 The Inner Work of the Homeschooling ParentIn Waldorf education, the "inner work" of the teacher is considered as essential as the curriculum itself. This same principle very much applies to homeschooling parents, who in many ways become not just educators but also the soul guides of their children's daily rhythm and development.
What Is "Inner Work"?In the Waldorf tradition, "inner work" refers to conscious self-development, a deepening of the adult's inner life to become a more attuned, grounded, and nurturing presence for the child. This is inspired by Rudolf Steiner's view that the educator's inner attitude, thoughts, and emotions directly influence the soul life of the child. For homeschooling parents, this may include:
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Waldorf Opening & Closing Verses
The first step of the Daily Wonder morning lesson incorporates verses, poetry, songs and intentional movement. It is recommended that you begin the day standing with your child and allow each component to flow together, much like a circle time would.
The opening verse acknowledges that the morning lesson is officially beginning. Instead of simply calling your kids to the learning space to begin the day, we build the experience of reverence by using verses, poetry, and songs to signal the start of your lessons. Singing each day enhances connection and offers a lovely balance to individual recitation. By including poems connected to the seasons, your child becomes connected to the cycle of nature through their feelings. Poems and songs connected to the unit theme enliven the topic of study and support our artistically integrated method. Encourage your child to memorize the poems. Recitation builds memory, vocabulary, the strength of individuality, and opportunities to practice oral language features such as intonation, pace, and volume. The goal is that by the end of the unit, your child will share the poem by heart. The experience of a Daily Wonder lesson is creative and reverent. Just as your opening verse creates a special moment to acknowledge that the morning lesson is beginning, your closing verse marks the closing of this part of the homeschool day. Participating in a closing verse, poem, or song is a meaningful and beautiful way to honour all the work and learning that has just taken place.
All Daily Wonder units include suggested opening and closing verses, unit-themed songs, poetry and intentional movement. As always, Daily Wonder encourages you to teach the child in front of you and change anything that doesn't suit your child's frame of reference. Below are some opening and closing verses to get you started or to use in place of what's suggested.
 Why Every Child Should Learn to Finger KnitMay our hands complete our task with patience, May our work be done with care, May our fingers work as friends together, Then may we our handwork share. Our hands have completed the task with patience, We have done our work with care, Our fingers have worked as friends together, And we have our friendship shared. Finger knitting is a simple yet deeply enriching handcraft that offers numerous benefits for children. As an engaging, screen-free activity, it nurtures fine motor skills, enhances concentration, and fosters creativity, all while providing a soothing and rewarding experience.
Here’s why every child should learn to finger-knit:  What are the Holy Nights?Anthroposophist, mystic, and teacher, Claudia McLaren Lainson explains the Holy Nights:
"In the darkness of Winter’s night, when the great breath of the Earth Mother finds its greatest point of inhalation, human beings are afforded the grace to touch into both magic and miracle. In the pause between her mighty in-breath and out-breath there is a still-point of rest. This still-point has long been known as the Holy Nights. In these blessed Nights, the angels circle the globe as if in a great cosmic dance. They long to speak to listening human hearts. Throughout the ages the ‘listening ones’ on earth have heard the angelic choir; they have received messages of Peace and Love. What is received during these sacred days and nights, resounds a thousand-fold in the year that follows. In this year before us, a great light is striving to find willing human hearts. May we each be the ‘listening ones’ during these Holy Nights. May we work with angels."  Every great piece of writing begins with a strong introduction and ends with a memorable conclusion. These two sections are your chance to grab your reader’s attention and leave a lasting impression. Whether you're crafting an essay, a blog post, or a story, mastering these paragraphs will make your writing shine. Let’s break down how to write an effective introduction and conclusion, with examples to guide you every step of the way How to Write an Introductory ParagraphThe introduction is like the opening scene of a movie—it sets the tone and draws your audience in. A good introduction answers these three questions:
Here’s the basic structure of an introduction:  Writing a 5-paragraph essay might sound like a big task, but it’s easier than you think! Think of it as building a sandwich or burger — each part has its own role, and when you put it all together, it creates something amazing. Here’s a step-by-step guide to writing an awesome 5-paragraph essay.
What Is a 5-Paragraph Essay? A 5-paragraph essay is like a roadmap for your ideas. It has:
 The Power of Crossing the Midline: Creating New Pathways in the Brain The brain is an incredible organ, constantly growing and forming new connections, especially in children. One fascinating process that supports brain development is crossing the midline—the ability to reach across the imaginary line that divides the body into left and right halves. When children practice crossing the midline, it helps to create and strengthen neural pathways between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, enhancing coordination, focus, and cognitive development. Why Crossing the Midline MattersEach hemisphere of the brain controls different functions: the left side typically manages logical tasks like language and problem-solving, while the right side is responsible for creativity and spatial awareness. However, to perform complex tasks effectively, both hemispheres must work together. Crossing the midline allows this integration to occur, facilitating communication between the hemispheres through the corpus callosum, a bundle of nerve fibres that connects the two sides. For children, crossing the midline helps with skills such as reading, writing, gross and fine motor coordination, and even social-emotional regulation. It enables them to use both sides of their bodies together more efficiently, an essential part of everyday activities. Lack of midline crossing can hinder these developmental processes, so it is important to provide opportunities for children to engage in activities that encourage this skill. 10 Fun Games to Practice Crossing the MidlineHere are ten fun and engaging games that can help children practice crossing the midline while simultaneously promoting brain development:
 Back to School PrepDaily 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:
 The Four TemperamentsHas your child been displaying behaviours that are puzzling to you? Do you find yourself becoming frustrated with behaviours and tendencies your child exhibits? Are there clashes between your children, despite all your best efforts to mediate? Are you wondering why they approach their projects and studies in a certain way? Most importantly…are you wondering how to support your child more fully? As parents and teachers, we are always looking for ways to understand our children, to interpret their behaviours, and to be able to support them more fully in their development. In Waldorf Schools around the world, it is very common for teachers to use the Four Temperaments Model, as a foundation for understanding their students.
 What is Anthroposophy anyway?This is a big topic that can be quite confusing for many people. Especially if you’re searching online and finding many contradicting statements. So here goes… Anthroposophy is a spiritual philosophy founded by Rudolf Steiner, born out of his deep knowledge and experience of both Theosophy and Anthropology. Anthroposophy means Wisdom of the Human Being and is fundamentally a study of the human being: our nature, development, and soul/spiritual task. Rudolf Steiner maintained that every human being (Anthropos) has the inherent wisdom (Sophia) to solve the riddles of existence and evolve as individuals and a collective. In other words, Anthroposophy is a Spiritual Path. To add to the confusion, many people discover Anthroposophy because it has been applied to initiatives that they are a part of. In these scenarios, Anthroposophy is found as the bedrock of various initiatives such as Waldorf education, Biodynamic farming, Medicine, Curative education, Eurythmy, the Christian Community, and Architecture. So, does this mean my kids are taught Anthroposophy if I send them to a Waldorf school? |
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