keep up with the demand for consultations that come my way. My hope is that on this Forum I will be so involved and busy with it, giving long and deep answers to people's questions, that it will provide an alternative for at least some of the consulting needs people have. And that is why I charge for this new Forum - so that I can dedicate the time needed  to making it a priceless resource for Waldorf homeschoolers. The cost is low - $15 for 3 months, $50 for a year. Come and have a look! Three of the sub forums are open to anyone with no charge and you can have a look at the threads for free so you get a good idea of what we've been talking about. If you do decide to join us, don't forget to read the FAQ's (actually you can do that before you join) so you know how to get the most from the Forum.

 

Here's the link: http://www.waldorf-at-home.com/forums/index.php

 

 

Advent

In most Waldorf schools - at least those in North America, Central Europe and Britain -  a very special early Winter festival takes place for the children. This is the Advent spiral, a beautiful spiral of Light which symbolizes each individual "I" receiving his or her Light in this time of growing darkness.

 

Advent Sunday is the first of the four Sundays preceding Christmas (and if Christmas falls on a Sunday, that would be the fifth Sunday, not the fourth). Advent then is a period of time, not a single day or moment. It is a time of quiet preparation, of readying oneself to go without fear into the darkest time of year.

 

I have participated in many Advent spirals - as a child in my Waldorf school; as a teacher and parent in other Waldorf schools; in a Camphill community where we did a modified version of the Spiral; and in another anthroposophical community where we did a very special outdoor Advent spiral. I would like to share how these things are created in the hope that any family might find a way to recreated this very special ceremony with their families and perhaps with a larger community.

 

The single most important element in an Advent spiral is the mood. The right mood of the person carrying it, the mood of the children - and, most importantly of the parents, as they come into it, is absolutely essential. Every step and detail must be thought through and panned (and every mistake and disaster anticipated) so there is no hurrying, no flapping about, no hesitation, no furtive whispers exchanged ("what do we do with the apples?" "Oh no, the wax is dripping on the pine branches"). One can thus see that the participating families must be thouroughly prepared in advance for what will take place!

 

Basically, the idea is this: a large spiral created of pinegreenery and interesting branches. It is decorated with crystals, pine cones and other wintry items from Nature. In the center stands a  non wobbly stump with a flat surface - on this stands a large pillar candle, lit. Outside of the spiral someone stands witha tray with one red apple per child. The apples need to have been cored and a small candle put into each. Test out the apple candles to ensure they stand firmly - discard any which have a tendency to fall over. One adult carries the trays and hands an unlit apple candle to each child as s/he in turn comes up to the spiral.

 

The room with the spiral is dimly lit - if there are a lot of windows and you've timed this so that it is dusk when you start and dark when you finish - and by that time all the candles are lit, softly illuminating the room, you have Nature helping you create a wondrous mood.

 

Someone might be gently playing Christmas carols on a harp or lyre. Or, if that's not available, someone (an adult please) playing an alto recorder could be good. In a pinch, a few people softly humming carols can be very nice. What you don't want is lively singing! So no "Jingle Bells"!!

 

The room should be all set up first and families collect in another spece. No one can be late!!! No one can come in once you've started! Plan for this! Have everyone take off their coats and get sorted out before coming into the Spiral room.  Everything should be as quiet and peaceful as possible - the children should do their running around and shouting outside before they come into this anteroom - once in there the mood must be quiet so they can absorb what will take place in the Spiral room. Babies and toddlers can be a problem - it's harsh to say  but it's true. Having said that, if this really is done properly and if - this is a big if - the parents are fully on board and carrying the right mood in their hearts, most tiny ones are completely swept up by the reverential mood of peace and not a peep is heard. Older children can also be problematic (4 to 9 is about the optimum age for this festival). You might need to use older ones as helpers - holding the apple tray, standing to the side out of sight with the fire extinguisher, closing the door when everyone's in etc etc. You don't want clumps of giggling or sarcastic older children spoiling it! Appeal to their better nature - not by lecturing or scolding, but by giving them something to do.

