Curriculum Comparison of Waldorf Essentials and Live Education Grade 5

While I haven’t used the Waldorf Essentials curriculum, I’m sharing a comparison of what each curriculum offers. This is a visual comparison with my thoughts on our experience with the Live Education curriculum.
We have used Live Education Waldorf curriculum for 20 years.
You can find Melisa at Waldorf Essentials all over Social media and on the Waldorf Essentials website.
www.waldorfessentials.com
Find the complete Live Education Waldorf curriculum from KG to grade 8 on the Live Education website.
www.live-education.com
Find me here:
/ pepperandpine
/ pepperandpine
/ pepperandpine
www.pepperandpine.com

[@victoriaryland6754]

Yes Melisa HIGHLY recommends to give each child their own one on one lesson for their ages. She goes through Planning for Peace to teach you how to start planning and making props starting in March so you can start in September. It really does work! All you need to do then is rise for the occasion (get up before your kids), keep up with healthy rhythm, have family meetings and keep up with your meal plans (which are in P4P, EVERYTHING is in P4P!!)

[@PepperandPine]

Thank you for sharing your experience 🙏

[@ziamoon3934]

I have used WE for years now and am so thankful to have found Melisa and glad to see the review on your channel. My success in homeschooling all my children has been from what she created and all the support she offers. It's more than homeschooling too! ❤

[@PepperandPine]

That’s great news. Thank you for sharing your experience 🙏

[@BirthingBravelyandBeyond]

Have you made a video about juggling different grades? If not, I would love more info! I steered away from Waldorf and went to CM because I was struggling to implement four different main lesson blocks at a time. I love Waldorf and really wish I could figure something out so I would love tips

[@ericahouse1247]

Same! I have four kids and would love to see more about how she just did one main lesson block and added extras to it for the other kids ages.

[@PepperandPine]

Yes! I often did one main lesson block at a time and everyone participated. The Waldorf 'higher ups' aren't fond of this approach as the stories for each grade level are intended for the development of the child at that age, but sometimes it's not practical to do multiple main lessons in a day.

[@velmag583]

OMG! I didnt realize you’ve been posting content again ❤ I’ll have to go back and watch them.

[@PepperandPine]

Yep! A long 2 year break and now I'm doing videos while teaching my last child. Just a few years left.

[@lauren.dahiya]

I love hearing your tangents it’s so helpful and relatable. Thank you for sharing with such depth and transparency.

[@tracylynn8101]

Thank you so much for describing your journey with implementing this and how it differs from Charlotte Mason. I would love to hear more about about your 3 day rhythms as well if you’d be willing to make a video on that.

[@PepperandPine]

You’re welcome! I think I’ve shared recently about our rhythm but I’ll double check.

[@angelinacarraway3576]

I got all excited for this curriculum until I seen the price I’m so dirt poor right now if it ain’t free I can’t afford it which sux for my kiddos!! I just want to giv them the best education but everything so expensive including the chapter books they want to read!!!

[@AbigailBrown-km5cm]

Please don't think that the only way to home educated is the expensive way. You can homeschool (even Waldorf if you want) on a limited budget, but it does take a lot more planning and prep, but there are tons of free resources and libraries out there.

[@PepperandPine]

The disappointing thing at the moment is that Waldorf if quite expensive when it's supposed to be accessible. Materials are high quality and used to be readily available. This philosophy was around before the explosion of plastic use which drove up costs of items that used to be more affordable. Now a single playsilk or paint brush is $20! I used to buy one and share with my kids and I policed the use heavily! I bought second hand on ebay and cherished each item. It's been 20+ years, so over time, I've accumulated a lot, but it was sparse in the beginning. However, I would forego a pricy high quality item for a cheaper one if it meant my children were still learning how to knit and watercolor for instance.

