A Question is a Gem & Magpies Too

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"Fairytales Gone Bad" or Wisdom in the Waldorf Reading List

The past few years I have taken to reading many of the books my 13-year-old daughter is reading. Teen fantasy novels - Eragon, The Rangers, Harry Potter, Etc are all short and/or simple enough to keep a busy mom's attention span and fun to read. However, the main reason I keep reading these books is so I am aware of what Mosi is reading and so she has someone to discuss them with. Because, as I have found, there is a BIG difference between fairy tale and fantasy. There is a big difference between a traditional tale filled with wisdom or a tale woven by a wise woman/wise man and a book written for purely entertainment purposes or other reasons.

Many of these books do have such a wonderful underlying wisdom and from writing children's books I know how difficult it must be to write a novel and so I do greatly admire anyone who has written a novel - especially ones that are able to entertain so many people. This post is not about criticizing books - it is about learning to read books in an aware way, seeing the differences between genres of books, and turning entertainment into a a learning experience.

Thirteen was the age when I started absorbing books like a sponge. I read every classic on the shelves and especially loved the philosophers and French romantic novels of the 16th century. However, with nobody to discuss them with I was left a bit lost with all the information I was getting and this can be a bit confusing at such an impressionable age. I remember making so many decisions based on the romantic views put forth in my novels.

It is interesting to note that teenagers today seem to do the same things with books. Mosi tells me about friends who are depressed because their favorite character in a book is not real, or how they want to "be" like a certain character in another book or about how one girl wants to meet someone like "him". And kids hold their breath waiting for the next installment in their favorite book to come out.

Of course it is good for the kids to be reading. I'm happy my teenager is reading instead of playing video games non-stop or going to those parties "in the park". However, what she has been reading brings back the wisdom of Waldorf to me 100 fold!

When children are in 1st and Second grade they are read fairy tales. Not Disney tales, but fairy tales with real consequences and lessons. People die and get hurt in these fairy tales. Not everything is happy and charming. In the real version of the story Red Riding Hood grandmother dies and does not get "coughed back up by the wolf".

When children are in 3rd grade they read stories from the Old Testament, or other solid spiritual books with a focus on the history of that time. These stories help them form a strong moral base in how people made/make decisions and what the consequences of those decisions might be,

When children are in 4th grade they read mythology - many read Norse mythology, stories of strong characters making sacrifices, stories of hard work, perseverance and real life consequences. They are also exposed to stories about inventors and heroes. Real stories about real people and what their lives were like.

In 5th grade children read stories from Greek Mythology and study the ancient cultures.

In 6th grade children read biographies of great men and women.

In 7th grade they read Arthurian legends, biographies and poetry.

So what is the difference between the Waldorf curriculum, which includes plenty of good literature and some of the fantasy novels children are reading today?

In Women Who Run with The Wolves (a MUST read for anyone who believes in the power of storytelling and has a daughter) Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D talks about the tale "The Withered Trees" and says, "We understand this tale symbolically. It is not a tale about killing people. It is a teaching about not unleashing anger indiscriminately, but at the right time." (Page 362). Reading her book, and reading some of Steiner's writings about the wisdom of Fairy tales, one can see the benefit of a story that has a core spirit to it. This is the difference between a REAL story and entertainment.


We all know that many Disney films can be an example of "fairy tales gone bad" for the younger generation. Many of their modernized or adapted fairy tales are entertaining and many of them do put forth important messages. However, not all of them have an underlying wisdom and in many cases the essence of the original lesson or tale is lost.

So what is one example of this for the older generation?

"Twilight" is a good example of what I would call "fairy tales gone bad" for the tween/teen generation. I don't mean to pick on just one novel - and certainly, I was entertained enough that I had to stay up all night to get to the end of this book - LOL! But it disturbed me in the deepest way that is popular with such a young audience. Why?

Because there is an essential element missing in this fantasy/fairytale for teens. For one reason (and there are many more), the girl in the novel makes very poor life decisions and there are very very few consequences. The consequences are easily overcome (within a half a page usually) and by the end of the book nobody dies or is injured or suffers many real consequences in any significant way. As I approach the end of the fourth book I am still hoping for some redeeming core quality to emerge in the books, however, they remain, as they are, good entertainment. The insights the author provides into the details in the lives of the mythical characters are also amazing.

Although the "Twilight" series has no redeeming qualities in the category of "books I want my daughter to learn something from" it has brought about some amazing conversations. Through these conversations we have been able to discuss many life choices young girls must make now and in the future. I've been able to hear from her what her views are now and why and I've been able to insert a few suggestions of my own, which we then discuss (because she likes to argue and ask questions...not because I lead any discussions - LOL). Most importantly she is learning a very good lesson in how to read AND THINK, which is something I did not learn with literature until later in life.

