Essential Books:
I have found these books to be indispensable to me for continual inspiration. There are precious few resources for continuing a Waldorf-inspired or Montessori approach into high-school years. None I have read (so far) have inspired me in the same way as those written for teachers of younger children. If and when I find one I love, I’ll add the link here. Affiliate links below. Your purchase supports our ministry!
The Waldorf School Book of Soups
The Waldorf Kindergarten Snack Book
Magic Wool and More Magic Wool
Montessori at Home Volume 1 and Volume 2 (OOP)
Charlotte Mason’s Homeschooling series (6 volumes)
“Lost Tools of Learning” by Dorothy Sayers (an essay on classical education)
Curricula we use::
We take a balanced approach combined from Waldorf and Montessori and sprinkled liberally with Charlotte Mason and Classical education with our children, and allow learning to grow out of living. I have always resisted the label “eclectic” because I feel that it connotes a lack of focus or direction, a lack of organization. And we are not that at all.
For us, that means enjoying good books and programs, and planning lots and lots of field trips, and taking advantage of interesting classes and workshops whenever possible. We have found that to be a more authentic approach, and much more fruitful. We do, however use a few curricular resources for developing practical skills –
Shurley English
Math-U-See
Rosetta Stone
Jensen Grammar (supplemental resource for older students)
Draw Real… (series of excellent practical art books)
Faith and Life/Didache (faith formation used mainly for sacramental preparation)
Where to get some ideas and inspiration for your lesson planning::
Kildara Curriculum Guides (coming soon!)