Podcast

Waldorfy Podcast

  • Podcast,  The Waldorf Approach,  Waldorfy Podcast

    Reading, Writing, and Testing in Waldorf Education

    In this episode I bring Helen Ann Ireland on the show to talk about how reading and writing are taught in the Waldorf approach. We also get into the topic of testing, why there aren’t tests in the early grades, and how students are assessed academically throughout Waldorf education. I loved having Helen Ann on the podcast. She is articulate, super educated on the topics we discussed, and has loads of experience in the Waldorf classroom. In the first part of the episode we cover the topic of reading and how it’s introduced in the Waldorf approach. Helen Ann describes how direct instruction in reading isn’t introduced until  first grade,…

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  • Podcast,  Waldorf School,  Waldorfy Podcast

    Art in Waldorf Education

    In this episode I speak with Waldorf class teacher of 23 years, Darcy Drayton. As I’m introducing the episode, I first speak a little about why art is being integrated across all subjects in Waldorf education. Then when speaking with Darcy, we discuss more of how art is incorporated in the curriculum and how she uses different artistic mediums as tools to teach with. Darcy, an artist herself, also speaks about drama and class plays in the Waldorf curriculum, and how she uses her artistic freedom as a teacher, to meet the children where they’re at developmentally. While also trying to be aware of the challenges that they will face…

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  • Anthroposophy,  Podcast,  Touching on Anthroposophy and Waldorf Education,  Waldorfy Podcast,  What is Waldorf Education

    What is anthroposophy?

    In this episode I speak with Torin Finser, PhD. Torin has has a lengthly career serving Waldorf education, first as a Waldorf class teacher and then as a faculty member and director of the Waldorf Teacher Education Program at Antioch University New England. Torin has served as the general secretary for the anthroposophical society in America as well as helped found the Center for Anthroposophy in New Hampshire. His research and writings have reached people all over the world including several books that have been translated into multiple languages. I was so fortune to speak with Torin, seeking to answer the question, “What is anthroposophy?” If you’re a parent or…

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  • Podcast,  Touching on Anthroposophy and Waldorf Education,  Waldorfy Podcast,  What is Waldorf Education

    What is Waldorf Education? PART 2

    In this second segment of my exploration of “What is Waldorf Education?”, I speak with retired Waldorf Teacher, Hugh Renwick. Hugh, who also happens to be my father in-law, has thirty years of experience as a Waldorf teacher, seven as a high school teacher, and twenty one as class teacher in the lower grades. Hugh elaborates on what it means to educate to the developmental stage that the child is at, in addition to giving a picture of what those phases look like, which Glynn also touched on in PART 1. He also speaks about the Waldorf curriculum from kindergarten all the way through high school. RESOURCES: In this episode…

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  • Podcast,  Touching on Anthroposophy and Waldorf Education,  Waldorfy Podcast,  What is Waldorf Education

    What is Waldorf Education? PART 1

    In this first episode of Waldorfy I speak with veteran handwork teacher Glynn Graham. Glynn has twenty five years of experience as a Waldorf handwork teacher and four years as a class teacher. Within this first part of my two episode exploration of “What is Waldorf Education?”, Glynn first discusses the founding of Waldorf education and the first Waldorf school. She then goes into more depth on the Waldorf approach. We talk about what “head, hearts, and hands” really means in relation to Waldorf, she and speaks about what really distinguishes Waldorf education for a more traditional approach. EDIT: I mention in introducing Glynn in this episode that her husband…

  • Podcast,  Touching on Anthroposophy and Waldorf Education

    The Waldorfy Podcast!

    I've been a busy bee over here! First of all, thank you so much for your support. I've had a lot of wonderful feedback already and it makes me really happy that so many people are finding Waldorfy to be a helpful resource. Today, I'm most excited to introduce my newest project: the Waldorfy Podcast! This is something I've been working on for a few months now and I'm so pumped for it to launch! You can expect new episodes twice a month. Each podcast episode will be an interview with a Waldorf teacher or an anthroposophist discussing a particular area of their expertise. I hope to cover each topic…

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