Christopherus Homeschool Resources

A small-publisher Waldorf-tradition curriculum developed by a longtime Waldorf educator, offering the most accessible introduction to Waldorf homeschooling for English-speaking families. Suited to families willing to invest time in understanding Waldorf pedagogy.

Last updated: 2026-04-20 · Every Homeschool Editorial Team

At a glance

Method	Waldorf-inspired, adapted for home use
Worldview	Anthroposophical (Rudolf Steiner tradition); family-adaptable
Grades	K-8
Formats	Physical books (spiral-bound), some digital
Cost tier	Mid ($200-$500 per grade guide)
Parent intensity	5
ESA-common	Rare
Accredited	No
Established	~2000
Website	christopherushomeschool.com

Our scoreboard (1-5)

Criterion	Score	Notes
Academic rigor	3	Strong in arts and rhythm; lighter in pure academics
Ease of teaching	2	Requires substantial parent learning
Content quality	4	Thoughtful, deep, distinctive
Flexibility	3	Clear methodology; adaptation needed
Value for money	4	Fair pricing for specialized content
Worldview scope	3	Anthroposophical undercurrent; adaptable
Visual/design	3	Functional, not aesthetically polished
Support resources	3	Small publisher, direct author access

Who the publisher is

Christopherus Homeschool Resources was founded around 2000 by Donna Simmons, a Waldorf educator with substantial experience in both traditional Waldorf schools and homeschool adaptations of Waldorf pedagogy. The company operates as a small, author-driven publisher. Donna Simmons personally wrote most of the grade guides, which reflects her distinctive voice and pedagogical experience.

The business is genuinely cottage-scale. Orders are fulfilled from a small operation, and the website reflects a focus on content over commerce. For families new to Waldorf homeschooling, Christopherus is often the first publisher recommended because its guides translate traditional Waldorf pedagogy into a format that American home educators can actually implement.

Waldorf pedagogy derives from Rudolf Steiner's early twentieth-century educational theories and is grounded in anthroposophy. Steiner's spiritual philosophy. Waldorf schools follow Steiner's framework closely, which includes beliefs about child development stages, the role of imagination in learning, and particular approaches to subjects like form drawing, eurythmy, and the main lesson.

Christopherus adapts this pedagogy for home use while retaining much of its spiritual and philosophical framework. The guides discuss child development stages in Steiner's terms (the unfolding of the "etheric body" in the first seven years, the "astral body" in the second seven years, etc.) and expect parents to engage with these concepts.

Cathy Duffy does not include Christopherus in her mainstream reviews. Waldorf curricula typically sit outside her review scope given their theological frameworks. HSLDA similarly does not engage with Waldorf materials in depth. The community supporting Christopherus is primarily other Waldorf-interested homeschool families communicating through Waldorf-specific forums, the Waldorf Homeschool Association, and regional anthroposophical communities.

The anthroposophical dimension will not suit every family. Steiner's philosophy includes metaphysical claims about reincarnation, karma, and spiritual development that many Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and secular families do not share. Christopherus does not push these views aggressively but assumes parents are open to engaging with the philosophical framework.

The core pedagogy

Waldorf pedagogy follows a distinctive developmental rhythm. Children through age seven are considered to be in an imitative, rhythmic stage where formal academics are not introduced, the environment, daily rhythm, storytelling, handwork, and play carry the educational content. Reading, writing, and math do not begin in earnest until around age seven (grade one), which corresponds to the child's first adult teeth erupting in Steiner's developmental framework.

Main lesson blocks organize the curriculum: students spend two to four weeks focused intensively on a single subject (math, language arts, science, history) before rotating to another. This immersive block approach differs from the daily-subject rotation of most curricula and is a defining feature of Waldorf education.

Form drawing (geometric design exercises) appears in grades one through three as a precursor to formal geometry, writing, and mathematical thinking. This practice is specific to Waldorf and has no direct equivalent in other pedagogies.

Storytelling is central in the early years. Christopherus provides story texts, fairy tales, nature legends, mythological stories, and culturally-situated tales, that parents tell (not read) to children across the year. The oral tradition carries significant weight.

Handwork and handicrafts occupy substantial time across all grades. Knitting begins in grade one, and more complex handwork (weaving, embroidery, woodworking) develops across the grades. These are treated as academic subjects rather than extracurriculars.

Mathematics is introduced through movement, rhythm, and concrete work before becoming abstract. Arithmetic is taught with rich contextual stories in the early grades, moving to formal notation and procedures more slowly than in traditional curricula.

Nature study and seasonal observation shape the yearly rhythm. Festivals (Michaelmas, Martinmas, Advent spiral, etc., from the Waldorf tradition) structure the year alongside academic content.

By grades six through eight, the curriculum becomes more academic in conventional terms, world history, physical sciences, mathematics through algebra, and substantial literature and composition.

