Is there any interest in reviving this forum and trying to get an Enki support group going? I know some of us are only working with bits and pieces and without the old Enki yahoo! group it is easy to feel lost and alone.

Anyway, I'm Kimberly in So Cal. I'm working with a 6YO and a 7YO. We just made the decision to extend grade 1 through September and begin grade 2 in January (using December as a transition month while taking October and November off). We're about 60% through the grade 1 year, just now introducing Word Families and starting Fact Families next week.

Hey Kimberly!
Im in!! I'll take any support I can find!!

My name is Kari, I live in New Mexico, use Enki with my 9yo son, 7yo son and it spills over to my 3.5 yo daughter. We love it and would love to meet others who are incorporating this into their lives.

Hi there- I'm here of course :)

Kimberly, what you wrote in the other thread was excellent and I love your blog. I tried to keep up with mine but wound up journalling more than typing... perhaps I'll post-enter our year.
Anyway... I've been using Enki materials since 2003 sometime. I went to both year's conferences and loved every minute of them.
We are an Enki-inspired family for sure, Beth's writings inspired much of my personal parenting style.
That said, I can't participate in the official discussion because I need to repurchase the new guides first so I'd love to see a group chatting here.

We did a first grade bridge year this past year, got up to the end of letters and through the 4 processes. We'll do first grade again this coming year with a strong focus on cultural immersion during our group time (I have a group of 8 kids once per week) and working the basics two other days per week.
I also have a 4 year old who is doing some light kindy fun... mostly just stories and housework of course. My youngest is 1.5 and she's along for the ride :)

Glad to see this thread!

~jo

Howdy!!

I'm still here....sort of....we just finished a Big Move across the state and live in El Paso now.

I'm not sure how much of what I'm doing would be relevant to this conversation, but I would be happy to particpate if anyone is interested. I used Enki for several years until we got to The Grades this year, and I've widened my source materials to include Live Ed and (my favorite) Alan Whitehead's materials. I feel that what I learned from Enki provided the foundation for how I use my materials now...and the perspective that I bring to what I do.

We took off most of the Spring for the moving fiascos...and we are now starting back up. On the move here, I wrote a story for doubling that I posted on WE_HS....if anyone is interested I (and if Jolene can tell me how!) I can post it here.

Anyway....still around....doing my own thing....interested in hearing what others are doing!!

Peace and Chocolate!

Hi! I'm Kristin - I am just beginning to look into Enki - we have been a Waldorf family since my daughter was born 4 years ago, and we're homeschoolers.

I'm glad to have gotten some responses - notification doesn't work for me and I hadn't checked the thread in awhile. Hopefully we can keep the conversation going! I have a question to ask, but I'll post that later (we're supposed to be out the door to park day).

Can anyone tell me of some good resources? I did a quick search and only found the curriculum. Are there any books?

Can anyone tell me of some good resources? I did a quick search and only found the curriculum. Are there any books?

The Enki Guides have the philosophy, they are sold separately or in the grade packages. There are no outside books about Enki philosophy at this time.

www.enkieducation.org

Okay, I thought about this some more and for right now I am going to have to keep my Enki discussion limited to my blog (and comments on Kari's blog :) ). Feel free to stop by, see what we are doing, ask questions, offer advice, etc.

I just can't be stopping by any message boards right now. I don't really have the time; I want to have the time but message boards just aren't high on my priority list right now.

I took care of the comment situation if anyone had issues with that.

I'll "see" you all out there in the Enki world.

That's too bad Kimberly, I was looking forward to a bit more community. I am not in a position to rebuy the materials I have yet so I am feeling very alone with my planning for next year. I am glad you brought it up though.

So... who else wants to chat Enki/Waldorf/Holistic ed? I'm up for some brainstorming for next year!

~jo

Jo, I'd love to talk Enki, but I can't commit to doing it in the context of visiting a message board.

The problem is that I come to discuss Enki, or line drying, or organic foods, and get caught up in other discussions and find I've spent an hour of my day on the boards. It's my lack of discipline that is making me give up the boards for now. It's become a habit to flip on the computer and cruise the boards when I have a few spare moments, instead of reading or doing something more productive. Then I find that the hour spent has not been in renewal, and yet I claim to not have time to take care of myself.

