Gratitude, Thanks, Appreciation

Over the last week and a half we have had Grandfather visiting. As a result our lessons took on a whole new life as we explored and discovered our great environment. As part of First Grade we introduce letters through stories, most of them this year are from Grimm's Fairy Tales. We have gone over 5 letters so far this year and the main lesson books look so beautiful with much coming through about the boys' internal happenings - it's so clear when my sons write and draw - how they are feeling. Stunning actually. We move our bodies in the shapes of our letters, we find words in our environment with those letters, we use the letters for more than just sounds. There is much in them! The Waldorf approach is like no other and I find it healing for all who partake in this way of learning.

Mountains and Valleys - there is much to know in just these two - they tell us so much! Our greatest adventures were to Mount Saint Helens and Mount Hood where we climbed to tops and learned the powers of our earth. We explored the waterfalls not far from our home - some of the grandest in the country and discovered much about our history. Visiting The Dalles where we met up with cousins, we observed Ospry nests, met a Great Horned Owl and Red Tailed Hawk. We also learned about Lewis and Clark and their expedition. What a start to this "school year"!

As we continue to learn through stories, movement, form drawing and art it awakens so much in me, not only as a human being but a teacher - I mean learner! I learn more about myself and my world in every moment.

I am so grateful for this opportunity to work with my boys in this way. I am so thankful for our surroundings and mother earth and all she provides. I am so appreciative of my continuous desire to think for myself and foster this in my sons.

Here Ryder and Dax with their cousin dress up in the ice age costumes at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center www.gorgediscovery.org/ 

In the photo at the top the boys play in a boat - they loaded packages and got to be the explorers. I highly recommend this for families, home-schoolers, children of all ages. Hours and hours of dramatic play and discovery and healthy learning.