A day in the life

A typical grade two day with Christopherus might begin with morning rhythm, perhaps a verse, a song, and a flute melody. The main lesson block runs 1.5 to 2 hours: if the current block is grammar, the child might hear a story (told orally by the parent), do movement exercises reinforcing the concept, then enter a short written portion in the main lesson book.

Afterward: form drawing (15 minutes), arithmetic practice (30 minutes), and outdoor time. Afternoons include handwork (knitting practice, for instance), storytelling, music practice, and independent play. Reading practice is brief and gentle, formal reading instruction is slow by conventional standards.

The daily rhythm is slower and more ritualized than most American curricula. Transitions are marked with verses or songs. The parent is present throughout, telling stories, demonstrating handwork, and modeling rhythmic participation.

By upper grades, main lesson blocks grow longer and more academic. A grade seven block on the Renaissance might involve detailed biographical study of figures like Leonardo da Vinci, with corresponding art projects, historical research, and extensive main lesson book entries.

Formal testing is not part of the pedagogy. Assessment happens through the main lesson book (the child's annual compilation of work), narration, demonstration of handwork skills, and parent observation.

What they do exceptionally well

Donna Simmons brings genuine Waldorf expertise to the guides. Unlike generic "Waldorf-inspired" curricula that borrow surface aesthetics without understanding the pedagogy, Christopherus guides reflect deep understanding of Steiner's approach translated into language and structure accessible to home educators.

The storytelling curriculum is substantive. Story collections in the early grades offer parents ready-to-tell stories drawn from folk traditions, which is rare among homeschool curricula and genuinely valuable for parents new to oral storytelling.

Handwork and arts integration is real. The guides assume and support the development of knitting, watercolor painting, beeswax modeling, and other hand skills as academic content, not add-ons.

For families genuinely drawn to Waldorf pedagogy, Christopherus is the most accessible English-language publisher in the space. Small Waldorf publishers exist (Live Education!, Earthschooling) but Christopherus is typically the easiest entry point.

What they do poorly

The learning curve is substantial. Parents new to Waldorf need to understand developmental stages, main lesson blocks, form drawing, storytelling pedagogy, and handwork progression before they can use the curriculum effectively. This often requires reading auxiliary Waldorf books, attending workshops, or connecting with Waldorf communities, an investment beyond the curriculum purchase.

The anthroposophical framework is embedded in the pedagogy. Families who want Waldorf aesthetics and rhythms without the spiritual philosophy will find the guides include references to Steiner's developmental stages, spiritual claims about child development, and metaphysical framings that cannot be easily removed.

Academic rigor in conventional terms is lower than mainstream curricula. Reading is introduced later, formal mathematics proceeds slowly, and standardized-test preparation is not a design goal. Families in states with testing requirements may need to supplement.

Production values are functional. Spiral-bound guides are readable but not aesthetically distinctive. For a pedagogy that prizes beauty, the materials themselves are less polished than the philosophy suggests.

The small-publisher scale creates real logistical friction. Shipping is slow, inventory runs out, and customer support is limited.

Who it fits / who it doesn't

• Pick Christopherus if: You are genuinely drawn to Waldorf pedagogy; you are willing to invest time learning the methodology; you are comfortable with anthroposophical framing or capable of filtering; you value artistic and handwork development as core curriculum; you have children in grades K-8.
• Skip Christopherus if: You want open-and-go curriculum; you are uncomfortable with Steiner's spiritual framework; you need standardized-test preparation; you want high-end production; you have high school students.

Cost honest assessment

Christopherus grade guides run approximately $200-$500 per grade. Supplementary story books, lesson books, and handwork supplies add $100-$300 per year. Total per-grade cost: $300-$800.

This is mid-range relative to Waldorf homeschool options. Live Education! runs higher for similar scope; Earthschooling offers a subscription model at different pricing. Waldorf-inspired curricula from non-Waldorf publishers (Oak Meadow, for instance) run similar prices with lighter anthroposophical content.

Used materials resell in the small Waldorf community but with limited volume.

ESA eligibility notes

Christopherus's small scale and direct-sales model means limited ESA marketplace presence. As of April 2026, Christopherus does not appear on major ESA portals in most states. Families wanting ESA reimbursement may need to purchase through third-party retailers that stock Christopherus, which is not guaranteed.

Verify with your state ESA marketplace; direct purchase from Christopherus is not commonly ESA-reimbursable.

Alternatives

• Live Education!. Would choose Live Education! over Christopherus if the family wants more comprehensive Waldorf curriculum materials and is willing to pay premium pricing.
• Oak Meadow. Would choose Oak Meadow over Christopherus if the family wants Waldorf-inspired pedagogy with less anthroposophical framing and option of accredited distance learning.
• Earthschooling (BEarth Institute). Would choose Earthschooling over Christopherus if the family prefers subscription-model access with broader topical libraries.

How we verified this

Our editorial team reviewed Christopherus sample materials and author content, cross-referenced Waldorf homeschool community resources including the Waldorf Homeschool Association, and confirmed pricing from christopherushomeschool.com in April 2026.