homeschool changes

I had been stressed out and unable to achieve a comfortable rhythm and relaxed homeschool environment for awhile. I felt unable to bring our lessons to life and I needed some enchantment. Some reading and homeschool talks (links below) were the next step in motivation and inspiration I needed to make some changes.

My interpretation of Waldorf-inspired for our family has shifted yet again. In fact, in the last three months, I have made small tweaks to my approach in our homeschool that had my daughter call out "Yes! Definitely!" when she overheard me tell my mom that I had been making some changes in our schooling and that I thought the kids were enjoying their learning more. Pay day!

This girl. She asked for special time with me, which she used to make a recycled milk carton car garage for her little brother, who has been playing trucks everyday during morning read aloud. (My heart overflows.)

The changes I have made were:

1) I got real and honest about what was an wasn't working for me and for each of my kids.

I realized what parts of our homeschool rhythm weren't working for each of us, even though I thought those activities were all good on their own. (I knew I needed to drop some things from our schedule.) I got real about my kids' needs and my own limit setting and gentle connection, so we stopped avoiding and started gently addressing challenging areas. I got real about the parts of Waldorf that weren't working for me and stopped feeling bad about it. Less is more.

2) I let go (emotionally and physically).

I let go of some of the Waldorf approaches and I accepted some totally non-Waldorf materials, and I suddenly don't feel guilty at all about it. My girl, who loves the Waldorf approach, wasn't loving science or my lovely Waldorf materials for science. I am now using a science series where each topic is its own book and is taught through a story in a unique setting. (Waldorf-ish) The series has a coordinating activity book and she loves it.* I also let go of the feeling that I was supposed to have the kids following my every lead, at a certain time every morning. The only thing I changed for our morning was accepting that they were going to play/read when they got up. That made all the difference. Somehow, accepting has meant they can now hear me when I say it is time to get ready and dressed. I also let go of the notion that my eldest "should" be more independent with her lessons. She is getting there slowly, but clearly needs the connection that lessons together bring. Basically, I (mostly) stopped stressing so much over everything!  (I have loved Jean Miller's recent posts about Rudolf Steiner's approach in Waldorf schools versus homeschool. The first Waldorf teachers were trained for all of 2 weeks and had no previous teaching experience. That just about sums me up! I have also loved Julie Bogart's talks about letting go of the need to stick to one ideology. Both so freeing!)

3) I got playful. 
I am smiling more, laughing more, and am more joyful. (Humor is my word for the year!) Specifically with lessons, I have gotten more playful with math, more projects for science, and I am allowing for play and movement while I read aloud. I am more relaxed with what I interpret as homeschooling, I am far more accepting of alternative materials for our lessons, and as a result, the kids are more enthusiastic, engaged, and communicative about what is being asked of them.

Those three combined have helped continue to build up my self-confidence. 


What approaches are you taking in your homeschool and how are you feeling about it?


*Edited to add: The science series we are using is called Destinations in Science, from Addison-Wesley. I would include a link, but it is old and no longer published. I got ours from our charter resource center. Each grade has a set of 5-6 thin paperback books, each of which brings a concept through a story. Ecosystems, for example, is written as though the student is hiking the Appalachian Trail.