Now, as she reads the series, she is not being led into admiring those characters the author leads us to admire, but she is lead to think about who those characters are and develop opinions on those characters based on what HER standards are.

One example is the main character, Bella. She is the heroine in all the books and most people who read the books will admire her and love her as the heroine. Some girls will want to be like her. However, if you look at her character in more depth one can see that she has no depth. She has no hobbies, no strengths or interests at school and her life is completely centered around a boy in the book. Is this the kind of heroine we want our daughters modelling themselves after?

Our children will read and see so many things in their lives. Giving them a solid base in good literature will help them discern the differences between literature and entertainment. Helping them learn how to interact with books instead of just reading them will strengthen their inner will and ability to stand up for what they believe in.

NOTE: One person commented on this post: After reading your blog it sound as if the books were very good for your daughter. If she never gets any life lessons from another book, but read for pure enjoyment. The books have open a door for the two of you to come together and have open discussions about all things you can imagine. Keep that door open you will need it. Maybe the books will never become great literure but, They bought a mother and daughter to a special place that is very hard to find.

My Reply: Yes, I agree :) That was one reason I wrote this post was to show that HOW you read books can make the book a "negative" or "positive" thing. I think if I had just left her to read the books alone the outcome would not have been as positive :) However, even entertaining literature CAN serve a purpose. And, who knows, there could even be some redeeming qualities in it as literature that I am completely missing because I am so wrapped up in the "my daughter is reading it" angle - LOL.

New Waldorf Channel Show! Waldorf Storytelling

New Waldorf Channel Show July 29.2008
At: www.TheWaldorfChannel.com
Click on: "Storytelling" and it will be at the top of the page

Waldorf Storytelling
7-minute clip from "Home and Hearth Conference" in El Paso, TX 2008
This 7-minute clip gives insight into different types of storytellers and how to start storytelling with your own family or class. Advanced storytellers can find inspiration here too!

You can also purchase the full 75-minute workshop for only 12.50 on DVD at:
The Herb'n Home Store

Or purchase the download (Ipod or video download) for only 7.50 at:
Storytelling Download

What is Waldorf? Waldorfize your Lesson Plans

I am excited to announce our new Waldorf Channel show for this week. It is called:

What is Waldorf? How to Waldorfize a Lesson Plan

I am thrilled with this video and would LOVE to hear feedback on this from anyone and everyone as I will probably revise it at some point and make it a feature video on the channel. I think it is a very useful video for new Waldorf parents, experienced Waldorf parents and families of Waldorf parents who have no idea what they are doing! I am going to send everyone in my family a link to this video tonight!

You can link directly to the video at:
http://waldorftv.weebly.com/theory.html

Enjoy!
Blessings & Health,
Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND
List Moderator
Mother to Mosi, 13, Sunii, 11, and Sofi, 9
http://www.thewaldorfchannel.com/
http://www.thedreamangels.com/

Sharing our Waldorf Enrichment Day - Preparing for Spring

Today we planted herb gardens, tasted herbal tea, did a flower form-drawing, made some "story gardens" and enjoyed many stories. During free time the boys all decided to finger-knit so I decided to make up a story for them. They were doing that project that boys often do where they want to finger-knit the entire ball of yarn .

I had not planned ahead on this but part of the fun sometimes is seeing how the story will emerge. For example, the boy buried in the yarn in this story would not have eaten at all without my "audience" asking me, "didn't he get hungry?"

Here is my finger-knitting story. It includes the names of the children in class today:

The Finger-Knitting Hero

by Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND

http://www.thewaldorfchannel.com/

Reprint this story only with my name and website included. Thank you.

There once was a boy named Nick who loved to finger-knit. It was obvious where he had come by this interest. His mother was an avid knitter herself. In fact, she was not JUST an avid knitter. She knitted sweaters for everyone in the village, she wove tablecloths from fiber and she knitted socks for all the girls and boys at school.

Even though they lived in a small cabin just outside of town, Nick's mother had reserved an entire room to store her yarn in. The room was packed to the ceiling with every color and kind of yarn you could imagine. From floor to ceiling with only one pathway through the entire room! And if you took a ball of yarn from the middle of the pile of course you had to be careful or the entire pile would fall on your head.

For this reason, Nick's mom would not let him enter the yarn room. She told him "You must never go into the yarn room. It is very dangerous!"

"Why," asked Nick, "will the yarn eat me or hurt me?"