 

So now everything is set and the leader opens the door to let everyone into the dimly room. Other adults in the room start to gently hum carols - or a lyre is played etc. Everyone takes their seats - hold this tightly - be like an usher, quietly showing people where to sit. You hum the carols too so as to let everyone see that this is not a time to talk.

 

Everyone is now seated. Start with someone who knows what they are doing - there is no verbal instruction, no welcome, no little speeches, no 'what shall we hum now'. Everything happens like clockwork. So the appointed child - an older one perhaps or an adult with a very small one who knows what she's doing, approaches the apple candle person and is given an apple (No choosing! You don't want some child going "which one - no I don't want that one"). She walks the spiral, slowly. She approaches the candle in the center and lights her candle. She then turns back and finds a good place to put her candle amongst the greenery.

 

If you have a large group, have the next person come up as the first is lighting her apple candle to keep things moving. If it is a small group, wait until she returns to her seat.

 

Every child gets to come up - this is a ritual for younger children who do not yet fully have their own Light and so must take from the Central Light. This is not for teens or adults. If a child is too shy to come up on her own, then it's fine for an adult or teen to accompany her. When we were in Camphill (anthroposophical intentional communities for developmentally disabled adults) we had an Advent lemniscate where two people, each with an apple candle, would walk the lemniscate and exchange their Lights in the center and then continue the path. This was felt to be appropriate for adults.

 

Once everyone has finished, sit and admire the lit candles. The room should only be lit by the candles. Continue to sing quietly. Then the leader, at the right moment, quietly opens the door for families to quietly - in silence or still singing/humming - to file out. Make sure a garish light from that room does not spoil the Spiral room. Ensure everyone is silent or humming as they get their coats on and go home. There should be no talking or running about - let the image of the Lit Spiral work on the children as they go home.

 

Once everyone is out, the leader and her helpers can extinguish the candles. No child should be present as this would spoil it for them. Collect up all the apples. I suggest you do not hand them out - maybe tomorrow people could get them - or perhaps someone will take them home and make apple sauce (don't let the children see them!). If you start to hand them out you'll inevitably get "I want that one" "That's not my candle!" etc etc which will spoil the mood.

 

You can also do this festival outside - in a wooded grove is really wonderful. But the logistics can be challenging. Use little jars for the candles, not apples or else they'll blow out. And try to incorporate a quiet reverential walk to and from the spiral - seeing a lit spiral amongst the trees is magic. And Nature will be happy to help you create the right mood if you let Her.

 

A few things to consider: make sure all the children have long hair pulled back and no dresses or skirts!! You don't want to start a fire! Have a fire extinguisher  and/or pail of sand or water nearby or else you're bound to get a jittery parent who keeps hopping up and fussing as s/he worries about fire.

 

If a child puts a candle in an awkward place - on the path itself or where it could set something alight, the leader should just quietly help the child select a new place. And one gets quite fascinating insights into one's child as they do this - do they hesitate to enter the spiral? Do they rush through or walk slowly? Do they immediately set down their apple candle or take it almost to the beginning of the spiral?  Do they even step over the spiral in a rush to be through?!

 

I hope you and you family will enjoy this very special and reverential festival!

Books for Teens

The following is a list of books for teens - as the holidays approach people might be thinking about what books to get for their teenage sons or daughters. This is a difficult age to buy books for - just because they are capable of reading anything does not necessarily mean they should!

 

Most of these books are favorites of my own teenage sons. Some are from the literature curriculum from the Waldorf-inspired high school where I teach. All are really good reads!

 

Younger Teens (13 - 15)

The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter Carson McCullers I am reading this with my sophomore English class. I think the theme of loneliness can really speak to this age group. And there's a great teenage character who, although one would be hard pressed to find someone like her nowadays, is someone many teens can relate to.

