Path of Discovery vs Live Ed vs Enki

[spiritofthings]

Anyone have any thoughts about which is the better Waldorf-style syllabus? Path of Discover... Live Ed... Enki ?

Also, I'm wondering whether Enki is pretty much Waldorf, with some multicultural stories thrown in. Or is it much different to Waldorf?

Thanks a lot.

[umsami]

Don't forget Christopherus too. I've bought a few of her things and have been really impressed.

[fluttermama]

After trying all of the above mentioned currics plus others, I am a huge huge huge Live Ed fan now. It's definitely been the right fit for us. :

[spiritofthings]

I do appreciate your replies umsami and fluttermama. So appreciate it.

It's kinda funny but I've been lurking for so long now that I recognise both of your names! I feel flattered and honored that you have posted your replies!!

Fluttermama, sorry to bother you with a few more questions. You can be as brief as you wish. Could you please let me know why you prefer Live Ed. Is it more of a pure Waldorf approach? Like better content. Easier to use. What was lacking, in your view, about Enki? I really want to like Enki, but if it's a version of waldorf with a number of multicultural stories thrown in that I could find myself at the library - then I'll pass. I am very interested in Live Ed now you rate it so highly.

Thanks again.

[spiritofthings]

Oh, Fluttermama, thought I'd make it easier for you to answer my questions, if you're still around. Finally read a part of the thread by "holistic eclectic" homeschoolers (!) and in this you write about Live Ed:

"It's a lot of fun, and isn't stuck in Waldorf pedagogy and nothing anthroposophical, it's simply a lot of "doing"...which is what I was looking for. So many of the currics get caught up in the why or the life of the author themselves, it's so tiring. Live Ed is simple and gives lots and lots of doing suggestions and then let's you take off from there..it also gives alternatives...for example for addition you could do the Addy the Baker day with baking or you could tell about the squirrel collecting nuts, or any idea that you would come up with on your own."

So I understand! Thanks a lot.

[chrissy]

Hey Fluttermama, I have a question if you come back here!

I have both Enki and Christopherus Grade 1 and really like them both. For me, Enki was too much work as a brand new homeschooler. I love how Christopherus is so well planned out and EASY to use. I do prefer the Enki stories though.

I am not (got that self?!) going to buy Live Ed Grade 1, but I am already thinking ahead to next year and trying to decide what we'll use. How would you rate Live Ed in terms of ease of use? On the Enki end, or the Christopherus end, or somewhere in the middle?

[fluttermama]

For me, Live Ed has definitely been the easiest to use. I would say compared to Live Ed, the others are very very watered down. I don't like Enki because I think the price is outrageous for things that you can read in sensory books or basic psychology and much much cheaper Waldorf books.

With Live Ed, they are teachers, they know what they are talking about after teaching many children in the age groups, they are practical, the stories are interesting and very adaptable. They don't get into telling the homeschool parent what to do or what not to do, just supporting their role in teaching their child in creative and good ways. It felt empowering and freeing to read the books and think "I can do this tomorrow!"

[fadedgirl]

Fluttermama, does LiveEd list the specific books/stories/crafts to use (that you then go out and get)? Or is everything included up front? Or are you just given broad guidelines or ideas and left to seek out the specific stories or other resources on your own? Many thanks!

[fadedgirl]

The following was taken from the Enki Education website:

"Although new to the market, Live Education presents the most purely Waldorf curriculum for the homeschool. Live Education provides written guidance, consultation, and some of the stories needed for teaching the curriculum. As is true in Waldorf schools, Live Education leaves much of the collection and creation of the material up to the teacher.

Christopherus describes itself as having a radical relationship to Waldorf Education, this Waldorf inspired program offers a newer approach to working with Waldorf pedagogy. It offers an ever-growing set of resource materials and a lively online discussion group."

[chrissy]

Originally Posted by fadedgirl

Fluttermama, does LiveEd list the specific books/stories/crafts to use (that you then go out and get)? Or is everything included up front? Or are you just given broad guidelines or ideas and left to seek out the specific stories or other resources on your own? Many thanks!

I'm wondering this too. Live Ed sounds more and more appealing to me, but not if I have to do a lot of outside prep on my own.

[chrissy]

Originally Posted by fluttermama

For me, Live Ed has definitely been the easiest to use. I would say compared to Live Ed, the others are very very watered down. I don't like Enki because I think the price is outrageous for things that you can read in sensory books or basic psychology and much much cheaper Waldorf books.

With Live Ed, they are teachers, they know what they are talking about after teaching many children in the age groups, they are practical, the stories are interesting and very adaptable. They don't get into telling the homeschool parent what to do or what not to do, just supporting their role in teaching their child in creative and good ways. It felt empowering and freeing to read the books and think "I can do this tomorrow!"

Thank you! [I will not rush out and buy this, I will not rush out and buy this. Repeat as needed.] At this point, I do think I will look towards buying their Kindy and second grade package for next year though.