"No," said Mama, "that is silly!"

"Will the yarn burn me?" asked Nick.

"No," said Mama, "the yarn will not burn you."

"Will the yarn scratch me?"

"No," said Mama, "the yarn will not scratch you. It is just dangerous!"

So Nick did not go into the room. When he wanted to finger-knit he had to ask his mother for yarn. One day he asked his mother for some yellow yarn. "What kind of yellow?" she asked.

"Do you want yellow like the sun? Like a lemon or like a flower?"

"I want yellow like lemons!" said Nick.

So his mother went into the yarn room, carefully pulled a yellow from the pile and gave it to Nick. Nick was overjoyed and went to his favorite corner of the house to finger-knit. He sat nearly half the day and knitted. It was a very big ball of yarn. Finally he finished the entire ball!

Nick wanted to show his mom what he had done and he wanted more yarn so her went to find his mother. But she was nowhere to be found. She was not in the kitchen making him a snack. She was not in her bed resting, she was not even at her loom weaving.

"Mom?" Nick yelled.

But all he heard was "mmmmmph!"

So Nick slowly opened the door to the yarn room to get his own ball of yarn. It looked a bit messy but he didn't think much of it. Almost immediately he saw the most lovely color of red yarn so he reached out to take it from the pile.

Almost immediately the pile fell on top of him and he was buried under all the yarn. He heard a "mmmmph!" again but he was too busy worrying about his predicament to think much of it.

He was trapped. Under hundreds of balls of yarn. So of course he started to finger-knit. First he knit a white ball, then a pink one, then the red one, then a multi-colored one, then one that looked like feathers and another than looked like little balls, then a very fluffy green one. He knit and knit and knit but soon he grew hungry. He said, "Oh, how I wish there were some food."

Suddenly he heard "scrittchy scratchy squeek squeek!" and a little mouse appeared with a nice thick slice of bread, dropped it on Nick's lap and ran away. Nick thought the bread looked lovely but he thought it would be even more lovely with some cheese. Almost immediately after thinking that he heard a "scritchy scratchy thunk thunk squeek" and the same mouse was back with a big hunk of cheese! Nick was very thankful for the dinner but he worried that he would be thirsty but the mouse was gone.

Nick started to eat his bread and pretty soon he heard a "scritchy scratchy rolly polly squeek squeek squeek" and the little mouse rolled a bottle of water right into his lap! Nick ate well and then went to sleep.

The next morning he woke up to the bright yellow and orange of the sun and was so happy! But it was not the sun it was just more yarn! Nick saw at once that he must get back to work. So he started finger-knitting again. Soon he was almost out of the pile and he heard a "hmmmmmp!" again. So he knitted and knitted and pretty soon he was out of the pile. Then he knitted and knitted some more towards the sound of the "hmmmph".

Pretty soon his mother was unburied too. For the yarn had fallen on her and that is why Nick could not find her when he went looking. His mom gave him a big hug and said "It is such a good thing you learned how to finger-knit and that you are so fast Nick!"

After that, Nick started a new project. He started building some nice wooden shelves for his mother to keep her yarn on. And they were never buried in the yarn again. Although sometimes they did find little pieces of cheese here and there...and a nibble out of some of the skeins.

THE END

Hope you enjoyed your day too!

Blessings & Health,

Kristie

www.TheWaldorfChannel.com

New Shows at TheWaldorfChannel.com 2/5/2008

There are so many fun new things on The Waldorf Channel!

New Videos:
A String Game Story by Kristie Burns - 4 minute video lesson

New Radio Shows:
Tikki Tikki Tembo (He doesn't die at the end in my version)
The Arabian Nights - Part 7

New E-Books:
Sixth Sense Math
A Year of Waldorf Watercolor Painting

Please consider supporting The Waldorf Channel by purchasing one of our E-books, E-Videos or E-Audio products at: The Waldorf Channel Downloads.

Thank You and Enjoy!
Blessings & Health,
Kristie

Waldorf Radio Instructions NEW!

1. Download the U-broadcast player (which is free & you only have to download the FIRST TIME you listen. After that it is on your computer ready to listen to at any time!) at:

WALDORF RADIO CHANNEL 6098

2. Tune into Channel 6098 and press "Skip to Show"

3. You can continue to press "skip to show" until you find the show you want. Once you start "play" you have the option to start and stop the show again (if you want a break) and the rest of the shows will continue playing automatically after you select one to begin with.

IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS STATION PLEASE HELP ME BY CONACTING ME WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE AT: HERBNHOME@YAHOO.COM The only way I can improve this station is by getting feedback. Thank you!

