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Q & A
– Lesson 1
Many of you asked questions when you filled out the Meet & Greet form.
The question that I saw time & time again was:
“How do I fit handwork into our days”?
This one doesn’t have a quick one-size fits all answer – but we’re going to work together to find
the one that suits you & your children. We’ll cover the first steps of sifting through your curriculum, so you really know what’s in it, during this lesson.
In Lesson 4, we’ll start to consider which projects make sense for you in terms of how long they take to do & everyone’s skill levels.
Lesson 6 will show you how to design projects & lesson plans that can slip right into what you’re already doing each day.
Another popular question was :
“How can I engage my children & keep them interested?”
followed by:
“I have boys ! How will I get them into handwork?”
You’ll start to find answers to both of these questions during Lesson 3, when you start opening up to unusual sources of inspiration. If you use motifs, themes, colours & textures that already appeal to your children their interest levels will naturally climb.
Lastly, several of you said,
“…but I’m not very good at ______ (fill in the blank)”
Learning handwork ( & how to teach it) is sort of like learning to cook or garden. You don’t suddenly know it all, you start slowly – learn things one step at a time & then, practice.
You’ll get a chance to evaluate your own skills in Lesson 4 & I will provide some great resources that will help you brush up on any that need a bit of improvement before you bring them to your children.
Teaching & learning handwork is a team effort, you learn & the children learn. Each of you teaches the other – you help them when they see you honing a skill & they help you by needing you to break things down to teach them.
It creates one, big happy circle!
Now, it’s time to roll up our sleeves & get some real planning going! If you aren’t in planning mode right now – I suggest that you watch the videos & download the Planning Sheets anyway – they’ll change how you look at your teaching & planning.
Hopefully, you’ve managed to set aside a bit of time to enjoy & learn from this lesson.
This is a BIG one – I hope you don’t mind but there is just SO much to cover & I really want you to get as much as you can out of these exercises.
Don’t rush , it will be worth it.
Lesson 2.1
Collecting Ideas & Content
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First –
Download the Planning Sheet Set by clicking HERE.
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Next –
Watch the slideshow for this lesson – it is provided in two parts.
(Hit the full-screen icon so that you can see the details.)
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Have you started your Handwork Source Book yet?
It doesn’t have to be a new binder, although a fresh one would be nice…
you can always transfer your work into one once you get a chance to go out & get one.
You need somewhere to keep all of your fabulous ideas all neat & tidy !
EXTRAS –
I have included some examples of my work from previous years.
I will be working on my own planning for this year along with you & post them soon.
You will also find two Waldorf Curriculum overview charts as well as more
detailed grade curriculums which are from Alan Whitehead’s Spiritual Syllabus.
Please note – although I base much of my work upon the Waldorf traditions, I
do not follow them to the letter. If you use a different curriculum, try to
find a similar “overview” page which will help you with your yearly planning.
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Examples of Homeschooling Planning Sheets
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Lesson 2.2
Organizing
& Using Your Content
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This lesson section is applicable to ALL parts of your curriculum & especially handwork.
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During this lesson, I will focus on how to find IDEAS for your handwork projects buried within the Core Subjects & then how to organize them.
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In Lesson 3, I will be discussing inspirational (mostly visual) resources & then we’ll start brainstorming & sketching out actual projects in Lesson 6 after we’ve learned all about the various handwork skills & what they do for our heads, hearts & hands in Lesson 4!
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First –
Download your Planning Sheets HERE
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Next –
Watch Lesson 2.2. –
(CLICK fullscreen for best resolution)
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** BONUS **
Here are some of my favourite online sources!
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Free Stories & Inspiration
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– jam-packed with a million & one ideas!
– thousands of free stories to download (organized by curriculum & grade!!!)
– 42,000+ free e-books
www.homeschoolfreebie.wholesomechildhood.com
– vintage story books & more
– waldorf teachers share tips & tricks
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Online Book Shops
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– a great home-based business with books & the best supplies !
– they do great book reviews here
– official site of AWSNA
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If you have any questions regarding filling in any of the Planning Sheets or Content Review Sheets from this lesson just drop me a LINE or better yet, post your question on the Facebook group so everyone can benefit from our exchange!
Take your time with this work – sometimes you have to spread it out over several days or weeks – you have to let it sit before it all comes together nicely!