Back-to-Homeschool Prep

Daily Wonder lesson plans provide the daily, monthly and yearly rhythm of your school year.  The educational planning is done, and there is minimal preparation awaiting you, the parent.  We all know how hectic the school year can get with all the things that need to happen in one day. The Wonder Squad highly recommends taking the time now to look into your prep needs.  You will be so grateful down the road for taking the time now to get organized. Lazy summer days offer leisurely ways to check things off the "back to homeschool to-do list".

Here are our suggestions:

• It is a great practice to have your child doing a daily chore. It is even more fun if that chore is on a chore wheel.  Have fun creating your own beautiful wheel that speaks to the chores needing to be done in your household.  Check out this site for instructions and ideas for appropriate chores for children by age.

• Children feel at ease when they know what the routine is on any given day. You can set up a chart that contains all the activities of your day.  Each activity can be written on its own card, to reflect the different activities that take place during the week.  When using the Daily Wonder curriculum, there is a set routine that will take place each day.  This includes:
  • Opening verse, music, poetry
  • Movement
  • Math practice
  • Review
  • New Material
  • Learning Portfolio
  • Story-time/Independent Reading
  • Closing verses

You can make a card for each of these activities plus add cards as needed (snack-time, lunch, chores, afternoon activities, etc). Magnets or velcro can be useful materials to create this project.

Example image from Etsy

• Daily Wonder encourages daily recitation of verses and poetry and we provide these in our lesson plans. You could create beautiful handwritten cards to display and help you memorize your opening and closing verses and unit poetry.
• Daily Wonder provides a suggested song to learn each month.  If you are excited to sing with your child, you could start learning these songs ahead of time.
• You should go through the reading/materials list for your grade which is in the Wonder Handbook on your grade's hub.  Make your life really easy by gathering all needed materials now, storing them somewhere safe for easy access and bam, you're ready to roll.
• Take time to consider where your homeschool lessons will take place.  Do you need to declutter, purchase baskets, gather school supplies?  The more organized you are now, the more smoothly the year will flow.
• What kind of school supplies do you want to use?  Anything can work; it's up to your own taste and budget.  If you're planning Waldorf specific school supplies you will want to order sooner than later.  This could look like beeswax crayons, a pentatonic flute, Waldorf main lesson books and any craft supplies for afternoon activities. May we suggest the following sites for Waldorf supplies:  
  • Waldorf at Home - First orders get 10%OFF, and FREE shipping across Canada with $58.00minimum order.
  • Paper Scissors Stone - Waldorf school and art supplies based in the U.S.

Whether you're new to Daily Wonder or are continuing on to the next grade, we are so excited for you to benefit from all our hard won lessons and experience.  Your success is our success.