I am just in love with my first grade curriculum. As I mentioned I’m using A Little Garden Flower curriculum this year along with verses, projects and supplement ideas from Earthschooling.
What I most love about the curriculum is the container story that includes all of our form drawing, alphabet sounds, roman numerals, verses, riddles, Grimm's stories, writing & drawing. Whew, that includes a lot. So much so that the story that guides all of this learning will take most of the year to complete. Talk about learning patience! I imagine it will inspire Michael to be so excited to wake up everyday to find out more about Katie and her journey to meet Wise Sophia. This story is just beautiful! In fact I completely teared up at the end when Katie meets Wise Sophia. Picture me, ah~ by myself, in blissful quiet at the musty smelling library. (I don’t care because it’s quiet.) Anyway, there I am crying at the absolute beautiful idea of making reading such a sacred and lovely and magical gift! Oh, that I could have learned reading this way! Watch out I may be writing a similar post about Waldorf Math soon!
At the end of the story I have this idea to make a wooden box with all of the letters that we've learned contained within. As we go along in our studies I will be drawing and painting these watercolor cards that I've already cut, or rather carefully ripped for that beautiful beveled edge. The cards will relate to the imagery of the Grimm's stories that we read along with our letters. I envision this box, adorned with wood burning (another excuse to wood burn) & sealed with beeswax and opened with a key. (anyone know where I could get such a box, unfinished?) At the bottom of the box underneath our watercolor letters maybe a special new reader to practice our reading skills. (Does anyone have a suggestion for a really lovely first reader?) I think this will help us have fun with our review which comes right after completing the story. Michael will see the letters that I make each week but this will be the first time he sees them all together.
Whew, ok, I've said it here so now I have to follow through! I decided rather than try to make the cards all at once. I will begin and make them a few at a time well before the week we will need them. That way I don't become overwhelmed and give it up entirely.
Speaking of the alphabet and Waldorf there is a beautiful post at Magic Onions about Waldorf reading. She's also hosting a giveaway of a dreamy, Waldorf alphabet frieze. In addition to our cards I think I have to buy this frieze or book, or both, they are just beautiful!
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So pretty! I love your ideas.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a wonderful idea, I'm sure the box will be beautiful, filled with magic and love. The cards are already so pretty just how they are!
ReplyDeleteWe have the set of early readers by Arthur Pittis (given one year at a time, but now we are to 5th grade so all 4 of the books are out) I think the books are meant to begin in 2nd grade though. In first grade we just had the books we made ourselves.
Waldorf Books has another set that I think looks nice, by Kelly Morrow, you can look under "early readers". I will probably getting these for my youngest after we have done our language arts blocks for the year. And after we do a handmade reader also.
It will be fun to see what you are up to for this year. I have a new 1st grader also!
Our daughter is at a Waldorf school but just reading your lovely post makes me want to do it at home! Such a beautiful path you have laid out.
ReplyDeleteWe did that story, also, but used our family names and switched birth order (so my son was the one on the journey, with his little sister along to help). Elliot was indeed eager each day to hear more, and was so excited to see each letter in the imagery. A favorite after it was all done was LMNOP. Not a first reader but lovely.
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