I will keep up with my blog, and Kari's (I find the blogs to be a source of renewal for me), and I am a member of the Anchor Community although there isn't much discussion happening. (Everyone - don't ask, because I have no clue how to get people added to the Anchor Community). In a few weeks I may find a way to balance it all and come back here now and then. I'd even be willing to be part of a new email list for Enki users, unofficial, of course.

What grade are you planning? I'm thinking grade 2? In your case I wouldn't have repurchased materials yet either, as it is unclear when grade 2 will be ready. I will be planning grade 2 in October.

yeah, I hear ya! and I totally respect your lack of time for the boards they can really eat up a day ... of course that's good for me in a way :P

I'm doing first grade officially again, since Sage is an October birthday and we only did half the material... but I'll need second grade by winter and I don't think there's any way to count on anything. I need to start planning for second grade AND the kids in my co-op are up to grade 5 (ack!) so I am really behind the eight ball there!

I am feeling like I need to keep my limited homeschool resources liquid because I am using other resources to supplement the Enki stuff I have. Luckily I have a lot because the old stuff had more than is currently released.
For instance the Noble Knights of Knowlege math program is working fabulously for us! I am overdue to write a glowing review for both this board and another one... but if you have the money I recommend it whole heartedly. Even the older kids who already had a lot of the skills found it to be fun and challenging in new ways.



So... I'll keep reading your blog and hopefully will start writing in my own again asap. Hopefully the boards will fit in again for you soon :)

~jo

Jo....you used this for Sage for G1? I've been hearing lots about it....let me know when your review is ready. :)

Since we lost 2.5mths in the Spring due to the 'Moving Fiascos'....I'm extending our G1 through the Fall and will move into G2 for Nathan and G1 for Phoebe in January. Phoebe is a June 1st B-Day....and I am waiting to see how she takes to formal lessons...and I'm prepared to put it off until next September when she is 7 is need be.

I like the Alan Whitehead plan of a Main (Head) Lesson in the morning...a middle (Heart) lesson before lunch (I usually kind of smush my lessons together)....and then a practical (Hands) Lesson in the afternoon. I consulted with him, and he was very adament about doing one multi-age lesson for all of my children. I can write more about that later....I actually just hoped on the computer to write up my shopping list....and here I am! :D Also....I have found Donna Simmons stuff to be very practical and helpful. I used her G1 Syllabus for inspiration as when we started using the Enki Math in October...I found that it was just too dry for our family. With Donna's stuff...I found the ideas that I needed to bring the math into a full body experience by baking the numbers....modeling them out of wax....drawing them with scarves on the floor, then walking the scarves etc. We even collected five-pointed leaves in the Fall...and I spontaniously asked Nathan how many leaves would we have to collect to have 100. That was an awesome experience....right outside the studio where we took drumming lessons. Phoebe and Max ran around collecting the leaves for us...and Nathan lined them up and figured it out. Then....I even kind of combined the Enki digit magic with modeling the numbers from beeswax. Nathan asked what we were going to model....and I said 'the numbers'....and he asked 'which numbers'....and I said, 'all of them'. Of course, we had been doing the digit magic verses.....so after we modeled 0-9....I stopped. It took him a minute...but he got it.

Alan Whitehead suggests that children are recapitulating through Ancient India during G2....so I plan on 'mirroring' this at points during the year...with cooking (I've got several ayurvedic cookbooks with which I haven't done much that I plan to dust off!)....and use some Krisha trickster stories....some Indian crafts and games etc.

I haven't gotten my whole plan together yet...but I'll be happy to share...and I'm interested what everyone else is doing!

Gotta get back to my shopping list!

Hi Everyone! We are finishing Enki K here with my 6 year old (6 in Feb) and with my 3 and 1 year old.. She is constantly saying yo ho and swaying like a sailor man!! LOL

Actually we are fluttering to a stop with the weather being great and the inside is not as enticing we are slowly stopping our true "schooling", but trying to keep a rhythm.

