My Journey with Oak Meadow

by Lucy Enge, Oak Meadow high school student Published in September 2016 My journey with Oak Meadow began in the fall when I was almost six. My parents had decided to homeschool me (for kindergarten) using Oak Meadow’s curriculum; they liked the Waldorf influence. And we continued our journey with OM homeschooling through the eighth

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How old should my child be when starting Oak Meadow kindergarten?

In general, our kindergarten curriculum correlates developmentally with age 5 and grade 1 with age 6. Therefore, we encourage families to wait until age 5 before beginning kindergarten. However, every child’s development is unique, and so there really is no one-size-fits-all recommendation. Families following a Waldorf pedagogy often don’t start first grade until their children

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Motivating Middle Schoolers

There is no doubt that middle school students can be difficult to engage at times, and this can be especially true for home teachers who are also parents. Middle school aged students hold on fiercely to their newly discovered independence, and at the same time they need some guidance while they learn to develop their

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12 Characteristics of Successful Learners

Successful learning may happen organically, but it does not happen accidentally. One might be surrounded with rich educational resources, but without key capabilities, those learning opportunities will go untapped. What makes a successful learner?  Successful learners… …are leaders in their own learning. …engage with the world around them. …question everything. …think for themselves. …are driven by

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Addressing Concerns About Homeschooling

Homeschooling is a big step for many of us. It requires the conviction that we know better than anyone else when it comes to our children’s needs (or our own). We may have already had courageous exchanges with teachers, school officials, and other experts whose job requires them to look out for the well-being of

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Adjusting to Homeschooling Mid-Year

Making the decision to switch gears and begin homeschooling—or to switch curriculum—partway through the school year takes courage and faith. Whatever you were doing before wasn’t working, and whatever you are beginning hasn’t had time to feel routine yet. Here are ten suggestions to ease the way. 1. Different philosophy; different approach. Students who have

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Organizing Your Homeschool Day

Many parents wonder how best to organize their time when using Oak Meadow or other homeschooling curriculum. There is no one right way to approach homeschool planning, so go at it with an open mind! Try something that appeals to you, then fine-tune your process as you discover what works well for you and your

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12 Reasons Why Handwriting Is Important

1. The brain engages differently when we write something by hand as opposed to typing it on a keyboard or by touching a screen. Studies show that writing improves memory; students retain learning better when working with new ideas through handwriting instead of typing. 2. Engaging the body in writing by hand helps make writing

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10 Ways to Include Heart in Your Homeschooling

1. Maintain your focus when giving your attention to your child. In today’s world, most of us find our attention divided, scattered in all directions. Giving your full attention to your child is one of the best ways you can support their learning. 2. Use humor as much as possible. Be silly, tell jokes, let

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Working and Homeschooling

“I want to homeschool, but I need to work.” Is it really true that working parents cannot homeschool? It can be quite a challenge, but many families manage to do it successfully. Many working-and-homeschooling families challenge this assumption every single day.  How? Consider all opportunities for flexibility in your work The more flexibility you have, the

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