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A Waldorf Alumni Perspective
One of the the things I’ve been most looking forward to diving into within Waldorf education is the global movement. How in one hundred years, has Waldorf Education spread to one thousand schools in sixty countries? How can teachers, communities, and parents, create the same kind of consistent, naturing, environment that a Waldorf school needs to provide? I really thought about how to approach this post. In the end I decided to take a slightly different route than I have before. This week, I’m so fortunate to have some other “Waldorfy” alumni on board for a more diverse perspective. Here’s what they have to say. Which Waldorf school…
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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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Why is everything natural in a Waldorf classroom?
Many parents who have a child attending a Waldorf school have a distinct memory of their first time seeing or visiting a Waldorf kindergarten. The early childhood rooms in every Waldorf school have such a distinct feel. It’s warm, inviting, and serene. From my experience as a parent witnessing little ones in this space, I believe it sparks a real sense of warmth and security that allows for the best expression of open-ended free play. In my last post on color, I discussed how much the color of the classrooms plays into the feeling within the space, but what about the contents of the room? The wood, the wool, the…
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The Intentional Use of Color in the Waldorf Classroom
I have such fond memories of the Waldorf school I attended as a child. One of my most vivid memories is of the color of the classrooms where I learned to love learning. The first time I took my son to a parent and child class at a different Waldorf school, I noticed the same colors and shades welcoming me into the classroom. I observed, with the other parents, how our babies were calm and happy in the room, even on days they hadn’t napped or were teething. What was this magical aspect of the classroom? I knew it must have something to do with the color. What is…
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Art and Waldorf Education
As a child art surrounded me. I grew up a child attending a Waldorf school. Art was part of my everyday. It was something to enjoy, something to participate in, and a way to connect with whatever I was learning. Ask many Waldorf students and they’ll tell you the way they learned to remember something such as times tables or the days of the week has a connection with colors, a song, or movement. What was Steiner’s intention in creating so much room for art in Waldorf Education? How do our brains make connections through art? Why is it beneficial to provide space for art in a child’s education?…