Special Guest Singer/Reader on Waldorf Radio

Visit www.waldorfradio.com to listen...



Imagine being transported into the world of fairies, and listening to a story that not only entertains your children, but also teaches them some of the important lessons of the world. The Fairy’s Flowers will do just that. Based on a blending of experiments in gentle story telling and song, The Fairy’s Flowers is a 40-minute journey, designed to teach your children lessons in the ten cardinal values: non-harming, benevolent truth, non-stealing, universal love, simple living, purity of mind and body, contentment, service, spiritual knowledge, and contemplation.

Narration and songs by Anjali

Story by Mukti Hava Bauman

Adapted by Didi Anandarama

Produced by Anjali for Ananda Marga Gurukula - a Neohumanist education paradigm: www.nhe.gurukul.edu

This recording, which includes 12 additional songs, can be purchased by contacting Anjali at:

Sharing our Waldorf Enrichment Day :)

I had four Montessori students come over yesterday to share our day with us. They were here from 8am-3pm and we had so much fun. My favorite comment of the day was by the little four-year-old who looked at me while we were making lunch and said, 'Miss Kristie, why are we having so much fun here today?'

Since they don't come over every day we did a little Chinese New Year - Winter Cold inspired lesson. We did a lot of cooking and baking (a great winter activity!) and I told a story about Dragon Stew. Then the kids (having been here before) asked "Oh! Can we do a play about the story?" I really had not planned on it - but they were really into the idea and they already knew what role they wanted in the play so we spent another half hour doing a "play"! What I do for this type of "play" is that I tell the story again but I pause as often as I can and leave out as much as I can (like a narrator and a bit more sometimes) so the kids can have a chance to act out and say their parts. Depending on which child is in the role I will leave out more or less. Some kids really get into the improvisation in this!

We also did some watercolor paintings of dragon flames which everyone enjoyed. It was an easy enough project for the four-year-old but also interesting enough for the 11-year old.

Well, it is said that pictures say 1000 words so I will leave the rest of our day to the pictures above!

Blessings & Health,
Kristie

Waldorf DVDs Available for IMMEDIATE Download

Dear All,

Most of my video and audio instructions for craft projects and Waldorf enrichment blocks (not the lesson plans, just the blocks) are now available for immediate download from:

http://store.payloadz.com/results/results.asp?m=40979

This means you save a lot on the price of the DVD (since you are downloading the cost is less), you don't pay postage, you get to listen, read or view your file right away (this is great for people living overseas) AND we are helping to save the environment because we are not producing any more paper or metallic waste on earth :)

Titles Available are:
(I will upload more as they become available)

Videos (these are the full DVD - available in two downloads, I don't use ZIP files because not everyone has winzip and I have had trouble with it in the past)
How to Knit (A Unicorn)
Waldorf Birthday Parties
Herbs for Kids
Woodworking with Kids

E-Books
Knitting & Weaving for Kids
Multiplication Tables
Storytelling & Theater for Kids
Herbs for Kids
Woodworking for Kids
Natural Gifts Kids Can Make
Cooking with Kids

Audio Files
All sudio from our Radio Show can be downloaded for play on your MP3 compatible player here (this includes mobile phones and other devices other than MP3 players that play MP3s)

Blessings & Health,

Kristie Burns
Teacher, Healer & Artist
Storytime radio, Lesson plans, Free visual resources, Healing classes, Discount natural living items, Herbal consulting online, Crafts & More at:
http://www.thedreamangels.com/

Waldorf Storytime Radio Now Broadcasting!

I am excited to announce the opening of Waldorf Storytime Radio at:

www.waldorfradio.com

This week our program includes:
The Arabian Nights - Installment ONE
The Arabian Nights - 2
The Arabian Nights - 3
The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Anderson
Dedicated Story to Ron by Robin - Nasr Din Traditional Eastern Tale

Tune in this weekend for more additions and a special guest is coming next week!

If you have ANY TROUBLE with the station please contact me. The only way I can improve the station is to get feedback from you all! Thank you!

Blessings & Health,
Kristie

The Magic Thread of Life...

My children's favorite question this week is "Can we open our gifts yet?"

My answer is --- do you want to hear the story of "The Magic Thread" again?

It is such a wonderful story! A great story for patience during the Solstice, Christmas season and a great story to inspire you in leading your life in the New Year!

It is in the "Book of Virtues" by William Bennet. You can also find it online at:
http://www.noogenesis.com/pineapple/magic_thread.html

Enjoy!
Blessings & Health,
Kristie

STORIES: Apple Star - NEW Story!

This post can now be found on our new BLOG HERE