Waldorf Block: G1: First Grade Language
Earthschooling Waldorf’s first grade language arts block offers a holistic and engaging approach to literacy, prioritizing storytelling, artistic expression, and imaginative learning to build a strong foundation for lifelong reading and writing skills. Join teacher Paola as well as teacher Nicole on a wonderful adventure through the upper case alphabet. Each video includes a main lesson book drawing and chalk board drawing along with some extras. This is a complete block for first grade. Each Living Lesson set is a complete video course for the block and includes chalkboard drawings, teacher instruction, main lesson book drawings, music, watercolor, and more. The exact contents of the block can be found in the course listing.
Waldorf First Grade Language Arts: A Holistic Approach to Literacy
Waldorf first grade language arts offers a holistic and engaging approach to literacy, prioritizing storytelling, artistic expression, and imaginative learning to build a strong foundation for lifelong reading and writing skills.
Here's what sets Earthschooling Waldorf first grade language arts apart:
- Storytelling as the Foundation: Instead of focusing on rote memorization, Waldorf education uses rich, high-quality fairy tales, folk tales, and nature stories to introduce letters and sounds. These stories spark the children's imagination, developing strong oral language and comprehension skills.
- From Whole to Part: Learning progresses naturally from the whole (the stories and sounds of language) to the parts (letters and their sounds). This approach is different from traditional methods that might emphasize early phonics without context.
- Integrated with Art: Art is not a separate subject but a vital part of language learning. Children draw from the stories, visually engaging with the letters and building an imaginative connection to the abstract symbols.
- Writing Before Reading: Waldorf first graders are introduced to writing before reading. They copy verses, summaries, or their own creations into beautiful, hand-drawn main lesson books, which become their first "readers".
- Emphasis on Imagination: The curriculum cultivates a deep connection to language through imagination, which is believed to foster a love of reading that goes beyond simple decoding.
•• Focus on Developmental Stages: The pace of learning is tailored to the child's developmental readiness, allowing them to acquire skills naturally and joyfully.
Living Lessons are video lessons where a teacher leads the class through the main lessons for this grade. You can use these lessons as examples to follow for your own teaching or can use them as supplements to your own teaching (we all need a break now and then. I would have loved to have these available on days I was ill or was taking care of my fussy baby).
Join teachers Paola, Nicole, and Janet on a wonderful adventure through the upper case alphabet. Each video includes a main lesson book drawing and chalk board drawing along with some extras. This is a complete block for first grade. Each Living Lesson set is a complete video course for the block and includes chalkboard drawings, teacher instruction, main lesson book drawings, music, watercolor, and more. The exact contents of the block can be found below in the description.
Your Instructor

Mellie Mae Lonnemann lives in Colorado near the Rocky Mountains where she recently moved with her husband and son. Mellie was a class teacher at the Green Meadow Waldorf School in Chestnut Ridge, NY before the arrival of her son, Joseph. She then taught homeschool students morning lesson, clay art, quilting, and gardening. Mellie received her Waldorf Teacher Certificate from Sunbridge Institute, a BFA with a concentration in ceramics from Alfred University, and a Art Certificate in Professional Maiolica from the Ballardini State Institute of Art in Faenza, Italy.
Mellie loves spending time outdoors, being creative, and learning from her beautiful son! She wishes to impart a love for learning through curiosity, discovery and creativity.
Course Curriculum
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StartIMPORTANT NOTE FOR THIS BLOCK: What is Main and Secondary?
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson One: Introduction (25:17)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Two: The Letter M (38:25)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Three: The Letter B, Review M (44:41)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Four: Letter D, Review B (40:12)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Five: Letter P, Review D (43:51)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Six: Learn G, Practice P (43:40)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Seven: Learn L, Practice G (52:52)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Eight: Learn F, Practice L (53:24)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Nine: Learn N, Practice F (49:39)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Ten: Learn T, Practice N (46:05)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Eleven: Letter R , Review T (43:44)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Twelve: Letter Review in General , Review R (44:48)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Thirteen: Letter A, The Vowels (40:52)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Fourteen: Phonics: -AT and More (39:07)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Fifteen: The Letter E and More (50:22)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Sixteen: The Letter I, Review A & E (46:23)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Seventeen: The Letter O, Review A, E & I (42:22)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Eighteen: The Letter U and More (47:07)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Nineteen: Qu and More (53:05)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Twenty: The Letter K and More (46:28)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Twenty-One: Letters C and K (51:10)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Twenty-Two: Letters C and H (50:53)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Twenty-Three: Letters V & W (46:10)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Twenty-Four: Letter J, Review W (43:02)
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StartFirst Grade Language: Lesson Twenty-Five: FINAL LESSON: X, Y & Z (49:23)
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StartIMPORTANT NOTE FOR THIS BLOCK: What is Main and Secondary?
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StartWritten Lessons for First Grade Language Block: Planner Format
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StartWritten Lessons for First Grade Language Block: Block Format
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StartTeacher/Student Lesson 1: The Capital Letter A: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing & Verse (14:13)
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StartTeacher/Student Lesson 2: The Capital Letter B: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing & Verse (11:30)
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StartTeacher/Student Lesson 3: The Capital Letter C: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing & Verse (19:25)
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StartTeacher/Student Lesson 4: The Capital Letter D: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing & Verse (21:27)
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StartTeacher/Student Lesson 5: The Capital Letter E: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing & Verse (22:18)
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StartTeacher/Student Lesson 6: The Capital Letter F: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing & Verse (24:13)
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StartStudent Lesson 7: The Capital Letter G: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing, Story, & Verse (14:40)
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StartStudent Lesson 8: The Capital Letter H: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing, Story, & Verse (12:12)
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StartStudent Lesson 9: The Capital Letter I: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing, Story, & Verse (10:47)
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StartStudent Lesson 10: The Capital Letter J: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing, Story, & Verse (13:03)
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StartStudent Lesson 11: The Capital Letter K: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing, Story, & Verse (15:28)
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StartStudent Lesson 12: The Capital Letter L: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing, Story, & Verse (11:59)
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StartStudent Lesson 13: The Capital Letter M: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing, Story, & Verse (9:01)
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StartStudent Lesson 14: The Capital Letter N: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing, Story, & Verse (8:08)
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StartStudent Lesson 15: The Capital Letter O: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing, Story, & Verse (13:42)
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StartStudent Lesson 16: The Capital Letter P: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing, Story, & Verse (11:13)
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StartStudent Lesson 17: The Capital Letter Q: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing, Story, & Verse (12:16)
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StartStudent Lesson 18: The Capital Letter R: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing, Story, & Verse (9:48)
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StartStudent Lesson 19: The Capital Letter S: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing, Story, & Verse (12:22)
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StartStudent Lesson 20: The Capital Letter T: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing, Story, & Verse (6:08)
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StartStudent Lesson 21: The Capital Letter U: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing, Story, & Verse (11:37)
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StartStudent Lesson 22: The Capital Letter V: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing, Story, & Verse (11:19)
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StartStudent Lesson 23: The Capital Letter W: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing, Story, & Verse (9:33)
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StartStudent Lesson 24: The Capital Letter X: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing, Story, & Verse (15:13)
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StartStudent Lesson 25: The Capital Letter Y: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing, Story, & Verse (9:50)
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StartStudent Lesson 26: The Capital Letter Z: Chalkboard/Main Lesson Book Drawing, Story, & Verse (12:57)
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StartTHIS BLOCK IS NOW COMPLETE