Tips & tools to support your homeschooling program.

What is a Nature Table and why do you see them in most Waldorf classrooms and in the homes of families who value Waldorf education? What purpose do they serve and why should you create one?

The "what" of Nature Tables is simple; they are a collection of natural objects gathered from outside and arranged for educational or display purposes inside. The objects included in a nature table can vary widely but may include things like rocks, shells, feathers, leaves, pinecones, flowers, and other items you find while walking outside. 
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The "why" of Nature Tables is up to you. The most basic purpose of nature tables is to add a bit of magic and wonder to the home or classroom. They lift our spirits and remind us that something bigger is going on, as they're a great way to acknowledge and connect to what's happening outside. But there is no one correct reason for having a nature table, and there are many ways to approach it.

A nature table could be:

• A place of beauty where you can create a 'still life' of your present moment in time.
• A tool for inspiring your children's imaginative play.
• Where you store your props for story-time and puppet shows.
• A link between the outside and inside world.
• An altar to the blessings of Nature.
• A source of inspiration for creative projects, such as drawing, painting, writing, crafting and handwork projects which can then be showcased on the Nature table.
• A starting point for scientific inquiry, encouraging questions, and observations about the natural world, including the different types of rocks, plants, and animals in your area.
• A calming and meditative activity: arranging and rearranging objects on a nature table can be a relaxing and meditative activity that promotes mindfulness and a sense of calm.

The most important way that history is shared is through story. Just think of the thousands and thousands of years of our history, where people shared stories around the fire, passed down from generation to generation. 

In Daily Wonder, we recommend using the oral tradition as much as possible to impart wisdom to your child. For parents, this means reading stories ahead of time and having the time to learn them by heart. If this is impossible with your lifestyle, that's ok because you can also read it once and gain a heartfelt feeling for the message. When you do read it to your child, it will already be living in your heart. When a story lives in the storyteller's heart, the listener receives the story that much more deeply. Stories speak directly to our feeling realm and exercise our imagination. Children learn best when their feelings are activated. Stories are an incredible way to deliver knowledge and wisdom. ​

Daily Wonder follows Waldorf curriculum, and the first aspect of history from grades 1-4 comes through indigenous stories, folktales from around the world, ancient mythology, and religious stories. As children are still young and dreamy at this stage, our purpose for history is to nourish the child's soul with these deep and rich myths and tales. In this way, the child receives deep human wisdom from our ancient ancestors, which is culturally diverse in perspective. However, common themes are always apparent as well. The stories are not dissected and analyzed at this age; they are simply left to resonate. One could envision these stories as seeds of wisdom being planted in the child's soul to be brought into their mental life at the appropriate age. 

The grade 5 year is when the child is ready to shift from mythology to history. The transition takes place over the year. We begin with the myths from Ancient India, Persia, Mesopotamia, and Egypt. Then, toward the end of the year, the child studies Greek mythology. This final study of mythology is the bridge to studying Ancient Greece. Now the child is being introduced to the humans who have greatly impacted our world. They now hear biographies instead of mythologies. They learn about famous Greek philosophers, mathematicians, leaders, and playwrights, which sets the stage for the rollout of history over grades 6 and 7. ​

In grade 6, history covers the rise and fall of the Roman Empire and Medieval Times. Grade 7 covers the late Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Age of Cultural Encounters. The child meets each new stage of history at a time when they can also relate to this inwardly. For example, the grade 5 year is often referred to as the Golden Age of Childhood, where the 11-year-old child is gracefully poised and balanced in their body. They are no longer a young child, and they are not in puberty yet. This grace is a small reflection of the Golden Age experienced in Greece, where art, science and architecture all came together in a beautiful and balanced expression. One can make similar connections to the study of Rome and the advances in logic and law and order that came about at this time. The 12-year-old child is very much interested in logic and order, as well as debating and arguing! When the child is introduced to the Age of Cultural Encounters in grade 7, they are in the midst of puberty. The child can resonate with the theme of discovery and new encounters. This is the stage in history where overseas exploration began, and young men and women were setting sail, travelling far away from home, unsure of what lay on the other side of the ocean. There is a level of excitement, adventure and anxiety that the child can understand. 

Daily Wonder guides the parent to deliver history in a heart-centred way. As the child reaches age 11 and onward, the level of sophistication increases, and lessons are brought into a more analytical space so the child can exercise logic, engage in debate, and develop the ability to express thoughts verbally and in written format. As teachers, what we have seen repeatedly over the years, is that when history is brought to the child at the developmentally appropriate time, the child is interested and engaged in the subject matter. They are open to receiving this knowledge and wisdom because it resonates with their own inner experience.

A common question we get is, "how can I possibly homeschool successfully with more than one child?!!!

We at Daily Wonder fully recognize this challenge and are here to encourage you to go for it. We have collected our ideas based on teaching experience and feedback from other DW members. We hope you'll be inspired and encouraged to persevere through the inevitable learning curve. Let us remind you that not only do you need to learn to homeschool for two different grades, but most of you are new to homeschooling entirely and ought to cut yourself some slack. You heard it here; take a deep breath; you've got this!

Here are the top 10 suggestions for homeschooling more than one child:

The essential elements of a Waldorf Kindergarten are not the specific activities (baking, painting, etc.) but should reflect the underlying philosophy of Waldorf-inspired kindergarten: It's play-based, non-academic, and nature-inspired. 

The kindergarten-aged child (and even the 3-4-year-old) learn through imitation, open-ended creative play, movement, music, stories, artistic activities and purposeful work. 

Your role as the parent is to form the daily and weekly rhythm, create lots of opportunity to learn and play, and build your relationship with your child.

Did you know that Candlemas has been celebrated for centuries under different names? As with many festivals today, it has its roots in pagan culture. For example, today, we are more familiar with references to Groundhog Day as a way to mark the coming of spring. However, way before Groundhog Day, this marking of the year was referred to as Candlemas, part of the Christian tradition. But, of course, before the Christian tradition, this day was celebrated by the Celtic people and known as Imbolc, which celebrates Brigid, the Goddess of the Dawn.  ​

These beautiful eight-pointed stars are easy to make and it's fun to decorate your windows with them during the winter months.