[@SaltyTribeCo]

My husband lost his job in the beginning of our homeschool career and we still did Waldorf learning without curriculum. We had to use our cheap printer paper we already had and donated crayons (cheap ones not the Waldorf ones we have now). You can make it work. You can build your own blocks based on the same topics for the age range and then use the library for fairytales and legends. That’s how we did it! I would look up the scope for each age range at a local Waldorf school and then do the same topics. Probably totally different by my kids didn’t notice. We had the cheap playsilks until we were able to replace them years later. My eldest is an adult and my second oldest is 17 and they all loved it even though it was basically free/cheap. I had 6 children and, trust me it can be done. 💗

[@makaoustinovskaya6851]

I second a review for Christopherus curriculum as well! Perhaps in comparison to Live Education in particular. It seems very complete and fairly priced, given that she provides detailed instruction for art and handiwork projects. I’m just wondering how complete the geometry, botany and other “hard” subjects might be in Christopherus, especially for upper grades. Input of an experienced Waldorf homeschooler like yourself would be so so sooo valuable Hana 😊

[@JD-yu3dk]

I’ve looked into Waldorf but it seems so pricey. Are there online second-hand stores?

[@arenn5384]

there are groups on facebook for parents to trade and sell curricula. i'm not sure if there are any specific to this one, but there are also other waldorf inspired curricula out there that can also work. i personally look at bits and pieces on ebay as well, used and older versions can be cheaper and just as good.

[@PepperandPine]

thank you for sharing. Some second hand curriculum is easier to come by versus others.

[@ericahouse1247]

Do you think you could switch back and forth between these two curricula for different grades or is it best to stick with one for continuity? I tend to grab curriculum as I find a good deal on it like I got live education level 1 this week used but am tempted to buy Waldorf essentials level two while it's on sale.

[@PepperandPine]

Yes! I do think you could for sure. It may otherwise be more challenging with a completely different educational approach, but within one philosophy, I think it's very doable. Of course, i didn't actually do that, so I'm speaking theoretically, but I think it's a sound approach.

[@colorswordsandlearning]

Thank you for the very helpful video, Hana . Jazakillah Khairan. It was very informative , as your videos always are . The way you do the adaptations of the curriculums and philosophies is so helpful. And it's all aesthetically so pleasing, MashaAllah ❤. Thank you for being who you are.

[@PepperandPine]

You're welcome 😊 Alhumduillah, I'm glad it's helpful and informative and beautiful :)

[@adelebezzie1]

Thank you so much for sharing your wealth of knowledge 🥰🙏please keep these videos coming

[@PepperandPine]

Thank you, I will try!

[@beccascraps8141]

The thing about developmental stages is they don’t necessarily correlate to physical age. Like my autistic 14yo is more like a 10-12 year old, the problem is I’m not sure exactly and I’m not sure he comprehends stories at all

[@PepperandPine]

Ah yes, thank you for sharing that. Autism and other neuroatypical students will likely follow a modified curriculum schedule depending on their individual needs. Thanks for the reminder.

[@jasminefuentes6427]

Salaam Walaikum I have been following you since I started my homeschooling journey 4 years ago ❤ we homeschool 4 of our 5 kids and need to be frugal about our spending. I have searched the internet for used live education! books to no avail! Safe to assume they do not allow resale if their books?

[@PepperandPine]

Wa’alaykum Asalam! Yes they are very hard to come by second hand because they ask they we don’t resell them. Other curriculum is easier to find, but live Ed material is hard.

[@velmag583]

I would be curious to know your thoughts on the revamped Earthschooling curriculum

[@PepperandPine]

I would love to take a look at it and share.

[@kaliwestwood]

Could you please compare/review the Christopherus curriculum?

[@PepperandPine]

Yes! But they would have to send me the curriculum. Do you have a personal connection to the writers of that curriculum?

[@katielarsen2630]

If they're willing to send you a sample (they also have free 5 day samples of several units on their website) I'd love to see a review of the Daily Wonder curriculum. I tried the sample Year 2 Pattern block with my 7 year old and am planning to purchase the block since it's going well so far. I really like that they offer individual blocks!

[@PepperandPine]

Thank you for the info Katie, I may try that.

[@MrSuperpak]

Exactly price is a big issue for me too.

[@PepperandPine]

Yes, the price of curriculum is very high compared to say books or workbooks. And at least for books, you can find much of what you need at the library.

[@threatlevelmidnight3588]

❤