 

Cannery Row John Steinbeck The raucous characters in this book are so alive that one feels as if they'll be sitting on the couch next to when you look up from reading! This is another 10th grade English lit choice of mine.

 

Ok - I have to admit I'm a huge Steinbeck fan - so I need to list East of Eden, Of Mice and Men (which is probably my least favorite though many enjoy it) and Grapes of Wrath. The Pearl is quite goos, too - 9th grade English in my school.

 

Another 9th grade English choice is Animal Farm by George Orwell. And then 1984 in 10th grade.

 

Cat's Cradle Kurt Vonnegut Dark, morbid and very funny - either you love it or hate it.

 

Naftalie the Stotyteller and His Horse Sus Isaac Bashevis Singer Poignant and warm stories from a master Yiddish story teller.

 

Various Sherlock Holmes collections Arthur Conan Doyle Who doesn't know these great stories?

 

Short story collection by O. Henry - here's another author I regularly use when I teach.

 

His Dark Material trilogy Philip Pullman These are very dark futuristic stories about the nature of evil and power

 

Eragon and Eldest Christopher Palolini If your child hasn't read these yet, now's the time! Fantasy stories written by a homeschooled teen

 

Bartemaus trilogy Jonathan Stroud My 13 year old tells me these are the best books ever - we wrote these blurbs together and he just couldn't come up with the right way to convey his enthusiasm for these complex, fun, sarcastic and wryly humorous fantasy stories

 

Lord of the Rings JR Tolkien Gotta read these if you haven't already!

 

Harry Potter JK Rowling Ditto (and the last book really is right for about this age)

 

Montmorency series Eleanor Updale Double life of a thief and gentleman in 19C London

 

The Wilderness Family Kobie Kruger I recommend this as a family read aloud elsewhere - an animal loving teen might like to read this himself

 

The Prince and the Pauper Mark Twain Twain's classic about swapped social positions in 15C Britain

 

Harper Hall trilogy Anne McCaffrey Fantasy story about a gilr who seeks to be a bard and her entanglement with dragons

 

Earthsea trilogy Ursula LeGuin A favorite from my teen years about magic and evil and the nature of growing up

 

The Samurai's Tale Erik Christian Haugaard Poor boy becomes a samurai during the time of feuds

 

Eagle of the Ninth Rosemary Sutcliffe Adventures amongst the Celts and Romans

 

The Thief Megan Whalen Turner Jailed thief forced by the king to steal legendary treasure

 

The Giver Lois Lowry A coming of age story set in a dystopia of the future

 

Call of the Wild Jack London Dog has adventures in the Yukon - gripping and exciting

 

To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee More 9th grade lit - racial prejudice and a gripping trial in the segregated South

 

Older Teens (16 and Up)

Crime and Punishment Fyodor Dostoevsky Part of our senior world literature curriculum

 

The Stranger Albert Camus Ditto

 

My Antonia Willa Cather This one is good for juniors

 

Anything by Kent Haruf Amazing and poignant modern novels about everyday life amongst everyday people in the bleak West

 

The Bluest Eyes Toni Morrison Painful novel about prejudice's destructive influence

 

The House on Mango Street Susan Cisneros At first can seem like a book for children, this jewel like series of vignettes captures the poverty stricken life of a Latina girl in contemporary Chicago

 

Peace Like a River Leif Enger A moody and compelling novel of life in the Midwest showing how complex real human beings are

 

Andromeda Strain Michael Critchton Sci fi classic of space age disaster

 

All Quiet on the Western Front Erich Remarque Anti war novel from WWI

 

Tar Baby Toni Morrison A love affair between a white woman and Black man rock their worlds

 

The Fixer Bernard Malamud Pulitzer prize winning novel of the horrors of anti-semitism in Russia

 

Ragtime EL Doctorow A lively story with an interesting narrative about the movers and shakers of  early 20C America

 

USA John Dos Passos Similar theme as the above, but more powerful in terms of its experimental narrative and its stark look at injustice and power