I will be doing grade one with my 6 year old next year and kindy stuff for my 3/4 as needed. I actually feel very overwhelmed as to what to buy get :eyes: . I have the new guides downloaded for early childhood, but NO grade one yet. I plan to get the grade one guide this month and one other book (any suggestions as to which one from those who have them)? I can not outlay the whole amount at one time and I want to at least start looking at the grade one guide soon.

Does anyone have a list of grade one materials so that I can start gathering things please?

Thanks,sorry if I sound down, I just wish money was easier... :-)

Rebecca

Hello all. I recognise some of you from Mothering. I'm mama to a 4.5 yr old boy and 15 month girl, and will be using Enki kindergarten with my son starting this fall (although easing into it already). Up till now DS was in waldorf kindergarten in the UK. We just moved to CA where we can no way afford waldorf, and because of a december b.day he's too young for public school, and it's turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Enki feels like home to me. I'm just starting to work my way through the teacher guides and had the first monthly phone discussion with Beth yesterday, and I just get more and more excited about it all.

Can anyone tell me if the older grades (2 and up) are or will be available at any point soon? I had an enquiry on my blog.

I'm fairly certain that Beth said that they will not be committing to any release dates for materials any more after having trouble last year keeping up with a schedule that just didn't work out. I hope for everyone's sake they come along soon. I'd love to see what's next.
We have enjoyed using first grade (we have the first edition materials no longer available) and I am creating a second grade plan myself now for next year using a melange of resources : Enki teacher's guide, Noble Knights, Reading Reflex, Vimala handwriting, OM 2nd, and Alan Whitehead's spiritual syllabus. If nothing else I am learning to really draw what works for our family and each of my children out of the many sources out there.

~jo

I'm very interested in Enki, so I'm subbing to this thread. I'd like to see it stay alive and active. ;)

I've got a 7 yr old (he was 7 in May, 2006). I fear he's too old for Enki, but don't really know since I don't have any the materials. I would love to buy the foundations and create my own curriculum, but I just don't know if I have the time. Also, I don't know if it's appropriate to start him *now* since he hasn't gone through the previous years of learning with Enki. Any thoughts on this?

So...I'm hoping maybe for my 3 yr old and newborn. Maybe they can enjoy Enki, if I continue with this path of interest in the program. Of course, that depends upon having the $$ to buy everything.

About buying the foundations and teaching guides: Do I understand correctly that I would get a 50 dollar credit toward the purchase of the complete grade level package? This doesn't represent nearly the savings as buying the whole package at the same time...which can save hundreds of dollars. Right? So, I'm reluctant to purchase the guides if I won't be saving very much in the long run. KWIM? If I understand it correctly, it doesn't seem to encourage parents who want to learn more by purchasing the guides w/out committing to buying the whole package.

I really enjoy reading about those who are using this program. It's so helpful.

:happy:

Anybody out there? :waving:

I just ordered Enki today. I'm not liking Oak Meadow or Live Ed so much. So I figured I'd give Enki a try. So I'm basically just subscribing.

Erica, did you get an invite to the Yahoo! group? I invited an Erica on 10/3 but I don't know if that was you.

Erica, did you get an invite to the Yahoo! group? I invited an Erica on 10/3 but I don't know if that was you.

yep :) that was me. I got your email. I wrote you back but it got sent to the entire group...whoops.

Erica, did you get an invite to the Yahoo! group? I invited an Erica on 10/3 but I don't know if that was you.

I'm guessing the yahoo group is only for owners of Enki? :eyes:

I'm having a tough time getting answers here (which I totally understand...we're all busy and it must get old answering questions all the time :) ).

But...I've got 2 friends that are interesting in doing some sort of Enki co-op with me. I've told them about Enki and they like what they've heard so far.

I guess I could look at MDC, but I like my amitymama. LOL.

Can't I just lurk at the yahoogroup and not ask any questions? I'd love to see what's being discussed. :lol:


Amy

ETA: I just saw Kimbermama's post about the Enki group. It's open to all who are interested. I've submitted my membership request. Thank you!

There is a new yahoo group that is for learning more about Enki Ed.

It is: EnkiExperience@yahoogroups.com

This not for just owners, there IS a group for owners, but this group should help you. Take a look in the files for some answered questions etc.

