Anyone use the Wynstones Kindergarten?

[naturalmame]

Wondering if any of you mamas have used this, what is the content of the curriculum, I know Waldorf but are there activities, songs, circle ideas etc.?
Thanks so much for any input!!

[MamaMisfit]

I own Wynstones Summer and I use the verses and songs regularly. There are just a few very magical stories in the back too. The quality of Wynstones is great, but you need to be able to read music and to add in appropriate activities.

I would call this book a super resource, but keep in mind that it is written for Waldorf teachers originally, so it assumes that you already know how to put together a circle, how to read music, and how to add movement and crafts to the verses and songs.

If you are a beginner, try something like annettemarie's Season's of Joy, Nature Kiddos, Susan Whitehead's little Golden Beetle books, or A Little Garden Flower first to get an overall picture of how everything is done.

If you are already comfortable with building a daily rhythm and circle, then by all means add a Wynstones book for extra special stories, songs, and verses, or a book of movement games, Mary Schunemann's CDs if you don't read music, plus there's another good story collection, the Tales of Tiptoes Lightly, or A Child's Seasonal Treasury for verses & crafts (or Earthways)

They're all supplements to the basics of daily rhythm, imitation, movement, and head-heart-hands.

[naturalmame]

Thank you so much the your ideas, that is exactly what I was looking for. Unfortunetly I cannot read music and that was my fear with the music section in Wynstones Even in seven times the sun, it stinks because I cannot read the music. I do own Schunemanns set of CD's and they are just perfect for me. (one day I hope to learn how to read music!!) In your opinion, what is the best resource out of Seasons of Joy, Golden Bettle, and Little Garden Flower? I see that the garden flower book on kindergarten homeschooling is only like $18 so I could maybe do that one with one of the other two. Are both Anettes and Susan Whiteheads broken up by season? Maybe I could pick one for fall, and try another for winter? It would be so nice if I only knew someone with these... oh well, thats why I have this great forum. Thank you once again for the wealth of knowledge it was very helpful!!

[MamaMisfit]

Actually, I had mine in a Waldorf group in those early years so I learned the basics hands-on from friends and from You Are Your Child's First Teacher. I don't think most of those existed then (ex. maybe GB).

Your idea of doing a different short curricula each season sounds neat! Start a group too.

I have used Wynstones, Tiptoes, and all of the other supplements mentioned and the Golden Beetle grades maths books, but the author of the grades is the husband and the wife I hear is very different so I don't know. I also have used some Christopherus and Oak Meadow, both have advantages and loads of people seem to like them, but they didn't appeal to me, seemed uninspiring after our group experience - anything probably would have! So I've been more eclectic/holistic in recent years.

I like the freedom of not being tied to one.

[fluttermama]

I loved Wynestones. We did some of the simpler songs on the recorder, but really I used it mostly for the poems, verses, and beautiful stories.

[fluttermama]

In your opinion, what is the best resource out of Seasons of Joy, Golden Bettle, and Little Garden Flower? I see that the garden flower book on kindergarten homeschooling is only like $18 so I could maybe do that one with one of the other two. Are both Anettes and Susan Whiteheads broken up by season? Maybe I could pick one for fall, and try another for winter? It would be so nice if I only knew someone with these... oh well, thats why I have this great forum. Thank you once again for the wealth of knowledge it was very helpful!!

The Little Garden Flower Kindy book uses Susan Whitehead's kindy series and gives activity ideas to do with them. The Little Garden Flower goes through the whole year breaking it up by seasons and uses the Whitehead books seasonally. It is very simple and easy to use and I think Melissa is one of the most inspiring Waldorf mama's that I know!

[naturalmame]

Thank you so much, Could you tell me how much of the Wynstone series is dedicated to music that should be read? Say if I got the autumn book and I cannot read music? In your opinion which do you think would give me more ideas for circle time, songs to sing, fingerplays, stories etc., the Wynstones or Susan Whiteheads with the little garden flower series.? I just wish I could preview these or get them used, yah know?

Anyways I want to say thank you so much for taking the time to help me!!

[fluttermama]

You could get them used by joining the Waldorf curriculum list although I am not sure if they are open to new users right now. Melissa offers her books through downloads, too, which reduces the cost. If you are looking for rhymes, poems, stories that would be the Wynestones book or I would definitely say A Child's Seasonal Treasury which you could get used on amazon, I think. That is a wonderful, wonderful book which I recommend often. If you are looking for a curriculum going through the different festivals and giving activity ideas for using the Whitehead books than you would want to go with Melissa's book (A little garden flower). How old is your child? Melissa's book is geared toward the five and six year old years.