Saturday, May 9, 2009

De tout et de rien...

Ce soir, j'ai envie de vous parler de plein de choses à la fois... J'ai plusieurs photos disparates à vous montrer et je ne sais trop comment elles se lieront les unes aux autres. Qu'à cela ne tienne, je vous les partage quand même!

Nos branches de mai



Nous avons trouvé de grands morceaux d'écorce de bouleau dans la forêt (par terre, bien sûr!) en nous promenant derrière chez nous hier. Comme nous avions raconté l'histoire de Petit Coyote (la légende du sirop d'érable) le mois passé, nous avons eu beaucoup de plaisir à confectionner un carcois d'écorce (pour les flèches de Petit coyote, mais qui a en fait servi d'étui pour les dessins offerts à des amies après leur spectacle de cirque cet après-midi), de petits bateaux d'écorce (qui égayent les contes que les filles mettent en scène) et du papier à dessin, bien sûr!



Comme la semaine a été plutôt pluvieuse, nous avons passé pas mal de temps dans la maison et comme les escargots aiment bien la pluie, nous avons décidé d'en confectionner pour notre table de saison. Chacune des filles a feutré un grand bout de laine que nous avons cousu en colimaçon. Puis, comme ils ne tenaient pas debout, nous les avons collé sur des roches avec de la cire. Elles ont aussi fait des mitaines de feutrine pour leurs poupées qu'elles ont cousu elles-mêmes!



Jardin de fées construit par Mara et Mathilde (les fées leur ont laissé des graines de fleurs pour attirer les papillons dans le jardin cette fois-ci...).



Aïsha et Mara voient des petites filles et des petits garçons dans tout ces jours-ci! L'autre jour, elles en faisaient même avec leurs crudités! Regardez ceci, joli, non?



Le superbe sac confectionné par mon amie Steph pour mon anniversaire! Quel beau cadeau... et si confortable en plus!



Aïsha qui se fâche contre les granola qui ne l'écoutent pas...



Une recette de granola sans céréale que nous adorons :

1 tasse d'amandes tranchées
1 tasse de noix de coco
1 tasse de pacanes en morceaux
1 tasse d'amandes en poudre
1/4 de tasse de miel ou une pincée de stevia verte
1 bouchon d'essence de vanille pure
1/4 de tasse de beurre fondu ou d'huile de coco fondue
1/2 c. à thé de sel de mer

Mélanger tous les ingrédients et étendre sur une tôle à biscuits. Cuire à 350 F 15 minutes ou jusqu'à ce qu'ils commencent à brunir sur les côtés. Conserver dans un pot en verre dans l'armoire.

Et les rénovations de la grange avancent bon train. On peut voir comment ça sera pratique et agréable une fois qu'elle sera fonctionnelle.



Les pintades se sont échappées de leur enclos et sont en cavale depuis plus de 24 heures... J'ai bien peur qu'on ne les reverra pas de si tôt... On a 8 oeufs qu'on mettra en incubateur demain...



Je voulais aussi vous faire part de ce court article qui explique bien le pourquoi du curriculum Waldorf et de l'importance de prendre notre temps en ce qui a trait à l'aspect académique.


Waldorf Curriculum Chart (compliments of A Little Garden Flower).

There is a reason why certain things come at certain times. Just because a child may express an interest doesn't mean that they are ready to have a lesson on it. It just means they are aware of it, and you can tell them that they will learn more about it later. Kids are fine with that answer. We need not indulge each and every whim of theirs. What happens when a child is given material before it's time is that when the time for it does come, they have no interest in it. They have a "been there, done that" attitude. It is hard to keep the magic alive if nothing is held back or kept 'sacred'. It hardens their thought processes and has them forming concepts before they are able to have meaningful experiences. The meaningful experience isn't going to happen before they are ready physically and spiritually. They can and will certainly make connections of this and that, but for it to live deep within them they need to receive it at the proper time.

This method is not about the same things as mainstream education - not even the basic goal. In Waldorf we are striving to ignite a spark in the child that they can carry throughout their life whereas mainstream education just wants to download data and send them on their way (with a nifty piece of paper no less). One method is alive and the other is dead. This is why we stick with the "plan" as Steiner laid it out. It is beautiful when you look at it as a whole. It is like a staircase. We start on the ground floor in the preschool and kindy years forming a foundation of rhythm and creating a healthy environment. In grade one we build a step - not a huge step but when you are there you can see a bit more than you could at ground level. In grade two, we build a second step. Now we couldn't build a second step if the first wasn't there or if the ground wasn't solid beneath them. Nor could we build a fourth or fifth step if the first three weren't firmly in place. Each year we build a new step on the staircase, using what came before as the foundation all the while seeing there is more and more on the horizon. Though we can see off in the distance we don't just step off into it. We carefully and methodically add a new step each year. When our children get to the top step in grade 12, they will be ready to step out into the unknown but will always have that solid staircase and foundation to return to.

This brings me to the other issue - why be a Waldorf homeschooler if you are not willing to put the effort into it? Waldorf is not easy! You have to move past the fairies and playsilks and get down to business. You have to develop DISCIPLINE. In creating rhythm and flow to your days, you are building discipline. The rhythm creates a loving boundary within which your family can operate freely and safely. When you maintain an orderly home, you are building discipline. A clean and organized home creates a peaceful environment to be in. Setting aside time regularly for prayer, meditation and planning builds discipline. A calm and connected mind and spirit is a productive mind and spirit. Planning allows you to keep rhythm, order, and peace. Maintaining focus and commitment each day builds discipline. We get up each morning and go about our work to honor the commitment we have made to ourselves and our family, and to be a model for our family of industriousness. Refining and living by a core set of values creates discipline. It acts as a compass guiding the family in their rhythm and prayer and work to reach common goals. No matter what we endeavor to do, it always comes back to DISCIPLINE.

We do these things each day not because we have to but because we have been inspired to be the best we can. We have come to Waldorf because it sparked something within us, but we have to work to make it a reality. It will not come to us - we have to work toward it. There will be hurdles. There will be trials. We will fall down, but we pick ourselves back up and try again.

4 comments:

onegoldensun said...

Beautiful post. I am having a challenge with wanting to homeschool the waldorf way, and feeling overwhelmed at my own shortcomings. So for now, my girls attend school. But I completely agree, it all comes down to discipline! I am striving, and yet... I wonder if I have the inner discipline to do well. Thank you for sharing!

Lovey said...

My French is very rusty so this will be in English. lol

I'm so glad you enjoyed that post. I was concerned people would find it inflammatory, but I felt it need to be said. I am very passionate about Waldorf in the home and all that goes along with it.

Readers can click the curriculum link here...
http://lovey-land.blogspot.com/2009/05/stumbling-blocks-and-answers.html

I love all of your photos! Wonderful!

:)

Lovey

Anonymous said...

c'est quoi du pacanes??
Merci d'avance pour votre réponse

Catherine said...

Ce sont des noix de Pécan.