Rebecca

There are two Yahoo! groups. Enki Experience is an official list, with input from Enki Education. Anyone may join the list, ask questions, respond, etc. The discussion is not designed to getting really deep into the philosophy.

Holistic Family is not really an "official" Enki group in that there is no moderation by Enki Education, and it is limited to families using the Enki Homeschool Teaching Guides.

There is some overlap, both with topics and members. Overall, a lot of the discussion on Holistic Family wouldn't be very relevant to a non-Enki user. For instance, recent discussions have involved keeping beeswax creations, eating acorns, and where to buy supplies in the UK.

I am very pleased with the new list; it answers questions thoroughly and is a great resource for people checking out Enki.

And if you didn't know before, my homeschooling blog is mostly about Enki.

I wrote to the list that I got my Enki First grade package today and it's amazing from what I've read so far. Honestly it's worth a lot more money they ask!

And if you didn't know before, my homeschooling blog is mostly about Enki.

Great! Is your blog back up? I checked several times in Sept-ish and I couldn't seem to access it.


Thanks for your responses everyone.

Erica....I'm jealous! I'd love to hear more of your thoughts. You can always email me: soapmaker@gmail.com

Amy

Great! Is your blog back up? I checked several times in Sept-ish and I couldn't seem to access it.

Amy
I put it back up last week, and have made a few entries. Also, I'm working on another blog, not about homeschooling. I did change the URL. If you click on my profile you'll find it. If not, it's Red Dirt Life (www.reddirtlife.blogspot.com).

I'm in! Ordered before Christmas and have it all here, now.

I ordered the 1st gr complete before they changed the pricing and decreased the materials offering. Now, I've got all of 1st and almost all of K. Unfortunately, I've got a 2nd grader and need to figure my way thru and apply it to him and his needs. I had a pre-purchase consult w/Beth, but still am unsure how to proceed with meeting his needs.

Now I'm overwhelmed...but oh so excited. :) Having a great time reading thru everything when I can steal a few spare moments.

Amy

There are several of us working with grade 2. Email Beth and see what she can do to help you. Also, we talk about it on the HF list (did you join?) and there are links to Enki user blogs with some families tackling 2nd and even 3rd.

this sounds interesting, subbing to this thread to see what it's about

There are several of us working with grade 2. Email Beth and see what she can do to help you. Also, we talk about it on the HF list (did you join?) and there are links to Enki user blogs with some families tackling 2nd and even 3rd.

Yep! I joined the list, but haven't introduced myself. Need to intro myself on the EE list, too.

I've checked some of the blogs. They're fun to read, but the only one I've found with any "meaty" info is yours. Do you have any favorites? :)

Amy

Hi everyone. Thought maybe here would be a good place to ask this...

I am deciding between Oak Meadow and Enki for Kindergarten/1st grade. Can anyone compare the rpos and cons of these two? Has anyone tried them both? What did you like best about them? Or if you started with one, why did you switch?

I'd like to buy both....but finacially I think that would be difficult right now...

thanks for your help!

Well, I already spoke my heart about the two but I think OM is the choice if you need a simple, straight forward do this on this day type of curriculum... if however you are looking to delve deeply into a philosophy Enki is the most beautiful that I've ever seen.

~jo

I just got the Enki intro DVD and packet...and I am very inspired! I feel really drawn to this approach and can't wait to read through everything sent to me.

The DVD shows the Enki school...where is it? Is it in Henniker, NH? I am very curious because that is only about 1 1/2 hours from me and I wanna visit it! :) Or is that just their PO Box location. Anyone know?

The school no longer exists, although I've heard rumors of them trying to get a charter going in Rhode Island, with the original Enki founders. There is/was a charter in New Mexico as well; last I heard they were having problems with the lack of curriculum for the older grades.

I've seen and used both OM and Enki. There would be no reason to have both, and OM must be highly modified to return it to a holistic state (if that isn't a complete contradiction of terms). If you can afford Enki and don't mind doing your own planning then I think you'll be quite pleased. No one completely follows a curriculum to the letter anyway, and Enki has a far better philosophy, method, and resources materials.

Plus, as more people purchase and use Enki you'll find the support is really growing. There are a couple Yahoo! groups as well as many of us who blog about using Enki in the home.