[Lil' Whitney]

Going crazy here debating which curriculum to pick!! You'd think having so many options would be a good thing. Just when I make up my mind to get Enki, I hear more about Live Ed that appeals to me. I used Enki for Kindergarten, and while I really liked it, it did require alot of time to put together.

So here's what I have:
Live Ed Pros
-Lower price
-Possibly easier to use than Enki (except that the description on the Enki website makes it sound like this may not be true, so I'm not sure about this) Can anyone help??
-Completed thru upper grades

Enki Pros
-Multicultural stories
-Already familiar with Teaching Guides
-Many stories to pick from

If anyone has experience with both, could you tell us which one had a better math program?

To the op, one thing I appreciated about Enki was that it was much more open to children being very different developmentally than my experience with a waldorf school (which, I admit, would be different from waldorf hsing). Enki was a good fit for us in my post-bad waldorf experience. I also like that they included sensory integration in their curriculum. At this point dc's life (and mine!) I don't think these are as important. And like you mentioned, you can find alot of multicultural stories at the library.

Thanks, everyone for sharing your experiences!

[fluttermama]

Fluttermama, does LiveEd list the specific books/stories/crafts to use (that you then go out and get)? Or is everything included up front? Or are you just given broad guidelines or ideas and left to seek out the specific stories or other resources on your own? Many thanks!

I only have 3 of the books from first grade...I will be buying the entire second grade curric when I get my tax returns. So it's a bit hard to answer your question, because I have been using it very successfully with only parts of it! You don't get readers or anything with it like you would with Sonlight, but you don't get that in any Waldorf curriculum that I know of. I would not call them broad guidelines....you are given very specific guidelines of how to teach the child, songs, verses, stories, ideas, words that a first grader should be reading, words that you can work on towards second grade, drama ideas to do...etc. The math is exceptionally clear in my opinion.

I found Christopherus much more broad and more, uh, stuck in pedagogy of what to do and not do...and it was too many words without enough substance. That is simply my humble opinion, I have great respect for Donna and her business, and I wouldn't seek to deter anyone from it. It's just for me, I needed more actual school/learning methods for our homeschool. That said, I love to read Donna's blog and articles for good advice on raising kids and homeschooling. Her board however is not very active and you have to pay to join, so I'm not sure where Enki got that information.

Okay, so I guess I would say that Live Ed assumes great participation and intelligence of the teaching parent and offers wonderful ideas for your kids that other children are getting in Waldorf schools, as well as leaving many ideas for you to pursue in a different direction if you so choose, and guidance in those other directions.

[moma justice]

so you can buy live ed stuff per book/subject or do you have to buy the whole grade curriculum?

almost $400 seems excessive to me for what i saw on the web sight for examples of the lessons etc.

[fadedgirl]

Chrissy, I hope you are repeating that mantra enough for my sake as well!

I think I may send back the Christopherus and try the Live Ed instead. :

[chrissy]

if you do, please come report back with your thoughts, okay?

[daisymommy]

I think we need to start a group lending library for curriculum junkies Now I want to read thru Live Ed too

[blumom2boyz]

This is where I stand in our homeschooling adventure: Waldorf is fairly new to us and I am using OM for first grade (which I have adapted A LOT and will not be purchasing future grades). I have looked over Christopherus and what appealed to me was that everything was already laid out (examples of your daily rhythm, how to present the stories, and where to go from there). I really liked it b/c that is what I need. I don't have the creativity to plan out my own lessons and need it to be there right in front of me. Especially, next year when I will be homeschooling a second grader, kindy, a preschooler and have a newborn. I need a curriculum that lays it all out with lots and lots of suggestions on how to incorporate the material (such as activities, games, movement exercises, etc.) Does this sound like Live Ed???? B/c from reading on their website, they made it sound like there was a lot for the parent to fill in and that is where I am getting confused and discouraged.

Arrggh...I wish I could just get my hands on a copy before having to buy!

[umsami]

Originally Posted by blumom2boyz

Arrggh...I wish I could just get my hands on a copy before having to buy!

Try emailing them. Maybe there's a family in your area that is using Live Ed that wouldn't mind meeting you to show you the books. Or... Live-Ed might be comfortable sending you a few more .pdfs of the manuals to give you a better idea of what's inside.

[fluttermama]

so you can buy live ed stuff per book/subject or do you have to buy the whole grade curriculum?

almost $400 seems excessive to me for what i saw on the web sight for examples of the lessons etc.

No, you cannot buy books from Live Ed per book. I bought these books from a mom on the Waldorf Curriculum Yahoo group. Although I paid pennies for these books, I am totally willing to pay that much money now for the curriculum... but I have seen it advertised on the curriculum list for at least $100 cheaper for the entire set.

I was not willing to pay this much in the past but now that I see how much easier it has been and how much my kids are learning from this, it is totally worth it. I try to think that $400 would be one month alone for private school and it seems less excessive.