Waldorf Homeschooling with Carrie Dendtler of the Parenting Passageway

I so enjoyed recording this episode with Carrie Dendtler of theparentingpassageway.com. In this season of episodes it was important for me to speak to multiple guests on the topic of Waldorf homeschooling. One because I know so little about it myself, but also because I know that different listeners will connect with different homeschool journeys. When I set out to find guests to speak about Waldorf homeschooling in this season almost every one I spoke with directed me to Carrie.

Carrie is a wife and Waldorf homeschooling mother of three children now ages 17,14, and 9. She has worked with children and families in many capacities for over 20 years. This includes working  as a pediatric and neonatal  physical therapist, a lay breastfeeding support leader, a board-certified lactation consultant, a Waldorf homeschooling group leader, a public speaker on homeschooling and gentle parenting topics, and as a consultant for homeschooling parents. She completed degrees in Newspaper Journalism/Latin American Studies; physical therapy and  her Foundation Studies in the Arts and Anthroposophy through Antioch University in 2013 for Waldorf Education.  She has been a licensed physical therapist since 1998, a lay breastfeeding support leader since 2004, a  board-certified lactation consultant since 2009 and is currently enrolled in a clinical doctoral physical therapy program with specialization in pelvic floor health.  She has been homeschooling since 2007 and enjoys teaching the upper grades the most.  She has blogged at The Parenting Passageway since 2008 and frequently writes about Waldorf homeschooling and the challenges and joys of homeschooling multiple children.

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I love in this episode when Carrie and I talk about how bringing Waldorf into your home really means looking into the "whys" behind what's done in a Waldorf classroom. So much of what you see going on in Waldorf education has specific purpose and meaning. Things like wooden toys in the kindergarten, to learning to knit in first grade all have a reason behind them.  Understanding the reasons will help you to authentically and confidently brings these ideas into your home and homeschooling.

Carrie speaks quite a bit about the upper grades, she's used Waldorf homeschooling all the way up though high school. She discusses the benefits and challenges so openly of her homeschool journey and I appreciated her candor when speaking to that. These are just a few of my highlights from our conversation, but there were many. I hope you enjoy!

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Carrie's blog, theparentingpassageway.com is amazing. It is a favorite of many for all things parenting and Waldorf homeschooling and I highly recommend you check it out.

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