Bridge Curriculum
updated April 11, 2018

Bridge curriculum for 6 year olds

A homeschool program for 6 year olds preparing to enter First Grade. This short curriculum fills the gap between kindergarten and first grade and introduces your child to new challenges, while still delaying academic content.

Lists of many specific signs of first grade readiness are also included to help you assess your child.

*NEW* First Grade Readiness - Resources, Insights and Tools for Waldorf Educators edited by Nancy Blanning
available as a free download from the Online Waldorf Library website!

Here is a fantastic MUST-READ article about all of the brain strengthening that needs to happen for a child to learn to read successfully and in a healthy way:

Teaching Our Children to Read, Write, and Spell: A Developmental Approach Looking at the Relationship of Children's Foundational Neurological Pathways to their Higher Capacities for Learning

Two Ways to Do Finger Knitting old blog post
(includes one more sign of first grade readiness)

For this age and stage I would also suggest the following resources, if you don't already own them:

Movement for the Young Child: A Handbook for Eurythmists and Kindergarten Teachers
by Estelle Bryer
now available as a FREE eBook at the Online Waldorf Library -- download it here

Games Children Play: How Games and Sport Help Children Develop
by Kim John Payne

The Waldorf Book of Animal Poetry
edited by David Kennedy

Festivals Together: A Guide to Multi-Cultural Celebration
by Sue Fitzjohn, Minda Weston, and Judy Large

Summer: Nature Activities for Children
by Irmgard Kutsch and Brigitte Walden

Autumn: Nature Activities for Children
by Irmgard Kutsch and Brigitte Walden

Winter: Nature Activities for Children
by Irmgard Kutsch and Brigitte Walden

Spring: Nature Activities for Children
by Irmgard Kutsch and Brigitte Walden

Beautiful Stuff!: Learning with Found Materials
by Cathy Weisman Topal and Lella Gandini

It is said that there is nothing that ISN'T Waldorf, it's just a question of WHEN. The Reggio Emiliaphilosophy is too academic for Waldorf early childhood, but this is a great time to explore it!