First Grade!

Wow!  I can't believe the first week of first grade is behind us!  What an exciting week it was!  Full of lots of new discoveries.  Rebekah and I started each day with a nature walk around the neighborhood.  Some days it was just the two of us, sometimes a sister or two would joins us or a few of the little boys I watch.  We had a great time collecting items for the nature table.  Some of this weeks find were a cool puzzle rock, pine cones, wildflowers and a black feather.

Form drawing is a Waldorf thing.  I don't know of it's use in any other educational model.  Rebekah loves it.  She was introduced to the straight line and curve.  We found them all around the room, out in nature, walked them (here on the jump rope) drew them on each others back and modeled them out of bees wax and yarn before drawing them in the main lesson book.

The first of many black board drawing to guide us through the year.  In the morning it was covered by a beautiful blue silk.  Rebekah couldn't wait to see what was underneath.  Twice a week there will be a new picture with a secret message hidden in it.  This is how the letters will be introduced along with a story.  Such fun!

More form drawing - this time making the forms with bulky yarn!

Rebekah made her jump rope at the farmers market a few weeks ago.  It was a both set up by our local Waldorf School!  She loves it and is getting really good!  During circle time she jumps her little heart out.  I just love her smile!  First grade is definitely agreeing with her.

Painting and exploring with colors!  Such fun!  We both painted yellow next to blue and then yellow next to green.  This exercise comes directly from Steiner himself.  It was interesting to see how each of responded differently to the contrast between the two.  Painting is part of a weekly rhythm.  We will paint every Tuesday!  It is a day everyone looks forward to.

What a fabulous first week!  We did so much more than this, but I just couldn't leave the fun to snap pictures!