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Our Suggestions: Essential Preparatory Reading

for Grade 3 Class Teachers

We prioritized the list so that the most essential books/articles you need to “read or seriously
browse” are listed first.

Must Reads
The Tasks and Content of the Steiner-Waldorf Curriculum, Edited by Rawson and Richter
Practical Advice To Teachers, Rudolf Steiner (www.waldorfresearchinstitute.org/download/e-
books/PRACTI1.pdf)
Kingdom of Childhood, Lecture 2 (Nine year old change), Rudolf Steiner
And There Was Light, Jakob Streit (Old Testament Stories) (free ebook at
http://waldorflibrary.org/books/3/view_bl/121/reading/133/and-there-was-light-
ebook?tab=getmybooksTab&is_show_data=1)
Old Testament Stories and Commentary on the Old Testament Stories, Roy Wilkinson
The Roadmap to Literacy, Janet Langley and Jennifer Militzer-Kopperl
Teaching Mathematics, Roy Wilkinson
Teaching Practical Activities, Roy Wilkinson (Building, gardening, etc.)
Form Drawing Grades One through Four, Laura Embrey-Stine and Ernst Schuberth

Have as References
Words Their Way: Word Sorts for Within Word Pattern Spellers, Invernizzi et al
Reading Teachers’ Book of Lists, Fry and Kress

Other Resources
Overall
Rudolf Steiner’s Curriculum for Waldorf Schools, Karl Stockmeyer
A Path of Discovery: Volume Three, Grade Three, Fairman

Nine-Year-Old Change: (These read aloud books are great for supporting the 9 year change.)
The Brothers Lionheart, Astrid Lindgren (classic children’s literature that helps you understand the
change and to read to the children - a must!)
Charlotte’s Web, E.B. White
Trumpet of the Swan, E. B. White
The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett

Hebrew Tales
Genesis and Moses both by Emil Bock also Steiner’s lecture on Genesis (Anthroposophical
background)
Journey to the Promised Land, We Will Build a Temple, Jakob Streit
Stories from the Bible, Walter de la Mare
The Story Bible, Pearl S. Buck

Language Arts
An English Manual, Dorothy Harrer (free ebook:
http://www.waldorflibrary.org/books/3/view_bl/109/writing/206/an-english-manual-for-the-
elementary-school-ebook?tab=getmybooksTab&is_show_data=1)

Compiled by Janet Langley and Patti Connolly

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Mathematics
Math Lessons for Elementary Grades, Dorothy Harrer (for grades 1-6) (free ebook:
http://www.waldorflibrary.org/books/3/view_bl/62/fifth/159/math-lessons-for-elementary-grades-
ebooks?tab=getmybooksTab&is_show_data=1)
Active Arithmetic, Henning Anderson
A Steiner-Waldorf Mathematic Resource Grades 1-8, Eric Fairman

Measurement
Thirteen Moons on Turtle’s Back, Bruchac and London
One Grain of Rice, A Mathematical Folktale, Demi
Coins, Eva Evans
From Barter to Gold, The Story of Money, Solveig Russell

Practical Arts
Johnny Hears the Call, by Arnold Logan, published by Windrose publishing services, 171 Water St.,
Chatham, N.Y. 12037 (518-392-3415) This is a delightful Cantata that the children can learn and perform

Fibers and Textiles to be taught during Handwork (unless the focus of your Home Surroundings block
is the wool/textile industry in your area).

The Empress and the Silkworm, Lily Toy Hong

The Coat of Many Colors, Jenny Koralek
The Chief’s Blanket, Michael Chanin and Kim Howard
Warm as Wool, Cool as Cotton, Carter Houck
The Goat in the Rug, Charles L. Blood
Cotton Now and Then, Karen B. Willing (with Morse and Dock)
Weaving the Rainbow, George Ella Lyon
Charlie Needs A Cloak, Tomie DePaola
A New Coat For Anna, Harriet Ziefert
Pelle’s New Suit, Beskow
The Weaver’s Gift, Kathryn Lasky
Cotton, Millicent Selsam (has written more books on popcorn, vegetables, etc.)
Farmer Boy, Laura Ingalls Wilder (read aloud book or class reader)

Movement
Rhythms, Rhymes, Games and Songs for the Lower School, Jaffke
Anna Banana, 101 Jump Rope Rhymes, Joanna Cole
Miss Mary Mack and Other Children’s Street Rhymes, Cole and Calmenson
Awesome Jump Rope Activities Book, Sutherland and Carnes
The Complete Book of Rhymes, Songs, Poems, Fingerplays and Chants, Silberg and Schiller
Singing Games, Anna Ranville

Form Drawing
Form Drawing, Hans R. Niederhauser & Margaret Frohlich

Compiled by Janet Langley and Patti Connolly