Christopherus Homeschool Review: An Honest 2026 Look

Christopherus is a good Waldorf-inspired curriculum for parents who want to understand Waldorf deeply and are happy to teach from printed books. The thinking is done on paper, not with a coach. Donna Simmons writes it, and it covers every year up to grade 8. It suits a parent who reads ahead, likes the why behind each lesson, and wants a computer-free childhood. It's harder going for a parent who wants something open and go, a refund option, or someone to call. Grade 1 costs $260, and with the two books it needs alongside, the first year comes to $329 before shipping (prices checked September 2026).

We make Starpath, a Waldorf-inspired curriculum, so read our view with that in mind.

Who writes it

Donna Simmons and Paul Newton founded Christopherus in 2003, and Donna writes the materials. She attended the Rudolf Steiner School in New York City from age 4, took Waldorf teacher training with Brien Masters in London, and was mentored in early years work by Judith Chamberlain. The first grade page describes her as someone who has been involved with Waldorf "as a student, teacher and parent", and as a homeschooler too.

The site's tagline is "Waldorf-inspired Parenting and Education promoting a computer-free childhood". That sums up the tone: the books talk as much about the home, the senses and child development as about lesson content.

What each early grade includes

Early years and kindergarten

There's no single kindergarten book. Christopherus says three volumes together make "a full and complete path" from about age 3 to 7:

• First Steps on the Journey ($49, 145 pages): sample schedules for the day and the seasons, advice on toys, painting and storytelling, and short stories for young children.
• The Journey Begins at Home ($49, 400 pages): mostly questions and answers from Donna's online group, covering birth to seven.
• Joyful Movement ($37, 150 pages plus a 50-minute video of Donna singing the songs and showing the games).

The Age Guide is firm that the early years hold "absolutely no early learning, formal lessons, informal academic lessons". It's a guide to home life, play and rhythm, not a week-by-week lesson plan. Joyful Movement carries on into the grades, so you only buy it once.

Grade 1 ($260)

A 376-page spiral-bound book, third edition from February 2020, built on a 4-day week and a 31-week year. The year opens with a two-week form drawing main lesson on "School Readiness". Letters come over four language arts main lessons, capitals first, with all the letter stories written out. Math runs through three main lessons: the quality of numbers 1 to 12, the four processes taught with "Math Squirrels", and a block to consolidate. Nature lessons follow the seasons where you live. Around them sit the arts, handwork, music, cooking and gardening. You can read the free sample pages before buying.

Grade 2 ($420)

Two spiral-bound volumes, 554 pages, on a 4-day week over 33 weeks. Language arts main lessons cover saints and heroes, animal legends, trickster tales (Bre'er Rabbit, Anansi) and Padraic Colum's The King of Ireland's Son, which you buy separately. There are four math main lessons and one form drawing block. Eleven nature stories are written out in full, and music covers recorder, lyre and singing.

Grade 3 ($445)

Two spiral-bound volumes built around practical work: building projects, a Three Sisters garden, farming and cooking. Math covers time, money and measurement, with weather data from a science main lesson used in math. Language arts main lessons are two four-week blocks on Native American peoples, one on Old Testament stories and one called Stories of Wonder. The book also covers the Nine Year Change and meeting legal requirements.

What year one costs

The First Grade page calls the movement and form drawing books "necessary components" for grades 1 to 3. It also calls Arthur Auer's Learning about the World through Modeling "vital for all 8 grades", sold by other booksellers. So the $260 isn't the whole bill.

Prices checked September 2026, before shipping.

Item	Price	Needed?
First Grade Curriculum (376 pages)	$260	Yes
Joyful Movement 2nd Edition (book and video)	$37	Yes, grades 1 to 3
Form Drawing for Beginners (51 pages)	$32	Yes, grades 1 to 3
Year one, required items	$329
Form Drawing Video Course (1 hour)	$25	Optional
First Grade Audio (1 hour talk, 2006)	$12	Optional
First Grade Handwork Kit (Ewetopia Fiber Shop)	$152	Optional
Year one with every extra	$518
Early years (three books)	$135	For ages 3 to 7
Second Grade Curriculum	$420
Third Grade Curriculum	$445

Shipping is shown only in the cart. The handwork kit holds materials, not directions, since those are in the curriculum. If you bought Joyful Movement for the early years, you already have it for grade 1.

Real strengths

It explains the why. Each syllabus sets out not just what to teach but how and why, with notes on child development. If you want to grow as a teacher rather than follow a script, that's the heart of Christopherus.

A gentle pace. A 4-day week and a 31 to 33 week year leave room for festivals, outings and slow days. The grade pages say so directly.

The whole child, not just main lessons. The arts, handwork, music, cooking and movement are written into each year.

The early years are affordable. $135 for three books covering ages 3 to 7 costs less than any kindergarten program in our comparison.

It's complete. With the Eighth Grade Syllabus published, one author can carry you all the way to grade 8.

Real limits

All sales are final. No refunds or returns, and orders can't be changed once placed. Use the sample pages and the "Take a stroll" video on each grade page first.

Print only. Lulu prints each book on demand. It usually ships within a few days, but can take up to three weeks. We found no PDF edition of the grade curricula.

No coaching. We found no paid mentoring or consultations. Support is written: a newsletter, a blog and free audio. The $370 Learning to Homeschool course has an optional buddy system.

A learning curve. Christopherus says it plainly: it "is not 'open and go.'" You read, plan and prepare each week.

Extras add up. From grade 2 on, the curriculum itself is over $400, and some stories and books come from elsewhere.

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

A strong fit: a parent who enjoys reading and preparing, wants a traditional feel and a computer-free home, and is happy to work from printed books without live support.

Look elsewhere if: you want lessons laid out day by day, a coach or group calls, digital access, or a return option.

Alternatives worth comparing

Prices checked September 2026.

Waldorf Essentials runs from early childhood to Class 8. Class 1 starts at $200 digital, or $575 with a year of mentoring and coaching, and anyone can join the free Zoom office hours. All sales are final there too. We compare the two in Christopherus vs Waldorf Essentials.

Live Education! covers K-8, written by Waldorf-trained teachers. Grade 1 is $445 plus $65 US shipping, and phone and email support and consultations are included.

Lavender's Blue covers K-3 and is written by Kelly, a former kindergarten teacher. Grade 1 is $367 as a digital PDF with MP3s, and every purchase includes a private online community.

Starpath is Waldorf-inspired and written by Sophie, a Waldorf class teacher with more than 10 years' experience. Grades 1 to 3 are complete, grade 4 is being added, and there's no kindergarten. Main lesson blocks run two to four weeks. A single block is $19, or everything is $47 a month, with a 14-day trial for $7. A planner, portfolio and compliance tools are built in, and there's a parent community but no coaching.

For grade-by-grade picks, see the best Waldorf curriculum for grade 1, grade 2 and grade 3, or our Waldorf homeschool curriculum comparison for all of them side by side.

Before you order

1. Check the grade against the Age Guide. Grade 1 is written for children who are 7 for most of the year.
2. Read the sample pages and watch Donna's walkthrough on the grade page.
3. Order the whole set at once: the syllabus, Joyful Movement and Form Drawing for Beginners.
4. Allow up to three weeks for printing and delivery before your start date.